Rams-Packers five things to watch/Latsch

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

RamBill

Legend
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
8,874

Rams-Packers five things to watch

By Nate Latsch

http://stl.scout.com/2/1434555.html

ST. LOUIS — The Rams had a youthful and injury-depleted roster for their preseason opener against the visiting Saints last Friday, but still did some positive things in their 26-24 defeat.
On the day after that loss, coach Jeff Fisher said he expected many of the players who missed that game to participate in the second preseason contest, this Saturday against the Green Bay Packers at Edward Jones Dome.

“I think we had 18 guys that did not play in the game for whatever reason, nine of whom were starters, and this week it looks as if we’ll probably get 15 to 16 of them back,” Fisher said then.

That early prognostication probably won’t come true on Saturday. The Rams look like they will still be without some key players, like offensive linemen Jake Long and Rodger Saffold, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive tackle Michael Brockers and top cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

But several players will see their first action of the preseason, which will give us all a little more insight into Fisher’s squad.

Here are five things I’ll be watching for on Saturday afternoon:

• Sam Bradford

All eyes will be on the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 draft as he makes his preseason debut. It also doubles, of course, as his first return from the knee injury that ended his 2013 campaign after just seven games.

Fisher said this week he expects Bradford to play a little more of a quarter, so he should have a couple series to show how far he’s come with his rehab and how ready he’ll be for the regular season. Bradford’s eagerly awaiting getting hit for the first time and then getting up for the first time. You can read more about that here.

This is the next step in a significant season for No. 8.

• Defending Aaron Rodgers

The Rams sat out three of their top cornerbacks against the Saints, with Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson and Brandon McGee all watching from the sideline. That gave guys like rookies Lamarcus Joyner and E.J. Gaines a chance to show what they could do and both flashed their potential.

Jenkins may not play and Darren Woodard, who started last week along with Gaines, may not play either. But Johnson and McGee got plenty of reps in practice this week and should get some substantial work.

The Rams didn’t face Saints quarterback Drew Brees last week but they should get a good look at Packers QB Aaron Rodgers this time.

Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson both sat out the Packers preseason opener, a loss against the Titans, but both are expected back this week.

• Rams’ running game

It’s difficult to evaluate the running game when some of the team’s offensive linemen are out of action, but the results in the preseason opener weren’t anything special.

The Rams rushed for 150 yards on 32 carries, averaging a robust 4.7 yards per rush. But if you take away Chase Reynolds’ 38-yard run on the fake punt in the second half, that average drops to less-than-impressive 3.6 yards per carry.

Now how much can we learn Saturday if Long and Saffold both sit out? Maybe not much. But it will be interesting to see if the return of center Scott Wells, assuming he sees action, can make a difference up front.

Isaiah Pead and undrafted rookie Trey Watts could make their preseason debuts after sitting out against the Saints. Both were more active in practice this week after returning from injuries.

• Michael Sam and Ethan Westbrooks

Sam, the seventh-round pick from Mizzou, did some good things in the loss to the Saints. But Westbrooks was probably a little more impressive.

It could be that only one of these players makes the 53-man roster at the beginning of the regular season. And it could be that Westbrooks, from West Texas A&M, beats out the 2013 Southeastern Conference’s co-defensive player of the year.

After a good start to training camp for Sam, it’s been Westbrooks who has impressed more throughout practice sessions as well as the first preseason game. Will that trend continue on Saturday?

• Kicking game

Fisher said he wasn’t worried about Greg Zuerlein after the kicker missed two fourth-quarter field goals — from 46 yards and 59 yards away — in the loss to the Saints.

The coach attributed those misses to having backup Jorgen Hus as the long snapper for both of those kicks and, not that it was Hus’s fault, but that having a different long snapper just makes it different for the holder and the kicker.

That explanation is understandable for a preseason game where the outcome doesn’t matter, but if the kicking game has any kind of hiccup on Saturday it will raise some questions about Zuerlein going into his third season.

Zuerlein’s resume is strong. He made 26 of 28 field goals in 2013 — both of his misses came from beyond 40 yards — after making 23 of 31 (74.2 percent) as a rookie in 2012. (Though it should be noted Greg the Leg only missed two of his attempts from less than 50 yards.)
 

