Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
11.09.2008 7:19 pm

Rams report card @ Jets

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Email this
  • Print this

Here’s one blogger’s grades for the Rams after Sunday’s 47-3 loss to the New York Jets:

QUARTERBACKS: Granted, they got little help from a poor-blocking offensive line and a timid game plan, but Marc Bulger and Trent Green also did nothing to jump-start the offense, even against the league’s 24th-ranked pass defense. Two Bulger turnovers (an interception and a fumble) handed the Jets two TDs in their 40-0 first-half waltz. Green also tossed a pick that led to a TD. Passer ratings of 29.3 (Bulger) and 33.3 (Green) simply aren’t going to win games in the NFL. GRADE: F

RUNNING BACKS: Antonio Pittman gets props for coming back a week after injuring his hamstring and earning the start. But he produced just 28 yards on 13 carries. Kenneth Darby averaged 8 yards on four tries, but got himself benched by fumbling late in the first half. Overall, Rams RBs averaged just 3.4 yards on 19 attempts. GRADE: D+

RECEIVERS: With just 11 receptions — including two by Pittman for a team-high 38 yards — the receivers didn’t make much of a dent. Keenan Burton had a nice grab for a 28-yard pickup, and fellow rookie Donnie Avery caught a couple of tough balls and drew two pass-interference calls. Torry Holt was a non-factor, with one catch for 5 yards. Derek Stanley lost a fumble after a 12-yard gain, and the Jets got a field goal. GRADE: D

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Jets’ defensive line did a number on the Rams’ front. The pass-blocking was bad, and the run-blocking was even worse, with the Rams rarely getting any kind of push. The QBs must wonder what it’s like to have the kind of time NY’s Brett Favre enjoyed Sunday. GRADE: F

DEFENSIVE LINE: Favre crowed about not being touched all day, let alone sacked or even pressured. Of the Jets’ 62 plays, 43 were runs. And why not? The Rams were unable to slow the Jets’ ballcarriers, yielding 206 yards on the ground — or, 6 more yards than the Rams’ offense produced altogether. This was a mismatch in the trenches. GRADE: F

LINEBACKERS: Although he was credited with a team-high 11 tackles (unofficial press box stats), Quinton Culberson had a generally rough outing in his first start for the injured Chris Draft. He was burned on a 54-yard pass over the middle on the Jets’ second possession, and was out of position several other times. Will Witherspoon missed just one series after suffering a blow to the head, but he and Pisa Tinoisamoa were just OK. GRADE: D

SECONDARY: CBs Fakhir Brown and Jason Craft dropped interceptions, costly miscues. Favre was given plenty of time to set up and throw, so the coverage was understandbly mediocre. S Corey Chavous again was strong against the run. GRADE: C-

SPECIAL TEAMS: Donnie Jones averaged 51.8 yards on four punts, and Josh Brown was good on his only field-goal attempt, from 37 yards. Stanley averaged a so-so 20-yards on six kickoff returns, and Jonathan Wade picked up just 11 on his only try. Coverage was fair. GRADE: C

COACHING: Several players acknowledged that after a strong week of practice, they were well-prepared for the Jets but that they failed to execute on game day. The play-calling was uninspired, but with RB Steven Jackson on the sideline, the Rams are badly hampered in their scheme. Coordinator Rick Venturi tried some things on defense, including moving around Chris Long more. But nothing clicked. Still, the players — not the coaches — earned the bulk of the blame for this debacle. GRADE: C

10 comments

Comments are closed.

I might up the Special Teams score a bit or downgrade the secondary score as I don’t think their respective performances were that close. Otherwise, pretty much on.

— thamnosma
7:45 pm November 9th, 2008

This team was blown out. By halftime. By the end of the first quarter if you actually thought about it, but why make it sound any worse than it really was…how any facet of this team does not get an F is beyond comprehension. Haslett has it right about this team- at least the second half of his statement. These guys are just not capable, because it’s almost impossible to coach a team with a decent amount of talent down to this level.

— jimrams66
8:22 pm November 9th, 2008

This is an easy F all around but instead of complaining I’m going to offer a solution. # 1 keep the coaching staff. # 2 Bulger needs the rest of the season off to heal up metal and physically. # 3 Like Gordo said in his chat, its not an X’s and O’s thing is physical. The Rams need bulk on the offensive and defensive lines as well as the LB core. Carriker to DE, Long to OLB, Witherspoon to OLB and get a stud ILB in the draft or FA. And a big fat DT. The Jets had converted DEs at LB with size and can run, a lot like Chris Long. On the O Line Leckey, Bell and Incognito get pushed into the QB lap on pass plays and can not get a push on run plays and opposing teams know this and attack them with a passion. The Rams need to infuse som tallent there. The good teams in the league have good line play on both side of the ball. See the Titans and Giants. The Rams have the skill players to compete in Bulger, JACKSON, Holt and Avery, they just need the hogs up front on both sides of the ball. Size does matter!!! Go Rams

— LARambunctous29
8:49 pm November 9th, 2008

Please lets offer Vermeil and Faulk front office jobs.

— ramsfan
10:59 am November 10th, 2008

i was at the game. worst football i’ve ever been to, and that counts the old stl football cardinals. unless you were there, you had no idea how bad it was. i’ve been to a bunch of rams’ road games and have never, ever, ever, drawn so much sympathy from opposing fans. F’s across the board. i’m a fan, not a coach, so i don’t know how to fix it, but wow. that was awful.

— G
5:40 pm November 10th, 2008

I bet Chip really is proud of his team, now. I thought Kenneth Darby played well. The fumble was a rookie mistake. He needs work, but a week or two of practice will really help him. Give Donnie Jones more money. I bet Brock Berlin wants out of St Louis. Once again, Bulger chokes and Green is no help.

— bustedbtym
6:05 pm November 10th, 2008

Why not get the two young offensive lineman in the games? Schuenning and Greco are young guys that we are gonna need to develope quickly. cuz incognito and barron aren’t cutting it anymore they also need to draft a center high in the draft. Pace isn’t going to do it for much longer. get these guys sometime on the field.

— matt
10:46 am November 11th, 2008

This is how bad it has gotten… even the beat writers can’t give out F’s to everyone involved in the worst defeat in the history of pro football in St.Louis. Sorry Bill Coats, I gotta give you an F too.

— moos44
11:50 am November 11th, 2008

What a stinker! The whole team played like CRAP. 1 play i saw summed it up on the effort level. Atogwe(who has done well in pass defense) simply watched as the front line got run over at the goal line. At least throw your body into the fray. Green is no upgrade at QB! Try mixing in Berlin(if he’s still 3rd string) with Bulger! Saunders needs a real game plan! Again ditch the screens(no blocking!!!). Pittman looked the best of any of the players I saw–evidence his 2nd effort on runs! Poor field goal kicker–he could tackle better than some of the defense! Time for LOng and Little to turn up stunts or WHATEVER to go after the opposing QB!

— Guy
1:19 pm November 11th, 2008

Bulger deserves an “A” at least for economics. He’s getting paid how many millions? And is now “working” only half a game a week. Brilliant!!!

— Danofhope
8:11 pm November 11th, 2008