- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Things We Noticed: Game 3, vs. Dallas
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_3fe5c07a-2728-5ee9-8b81-7bdb85fa1421.html
Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas takes a final look at the Rams' game vs. Dallas:
3-MAN FRONTS
On more than one occasion during training camp and the preseason, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said the Rams' defensive line was the best he's worked with _ not just the starting four, but from top to bottom. It was odd then to see the Rams go with three-man fronts almost exclusively on third down against Dallas. If the defensive line, particularly its pass rush, is the strength of the team why take one out on most third-down passing situations? The Rams usually didn't send just the three down linemen on the pass rush; they almost always sent a linebacker or a defensive back or two with the 3-man rush.
"We're doing different things, showing different looks, throwing different pressures at 'em," coach Jeff Fisher said. "We wanted to put some pressure on Tony (Romo) and get the ball out."
Wouldn't a front of Robert Quinn, Williams Hayes, Eugene Sims, and Aaron Donald have sufficed?
ME AND MY SHADOW
Janoris Jenkins almost always plays right corner and stays there. On Sunday, he shadowed Cowboys WR Dez Bryant all over the field. It was evident very early in the contest that was the cae, with Jenkins shifting over to left corner and in the slot to follow Bryant around. The Rams have occasionally done this before with Jenkins. For example, he has shadowed San Francisco's Anquan Boldin and Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald in such fashion in the past. The Rams obviously felt this was the best way to go rather than having Bryant occasionally line up over rookies E.J. Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner.
STEP BACK FOR SECONDARY
After surprisingly good outings in the first two games, the young Rams secondary took a step up in class against Romo and the Cowboys' talented receiving crops and stumbled. And that's not to overlook Jenkins' interception return for a touchdown. But there was that 68-yard TD bomb from Romo to Bryant, two pass interference penalties for a combined 59 yards of field position, and the sight of tight end Jason Witten seemingly getting open whenever he felt like it. Gaines and Joyner had troubles in coverage, and in run support, safety T.J. McDonald missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage that helped spring Murray on his 44-yard run in the third quarter.
LEFT LEANING
The Rams, particularly Zac Stacy, did a lot of business with runs to the left. Not surprising considering left tackle Jake Long and left guard Rodger Saffold are the best run blockers on the offensive line. Stacy had runs of 12, four, and eight yards on the opening drive alone running to his left. Trey Watts also had a nine-yard run to the left on that opening drive. According to Pro Football Focus, Stacy forced four missed tackles and averaged 5.6 yards per carry running to his left.
OFFICIATING
Not every call or non-call by referee Clete Blakeman's crew worked against the Rams. It just seemed that way. The Rams did catch a break in the first quarter when Jenkins tripped up _ literally _ DeMarco Murray on a swing pass to the left. As Murray ran by, Jenkins' extended a leg, striking Murray above the ankle and causing him to stumble. It was then that linebacker Alec Ogletree struck an off-balance Murray, causing a fumble that safety Cody Davis recovered, thus setting up the second Rams touchdown of the day. Jenkins should have been penalized for tripping.
