- Joined
- Jan 16, 2013
- Messages
- 23,002
- Name
- Dennis
Embarrassed Rams defense eager to redeem itself against Tom Brady and the Patriots
aints receiver Michael Thomas pulls in a touchdown reception over Rams defenders T.J. McDonald (25) and E.J. Gaines on Sunday. After a sub-par performance against New Orleans, the Rams say they are eager for the chance to regroup this week against the Patriots. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER
THOUSAND OAKS – How poorly did the Rams play on defense last week? They’re openly talking about their eagerness to get back on the field and face New England and quarterback Tom Brady.
For most teams, anxious would be a better word than eager. The sight of Brady and the Patriots, dominant NFL forces for almost two full decades, rarely is a welcoming one for NFL defenses, but the Rams seem nearly blind with anger after their devastatingly poor effort against New Orleans last Sunday.
“That was embarrassing,” defensive end William Hayes said after Tuesday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “We should have played for free, the way we got our (butts) kicked out there.”
The direct deposits from owner Stan Kroenke will continue as scheduled, but Rams defenders didn’t mince words Tuesday. They’re expected to be the strength of the team, and they’re coming off a game in which they allowed 555 yards, third-most in any game in the Rams’ 80-year history.
Now, with the Rams (4-7) holding on to the potential of a winning season by their fingernails, they must fly to New England, likely play in frigid weather and attempt to stop the ageless Brady.
“We’re ready,” safety T.J. McDonald said. “We were ready to go play (Monday), after how we felt on Sunday. We put it behind us, and now we’re ready to go back out there and get back to playing defense how we know how to play. We want to put it all together.”
That’s what it will take against the Patriots and Brady, who rarely has been slowed since he returned from a season-opening, four-game suspension related to the “Deflategate” controversy.
Brady has an NFL-best quarterback rating (116.7) and is second in the league in yards per pass attempt (8.6) among quarterback who have attempted at least 100 passes. Brady has thrown for 314.4 yards per game, fourth-best in the NFL, and has totaled 18 touchdowns and one interception in 256 attempts.
Brady, who turned 39 in August, is on pace for one of the best statistical seasons of his storied career.
“He’s a great quarterback,” McDonald said. “Everything speaks for itself. He has done some great things in this league, and continues to. They have a great offense, and the team, they do everything right. They stick to what they do, and they do it well. We’ve definitely got a great challenge ahead of us, and it’s a great challenge for us to get back on the right track and feel a lot better about ourselves.”
The Rams’ defensive breakdown against the Saints was staggering, apparently even to them. The Rams had allowed a total of 50 points in their previous four games, then allowed 49 against the Saints.
The concern for the Rams is that while Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns, has a different style than Brady, both are elite quarterbacks who can throw to a balanced group of receivers. If Brees can carve up the Rams, couldn’t Brady do the exact same?
“When a guy is smart, like him and Tom are, you can’t make any mistakes,” McDonald said. “The littlest mistakes are going to hurt you. It’s not something where you can just get back and play the next play. A lot of those (mistakes) are touchdowns. You definitely have to be on everything.”
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Rams. Perhaps they can take some hints from the New York Jets, who played Brady and the Patriots tough last Sunday until a fourth-quarter collapse and a 22-17 loss.
Brady attempted a season-high 50 passes but completed only 30, for 286 yards. Brady registered season-lows in completion percentage (60.0), yards per attempt (5.7) and quarterback rating (89.2).
Also, until Brees, the Rams had some success this season against elite quarterbacks. They were shredded by Detroit’s Matthew Stafford, but held Arizona’s Carson Palmer, the New York Giants’ Eli Manning and Carolina’s Cam Newton to efforts that, for them, were considered subpar.
But this is a bounce-back challenge unlike any the Rams have faced in many years.
“Giving up seven touchdowns and letting them have their way with us, that’s not how our defense is,” Hayes said. “We really take a lot of pride in our craft and what we put on tape. I know this year hasn’t been going the way we wanted it to go, as an overall team.
“Defensively, I know when we step out there on the field, we can never accept that. That’s the thing that’s bothering me right now. I just haven’t been able to be happy. I won’t be happy until Sunday comes around. It was just embarrassing all the way around.”
[www.ocregister.com]
