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Rams notebook: Upon further review, Fisher agrees with officials' call
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8e30d4f4-39e8-5d7e-8aac-956a7f1f1b2d.html
After watching the game tape, Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the officials got it right.
Fisher, who’s disagreed with a number of calls against the Rams this season, did not agree when tight end Lance Kendricks was flagged for a illegal blindside block in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
But upon further review, Fisher supported the call during his Monday news conference at Rams Park.
“It’s’ within the rules. It was just unfortunate timing for us,’’ the coach said.
One play after Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree intercepted a pass and returned it to the Arizona 45 Sunday, Austin Davis hooked up with tight end Jared Cook on a 41-yard pass play that took the ball to the Arizona 4. On the play, Kendricks came from a position along the sideline to put a big hit on Arizona’s Tony Jefferson to spring Cook.
The illegal blindside block brought the ball back to the Cardinals’ 35-yard line.
“It was a great hit, great block,’’ Fisher said. “The blocker has the responsibility, it’s all in his hands, to avoid hitting (Jefferson) in the head and neck area. The defender was ducking, Lance was ducking. It just happened.’’
Fisher continued: “The defensive player gets defenseless player protection with respect to the blindside block if the blocker is coming from his own end line and/or parallel. The parallel part went in a couple years ago, so I’d say it’s the correct call, (even if) you don’t like it.
“His other option in that case was to go low ... and you surely don’t want to see guys going low in those instances because of the potential for injury.’’
The Rams, who led 14-10 at the time of the penalty, followed up by failing to take advantage of the turnover and positive field position. After an unproductive run, an incomplete pass and a sack, they punted.
The Big Red rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points and improved to 8-1.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Ogletree played one of his better games of the season against the Cardinals, sharing the team lead in tackles with 12. including six solos, to go along the interception and 44-yard return. He also had two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit.
“We’ve made a concerted effort to get him behind the ball,’’ Fisher said. “That’s where he’s best, just running and slipping blocks and taking on blocks. He’s been much more productive. Good pressure. ... When he caught the (interception), he anticipated, read the formation, recognized the route that was coming and put himself in a position to make another play.
“He’s playing much better in the last two weeks.’’
Safety T.J. McDonald, another second-year pro, also had 12 tackles, including seven solos. He finished with a sack and two tackles for loss.
Other tackling leaders for the Rams Sunday were linebacker James Laurinaitis and safety Rodney McLeod with eight each and rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines with seven. Gaines also had a team-best three pass defenses.
Robert Quinn paced the defensive linemen with five tackles and a sack.
As a unit, the defense had three sacks, 17 quarterback pressures and 12 hits on Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, who left in the fourth quarter after suffering a season-ending knee injury. On that play, safety Mark Barron, seeing his first action from scrimmage, had the Rams’ third sack.
“He (made an impact with) the sack, the pressure, the contact,’’ Fisher said. Barron was acquired in a trade-deadline deal with Tampa Bay. “I think you get a sense of his physical stature out there. There was a screen pass and the guard was out in space, and he took the guard on. Most DBs would be tumbling or go low. He took the guard on high, bounced off and got an assist.
“I thought he was very productive.’’
Chase Reynolds once again led the special teams with two tackles. Also making special-teams stops were McDonald, Benny Cunningham, Cody Davis, Marshall McFadden and Korey Toomer.
INJURY UPDATE
On a blitz early in the second quarter, rookie Lamarcus Joyner bounced off Palmer and ended up with a groin injury.
“Lamarcus will clearly be questionable this week,’’ Fisher said,
The Rams are already down a man in the defensive backfield with rookie Marcus Roberson nursing an ankle injury.
With Joyner out, Gaines shifted from cornerback to the nickel as the projected starters at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, played together for the first time since the preseason.
“Tells you a lot” about Gaines, Fisher said. “He was fine. Got his hands on the ball. Didn’t have any problems; we didn’t have to scale down the third-down package (because) he prepares mentally for it and (I) thought he plugged in nicely.’’
Fisher said that defensive end Chris Long, who’s been on the injured reserve/designated to return list following ankle surgery, could return to practice this week.
“There’s a chance he’ll get on the field. We’re going to discuss it tomorrow with him,’’ the coach said. “He has a 21-day window to practice once he steps on the field (before he counts against the 53-man roster).’’
Fisher said both tackle Jake Long (knee) and wide receiver Brian Quick (shoulder) have undergone surgery. Both players were hurt in the Rams’ Oct. 26 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.
“Jake is rehabbing, doing well,’’ the coach said. “I encouraged Brian to come out to practice (but) it’s going to be probably another week or two before he comes out. There was significant damage to his shoulder. He will recover 100 percent, but it’s going to be a slow process. It’s going to be a training camp thing.’’
The fluke injury to the Rams’ top deep threat resulted in more damage than anticipated.
“He did just about everything you possibly can to the shoulder,’’ Fisher said. “You talk about rotator cuff, labrum, bicep tendon, just everything. It was a successful surgery, a successful procedure, but he’s going to be immobilized for quite some time.’’
