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Rams offense not varied enough to beat Vikings
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/23431/rams-offense-not-varied-enough-to-beat-vikings
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Looking back at three things to watch from the St. Louis Rams' 21-18 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday:
1. It's always the turnovers: In a game that figured to be close, turnovers looked to make a difference. And they nearly did. The Rams had the game's lone takeaway, an impressive interception by cornerback Trumaine Johnson that killed a Minnesota drive in the end zone at the beginning of the third quarter.
But it was a couple of missed opportunities for takeaway No. 2 that might have been the ultimate difference maker. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Vikings were near midfield and driving when running back Adrian Peterson fumbled on consecutive plays. On the first one, the ball was on the field for a couple of seconds before it narrowly squirted out of bounds. It was a golden chance for the Rams to take over with prime field position and potentially take the lead.
Instead, luck was on the Vikings' side and they overcame their minus-one turnover differential to steal the win.
2. Getting their kicks: Similar to the first category, this one goes against the Rams, not because of something they did but something they didn't do. Kicker Greg Zuerlein was 4-of-5 on field goals, including a franchise record 61-yard effort and a 53-yarder to send the game to overtime. He did miss a 48-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter which might have given the Rams a chance to win in regulation, but overall he had a pretty good day in blustery conditions.
But the biggest mark here against the Rams is eschewing an extra point attempt in the first quarter to go for two when the score was 10-6. The kick would have been at the windy end of the field, but Zuerlein said he had felt comfortable kicking that direction between 45 and 48 yards out before the game. The extra point would have been 12 to 15 yards shorter.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he went for two because of the wind and because he felt the Rams would need every possible point. But if that's true, then one would think that one point would have been particularly desirable. A made extra point there or a conversion from Zuerlein on the 48-yard attempt might have been enough to give the Rams a victory.
3. An offensive evolution: Despite lukewarm checkmarks in the Rams' favor in the first two categories, this is the one that worked against them the most. Minnesota loaded up defensively to stop running back Todd Gurley, and receiver/running back Tavon Austin made the Vikings pay for it early. But when Minnesota adjusted to slow Austin, the Rams didn't have an answer with anyone else on the team. Wideout Kenny Britt did have three catches for 87 yards, including a 55-yarder, and was open for another one, but the Rams simply aren't getting enough from quarterback Nick Foles and the passing game. Until that happens, it's going to be hard for the Rams to win these type of games on the road.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/23431/rams-offense-not-varied-enough-to-beat-vikings
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Looking back at three things to watch from the St. Louis Rams' 21-18 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday:
1. It's always the turnovers: In a game that figured to be close, turnovers looked to make a difference. And they nearly did. The Rams had the game's lone takeaway, an impressive interception by cornerback Trumaine Johnson that killed a Minnesota drive in the end zone at the beginning of the third quarter.
But it was a couple of missed opportunities for takeaway No. 2 that might have been the ultimate difference maker. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Vikings were near midfield and driving when running back Adrian Peterson fumbled on consecutive plays. On the first one, the ball was on the field for a couple of seconds before it narrowly squirted out of bounds. It was a golden chance for the Rams to take over with prime field position and potentially take the lead.
Instead, luck was on the Vikings' side and they overcame their minus-one turnover differential to steal the win.
2. Getting their kicks: Similar to the first category, this one goes against the Rams, not because of something they did but something they didn't do. Kicker Greg Zuerlein was 4-of-5 on field goals, including a franchise record 61-yard effort and a 53-yarder to send the game to overtime. He did miss a 48-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter which might have given the Rams a chance to win in regulation, but overall he had a pretty good day in blustery conditions.
But the biggest mark here against the Rams is eschewing an extra point attempt in the first quarter to go for two when the score was 10-6. The kick would have been at the windy end of the field, but Zuerlein said he had felt comfortable kicking that direction between 45 and 48 yards out before the game. The extra point would have been 12 to 15 yards shorter.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he went for two because of the wind and because he felt the Rams would need every possible point. But if that's true, then one would think that one point would have been particularly desirable. A made extra point there or a conversion from Zuerlein on the 48-yard attempt might have been enough to give the Rams a victory.
3. An offensive evolution: Despite lukewarm checkmarks in the Rams' favor in the first two categories, this is the one that worked against them the most. Minnesota loaded up defensively to stop running back Todd Gurley, and receiver/running back Tavon Austin made the Vikings pay for it early. But when Minnesota adjusted to slow Austin, the Rams didn't have an answer with anyone else on the team. Wideout Kenny Britt did have three catches for 87 yards, including a 55-yarder, and was open for another one, but the Rams simply aren't getting enough from quarterback Nick Foles and the passing game. Until that happens, it's going to be hard for the Rams to win these type of games on the road.
