- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Rams notes: Communication problems costly on both sides of ball
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6c0f7596-d410-5436-97d3-ae66cc714891.html
Of the handful of game-changing plays Sunday in the Cowboys’ 34-31 comeback win over the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome, perhaps the most glaring was the 68-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to a wide-open Dez Bryant on the fourth play from scrimmage at the start of the second half.
Bryant, who led the Cowboys with six catches and 89 receiving yards, made a double move near the Dallas sideline to get Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins turned around. Then, with no safety help, the receiver had no one between him and the end zone.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher, speaking at his Monday media gathering at Rams Park, blamed the breakdown on communication.
“It was supposed to be passed off, but it was not communicated,” Fisher said. “I think it was just that they recognized the splits within the coverage — that’s something that we do — and I just think (rookie cornerback) E.J. Gaines just didn’t see it. He didn’t recognize it. We had three issues, both corners and the safety could have played it different.”
BOTCHED SNAP
Late in the first half, with the Rams facing a third-and-1 situation at the Dallas 41, the Rams lost a chance to add to their 21-7 lead when the Cowboys recovered a fumbled snap. Dallas went on to kick a field goal to snatch some momentum going into the half down 21-10.
“It was a communication issue up front,” Fisher explained. “A lot of stuff going on up front between (center Scott Wells) and the quarterback changing protections, sliding protection and making sure you’ve got things picked up. (The) play clock was running down and Scott thought it was time to go, and (quarterback Austin Davis) stepped aside to change the protection because he saw something. ... (Wells) started the snap process and he tried to pull it back and he lost it.”
It appeared that perhaps Wells thought Davis was under center when the quarterback actually was in the shotgun formation.
But that wasn’t the case. Fisher said, “It wasn’t a presumption that he was under center, no.”
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree led the Rams’ defense on Sunday with 14 tackles each. Ogletree, who led the way with nine solo stops, also caused a fumble, caused a penalty and altered a pass in the game.
Defensive end William Hayes, in his second start in place of injured Chris Long, had nine tackles, followed by safety Rodney McLeod (seven), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (six), linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (six), safety T.J. McDonald (five) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (five).
Jenkins intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown that pushed the Rams’ lead to 21-0 with about six minutes to play in the second quarter. Cody Davis recovered the fumble that set up the Rams’ second touchdown.
Donald, the first-round draft choice from Pitt, led the defensive line with a quarterback pressure and a quarterback hit. The Rams had no sacks, four quarterback pressures and one quarterback hit.
On special teams, Chase Reynolds had his third straight two-tackle game.
Benny Cunningham and Trey Watts had the other tackles on special teams for the Rams.
PARTICIPATION NUMBERS
Five players — Austin Davis, Wells, tackles Jake Long and Joe Barksdale and guard Davin Joseph — took part in all 76 offensive snaps for the Rams. Guard Rodger Saffold was in 74 snaps, with guard Mike Person (three), center Tim Barnes (three) and guard Greg Robinson (one) getting the other snaps along the offensive line.
On defense, Laurinaitis, McDonald and Ogletree were on the field for all 56 snaps while McLeod and Jenkins took part in 55 apiece.
COOK/DAVIS SIDELINE SHOVE
Fisher played down the exchange between tight end Jared Cook and Austin Davis as a show of raw emotions.
Just after Cook bobbled and dropped what would’ve been a lead-extending touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the tight end shoved Davis as the quarterback tried to console Cook on the sideline.
Hayes quickly confronted Cook, and fellow defensive end Robert Quinn pulled Cook from the area and tried to calm him down.
“I was aware of it. ... ‘Cookie’ was frustrated,” Fisher said. “He was mad that he dropped that ball. That’s kind of the heat-of-the-battle stuff, but they’re fine. They were fine immediately after.”
Cook, who took the blame for the loss, patched things up with Davis after the game and later issued an apology on his Twitter account.
SOME GOOD NEWS
Fisher noted that the Rams suffered no significant injuries in the Dallas game.
Following its bye week, the team will return to action Sunday, Oct. 5, against the Eagles in Philadelphia and Fisher is hopeful to have a least some of its injured players back.
“I think we’ve got a real good shot with (receiver) Tavon Austin (knee). I think we’ll have a pretty good shot with (quarterback) Shaun (Hill), and we’ll just see where it goes,” Fisher said.
Asked about cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) and center Barrett Jones (back), Fisher said, “They’re getting closer.’’
