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Special teams give Rams a boost
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11673/special-teams-provide-needed-boost-for-rams
TAMPA, Fla. -- Any wins the current version of the St. Louis Rams can come up with likely won't qualify them for many beauty pageants. The way the team is constructed, they're going to have to find ways to win, even if it's ugly.
That means low-scoring games in which everyone contributes and not just on offense and defense but special teams, too. It's something the Rams freely acknowledge and was readily apparent in Sunday's 19-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Whether it was kicker Greg Zuerlein making four field goals on the rain-soaked field of Raymond James Stadium, safety T.J. McDonald coming up with a blocked punt and field goal to set up two of those kicks or punter Johnny Hekker providing his usual yeoman's work, the third phase was all that it needed to be for the Rams on Sunday.
"We’re kind of in that mode right now as they talked about, we are scratching and clawing and everybody has got to contribute," coach Jeff Fisher said. "All three phases have to contribute and make plays."
And make plays they did against Tampa Bay, with nobody coming up bigger than McDonald. The second-year safety is an emerging piece on the defense but proved to have even deeper value on Sunday.
In the second quarter, McDonald knifed around the edge and blocked Michael Koenen's punt to give the Rams a first down at Tampa Bay's 28. At the beginning of the fourth, McDonald again found a way into the backfield along with cornerback E.J. Gaines and deflected kicker Patrick Murray's 24-yard field goal try to keep the Bucs' lead at one rather than expanding to four.
The Rams turned both blocks into field goals for six points that the Rams could not have won without.
"It’s like a stop so it’s a good feeling and it gives the offense a little more confidence, a little more juice going back out there on the field knowing we didn’t give up any points so it’s good for the whole team," McDonald said.
Zuerlein also provided a strong response in sloppy conditions after a shaky preseason and missing a 50-yard kick against Minnesota last week. But even with the field offering little solid footing, something clearly evident on Zuerlein's kickoffs, he managed to convert from 36, 35, 46 and 38 yards. The last of those coming with 38 seconds to go and providing the Rams with the winning points.
"Anytime you can help your team win the ball game, it’s huge as a kicker," Zuerlein said. "The guys are out there depending on you to do your job. They’ve been battling it out for the whole game and you’ve just got to pull through for them.”
It's probably a bit much to expect similar performances from the special teams every week, but any close approximations will be more than welcome for a team that needs all it can get from everyone on the roster.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11673/special-teams-provide-needed-boost-for-rams
TAMPA, Fla. -- Any wins the current version of the St. Louis Rams can come up with likely won't qualify them for many beauty pageants. The way the team is constructed, they're going to have to find ways to win, even if it's ugly.
That means low-scoring games in which everyone contributes and not just on offense and defense but special teams, too. It's something the Rams freely acknowledge and was readily apparent in Sunday's 19-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Whether it was kicker Greg Zuerlein making four field goals on the rain-soaked field of Raymond James Stadium, safety T.J. McDonald coming up with a blocked punt and field goal to set up two of those kicks or punter Johnny Hekker providing his usual yeoman's work, the third phase was all that it needed to be for the Rams on Sunday.
"We’re kind of in that mode right now as they talked about, we are scratching and clawing and everybody has got to contribute," coach Jeff Fisher said. "All three phases have to contribute and make plays."
And make plays they did against Tampa Bay, with nobody coming up bigger than McDonald. The second-year safety is an emerging piece on the defense but proved to have even deeper value on Sunday.
In the second quarter, McDonald knifed around the edge and blocked Michael Koenen's punt to give the Rams a first down at Tampa Bay's 28. At the beginning of the fourth, McDonald again found a way into the backfield along with cornerback E.J. Gaines and deflected kicker Patrick Murray's 24-yard field goal try to keep the Bucs' lead at one rather than expanding to four.
The Rams turned both blocks into field goals for six points that the Rams could not have won without.
"It’s like a stop so it’s a good feeling and it gives the offense a little more confidence, a little more juice going back out there on the field knowing we didn’t give up any points so it’s good for the whole team," McDonald said.
Zuerlein also provided a strong response in sloppy conditions after a shaky preseason and missing a 50-yard kick against Minnesota last week. But even with the field offering little solid footing, something clearly evident on Zuerlein's kickoffs, he managed to convert from 36, 35, 46 and 38 yards. The last of those coming with 38 seconds to go and providing the Rams with the winning points.
"Anytime you can help your team win the ball game, it’s huge as a kicker," Zuerlein said. "The guys are out there depending on you to do your job. They’ve been battling it out for the whole game and you’ve just got to pull through for them.”
It's probably a bit much to expect similar performances from the special teams every week, but any close approximations will be more than welcome for a team that needs all it can get from everyone on the roster.