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[*]Rapid Reaction: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/15007/rapid-reaction-st-louis-rams-28
SEATTLE -- A few thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 20-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at CenturyLink Field:
What it means: Another losing season for the Rams comes to a merciful end with a three-game losing streak. Worse, the team's 6-10 finish is a step backward from the seven wins of the previous two seasons under coach Jeff Fisher. There were some highs, including upset wins at home against Seattle and the Denver Broncos, but those were more than canceled out by clunkers against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. The Rams were once again inconsistent, but the big-picture results remain mediocre, at best.
Stock watch: QB Shaun Hill -- Down. This isn't breaking any new ground to say the Rams must find a way to upgrade at quarterback in the offseason. That's a mission they'll take on, along with about half the league, but it was a point driven home by what happened Sunday. The dormant Rams offense was finally driving in a 6-6 game with a chance to take a lead, but after a holding penalty, Hill threw another incomprehensible interception. The play was designed to be a screen, but the Seahawks had it covered. Instead of throwing it away, Hill tried to throw it into the ground, but it went right to Seattle defensive tackle Jordan Hill. Seattle scored the game's first touchdown soon after, and the Seahawks never relinquished the lead.
Line dancing: The Rams had a couple scary injury moments. They lost left tackle Greg Robinson and right tackle Joe Barksdale at various points in the game. Both returned but the value of Rodger Saffold -- himself an injury risk over the years -- was again clear. Saffold filled in for both and played his usual spot at left guard. Not many in the league could move around the line like that, and it was much needed on a day when the Rams had just seven offensive linemen active.
Game ball: DT Aaron Donald was not only the Rams' best rookie but also their best player in 2014. It took five weeks for Donald to elbow his way into the starting lineup, but once he did, he was one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the league. It was no coincidence the ailing Rams pass rush that had set a record for sack futility in the first part of the season soon took off. Donald finished with nine sacks, including a streak of five games with a sack near the end of the season. Without Donald in the starting lineup, the Rams had one sack, gave up 152.5 rushing yards per game and averaged a sack on 0.9 percent of opponents' pass attempts. In the 11 games since Donald entered the starting lineup, the Rams had 36 sacks, gave up 93 rushing yards per game and averaged a sack on 8.8 percent of opponent's pass attempts.
What's next: The Rams enter another offseason as postseason spectators with the major chore of finding a long-term quarterback solution and upgrading at other key spots, such as the offensive line and in the secondary.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/15007/rapid-reaction-st-louis-rams-28
SEATTLE -- A few thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 20-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at CenturyLink Field:
What it means: Another losing season for the Rams comes to a merciful end with a three-game losing streak. Worse, the team's 6-10 finish is a step backward from the seven wins of the previous two seasons under coach Jeff Fisher. There were some highs, including upset wins at home against Seattle and the Denver Broncos, but those were more than canceled out by clunkers against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. The Rams were once again inconsistent, but the big-picture results remain mediocre, at best.
Stock watch: QB Shaun Hill -- Down. This isn't breaking any new ground to say the Rams must find a way to upgrade at quarterback in the offseason. That's a mission they'll take on, along with about half the league, but it was a point driven home by what happened Sunday. The dormant Rams offense was finally driving in a 6-6 game with a chance to take a lead, but after a holding penalty, Hill threw another incomprehensible interception. The play was designed to be a screen, but the Seahawks had it covered. Instead of throwing it away, Hill tried to throw it into the ground, but it went right to Seattle defensive tackle Jordan Hill. Seattle scored the game's first touchdown soon after, and the Seahawks never relinquished the lead.
Line dancing: The Rams had a couple scary injury moments. They lost left tackle Greg Robinson and right tackle Joe Barksdale at various points in the game. Both returned but the value of Rodger Saffold -- himself an injury risk over the years -- was again clear. Saffold filled in for both and played his usual spot at left guard. Not many in the league could move around the line like that, and it was much needed on a day when the Rams had just seven offensive linemen active.
Game ball: DT Aaron Donald was not only the Rams' best rookie but also their best player in 2014. It took five weeks for Donald to elbow his way into the starting lineup, but once he did, he was one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the league. It was no coincidence the ailing Rams pass rush that had set a record for sack futility in the first part of the season soon took off. Donald finished with nine sacks, including a streak of five games with a sack near the end of the season. Without Donald in the starting lineup, the Rams had one sack, gave up 152.5 rushing yards per game and averaged a sack on 0.9 percent of opponents' pass attempts. In the 11 games since Donald entered the starting lineup, the Rams had 36 sacks, gave up 93 rushing yards per game and averaged a sack on 8.8 percent of opponent's pass attempts.
What's next: The Rams enter another offseason as postseason spectators with the major chore of finding a long-term quarterback solution and upgrading at other key spots, such as the offensive line and in the secondary.
