Rams at Raiders Postgame Notes (8-14-15)

[-X-]

Rams at Raiders Postgame Notes (8-14-15)
Posted 14 August 2015

• The Rams fell to the Raiders, 3-18, in the first preseason game of the 2015 season

• Tonight’s contest marked the 19th time the Rams and the Raiders have faced off in the preseason. Oakland holds a 12-7 advantage in the series.

• QB Nick Foles made his preseason Rams debut. Foles completed 3-of-5 passes for 69 yards, including a long of 35 yards to WR Tavon Austin. Foles left the game after completing two series with the first unit with a 104.2 passer rating.

• QB Case Keenum took over for Foles through the end of the third quarter. Keenum completed 12-of-17 passes for 83 yards and a 81.2 passer rating.

• QB Austin Davis took over at quarterback to start the fourth quarter. Davis completed one of two passes for 12 yards.

• QB Sean Mannion led the offense for the Rams’ last offensive possession of the night. Mannion converted a fourth-and-2 with a five-yard reception by WR Bradley Marquez. On the drive, Mannion completed eight-of-13 passes for 53 yards for a 70.4 passer rating.

• WR Chris Givens led the team in receptions and receiving yards with four receptions for 36 yards. Givens also had one rush for 16 yards.

• RB Trey Watts tallied the most attempts out of the backfield with seven rushes for 16 yards.

• Collectively, the Rams offense compiled 285 total net yards (86 rushing, 199 passing), 15 first downs for a total time of possession of 29:50.

• CB Trumaine Johnson intercepted Raiders QB Derek Carr in the endzone for a touchback. In regular season play, Johnson has compiled eight career interceptions (2012-2, 2013-3, 2014-3).

• Rookie CB Imoan Claiborne snagged an interception off Raiders QB Christian Ponder at the end of the first half.

• Defensively, rookie LB Bryce Hager led the team in tackles with seven (five solo), according to press box statistics.

• K Greg Zuerlein converted a 31-yard field goal.

• P Johnny Hekker punted three times for 130 yards, including a long of 59 yards.

• P/K Michael Palardy had one punt for 38 yards.

• WR Damian Williams had one kickoff return for 15 yards. WR Daniel Rodriguez also had one for 23 yards.

• RB Todd Gurley, CB E.J. Gaines, G Cody Wichmann, WR Brian Quick, TE Brad Smelley, DE Chris Long, LB Korey Toomer, CB Brandon McGee, DT Doug Worthington, and DE Eugene Sims did not play in the game.

 

[-X-]

HALFTIME QUOTES – RAMS AT RAIDERS – AUGUST 14, 2015
CB TRUMAINE JOHNSON, TE LANCE KENDRICKS, LB JAMES LAURINAITIS

CB TRUMAINE JOHNSON
(On his interception)
“I just read the quarterback’s eyes and was able to make a play.”

(On how the defense played despite giving up a big drive and the importance of being able to come up with a big play at the end)
“Of course. It’s all about getting three points. It’s about not letting them score. They drove the first drive all the way down, so to get three points is good.”

TE LANCE KENDRICKS
(On if he’s going to like playing with QB Nick Foles)
“Most definitely. He’s just in sync with the whole offense – a great rhythm, great timing with everybody, easy to work with. It’s going to be a fun season.”

(On how the first-team offense played)
“I think we played pretty good, a couple mistakes here and there, but we’ve got to get better and we will.”

LB JAMES LAURINAITIS
(On how the defense played)
“I think we handled the first 15 (minutes) pretty well. Teams usually come out and try to do a lot of different stuff and they certainly did with reverses and stuff like that. There’s some things we need to correct, no doubt. Overall, when you get put in a short field like that after the penalty in special teams and then they’re down there in the red zone and to come away with no points with the interception, that’s really good stuff. That’s what we expect to do."

 

[BonifayRam]

Looks like WR Chris Givens is going to make an all out effort to make this Ram team. Wonder will he just fade into the bench once again as the regular season moves on?

Rookie LB Bryce Hager may get a ton of work if that knee injury to Bates is serious. Its been said he can play any of the LB'er positions & even safety if needed...will see...

Rookie CB Imoan Claiborne needed a nice night..with health concerns ongoing with Gaines & McGee...the time is ripe for Claiborne to make a big move! Speed was never his game but being smart fast enough & play making skills could make look like a good 5th Ram corner.