RamBill

Legend
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
8,874
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2
Rams-Packers: 5 Things to Watch
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_bdad83f4-8397-5b0e-9126-777fc3a3d782.html

Stopping the run • Granted, only half of the normal first-team defense played against New Orleans. But no matter who was out there, 99 yards rushing allowed in the first half, at 7.1 yards a carry, was too much. The Packers had 90 yards rushing — and 4.7 yards a carry — in the first half against Tennessee last week. Green Bay’s offensive line could be its best in several years. #bigchallenge.

Sam vs. Westbrooks • Michael Sam played fairly well against the Saints. But Ethan Westbrooks played even better. Both are battling for what looks like the fifth and final spot at defensive end on the 53-man roster. Westbrooks’ cause is aided because he can also play defensive tackle. Fisher believes Sam will play even better today now that he’s got any opening-day jitters out of the way.

Backfield stable II • The top three RBs — Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham and Tre Mason — all had their moments vs. New Orleans. Chase Reynolds even got a decent amount of work. Now add Isaiah Pead and Trey Watts to the mix. Pead, a second-round pick in 2012, should make his preseason debut after missing the Saints game with a hand injury. Ditto for undrafted rookie Watts, out last week with a hamstring.

Flag football • Only three of the Rams’ 14 penalties committed against the Saints were by players who should definitely be on the 53-man roster in September: TE Lance Kendricks, DB Lamarcus Joyner, and S Cody Davis. Even so, 14 is way too many flags no matter who is the guilty party. If that number doesn’t shrink dramatically, there could be more wind sprints after practice next week.

The long shots • Sixth-round draft pick E.J. Gaines, the cornerback from Mizzou, and undrafted rookie Alex Bayer, the tight end from Bowling Green, both made major pushes for roster spots with impressive showings against the Saints. Whose turn is it this week? The Rams still have a roster spot or two up for grabs on the offensive line and in the secondary, and perhaps one at linebacker.
 

RamBill

Legend
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
8,874
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
W2W4: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10510/w2w4-st-louis-rams-2

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers play their second preseason games Saturday afternoon at the Edward Jones Dome. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. Here are three things to watch for from the Rams' end:

1. Bradford's return: Quarterback Sam Bradford hasn't played in an NFL game for exactly 300 days after suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament last October. But after an extensive rehab, Bradford will play against the Packers. For how long remains to be seen. Coach Jeff Fisher indicated Thursday that Bradford would play about a quarter.

Bradford has looked healthy and taken all of the reps with the first-team offense in training camp but he has yet to take a hit. He said this week he isn't as concerned about that as others but he'll be happy simply to get it out of the way and get back on the field.

2. Sorting the secondary: The Rams were without three of their top cornerbacks last week against the Saints but it looks like they'll get Trumaine Johnson and Brandon McGee back against Green Bay. Janoris Jenkins' status is more up in the air after sitting last week and again in practice most of this week. He did practice Thursday but Fisher was uncertain whether he'd play.

That should mean plenty of opportunities for the Rams to take a long look at the safeties and cornerbacks vying for roster spots. Rookie E.J. Gaines was a standout last week in making the most of his increased opportunity and he figures to get more work this week as he continues building his case for a spot. Behind Jenkins, Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner and McGee, the Rams have plenty of opportunities for players like Gaines, Darren Woodard, Greg Reid and Marcus Roberson to battle for what is likely only one or two more spots.

The same applies to safety, where starters T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod are entrenched as starters and rookie Maurice Alexander is also probably safe. But Cody Davis struggled last week and could use a rebound performance in his efforts to fend off the likes of Matt Daniels and Christian Bryant.

3. Cleaning up mistakes: Like almost every team in the league at this time of year, the Rams struggled in the preseason opener with tackling and penalties, among other basic fundamentals. Missed tackles are par for the course in the preseason opener since it's the first time most teams tackle live, but that doesn't mean it won't be important for the Rams to fix those miscues as the preseason goes on. That doesn't mean they'll be perfect, but the expectation has to be improvement. Part of that improvement has to come from the linebacker corps. Beyond the starters, the Rams have no experienced depth, and Ray-Ray Armstrong and Phillip Steward struggled against the Packers.

As for the penalties, Fisher attributes them to young players who won't make the roster. While that's true, it's still something his team needs to work on after finishing second in the league in infractions a year ago.