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Rams notes: Austin happy to score first TD of the season
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6bef9ce3-d6d4-5a46-ba8b-79f18389b2ad.html
SAN DIEGO • Tavon Austin scored his first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard run midway through the third quarter Sunday. He went in motion on the play, and got the handoff just as he was running past quarterback Shaun Hill.
It was the seventh career TD for the Rams’ second-year pro from West Virginia. Four have come on receptions, two on runs from scrimmage and one on a punt return.
He nearly had a punt return for a score as well in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to San Diego, returning a Mike Scifres punt 76 yards to the Chargers’ 2.
But the last 38 yards of the punt were called back in an unusual sequence because of offsetting penalties. Referee Carl Scheffers’ crew spotted the ball at the San Diego 40, which apparently was where the Rams were guilty of a holding penalty.
Although the penalty was announced on No. 51, Marshall McFadden, it looked as if the penalty was against No. 31, Maurice Alexander.
“That’s how the game goes” Austin said, shrugging off the flag. “The only thing I can do now is keep on grinding and get on to next week.”
Even though Austin’s return distance was cut in half by the penalty, his return jump-started the Rams’ final possession of the game.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the potential game-winning drive ended on a Shaun Hill interception on second-and-goal from the 4.
“We were definitely at the doorstep,” Austin said. “But there were plenty of plays (to be made) that we could’ve won the game with.”
JENKINS STRIKES
Known as “Jackrabbit” by his coaches and teammates, cornerback Janoris Jenkins accounted for the Rams’ first touchdown with a 99-yard interception early in the second quarter.
“Every time the ball touches my hands, I think finish and get to the end zone as fast as possible,” Jenkins said. “Be patient sometimes, play your game, and it will come.”
Jenkins stepped in front of a Philip Rivers pass intended for Keenan Allen on a third-and-goal play from the St. Louis 8. It was the sixth defensive touchdown scored by Jenkins in his three-year NFL career, and the second of the 2014 season.
Five of those six defensive TDs have come on interception returns, which ties a franchise career record shared previously be Ed Meador and Leroy Irvin.
The 99-yard return also tied a franchise record for longest interception return, set previously by Johnnie Johnson against Green Bay in 1980.
SITTING IT OUT
With four Rams players declared out on Friday, there wasn’t much suspense with the team’s inactives: CB Marcus Roberson (ankle), nickel back Lamarcus Joyner (groin), DT Alex Carrington (knee), WR Damian Williams (hamstring), C/G Barrett Jones, OG Brandon Washington, and LB Korey Toomer.
Jones, a fourth-round draft pick in 2013, had played the past five games, mostly in a special teams role. With some injury concerns with TE Cory Harkey (quad), undrafted rookie TE Alex Bayer was active for the first time since the Oct. 19 game against Seattle.
Bayer made his presence felt by recovering a muffed punt by San Diego’s Keenan Allen in the third quarter at the Chargers’ 21. That set up Austin’s touchdown.
Also, LB Daren Bates — one of the team’s core special teams players — was back after missing the last two games with a groin injury. Bates quickly made his presence felt in a negative way, getting flagged for holding on an attempted return by Trumaine Johnson after San Diego’s first punt of the day.
McQUAIDE OK
Long snapper Jake McQuaide didn’t practice Friday because of a back issue, but was good to go in Sunday’s game.
“It was fine,” he said. “It was tight (last week), but maybe being out in the warmer weather helped.”
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6bef9ce3-d6d4-5a46-ba8b-79f18389b2ad.html
SAN DIEGO • Tavon Austin scored his first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard run midway through the third quarter Sunday. He went in motion on the play, and got the handoff just as he was running past quarterback Shaun Hill.
It was the seventh career TD for the Rams’ second-year pro from West Virginia. Four have come on receptions, two on runs from scrimmage and one on a punt return.
He nearly had a punt return for a score as well in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to San Diego, returning a Mike Scifres punt 76 yards to the Chargers’ 2.
But the last 38 yards of the punt were called back in an unusual sequence because of offsetting penalties. Referee Carl Scheffers’ crew spotted the ball at the San Diego 40, which apparently was where the Rams were guilty of a holding penalty.
Although the penalty was announced on No. 51, Marshall McFadden, it looked as if the penalty was against No. 31, Maurice Alexander.
“That’s how the game goes” Austin said, shrugging off the flag. “The only thing I can do now is keep on grinding and get on to next week.”
Even though Austin’s return distance was cut in half by the penalty, his return jump-started the Rams’ final possession of the game.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the potential game-winning drive ended on a Shaun Hill interception on second-and-goal from the 4.
“We were definitely at the doorstep,” Austin said. “But there were plenty of plays (to be made) that we could’ve won the game with.”
JENKINS STRIKES
Known as “Jackrabbit” by his coaches and teammates, cornerback Janoris Jenkins accounted for the Rams’ first touchdown with a 99-yard interception early in the second quarter.
“Every time the ball touches my hands, I think finish and get to the end zone as fast as possible,” Jenkins said. “Be patient sometimes, play your game, and it will come.”
Jenkins stepped in front of a Philip Rivers pass intended for Keenan Allen on a third-and-goal play from the St. Louis 8. It was the sixth defensive touchdown scored by Jenkins in his three-year NFL career, and the second of the 2014 season.
Five of those six defensive TDs have come on interception returns, which ties a franchise career record shared previously be Ed Meador and Leroy Irvin.
The 99-yard return also tied a franchise record for longest interception return, set previously by Johnnie Johnson against Green Bay in 1980.
SITTING IT OUT
With four Rams players declared out on Friday, there wasn’t much suspense with the team’s inactives: CB Marcus Roberson (ankle), nickel back Lamarcus Joyner (groin), DT Alex Carrington (knee), WR Damian Williams (hamstring), C/G Barrett Jones, OG Brandon Washington, and LB Korey Toomer.
Jones, a fourth-round draft pick in 2013, had played the past five games, mostly in a special teams role. With some injury concerns with TE Cory Harkey (quad), undrafted rookie TE Alex Bayer was active for the first time since the Oct. 19 game against Seattle.
Bayer made his presence felt by recovering a muffed punt by San Diego’s Keenan Allen in the third quarter at the Chargers’ 21. That set up Austin’s touchdown.
Also, LB Daren Bates — one of the team’s core special teams players — was back after missing the last two games with a groin injury. Bates quickly made his presence felt in a negative way, getting flagged for holding on an attempted return by Trumaine Johnson after San Diego’s first punt of the day.
McQUAIDE OK
Long snapper Jake McQuaide didn’t practice Friday because of a back issue, but was good to go in Sunday’s game.
“It was fine,” he said. “It was tight (last week), but maybe being out in the warmer weather helped.”