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8e30d4f4-39e8-5d7e-8aac-956a7f1f1b2d.html
After watching the game tape, Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the officials got it right.
Fisher, who’s disagreed with a number of calls against the Rams this season, did not agree when tight end Lance Kendricks was flagged for a illegal blindside block in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
But upon further review, Fisher supported the call during his Monday news conference at Rams Park.
“It’s’ within the rules. It was just unfortunate timing for us,’’ the coach said.
One play after Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree intercepted a pass and returned it to the Arizona 45 Sunday, Austin Davis hooked up with tight end Jared Cook on a 41-yard pass play that took the ball to the Arizona 4. On the play, Kendricks came from a position along the sideline to put a big hit on Arizona’s Tony Jefferson to spring Cook.
The illegal blindside block brought the ball back to the Cardinals’ 35-yard line.
“It was a great hit, great block,’’ Fisher said. “The blocker has the responsibility, it’s all in his hands, to avoid hitting (Jefferson) in the head and neck area. The defender was ducking, Lance was ducking. It just happened.’’
Fisher continued: “The defensive player gets defenseless player protection with respect to the blindside block if the blocker is coming from his own end line and/or parallel. The parallel part went in a couple years ago, so I’d say it’s the correct call, (even if) you don’t like it.
“His other option in that case was to go low ... and you surely don’t want to see guys going low in those instances because of the potential for injury.’’
The Rams, who led 14-10 at the time of the penalty, followed up by failing to take advantage of the turnover and positive field position. After an unproductive run, an incomplete pass and a sack, they punted.
The Big Red rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points and improved to 8-1.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Ogletree played one of his better games of the season against the Cardinals, sharing the team lead in tackles with 12. including six solos, to go along the interception and 44-yard return. He also had two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit.
“We’ve made a concerted effort to get him behind the ball,’’ Fisher said. “That’s where he’s best, just running and slipping blocks and taking on blocks. He’s been much more productive. Good pressure. ... When he caught the (interception), he anticipated, read the formation, recognized the route that was coming and put himself in a position to make another play.
“He’s playing much better in the last two weeks.’’
Safety T.J. McDonald, another second-year pro, also had 12 tackles, including seven solos. He finished with a sack and two tackles for loss.
Other tackling leaders for the Rams Sunday were linebacker James Laurinaitis and safety Rodney McLeod with eight each and rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines with seven. Gaines also had a team-best three pass defenses.
Robert Quinn paced the defensive linemen with five tackles and a sack.
As a unit, the defense had three sacks, 17 quarterback pressures and 12 hits on Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, who left in the fourth quarter after suffering a season-ending knee injury. On that play, safety Mark Barron, seeing his first action from scrimmage, had the Rams’ third sack.
“He (made an impact with) the sack, the pressure, the contact,’’ Fisher said. Barron was acquired in a trade-deadline deal with Tampa Bay. “I think you get a sense of his physical stature out there. There was a screen pass and the guard was out in space, and he took the guard on. Most DBs would be tumbling or go low. He took the guard on high, bounced off and got an assist.
“I thought he was very productive.’’
Chase Reynolds once again led the special teams with two tackles. Also making special-teams stops were McDonald, Benny Cunningham, Cody Davis, Marshall McFadden and Korey Toomer.
INJURY UPDATE
On a blitz early in the second quarter, rookie Lamarcus Joyner bounced off Palmer and ended up with a groin injury.
“Lamarcus will clearly be questionable this week,’’ Fisher said,
The Rams are already down a man in the defensive backfield with rookie Marcus Roberson nursing an ankle injury.
With Joyner out, Gaines shifted from cornerback to the nickel as the projected starters at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, played together for the first time since the preseason.
“Tells you a lot” about Gaines, Fisher said. “He was fine. Got his hands on the ball. Didn’t have any problems; we didn’t have to scale down the third-down package (because) he prepares mentally for it and (I) thought he plugged in nicely.’’
Fisher said that defensive end Chris Long, who’s been on the injured reserve/designated to return list following ankle surgery, could return to practice this week.
“There’s a chance he’ll get on the field. We’re going to discuss it tomorrow with him,’’ the coach said. “He has a 21-day window to practice once he steps on the field (before he counts against the 53-man roster).’’
Fisher said both tackle Jake Long (knee) and wide receiver Brian Quick (shoulder) have undergone surgery. Both players were hurt in the Rams’ Oct. 26 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.
“Jake is rehabbing, doing well,’’ the coach said. “I encouraged Brian to come out to practice (but) it’s going to be probably another week or two before he comes out. There was significant damage to his shoulder. He will recover 100 percent, but it’s going to be a slow process. It’s going to be a training camp thing.’’
The fluke injury to the Rams’ top deep threat resulted in more damage than anticipated.
“He did just about everything you possibly can to the shoulder,’’ Fisher said. “You talk about rotator cuff, labrum, bicep tendon, just everything. It was a successful surgery, a successful procedure, but he’s going to be immobilized for quite some time.’’