Rams Report Card @ Detroit
DETROIT — Here’s one blogger’s grades for the Rams after Sunday’s 17-10 victory over the Detroit Lions:
QUARTERBACK: Although he wasn’t sacked and rarely pressured, the numbers put up by an erratic Marc Bulger weren’t impressive: 17 of 35, 176 yards, no TDs, an interception and a passer rating of 51.6. The pick came in the red zone, with the Rams in position to move in front by 17 points. Bulger came up a yard short on a slide that should’ve resulted in a first down. Bulger earned points by wisely calling a timeout before the fake field goal for a TD. Plus, he was in charge for the decisive four-play, 62-yard drive that won it. Still, this was hardly one of Bulger’s better days. GRADE: D
RUNNING BACKS: In a word, Steven Jackson was fabulous. He ran with heart and intensity all afternoon in rolling up a season-high 149 yards. His 25-yard TD burst was the game-winner, but he had several other key carries. He also caught three passes for 17 yards. The Rams moved 6.6 yards every time Jackson touched the ball. Simply put, Jackson willed the Rams to victory. GRADE: A
RECEIVERS: WR Keenan Burton had five catches for 54 yards. He was particularly effective early. Billy Bajema’s first two receptions of the year picked up 43 yards, and fellow TE Daniel Fells raced 36 yards to the end zone with a catch off a fake field goal. TE Randy McMichael had a drop, and he probably should’ve held on to another ball near the goal line. WRs Donnie Avery and Danny Amendola were quiet, with just one reception each. GRADE: C-
OFFENSIVE LINE: Arguably the best outing of the year for this group, even with RG Richie Incognito (foot) on the sideline (Adam Goldberg started in his place). It kept Bulger clean and provided some room for Jackson, especially in the second half. Alex Barron was solid at LT, rookie Jason Smith was stout at RT, and Mark Setterstrom filled in nicely at LG after Jacob Bell left with a probable concussion late in the third quarter. GRADE: A-
DEFENSIVE LINE: Another impressive showing by DE Leonard Little, who recorded a sack, another tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. DE Chris Long notched his first sack of the year, as the Rams got after rookie QB Matthew Stafford pretty effectively. In the run game, the Lions’ primary backs averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. GRADE: B
LINEBACKERS: Rookie MLB James Laurinaitis was credited with a team-high seven tackles in the unofficial press-box stats. WLB Paris Lenon had six stops despite problems with his back. SLB David Vobora didn’t do much in his return from a four-week suspension. GRADE: C
SECONDARY: The absence of dangerous WR Calvin Johnson (knee) was a boost for the Rams, whose coverage was impressive: Lions WRs were targeted 14 times and caught just two balls. CB Quincy Butler was solid in his first career start in a “base” defense. S James Butler intercepted a pass in the end zone, came out a yard or two, then inexplicably retreated back and was dropped for a safety. He also dropped another sure pickand cost his unit at least half a letter grade. GRADE: B-
SPECIAL TEAMS: A fake field goal couldn’t have worked any better than the one the Rams pulled off, K Josh Brown throwing to Fells for a 36-yard TD. Brown hit from 41 yards on his only FG try. P Donnie Jones didn’t have great stats — 44.6 average, 37.6 net. But he dropped three of his five punts inside the 20, including a crucial 39-yarder that pinned the Lions at their 6-yard line with 4 minutes left. The Rams coverage was good, their returns just so-so. GRADE: B+
COACHING: Kudos to special-teams coach Tom McMahon for detecting the flaw in Detroit’s kick defense that prompted the fake field goal and TD. Also, to HC Steve Spagnuolo for allowing the attempt to take place. DC Ken Flajole did a nice job of dialing up different looks that featured different personnel. For the most part, OC Pat Shurmur wisely kept the ball in Jackson’s hands. Not enough shots downfield in the passing game. GRADE: B
Letter to Santa Claus this year……
Dear Santa,
PLEASE give the Rams a quarterback that we can be proud of next year, one we can really build a team around. I promise I’ll be good all year and eat all my veggies if you do!
We need RECEIVERS! That grade should be an F-. Besides the tight ends we have nothing. That rookie needs to get up to speed over the bye week.
Without any receivers it’s gonna be had to beat any team but the Lions.
This game was like a wireless commercial because of all the dropped calls. Whoops I meant dropped balls.
Bulger’s something else. True to form, the guy just crumbles when the game heats up.
Avery will make a good number 4 receiver and Amendola the number 5. I hope the Rams grab the kid out of LSU to be their number 2 receiver and bring in a number 1 wr via FA….ALSO draft Alexander to fill the number 3 spot. This team also needs another RB to spell jackson. I just hope NULL can play.
Once again Bill Coats is being very generous. I have to agree with his grade for Steven Jackson. This guy ran like a monster today. He flat out ran some people over including a referee. I’d give Marc Bulger a D-. He just barely got the job done today, and he didn’t end up giving the game away. We desperately need to draft a good quarterback and let this guy go. His best days are far behind him. Even when he scrambles he doesn’t run far enough to pick up the 1st down. Why bother then? The defensive line gave up too many big runs to nobody running backs. And was O.J. Atogwe dancing around on the field? Why? This team sucks and he’s dancing around. Must be the pay check he isn’t earning od maybe he’s going to try out for Dancing With The Stars. The Rams secondary flat out sucks! Period! Ron Bartell, YOU SUCK! And Butler taking a safety? I expect alot more from a veteran leader from a Superbowl Team. It was funny to see another team besides the Rams make mistake after mistake. The Rams got lucky today. At least they won’t go through the season without a win. And this will probably be their only win this year. Coaching wasn’t too bad. But this team needs players. If every player on this team gave the kind of effort Steven Jackson did, they’d be a much better team! Enjoy the bye week. Ram fans need a break. At least we’ll all sleep better tonight.
Congratulations RAMS!!! I just have to say to all of the Steven Jackson Haters…If Steven Jackson played for the Patriots, Steelers, Broncos, or New York Giants…He would be the Best Running Back (Maybe the best player) in the NFL…..I just hope the front office realizes this and puts more talent around him….
Also, its good to see Leonard Little healthy…He’s playing outstanding football and looks like he has at least 2-3 good years left in the tank….James Laurinaitis is getting better and better each week…He is gonna be a solid MLB for years to come…However, Ron Bartell looks terrible…awful…HUGE DISAPOINTMENT…especially for the amount of money the Rams paid him…tired of watching him let receivers get a free release in press coverage and constantly getting behind him…terrible…
So happy to get a win today… hopefully we can pick up a couple more this year.
I think it’s time all the S Jax haters out there (you know who you are) issue public apologies for all the unfounded criticism you have given this guy. Jax is a really, really good player. Speed, quickness, power, elusiveness. The guy runs over people, hurdles them, spins out of tackles, has a great stiff arm & runs with great effort. He is much less brash than he was in his younger days & has become a team leader. I’m a big fan. I have nothing bad to say about the guy… he is a pleasure to watch. I just hope the Rams can turn things around relatively soon, because we are wasting a great talent.
If we had any kind of reasonable offense, we would be at least 3-5 at the bye. And among the many problems with the offense, Bulger has had it. He is uninspired and uninspiring. His 3rd down and red zone productivity is very sub par. He is at the heart of the offense’s problems. Granted, it would take very skilled QBing to squeeze enough offense out of this group to compete for wins. But Bulger isn’t even close lately. Definitely time for a QB change.