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Shane Gray provides special Rams commentaries on 101sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ShaneGmoSTLRams.
Quarterback
St. Louis Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens showed significant improvement in his second start since replacing Sam Bradford following his season-ending knee injury.
Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Clemens completed just 48 percent of his passes (15 of 31) for 158 yards. He threw two interceptions and ended with a rating of just 36.8.
This week vs. the Tennessee Titans, Clemens connected on 57 percent of his throws (20 of 35). His completions accounted for 210 yards, a touchdown and a much-improved rating of 84.2.
According to St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher, Clemens’ enhanced performance was to be expected.
“I anticipated improvement out of Kellen,” Fisher said. “I mean, you do in the second week. He settled down a little bit. Obviously, he was a little excited last week, but he settled down this week and he felt good. He was ready to play, (and) made some good throws.”
For a second straight game, Clemens ended his outing with an incompletion in the end zone. A week ago, a completion would have secured a win. In this matchup, a connection would have secured an extra chance at a win via a regulation tie and an eventual quarter of overtime action.
Clemens was undoubtedly better in just his second start since the end of the 2011 season, but was prone to inconsistencies and his typical stretches of inaccuracy.
So, while his passing work was upgraded, his fumble with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter was very costly. With the game then tied, Clemens was forced into a sack/fumble by Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and Tennessee recovered. On the very next play, Titans running back Chris Johnson busted off the right edge for a 19 yard game-winning score.
And although connecting on 57 percent of his throws was obviously better than 48, it was still well short of the type of completion mark that is seen around the league by the more proficient quarterbacks or what was done earlier in the year by Bradford (61 percent).
Grade: C+
Running Back
In a season chock-full of disappointments, one of the biggest positives has been the emergence of running back Zac Stacy – a fifth-round rookie from Vanderbilt who continues to build a case to become the back of the future in St. Louis.
On Sunday, Stacy again dazzled with numbers remarkably reminiscent of those he posted last week against Seattle.
Against Tennessee, Stacy amassed 127 yards on 27 attempts. Last Monday night, Stacy gained 134 yards on 26 rushes. If you want consistency, that’s what you’re getting from Stacy.
On one jaw-dropping run Sunday – one that figures to be featured on his career highlight reel regardless of how long he plays – Stacy bounced off of multiple defenders and wouldn’t quit in showing burst on a Pro-Bowl quality 32-yard scamper.
“It was a great run, (Stacy) really did a great job with it,” Fisher said. “It started with (WR) Tavon (Austin) blocking a linebacker or he doesn’t get out. That’s just how he’s been playing. I’ve been told that since he’s started he’s leading the league in rushing over that span. That’s a credit to everybody up front. He takes care of himself. He’s a very instinctive runner. He’s a smart runner. He understands running the football and he’s powerful.”
To this point in the season, Stacy is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. To put that figure into perspective, Stacy’s counterparts in the backfield have been far less efficient, with Daryl Richardson averaging just 3.1 yards per rush, Isaiah Pead three and Benny Cunningham 2.9 per attempt.
Clemens, who has fed the ball to Stacy on every one of his runs in his back-to-back 100 yard rushing performances, has been impressed with the first-year back.
(Hope all will enjoy the rest of piece via link below and extensive quotes/analysis of the other position groups and coaching staff):
http://www.101sports.com/2013/11/05/rams-vs-titans-grays-grades-tennessee-triumph/
Quarterback
St. Louis Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens showed significant improvement in his second start since replacing Sam Bradford following his season-ending knee injury.
Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Clemens completed just 48 percent of his passes (15 of 31) for 158 yards. He threw two interceptions and ended with a rating of just 36.8.
This week vs. the Tennessee Titans, Clemens connected on 57 percent of his throws (20 of 35). His completions accounted for 210 yards, a touchdown and a much-improved rating of 84.2.
According to St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher, Clemens’ enhanced performance was to be expected.
“I anticipated improvement out of Kellen,” Fisher said. “I mean, you do in the second week. He settled down a little bit. Obviously, he was a little excited last week, but he settled down this week and he felt good. He was ready to play, (and) made some good throws.”
For a second straight game, Clemens ended his outing with an incompletion in the end zone. A week ago, a completion would have secured a win. In this matchup, a connection would have secured an extra chance at a win via a regulation tie and an eventual quarter of overtime action.
Clemens was undoubtedly better in just his second start since the end of the 2011 season, but was prone to inconsistencies and his typical stretches of inaccuracy.
So, while his passing work was upgraded, his fumble with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter was very costly. With the game then tied, Clemens was forced into a sack/fumble by Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and Tennessee recovered. On the very next play, Titans running back Chris Johnson busted off the right edge for a 19 yard game-winning score.
And although connecting on 57 percent of his throws was obviously better than 48, it was still well short of the type of completion mark that is seen around the league by the more proficient quarterbacks or what was done earlier in the year by Bradford (61 percent).
Grade: C+
Running Back
In a season chock-full of disappointments, one of the biggest positives has been the emergence of running back Zac Stacy – a fifth-round rookie from Vanderbilt who continues to build a case to become the back of the future in St. Louis.
On Sunday, Stacy again dazzled with numbers remarkably reminiscent of those he posted last week against Seattle.
Against Tennessee, Stacy amassed 127 yards on 27 attempts. Last Monday night, Stacy gained 134 yards on 26 rushes. If you want consistency, that’s what you’re getting from Stacy.
On one jaw-dropping run Sunday – one that figures to be featured on his career highlight reel regardless of how long he plays – Stacy bounced off of multiple defenders and wouldn’t quit in showing burst on a Pro-Bowl quality 32-yard scamper.
“It was a great run, (Stacy) really did a great job with it,” Fisher said. “It started with (WR) Tavon (Austin) blocking a linebacker or he doesn’t get out. That’s just how he’s been playing. I’ve been told that since he’s started he’s leading the league in rushing over that span. That’s a credit to everybody up front. He takes care of himself. He’s a very instinctive runner. He’s a smart runner. He understands running the football and he’s powerful.”
To this point in the season, Stacy is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. To put that figure into perspective, Stacy’s counterparts in the backfield have been far less efficient, with Daryl Richardson averaging just 3.1 yards per rush, Isaiah Pead three and Benny Cunningham 2.9 per attempt.
Clemens, who has fed the ball to Stacy on every one of his runs in his back-to-back 100 yard rushing performances, has been impressed with the first-year back.
(Hope all will enjoy the rest of piece via link below and extensive quotes/analysis of the other position groups and coaching staff):
http://www.101sports.com/2013/11/05/rams-vs-titans-grays-grades-tennessee-triumph/
