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Joe Strauss
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/joe-strauss/strauss-rams-must-show-more-discipline/article_4e29d4c8-490b-5f03-97ff-b8c200b2de58.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 2de58.html</a>
If the purpose of Thursday night’s full-priced exhibition finale was for the Rams to escape healthy, perhaps the three hours plus against the Baltimore Ravens could be classified a success.
If it was to emerge from the pretend portion of their schedule with a win, they did so with a 24-21 comeback against the defending Super Bowl champions.
If the goal was to “clean up” a rather mistake-prone August ... well, that one will have to wait.
Everything about Thursday night came with a qualifier. The Ravens opted to leave quarterback and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco back in Maryland while giving the “start” to third-stringer Caleb Hanie, the pride of Colorado State. Rams boss Jeff Fisher countered by allowing Sam Bradford to dress out but thought it wise to leave Bradford on the sidelines while Kellen Clemens took the early snaps.
Final score and starting lineups be damned, what Fisher witnessed during the first two quarters caused him to raise his voice in frustration at halftime.
Three fumbles in the game’s first six minutes and nine second-quarter penalties have a way of doing that to coaches. Never mind that several projected starters didn’t see action. Fisher seethed over inefficiencies that followed his impressionable team through an erasable 1-3 month.
Fisher used halftime for a “nice little candid discussion.” According to his audience, Fisher’s voice became raised and his point became unmistakable.
“We’ve been talking about penalties all week,” he groused afterward.
A bystander Thursday, Bradford witnessed the tendency up close in three previous weeks. For a maturing team trying to stretch its offense, penalties are more than a minor inconvenience.
“I think ... through our second and third games we had 20 penalties. You’re not going to win many football games when you have that many penalties,” Bradford said. [hilite]“That’s inexcusable if we want to be the team we think we can be. Penalties are the quickest way to shoot yourself in the foot. They’re things we just can’t have.”[/hilite]
The Rams gave away 95 yards in first-half penalties. The Ravens managed only 99 yards of first-half offense yet still led 14-10.
The Rams committed only one fewer penalty (17) Thursday than they managed first downs. The number obscured a commendable effort holding the Ravens to 44 yards rushing while forcing four turnovers. For the preseason, the locals were whistled for 43 penalties totaling 294 yards.
Thursday’s effort featured second-quarter personal fouls on special teams, offense and defense. Of the second-quarter penalties, only one was committed by a projected starter and it was declined in favor of another misdeed on the same play. In those 15 minutes the Rams were whistled for offensive holding, a neutral zone infraction, roughing the passer, defensive holding, unnecessary roughness, a flagrant face mask and a false start. Here’s guessing the offensive line was also illegally parked.
“If you play on this level you’ve got to play smart,” said receiver Brian Quick, who lost a fumble and was later whistled for a holding penalty that was declined.
The Rams project as the NFL’s youngest team this season. Thursday night included only sporadic participation from first-teamers. Neither fact provided amnesty.
The Rams managed to fumble three times in the game’s first six minutes. Isaiah Pead fumbled the opening kickoff, which the Rams recovered. Wideouts Quick and Tavon Austin coughed up receptions, which the Ravens pounced upon.
Discerning what is real from what is sideshow is the task. The Rams revealed only two defenses against the Browns three weeks ago. Does it matter that the Rams never displayed a consistent running game against the Browns, Packers, Broncos and Ravens? (Leaning toward yes.) Does it matter that defensive end Chris Long sat out three practices last week and stood on Thursday’s sidelines in street clothes with a wrap around the right leg, perhaps to protect a hamstring. (Absent meaningful injury information, perhaps.) Is it meaningful that in four games the first-team offense generated two touchdown drives, only one longer than three yards? (Leaning no.) Are concerns about lacking depth warranted? (Absolutely.)
We’re told the official flavors for these last four games are decidedly vanilla, French Vanilla or some other variant of bland.
Forgive us if after Thursday’s first quarter we wonder what flavor ball security represents.
We’re constantly reminded these games don’t count, despite what ticket face value says. The Ravens didn’t send out a single first-teamer on offense or defense on the opening drives. The Rams used only eight projected starters among their first 22. Previously prone to exposing his starters in the final exhibition, Fisher likely found religion after defensive tackle Michael Brockers suffered a high ankle sprain in last year’s preseason finale, also against the Ravens.
Weighing rushing and passing stats was as easy Thursday as trying to place helium on scales. Starters at skill positions typically encountered backups or guys soon to be on the street or somebody’s practice squad. Bennie Cunningham and Zac Stacy contributed 113 yards and one score on 19 carries. Clemens likely tightened his hold on the backup role to Bradford. Best of all, no one got hurt.
The Rams played one good half during their first three losses — a 20-10 lead against the Broncos in Week 3. They entered that game with a minus-5 turnover differential after two weeks typified by slipshod tackling. The tackling improved but the turnovers and penalties have continued. A veteran team might dismiss the inefficiencies as prelude to flipping a switch. A young team doesn’t receive that pass.
All this offense’s added sizzle won’t mean anything if it can’t line up properly, can’t abstain from holding and can’t follow a snap count.
“I don’t know if it’s a focus thing. I don’t think we can use the fact that we’re young,” Bradford said. “It doesn't matter how young you are. We still can't make those mistakes.”
