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Turning point play: Jared Cook called for pass interference
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-play-jared-cook-called-for-pass-interference
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Here's a look back at the turning point play from the St. Louis Rams' 31-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night:
The situation: With two minutes and 53 seconds to go in the first half, the Rams faced a third-and-9 from the Niners' 46. At the time, they were still in control of things with a 14-3 lead and had an opportunity to extend the lead going into the locker room. The Rams were mostly rolling in the first half and another score, even just a field goal, would have put even more pressure on the Niners in the second half.
The play: At the snap, tight end Jared Cook ran an intermediate crossing route from his spot just off the right side of the line of scrimmage. As Cook crossed into the middle of the field, Niners defensive back Perrish Cox engaged him about 6 yards into the route. Cox and Cook appear to grab each other but nothing much beyond that. As Cook disengaged from Cox, he created enough space to continue his route toward the left sideline. Quarterback Austin Davis, meanwhile, was able to evade pressure enough to get the ball out to Cook. Cook made an excellent contested catch with Cox near but managed to fight him off and run for an apparent gain of 21 yards to San Francisco's 25. Alas, a flag came out, one that most presumed at the time would be for illegal contact against Cox. But it wasn't. The officials flagged Cook for offensive pass interference and turned first-and-10 at the Niners' 25 into third-and-19 at the Rams' 44.
The fallout: Cook and the Rams were left incredulous after the call and, after looking at the play a few times, you can't blame them. The contact is very minimal and looked like a prime example of a play that should go uncalled in either direction. The Rams settled for a handoff to Benny Cunningham on the next play and then punted it away. Of course, as the dominoes continued to fall, the penalty would spin into Niners receiver Brandon Lloyd's 80-yard touchdown catch just before halftime. That was really the biggest play of the game but we already detailed that last night. It's reasonable to deduce that the 80-yard touchdown probably never would have happened had Cook's catch stood and the Rams' drive continued. It would have put the Rams in field goal range and they likely would have entered the locker room at no worse than a 17-3 lead. Instead, they went in ahead 14-10 as the Niners surged to the win.
"That’s a points swing," coach Jeff Fisher said. "We’re in field goal range, we have a pretty good kicker, might even be seven (points). And then we come back and give up the long touchdown pass, so it’s a big swing there. But it started with the OPI call."
Fisher said he didn't get much of an explanation on the call.
"I saw it on the tape and a receiver has the right to run his route, disappointed in that," Fisher said. “If anything it was a defensive foul, if anything."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-play-jared-cook-called-for-pass-interference
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Here's a look back at the turning point play from the St. Louis Rams' 31-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night:
The situation: With two minutes and 53 seconds to go in the first half, the Rams faced a third-and-9 from the Niners' 46. At the time, they were still in control of things with a 14-3 lead and had an opportunity to extend the lead going into the locker room. The Rams were mostly rolling in the first half and another score, even just a field goal, would have put even more pressure on the Niners in the second half.
The play: At the snap, tight end Jared Cook ran an intermediate crossing route from his spot just off the right side of the line of scrimmage. As Cook crossed into the middle of the field, Niners defensive back Perrish Cox engaged him about 6 yards into the route. Cox and Cook appear to grab each other but nothing much beyond that. As Cook disengaged from Cox, he created enough space to continue his route toward the left sideline. Quarterback Austin Davis, meanwhile, was able to evade pressure enough to get the ball out to Cook. Cook made an excellent contested catch with Cox near but managed to fight him off and run for an apparent gain of 21 yards to San Francisco's 25. Alas, a flag came out, one that most presumed at the time would be for illegal contact against Cox. But it wasn't. The officials flagged Cook for offensive pass interference and turned first-and-10 at the Niners' 25 into third-and-19 at the Rams' 44.
The fallout: Cook and the Rams were left incredulous after the call and, after looking at the play a few times, you can't blame them. The contact is very minimal and looked like a prime example of a play that should go uncalled in either direction. The Rams settled for a handoff to Benny Cunningham on the next play and then punted it away. Of course, as the dominoes continued to fall, the penalty would spin into Niners receiver Brandon Lloyd's 80-yard touchdown catch just before halftime. That was really the biggest play of the game but we already detailed that last night. It's reasonable to deduce that the 80-yard touchdown probably never would have happened had Cook's catch stood and the Rams' drive continued. It would have put the Rams in field goal range and they likely would have entered the locker room at no worse than a 17-3 lead. Instead, they went in ahead 14-10 as the Niners surged to the win.
"That’s a points swing," coach Jeff Fisher said. "We’re in field goal range, we have a pretty good kicker, might even be seven (points). And then we come back and give up the long touchdown pass, so it’s a big swing there. But it started with the OPI call."
Fisher said he didn't get much of an explanation on the call.
"I saw it on the tape and a receiver has the right to run his route, disappointed in that," Fisher said. “If anything it was a defensive foul, if anything."
