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Lack of complete offense reason for pessimism at Rams' bye
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...lete-offense-reason-for-pessimism-at-rams-bye
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Here we are at the St. Louis Rams' bye. It's only Week 6 and while most of the league will be in action today, the 2-3 Rams won't be.
So it's a good time to offer a look at three reasons for optimism and three reasons for pessimism for the team's final 11 games. Earlier today, we looked at the bright side. Now it's time for the potential negatives:
1. The offense hasn't put it all together: So far, the Rams offense has been as many suspected it would be. That's not a good thing. Entering Sunday's games, the Rams are last in the league in total offense and the only team averaging less than 300 yards per game (297). They're last in first downs with 72 and 29th in offensive points scored per game at 15.4.
It hasn't been all bad as Todd Gurley and the running game have revved up the past couple of weeks. But with that progress has come some regression. The Rams are 30th in passing yards per game behind a leaky offensive line that's had quarterback Nick Foles under more pressure than any signal-caller in the league except Seattle's Russell Wilson.
Compounding matters is a group of pass-catchers that's struggled to consistently gain separation or actually catch the ball. There are signs of a breakthrough, but still too many pieces that haven't come together. If and when they do, one has to wonder if it will be too late.
2. The injury bug bites: Save for cornerback E.J. Gaines, the Rams made it through the preseason and the early part of the regular season without any major injury issues. That's changed in recent weeks. Linebacker Alec Ogletree was playing at a Pro Bowl level before a fractured fibula landed him on the sideline. The Rams are holding out hope that they'll be in contention late in the season and Ogletree can return, but it's going to be hard to stay in contention without his services.
Guard Rodger Saffold is out for the season because of a shoulder injury, which has the Rams dipping into an already shallow pool of offensive linemen. End Chris Long is dealing with a hyperextended knee from which he's expected to return, but it remains to be seen when that will happen.
The Rams have a better roster than they've had in years, but they're already putting their depth to the test and probably aren't equipped to go much further into the depth chart and stay in the playoff mix.
3. Penalty regression: The Rams actually have improved quite a bit when it comes to penalties so far this season. They have 34 penalties in the first five games, which is tied for 13th fewest in the league. That's a good sign, right? Well, yes, but it also could portend a regression to what they've done in the past under coach Jeff Fisher.
Fisher's Rams entered 2015 with the most penalties in the league since 2012, when he took over. Each year, they have talked about reducing that number and each year they have failed. It's certainly possible that this is finally the year it happens, but history would suggest that they're due for more flags to fly their way as the season rolls on.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...lete-offense-reason-for-pessimism-at-rams-bye
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Here we are at the St. Louis Rams' bye. It's only Week 6 and while most of the league will be in action today, the 2-3 Rams won't be.
So it's a good time to offer a look at three reasons for optimism and three reasons for pessimism for the team's final 11 games. Earlier today, we looked at the bright side. Now it's time for the potential negatives:
1. The offense hasn't put it all together: So far, the Rams offense has been as many suspected it would be. That's not a good thing. Entering Sunday's games, the Rams are last in the league in total offense and the only team averaging less than 300 yards per game (297). They're last in first downs with 72 and 29th in offensive points scored per game at 15.4.
It hasn't been all bad as Todd Gurley and the running game have revved up the past couple of weeks. But with that progress has come some regression. The Rams are 30th in passing yards per game behind a leaky offensive line that's had quarterback Nick Foles under more pressure than any signal-caller in the league except Seattle's Russell Wilson.
Compounding matters is a group of pass-catchers that's struggled to consistently gain separation or actually catch the ball. There are signs of a breakthrough, but still too many pieces that haven't come together. If and when they do, one has to wonder if it will be too late.
2. The injury bug bites: Save for cornerback E.J. Gaines, the Rams made it through the preseason and the early part of the regular season without any major injury issues. That's changed in recent weeks. Linebacker Alec Ogletree was playing at a Pro Bowl level before a fractured fibula landed him on the sideline. The Rams are holding out hope that they'll be in contention late in the season and Ogletree can return, but it's going to be hard to stay in contention without his services.
Guard Rodger Saffold is out for the season because of a shoulder injury, which has the Rams dipping into an already shallow pool of offensive linemen. End Chris Long is dealing with a hyperextended knee from which he's expected to return, but it remains to be seen when that will happen.
The Rams have a better roster than they've had in years, but they're already putting their depth to the test and probably aren't equipped to go much further into the depth chart and stay in the playoff mix.
3. Penalty regression: The Rams actually have improved quite a bit when it comes to penalties so far this season. They have 34 penalties in the first five games, which is tied for 13th fewest in the league. That's a good sign, right? Well, yes, but it also could portend a regression to what they've done in the past under coach Jeff Fisher.
Fisher's Rams entered 2015 with the most penalties in the league since 2012, when he took over. Each year, they have talked about reducing that number and each year they have failed. It's certainly possible that this is finally the year it happens, but history would suggest that they're due for more flags to fly their way as the season rolls on.
