St. Louis Rams report card @ 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO — Here’s one blogger’s grades for the Rams after Sunday’s 35-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers:
QUARTERBACK: Because the Rams again fell behind by a ton at the half, they became a one-dimensional offense. Marc Bulger launched 53 passes but produced a relatively meager 295 yards on 34 completions. He also committed three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble — and all three resulted in Frisco TDs. Bulger, who seems to have lost his pocket presence, was sacked three times. Only a late TD toss pushed his passer rating up to a mediocre 69.3. GRADE: D-
RUNNING BACKS: Subbing for the injured Steven Jackson, Antonio Pittman and Kenneth Darby were solid. They produced 208 total yards, with the Rams advancing 6.5 yards each time they touched the ball. Pittman nearly got his first 100-yard rushing game, and Darby displayed a nice dimension with eight catches. GRADE: B
RECEIVERS: The Teen Squad — Donnie Avery, Derek Stanley and Keenan Burton — totaled 14 receptions for 127 yards. Torry Holt had five catches for 60 yards, and Dane Looker got the Rams’ lone TD on a 2-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. GRADE: B
OFFENSIVE LINE: After Orlando Pace (knee) and Richie Incognito (shoulder) left, the Rams were without any reserve linemen. Adam Goldberg took over for Pace, and Brett Romberg filled in for Incognito. Bulger was relatively well protected, and the run-blocking was better. GRADE: C+
DEFENSIVE LINE: Some shoddy tackling, and again poor play vs. the run. The line produced no sacks and only occasional pressure. 49ers QB Shaun Hill was able to avoid tacklers and pick up real estate on scrambles. GRADE: D-
LINEBACKERS: Pisa Tinoisamoa forced a fumble. Will Witherspoon was credited with a game-high 12 tackles in the unofficial press-box stats, but also missed a couple of times. Quinton Culberson was quiet. GRADE: C-
SECONDARY: CB Jason Craft recovered a fumble and had both Rams sacks. S Oshiomogho Atogwe punched out the ball that Craft grabbed. Coverage was so-so, and tackling wasn’t very good, either. Journeyman QB Hill recorded a gaudy 142.3 passer rating. GRADE: D+
SPECIAL TEAMS: Josh Brown hit on three of four FG tries, but missed a 48-yarder on the opening possession. Donnie Jones averaged 41.8 yards — almost 10 fewer than his league-best season norm — on four punts. Allen Rossum’s 29-yard punt return, to the Rams 34, set up Frisco’s first TD. Coverage in general was supbar. Nothing exciting from returners Travis Minor and Dane Looker. GRADE: C-
COACHING: OC Al Saunders was handcuffed after the Rams tumbled into an early hole and the offense was forced to try to rally via the pass. The middle of the field often was ignored. DC Rick Venturi’s unit couldn’t muscle up and force a field goal in the brutal seconed quarter and perhaps stifle the Niners’ momentum a bit. Why were the Rams punting in the late going despite trailing big? And how much do the Rams have to be down at the half for Jim Haslett to pull an ineffective Bulger? GRADE: D+
2nd week in a row this is easy F for every group. I didn’t give a lot of credence to people saying Bulger is not a leader and his body language can discourage a team but I witnessed it on Sunday. Coach Hasslet said the team had a fragile pyschi when facinf adversity and he was right. When Bulger failed to lead the Offense to a touchdown once they entered the red zone, and Brown missed the field goal it seem to take the life out of the team. At home I said here we go again so I know the players on the field felt the same, and we were right. With the defense being under sized they need to play with emotion and every offensive possesion sucks it out of them when Bulger and company constantly go 3 and out and fail to captalize on the turnovers the defense comes up with. The defense got tired of it at quit. A blogger on Gordos site stated Bulger is going down and hes taking Hasslet with him. Hasslet’s biggest mistake was going back to Bulger after the Buffaloe game. With Green at QB the offense showed a spark and the playing calling was much more agressive and innovative because Green has years of experience and success in Offensive cordinator Al Saunders system. One of two things have to happen. Marc Bulger has to go or the Rams need a whole new coaching staff because the players don’t beleive in this system with Bulger in control. I vote for Bulger leaving.