“Dr.” Spagnuolo finds injury judgments difficult to make
Judging whether to shut down a slightly injured player or to let him suit up and take the field is one of the more difficult tasks for an NFL head coach. The St. Louis Rams’ Steve Spagnuolo is finding that out during his rookie season.
“Every individual’s different,” he said. “That’s part of me learning the team. That’s what this whole year will be. I’ll have a better idea of how guys react to injuries. They all react differently.
“And I’ll tell you what: A lot of these guys react real good.”
Spagnuolo trusted the judgment of cornerback Ron Bartell, who has been nursing a sore thigh nearly all season but has remained in the lineup. Now, defensive lineman C.J. Ah You is in a similar predicament. The high-ankle sprain that he suffered Oct. 25 vs. the Colts has improved greatly. But is it enough that he could be effective Sunday vs. the Saints?
“C.J. is questionable right now,” Spagnuolo said after Friday’s practice. “He didn’t do a lot today, very limited. He’s still fighting that ankle. I’d like him to be a hundred percent on Sunday, so I thought it best to back off a little bit. He got plenty of the reps he needed Wednesday and Thursday.”
Notes & quotes:
*G Richie Incognito (foot) spent another day on the sideline with strength coach Rock Gullickson.
*WR Ruvell Martin got some reps with the first-team offense. Still, Spagnuolo hasn’t dressed more than four WRs for a game this year. So on Sunday, it likely will be Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson.
*Spagnuolo reported that Burton “had a real good week of practice. He looks real confident to me in what he’s doing out there, and he’s really helping all those other guys. A real pro.”
*With Ah You limited, Victor Adeyanju took some first-team snaps at defensive tackle.
All for now…
How about a little inside information on cornerbacks. We’re really hurting in the interception department. I know Quincy Butler had a rookie mistake on the kick return, but he IS a rookie. He made some interceptions in presesason and looks like a good tackler. Also thought it was reported Adeyanju had been better at pass rushing, so if Spagnola says rookies have to prove themself over vets, why do Vistor and Goldberg sit out to rookies. If we pay the draftees big money and they have to go in on that premise, Spags contradicts himself. Give them all a shot and let the best players start.
P.S. I know Butler isn’t a true rookie but he hasn’t had any real playing time.
Concerning interceptions and better secondary play, until our D-line gets better we shouldn’t expect much from this group. Most of the QBs we’ve faced have enjoyed ample time to set, look through their check downs, and throw unimpeded. Hard for a D-back to do much in those situations.
It’s an old cliche, but defense is an ll-man effort.
That said, however, it doesn’t appear that Rams D-backs ever take a calculated risk and break on the ball. That’s a fine line, but great defenses play aggressively.
Just win baby, win!
I’m sure that he is playing DT on obvious passing downs, much like J. Hall and C. Long also will move inside when it is probably not going to be a run.
I agree with you, though. I would sure like to see VA get some snaps on a regular basis. He is in his contract year and we’ve got to properly assess him to see if we want to resign him next year.
I’d hate to let him go due to lack of playing time info this year only for him to re surface somewhere else.
Not like that hasn’t happened a number of times, eh?
I really hope Martin is okay to go on sunday. it will be beneficial if he is in case one of the other Wr’s get knicked up. im also expecting a good game from gibson- with any luck he’ll be worth who he was traded for..
Wildwood Curt, there’s a boy named SUH.