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6c0f7596-d410-5436-97d3-ae66cc714891.html
Of the handful of game-changing plays Sunday in the Cowboys’ 34-31 comeback win over the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome, perhaps the most glaring was the 68-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to a wide-open Dez Bryant on the fourth play from scrimmage at the start of the second half.
Bryant, who led the Cowboys with six catches and 89 receiving yards, made a double move near the Dallas sideline to get Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins turned around. Then, with no safety help, the receiver had no one between him and the end zone.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher, speaking at his Monday media gathering at Rams Park, blamed the breakdown on communication.
“It was supposed to be passed off, but it was not communicated,” Fisher said. “I think it was just that they recognized the splits within the coverage — that’s something that we do — and I just think (rookie cornerback) E.J. Gaines just didn’t see it. He didn’t recognize it. We had three issues, both corners and the safety could have played it different.”
BOTCHED SNAP
Late in the first half, with the Rams facing a third-and-1 situation at the Dallas 41, the Rams lost a chance to add to their 21-7 lead when the Cowboys recovered a fumbled snap. Dallas went on to kick a field goal to snatch some momentum going into the half down 21-10.
“It was a communication issue up front,” Fisher explained. “A lot of stuff going on up front between (center Scott Wells) and the quarterback changing protections, sliding protection and making sure you’ve got things picked up. (The) play clock was running down and Scott thought it was time to go, and (quarterback Austin Davis) stepped aside to change the protection because he saw something. ... (Wells) started the snap process and he tried to pull it back and he lost it.”
It appeared that perhaps Wells thought Davis was under center when the quarterback actually was in the shotgun formation.
But that wasn’t the case. Fisher said, “It wasn’t a presumption that he was under center, no.”
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree led the Rams’ defense on Sunday with 14 tackles each. Ogletree, who led the way with nine solo stops, also caused a fumble, caused a penalty and altered a pass in the game.
Defensive end William Hayes, in his second start in place of injured Chris Long, had nine tackles, followed by safety Rodney McLeod (seven), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (six), linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (six), safety T.J. McDonald (five) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (five).
Jenkins intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown that pushed the Rams’ lead to 21-0 with about six minutes to play in the second quarter. Cody Davis recovered the fumble that set up the Rams’ second touchdown.
Donald, the first-round draft choice from Pitt, led the defensive line with a quarterback pressure and a quarterback hit. The Rams had no sacks, four quarterback pressures and one quarterback hit.
On special teams, Chase Reynolds had his third straight two-tackle game.
Benny Cunningham and Trey Watts had the other tackles on special teams for the Rams.
PARTICIPATION NUMBERS
Five players — Austin Davis, Wells, tackles Jake Long and Joe Barksdale and guard Davin Joseph — took part in all 76 offensive snaps for the Rams. Guard Rodger Saffold was in 74 snaps, with guard Mike Person (three), center Tim Barnes (three) and guard Greg Robinson (one) getting the other snaps along the offensive line.
On defense, Laurinaitis, McDonald and Ogletree were on the field for all 56 snaps while McLeod and Jenkins took part in 55 apiece.
COOK/DAVIS SIDELINE SHOVE
Fisher played down the exchange between tight end Jared Cook and Austin Davis as a show of raw emotions.
Just after Cook bobbled and dropped what would’ve been a lead-extending touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the tight end shoved Davis as the quarterback tried to console Cook on the sideline.
Hayes quickly confronted Cook, and fellow defensive end Robert Quinn pulled Cook from the area and tried to calm him down.
“I was aware of it. ... ‘Cookie’ was frustrated,” Fisher said. “He was mad that he dropped that ball. That’s kind of the heat-of-the-battle stuff, but they’re fine. They were fine immediately after.”
Cook, who took the blame for the loss, patched things up with Davis after the game and later issued an apology on his Twitter account.
SOME GOOD NEWS
Fisher noted that the Rams suffered no significant injuries in the Dallas game.
Following its bye week, the team will return to action Sunday, Oct. 5, against the Eagles in Philadelphia and Fisher is hopeful to have a least some of its injured players back.
“I think we’ve got a real good shot with (receiver) Tavon Austin (knee). I think we’ll have a pretty good shot with (quarterback) Shaun (Hill), and we’ll just see where it goes,” Fisher said.
Asked about cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) and center Barrett Jones (back), Fisher said, “They’re getting closer.’’