Rams report card vs. Giants
Here is one blogger’s grades for the Rams after Sunday’s 41-13 loss to the New York Giants:
QUARTERBACK: If DE Justin Tuck doesn’t make a great play on his interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Marc Bulger probably finishes with a passer rating of about 100. Decent day despite heavy pressure. GRADE: B
RUNNING BACKS: Jackson would’ve had a 66-yard TD, instead of a 15-yard gain, on the second series if he hadn’t tripped himself up on the turf. His other 12 carries netted just 38 yards — an average of just 3.2 per try. GRADE: C
RECEIVERS: Torry Holt had 76 yards on six catches, including an eye-popping 45-yarder for the Rams’ only TD. No other receiver produced more than 29 yards. And why did the Rams draft Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton if they’re not going to use them? GRADE: C+
OFFENSIVE LINE: Tackles Orlando Pace and Alex Barron were OK, but the interior was pounded by the NYG front. Six sacks and many pressures. GRADE: D+
DEFENSIVE LINE: First-round draftee Chris Long got his first sack, and fellow DE Victor Adeyanju picked up his second in his three seasons. Still, Giants averaged 6.5 per carry in rolling up 200 yards on the ground. GRADE: C
LINEBACKERS: Pisa Tinoisamoa and Will Witherspoon were solid. Quinton Culberson didn’t do much. GRADE: B-
SECONDARY: S Oshiomogho Atogwe was burned by Plaxico Burress’s double move for an early TD. Didn’t the Rams watch the film of Hank Baskett’s double move on a 90-yard strike last week? Giants went after CB Tye Hill aggressively, and often successfully. GRADE: D+
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Josh Brown nailed a pair of 54-yard field goals, and Donnie Jones was terrific, averaging 55.7 yards (43.0 net) on six punts. Coverage was so-so. The Rams didn’t get much on their returns. GRADE: B+
COACHING: Scott Linehan is taking plenty of heat after two rough outings. But when are his heralded coordinators, Al Saunders and Jim Haslett, going to produce with their units? GRADE: D
All for now . . . more after Linehan’s media get-together Monday afternoon.
Bulger did play better, but I agree that we have to start seeing some balls thrown in the direction of Avery or Burton. At least some long ones to stretch the field. Most of the blame so far has to go towards Haslett. It’s unbelievable that this guy that had the Saints so fired up that they gave the Rams nightmares……and he can’t get this crew to be effective, or even exciting at times???? I will always be a Rams fan, and have been since 1969, but right now I am having a good time watching Mr. Warner sling the tater for the Cardinals. I do miss his courage and desire, something it looks like Bulger lacks.
Like most, I’m a loyal Rams fan. Based on the results of the Rams/Giants game, and the game against the Eagles,the Rams coaches and players should receive an “F” in the area of enthusiasm and “fire” during the first two weeks. I’m not seeing any emotion! I’ve watched the first two games @ a sports bar in North Carolina and it has been commnented that I’ve exhibited more emotion than the entire team has thus far. I hope the coaches and team stop looking like a bunch of deer staring into headlights and atleast get, and stay “fired-up” throughout their next game. I really like the venue where I view the games and don’t want to get barred from this establishment in the near future. GO RAMS!!!!!
On the plus side…you haven’t heard anyone saying the Rams are using performance enhancing drugs, have you?
Man, whats Dweller on, give me some of that. The Lions should have won to, an inch here an inch there and they win that game.
I think the anger and hostility of the P-D Sports department toward the Rams is part of the problem. The scornful attitude seems to be a reflection of a need by your main sports writers to vent their spleens toward athletes who have disappointed them and cannot ever be good ehough to please them. I can see no way that players can do their best living and working in such an atmosphere of such weekly condemnation. I come from a town where, win or lose, our team was our pride, not our whipping boys. Their H.S. basketball teams have been among the Illinois best fot 50 years, and a lot of their graduates have grown very successful by avoiding toxic critics. Sportwriters must learn to control their frustrations, just like the rest of us.