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Rams Notes: Rob Gronkowski's injury leaves Rams wondering about Patriots offense
By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER
THOUSAND OAKS – The Rams are heading to New England as nearly two-touchdown underdogs. A season-ending injury to the league’s best tight end, it would seem, can only help their chances at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
But the Patriots’ announcement Thursday that Rob Gronkowski will likely sit out the rest of the year after undergoing back surgery might also throw a wrench into the Rams’ week of preparation.
“Now, we don’t know what to expect out of their offense,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.
While there is no understating how valuable Gronkowski is to the Patriots (9-2), there is plenty of evidence that New England can function without its four-time Pro Bowler.
The 27-year-old has missed three games this season due to injuries, and the Patriots won all three. The only time quarterback Tom Brady took the field without Gronkowski this season, he ended up throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns – though it certainly helped to be playing the 49ers, who are winless since beating the Rams (4-7) to open the season.
But a larger sample size could concern the Pats. Gronkowski has missed 19 games since he arrived in New England in 2010 as a second-round draft pick. Brady has started in all but two. In those 17 appearances, Brady – who has passer rating of 101.1 in the last seven seasons – saw that number plummet to 84.4.
Extrapolated over an entire season, a passer rating of 84.4 would rank 39th in the NFL, between a pair of rookie backups in Paxton Lynch (Broncos) and Jacoby Brissett (Patriots).
Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn’t expect New England to significantly alter its offense just because of Gronkowski’s absence, pointing out the presence of former Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett (listed as questionable with ankle and shoulder injuries). The Pats acquired Bennett in an offseason trade with the Bears, and he has caught 42 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. His catch rate of 77.8 percent is a career high.
Without Gronkowski, New England coach Bill Belichick and his staff could also decide to lean more heavily on their trio of running backs: LeGarrette Blount leads the league with 12 touchdown runs, while James White and Dion Lewis have combined for 594 yards from scrimmage.
“They’ve been practicing all week without him anyway,” Williams said. “They’ve got a plan.”
Added Fisher: “Bill has always found a way to adjust.”
AUSTIN DOUBTFUL, QUINN QUESTIONABLE
Receiver Tavon Austin has been ruled doubtful to play against the Patriots after sitting out every practice this week due to a chest injury. If he sits out, the Rams will likely give more snaps to rookie Pharoh Cooper – who had been touted as one of the team’s top three receivers during training camp, but fell down the depth chart after a preseason shoulder injury.
Austin, whom the Rams signed to a four-year, $42 million extension in August, has not been especially productive in his fourth NFL season. The former No. 8 overall pick is averaging only 44.7 yards from scrimmage – down 12 yards from 2015 – and his catch rate of 55.7 percent is a career low.
The West Virginia product is second on the team with 79 targets, though his workload has decreased in recent weeks. In the two games Jared Goff has started at quarterback, Austin has seen just six targets, behind leading receiver Kenny Britt (17), tight end Lance Kendricks (14) and Brian Quick (eight).
Defensive end Robert Quinn also did not practice this week after the Rams placed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol Monday. Despite missing two games with a neck/shoulder injury, Quinn is second on the team with four sacks, two behind defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
“We’ll see how that goes in the next day or so,” Fisher said.
Starting center Tim Barnes was limited in Friday’s practice, but has already played through his foot injury in the last two games. Offensive linemen Rodger Saffold (hand) and Andrew Donnal (hip) are also listed as questionable.
[www.ocregister.com]
By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER
THOUSAND OAKS – The Rams are heading to New England as nearly two-touchdown underdogs. A season-ending injury to the league’s best tight end, it would seem, can only help their chances at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
But the Patriots’ announcement Thursday that Rob Gronkowski will likely sit out the rest of the year after undergoing back surgery might also throw a wrench into the Rams’ week of preparation.
“Now, we don’t know what to expect out of their offense,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.
While there is no understating how valuable Gronkowski is to the Patriots (9-2), there is plenty of evidence that New England can function without its four-time Pro Bowler.
The 27-year-old has missed three games this season due to injuries, and the Patriots won all three. The only time quarterback Tom Brady took the field without Gronkowski this season, he ended up throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns – though it certainly helped to be playing the 49ers, who are winless since beating the Rams (4-7) to open the season.
But a larger sample size could concern the Pats. Gronkowski has missed 19 games since he arrived in New England in 2010 as a second-round draft pick. Brady has started in all but two. In those 17 appearances, Brady – who has passer rating of 101.1 in the last seven seasons – saw that number plummet to 84.4.
Extrapolated over an entire season, a passer rating of 84.4 would rank 39th in the NFL, between a pair of rookie backups in Paxton Lynch (Broncos) and Jacoby Brissett (Patriots).
Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn’t expect New England to significantly alter its offense just because of Gronkowski’s absence, pointing out the presence of former Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett (listed as questionable with ankle and shoulder injuries). The Pats acquired Bennett in an offseason trade with the Bears, and he has caught 42 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. His catch rate of 77.8 percent is a career high.
Without Gronkowski, New England coach Bill Belichick and his staff could also decide to lean more heavily on their trio of running backs: LeGarrette Blount leads the league with 12 touchdown runs, while James White and Dion Lewis have combined for 594 yards from scrimmage.
“They’ve been practicing all week without him anyway,” Williams said. “They’ve got a plan.”
Added Fisher: “Bill has always found a way to adjust.”
AUSTIN DOUBTFUL, QUINN QUESTIONABLE
Receiver Tavon Austin has been ruled doubtful to play against the Patriots after sitting out every practice this week due to a chest injury. If he sits out, the Rams will likely give more snaps to rookie Pharoh Cooper – who had been touted as one of the team’s top three receivers during training camp, but fell down the depth chart after a preseason shoulder injury.
Austin, whom the Rams signed to a four-year, $42 million extension in August, has not been especially productive in his fourth NFL season. The former No. 8 overall pick is averaging only 44.7 yards from scrimmage – down 12 yards from 2015 – and his catch rate of 55.7 percent is a career low.
The West Virginia product is second on the team with 79 targets, though his workload has decreased in recent weeks. In the two games Jared Goff has started at quarterback, Austin has seen just six targets, behind leading receiver Kenny Britt (17), tight end Lance Kendricks (14) and Brian Quick (eight).
Defensive end Robert Quinn also did not practice this week after the Rams placed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol Monday. Despite missing two games with a neck/shoulder injury, Quinn is second on the team with four sacks, two behind defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
“We’ll see how that goes in the next day or so,” Fisher said.
Starting center Tim Barnes was limited in Friday’s practice, but has already played through his foot injury in the last two games. Offensive linemen Rodger Saffold (hand) and Andrew Donnal (hip) are also listed as questionable.
[www.ocregister.com]