Fisher has promised all month this bunch will “clean things up” before its Sept. 8 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
With some of Thursday’s offenders not long for Earth City, one hopes Fisher is true to his word.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/joe-strauss/strauss-rams-must-show-more-discipline/article_4e29d4c8-490b-5f03-97ff-b8c200b2de58.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 2de58.html</a>
If the purpose of Thursday night’s full-priced exhibition finale was for the Rams to escape healthy, perhaps the three hours plus against the Baltimore Ravens could be classified a success.
If it was to emerge from the pretend portion of their schedule with a win, they did so with a 24-21 comeback against the defending Super Bowl champions.
If the goal was to “clean up” a rather mistake-prone August ... well, that one will have to wait.
Everything about Thursday night came with a qualifier. The Ravens opted to leave quarterback and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco back in Maryland while giving the “start” to third-stringer Caleb Hanie, the pride of Colorado State. Rams boss Jeff Fisher countered by allowing Sam Bradford to dress out but thought it wise to leave Bradford on the sidelines while Kellen Clemens took the early snaps.
Final score and starting lineups be damned, what Fisher witnessed during the first two quarters caused him to raise his voice in frustration at halftime.
Three fumbles in the game’s first six minutes and nine second-quarter penalties have a way of doing that to coaches. Never mind that several projected starters didn’t see action. Fisher seethed over inefficiencies that followed his impressionable team through an erasable 1-3 month.
Fisher used halftime for a “nice little candid discussion.” According to his audience, Fisher’s voice became raised and his point became unmistakable.
“We’ve been talking about penalties all week,” he groused afterward.
A bystander Thursday, Bradford witnessed the tendency up close in three previous weeks. For a maturing team trying to stretch its offense, penalties are more than a minor inconvenience.
“I think ... through our second and third games we had 20 penalties. You’re not going to win many football games when you have that many penalties,” Bradford said. [hilite]“That’s inexcusable if we want to be the team we think we can be. Penalties are the quickest way to shoot yourself in the foot. They’re things we just can’t have.”[/hilite]
The Rams gave away 95 yards in first-half penalties. The Ravens managed only 99 yards of first-half offense yet still led 14-10.
The Rams committed only one fewer penalty (17) Thursday than they managed first downs. The number obscured a commendable effort holding the Ravens to 44 yards rushing while forcing four turnovers. For the preseason, the locals were whistled for 43 penalties totaling 294 yards.
Thursday’s effort featured second-quarter personal fouls on special teams, offense and defense. Of the second-quarter penalties, only one was committed by a projected starter and it was declined in favor of another misdeed on the same play. In those 15 minutes the Rams were whistled for offensive holding, a neutral zone infraction, roughing the passer, defensive holding, unnecessary roughness, a flagrant face mask and a false start. Here’s guessing the offensive line was also illegally parked.
“If you play on this level you’ve got to play smart,” said receiver Brian Quick, who lost a fumble and was later whistled for a holding penalty that was declined.
The Rams project as the NFL’s youngest team this season. Thursday night included only sporadic participation from first-teamers. Neither fact provided amnesty.
The Rams managed to fumble three times in the game’s first six minutes. Isaiah Pead fumbled the opening kickoff, which the Rams recovered. Wideouts Quick and Tavon Austin coughed up receptions, which the Ravens pounced upon.
Discerning what is real from what is sideshow is the task. The Rams revealed only two defenses against the Browns three weeks ago. Does it matter that the Rams never displayed a consistent running game against the Browns, Packers, Broncos and Ravens? (Leaning toward yes.) Does it matter that defensive end Chris Long sat out three practices last week and stood on Thursday’s sidelines in street clothes with a wrap around the right leg, perhaps to protect a hamstring. (Absent meaningful injury information, perhaps.) Is it meaningful that in four games the first-team offense generated two touchdown drives, only one longer than three yards? (Leaning no.) Are concerns about lacking depth warranted? (Absolutely.)
We’re told the official flavors for these last four games are decidedly vanilla, French Vanilla or some other variant of bland.
Forgive us if after Thursday’s first quarter we wonder what flavor ball security represents.
We’re constantly reminded these games don’t count, despite what ticket face value says. The Ravens didn’t send out a single first-teamer on offense or defense on the opening drives. The Rams used only eight projected starters among their first 22. Previously prone to exposing his starters in the final exhibition, Fisher likely found religion after defensive tackle Michael Brockers suffered a high ankle sprain in last year’s preseason finale, also against the Ravens.
Weighing rushing and passing stats was as easy Thursday as trying to place helium on scales. Starters at skill positions typically encountered backups or guys soon to be on the street or somebody’s practice squad. Bennie Cunningham and Zac Stacy contributed 113 yards and one score on 19 carries. Clemens likely tightened his hold on the backup role to Bradford. Best of all, no one got hurt.
The Rams played one good half during their first three losses — a 20-10 lead against the Broncos in Week 3. They entered that game with a minus-5 turnover differential after two weeks typified by slipshod tackling. The tackling improved but the turnovers and penalties have continued. A veteran team might dismiss the inefficiencies as prelude to flipping a switch. A young team doesn’t receive that pass.
All this offense’s added sizzle won’t mean anything if it can’t line up properly, can’t abstain from holding and can’t follow a snap count.
“I don’t know if it’s a focus thing. I don’t think we can use the fact that we’re young,” Bradford said. “It doesn't matter how young you are. We still can't make those mistakes.”
Fisher has promised all month this bunch will “clean things up” before its Sept. 8 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
With some of Thursday’s offenders not long for Earth City, one hopes Fisher is true to his word.