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Rams stagger into San Francisco
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/rams...cle_e3da67fe-f6b6-5335-9043-09654fd1b619.html
Jeff Gordon previews the game between the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (3:05 p.m., KTVI Channel 2):
THE MATCH-UP
The 49ers (4-3) are looking for a big bounce-back game. They lost to the Denver Broncos 42-17, then used their bye week to regroup. The likely return of LB Patrick Willis (toe) and CB Jimmy Ward (quadriceps) should help.
Meanwhile, the battered Rams (2-5) stagger into the game with an injury-depleted team. Rookie Greg Robinson must play left tackle with Jake Long eradicated by a knee injury. The demise of WR Brian Quick deprives QB Austin Davis of his favorite target.
This could get ugly. The Rams haven't won at San Francisco since 2007.
COACHSPEAK
Rams coach Jeff Fisher discussed Sunday’s matchup after practice sessions at Rams Park. Here were some highlights, as provided by the Rams staff:
On trying to turn the season around: “We’re going to bounce back this week and go out and we’re going to play as hard as we possibly can against a good football team that we had a chance to beat here but we let slip away. I’m not blaming anything on the injuries or anything. We’ll have some people come back as the week goes on."
On facing the 49ers for the second time in three weeks: "When you play an opponent twice in three weeks, you run the risk of taking for granted, ‘Oh, we’re familiar with them. We played them a couple weeks ago.’ We’ve got to get to know them even better right now. That’s our focus. That’s their challenge. Learn from the mistakes that happened in that ballgame. Carry a respect in for your opponent and go play hard. That’s our focus right now.”
On facing the 49ers with so many injuries: “Our guys are healing up. If we’ve got guys that can’t play because of injury, someone else is going to step up and play. Everybody’s dealing with injuries. We’ve probably got a little more than most, especially last week. You can’t consume yourself with that. We’re not going to be thinking about who’s hurt and who’s not at 1 on Sunday.”
On which players will be able to dress at San Francisco: “I can’t say with precision who could play right now and who can’t. We may even have some pregame warm-up decisions to make early Sunday."
On the need to play better in the second half: “We stress it. We have to come out and have a good drive, whether we start on offense or whether they go on defense. Defense is a three-and-out and offense should be at least a field position change and/or a score. Those are very, very important drives. We understand where our issues are, where our problems are and we’ve got to fix it.”
SCOUTING THE 49ERS
QB Colin Kaepernick loves facing the Rams. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns earlier this season in a 31-17 victory at the Edward Jones Dome. In four starts against the Rams he has completed 65.3 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Rams didn't take him to "Sack City" earlier this season. And now Kaepernick can take aim at an injury-depleted secondary featuring raw cornerbacks and safeties with coverage limitations.
Look for the 49ers to re-establish their power running game Sunday. RB Frank Gore loves facing the Rams.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The Rams must reorganize their offensive line after losing Long at left tackle. With right guard Rodger Saffold suffering another shoulder injury, the Rams could see lots of Mike Person and Davin Joseph on the interior line.
This won't make it any easier for the running back committee — which inexplicably includes WR Tavon Austin — to get much done against the 49ers. But the Rams need to establish the run to give QB Austin Davis any chance to get into his play-action passing game.
Newcomer Mark Barron could jump right in at safety, given the secondary injuries. Naturally the 49ers will want to target him.
INJURY REPORT
Saffold (shoulder), CB Janoris Jenkins (knee), DT Aaron Donald (shoulder), and S Cody Davis (concussion) missed practice time for the Rams this week, along with DE William Hayes (foot), C Scott Wells (elbow), S Rodney McLeod (knee) and OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (toe).
As for the 49ers, CB Tramaine Brock (toe), Patrick Willis (toe) and S Jimmie Ward (quad) missed some time this week.
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/rams...cle_e3da67fe-f6b6-5335-9043-09654fd1b619.html
Jeff Gordon previews the game between the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (3:05 p.m., KTVI Channel 2):
THE MATCH-UP
The 49ers (4-3) are looking for a big bounce-back game. They lost to the Denver Broncos 42-17, then used their bye week to regroup. The likely return of LB Patrick Willis (toe) and CB Jimmy Ward (quadriceps) should help.
Meanwhile, the battered Rams (2-5) stagger into the game with an injury-depleted team. Rookie Greg Robinson must play left tackle with Jake Long eradicated by a knee injury. The demise of WR Brian Quick deprives QB Austin Davis of his favorite target.
This could get ugly. The Rams haven't won at San Francisco since 2007.
COACHSPEAK
Rams coach Jeff Fisher discussed Sunday’s matchup after practice sessions at Rams Park. Here were some highlights, as provided by the Rams staff:
On trying to turn the season around: “We’re going to bounce back this week and go out and we’re going to play as hard as we possibly can against a good football team that we had a chance to beat here but we let slip away. I’m not blaming anything on the injuries or anything. We’ll have some people come back as the week goes on."
On facing the 49ers for the second time in three weeks: "When you play an opponent twice in three weeks, you run the risk of taking for granted, ‘Oh, we’re familiar with them. We played them a couple weeks ago.’ We’ve got to get to know them even better right now. That’s our focus. That’s their challenge. Learn from the mistakes that happened in that ballgame. Carry a respect in for your opponent and go play hard. That’s our focus right now.”
On facing the 49ers with so many injuries: “Our guys are healing up. If we’ve got guys that can’t play because of injury, someone else is going to step up and play. Everybody’s dealing with injuries. We’ve probably got a little more than most, especially last week. You can’t consume yourself with that. We’re not going to be thinking about who’s hurt and who’s not at 1 on Sunday.”
On which players will be able to dress at San Francisco: “I can’t say with precision who could play right now and who can’t. We may even have some pregame warm-up decisions to make early Sunday."
On the need to play better in the second half: “We stress it. We have to come out and have a good drive, whether we start on offense or whether they go on defense. Defense is a three-and-out and offense should be at least a field position change and/or a score. Those are very, very important drives. We understand where our issues are, where our problems are and we’ve got to fix it.”
SCOUTING THE 49ERS
QB Colin Kaepernick loves facing the Rams. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns earlier this season in a 31-17 victory at the Edward Jones Dome. In four starts against the Rams he has completed 65.3 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Rams didn't take him to "Sack City" earlier this season. And now Kaepernick can take aim at an injury-depleted secondary featuring raw cornerbacks and safeties with coverage limitations.
Look for the 49ers to re-establish their power running game Sunday. RB Frank Gore loves facing the Rams.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The Rams must reorganize their offensive line after losing Long at left tackle. With right guard Rodger Saffold suffering another shoulder injury, the Rams could see lots of Mike Person and Davin Joseph on the interior line.
This won't make it any easier for the running back committee — which inexplicably includes WR Tavon Austin — to get much done against the 49ers. But the Rams need to establish the run to give QB Austin Davis any chance to get into his play-action passing game.
Newcomer Mark Barron could jump right in at safety, given the secondary injuries. Naturally the 49ers will want to target him.
INJURY REPORT
Saffold (shoulder), CB Janoris Jenkins (knee), DT Aaron Donald (shoulder), and S Cody Davis (concussion) missed practice time for the Rams this week, along with DE William Hayes (foot), C Scott Wells (elbow), S Rodney McLeod (knee) and OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (toe).
As for the 49ers, CB Tramaine Brock (toe), Patrick Willis (toe) and S Jimmie Ward (quad) missed some time this week.
