- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 48,177
- Name
- Burger man
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/seven-for-sunday-rams-jaguars/article_3fdcbe45-5f36-5e35-ab33-3b66fbd3cf80.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... 3cf80.html</a>
BLACKMON’S DEBUT
After missing the first four games of the season because of an NFL substance-abuse suspension, WR Justin Blackmon plays his first game in 2013 for the Jaguars. The Rams were very interested in Blackmon prior to the 2012 draft but didn’t like him that much more than Brian Quick, whom they took at the top of Round 2. So the Rams didn’t flinch when Jacksonville leapfrogged them by moving up to the No. 5 overall spot for Blackmon. Was it the right decision? Sunday provides one glimpse of the answer.
ACE IN THE HOLE?
Another Rams wideout that might have been is Jaguars rookie Ace Sanders, a fourth-round pick in April. Sanders, also a skilled punt returner, was brought in for a pre-draft visit by the Rams last spring. “Ace is a lot like Tavon (Austin) in that he’s very, very instinctive, got exceptional quickness, very, very good punt returner,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “But from a receiver’s standpoint, he can get open. He can run by you. He can line up inside, outside, and he’s hard to cover man-to-man.”
GRABBING GABBERT
Blackmon, Sanders, and Cecil Shorts all have talent — and all could be on the field for the first time at wide receiver Sunday. The last thing the Rams want to do is let Gabbert get comfortable in the pocket. One of the knocks against the Mizzou and Parkway West High product is that he gets antsy in the pocket. But give him time and he has the arm strength and overall talent to beat you. With the Rams banged up and short-handed in the secondary, maybe this is a game where the Rams blitz more than usual.
MOJO WORKING?
Two years ago, Maurice Jones-Drew led the NFL in rushing with a Jaguars’ record 1,606 yards. But the player known as MoJo is still looking to regain that form after missing 10 games in 2012 with a foot injury and being slowed this season by an ankle injury suffered in Week 2 (at Oakland). He had only 23 yards on 12 carries last week against Indianapolis. Will the Rams’ 30th-ranked run defense, gashed for 153 yards by Frank Gore and 175 by DeMarco Murray in back-to-back games, serve as a get-well card?
LINE DANCING
Some Jaguars players were jolted early in the week when LT Eugene Monroe, the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2009, was traded to Baltimore. Monroe isn’t a superstar, but has been a decent pass-blocker. Even with him around, the Jaguars were tied for the league-high with 18 sacks allowed. Without him, Luke Joeckel, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, moves from right to left tackle. Austin Pasztor, with only three NFL starts on his resume — all at left guard — is expected to start at right tackle.
TASTE OF SEATTLE
Jacksonville’s rookie head coach, Gus Bradley, spent the previous four seasons as defensive coordinator in Seattle. So the Jaguars look very much like the Seahawks scheme-wise on defense, minus of course, all that talent. “You turn on the film and obviously it’s a lot of things we know from competing against Gus and those guys (in Seattle),” Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They do a ton of eight-man fronts. Johnathan Cyprien, the young safety ... they put him down in the box a ton.”
THE SERIES
In 1993, Jacksonville was awarded the second franchise in a two-team NFL expansion when favored St. Louis couldn’t get its act together in terms of the stadium lease and ownership situation. Seventeen years later, Shad Khan would’ve been controlling owner of the Rams had not Stan Kroenke exercised matching rights on Khan’s bid in 2010. Khan will be on hand Sunday when the teams meet for only the fourth time. The Rams have won both games played here; the Jaguars won the only meeting in Florida.
BLACKMON’S DEBUT
After missing the first four games of the season because of an NFL substance-abuse suspension, WR Justin Blackmon plays his first game in 2013 for the Jaguars. The Rams were very interested in Blackmon prior to the 2012 draft but didn’t like him that much more than Brian Quick, whom they took at the top of Round 2. So the Rams didn’t flinch when Jacksonville leapfrogged them by moving up to the No. 5 overall spot for Blackmon. Was it the right decision? Sunday provides one glimpse of the answer.
ACE IN THE HOLE?
Another Rams wideout that might have been is Jaguars rookie Ace Sanders, a fourth-round pick in April. Sanders, also a skilled punt returner, was brought in for a pre-draft visit by the Rams last spring. “Ace is a lot like Tavon (Austin) in that he’s very, very instinctive, got exceptional quickness, very, very good punt returner,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “But from a receiver’s standpoint, he can get open. He can run by you. He can line up inside, outside, and he’s hard to cover man-to-man.”
GRABBING GABBERT
Blackmon, Sanders, and Cecil Shorts all have talent — and all could be on the field for the first time at wide receiver Sunday. The last thing the Rams want to do is let Gabbert get comfortable in the pocket. One of the knocks against the Mizzou and Parkway West High product is that he gets antsy in the pocket. But give him time and he has the arm strength and overall talent to beat you. With the Rams banged up and short-handed in the secondary, maybe this is a game where the Rams blitz more than usual.
MOJO WORKING?
Two years ago, Maurice Jones-Drew led the NFL in rushing with a Jaguars’ record 1,606 yards. But the player known as MoJo is still looking to regain that form after missing 10 games in 2012 with a foot injury and being slowed this season by an ankle injury suffered in Week 2 (at Oakland). He had only 23 yards on 12 carries last week against Indianapolis. Will the Rams’ 30th-ranked run defense, gashed for 153 yards by Frank Gore and 175 by DeMarco Murray in back-to-back games, serve as a get-well card?
LINE DANCING
Some Jaguars players were jolted early in the week when LT Eugene Monroe, the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2009, was traded to Baltimore. Monroe isn’t a superstar, but has been a decent pass-blocker. Even with him around, the Jaguars were tied for the league-high with 18 sacks allowed. Without him, Luke Joeckel, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, moves from right to left tackle. Austin Pasztor, with only three NFL starts on his resume — all at left guard — is expected to start at right tackle.
TASTE OF SEATTLE
Jacksonville’s rookie head coach, Gus Bradley, spent the previous four seasons as defensive coordinator in Seattle. So the Jaguars look very much like the Seahawks scheme-wise on defense, minus of course, all that talent. “You turn on the film and obviously it’s a lot of things we know from competing against Gus and those guys (in Seattle),” Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They do a ton of eight-man fronts. Johnathan Cyprien, the young safety ... they put him down in the box a ton.”
THE SERIES
In 1993, Jacksonville was awarded the second franchise in a two-team NFL expansion when favored St. Louis couldn’t get its act together in terms of the stadium lease and ownership situation. Seventeen years later, Shad Khan would’ve been controlling owner of the Rams had not Stan Kroenke exercised matching rights on Khan’s bid in 2010. Khan will be on hand Sunday when the teams meet for only the fourth time. The Rams have won both games played here; the Jaguars won the only meeting in Florida.