Rams Report Card vs. Seahawks
One blogger’s grades for the St. Louis Rams after Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks:
QUARTERBACK: Filling in for injured Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller produced 282 passing yards. He connected on 28 of 46, including a 1-yard TD to WR Donnie Avery. But Boller also tossed two interceptions, leading to 10 Seahawks points. On the first, Boller threw into double coverage and CB Josh Wilson dashed 65 yards to the end zone. The second interception was the result of an underthrown ball into the end zone. Boller, whose passer rating was 67.5, was sacked four times and harassed much of the afternoon. GRADE: C-
RUNNING BACK: Although he wouldn’t admit it, Steven Jackson at times looked a bit stiff and tentative after a week of battling back spasms. Still, he accounted for 116 total yards, including 89 on the ground on 23 carries. He also gets extra credit for suiting up and gutting it out for a 1-10 team. GRADE: B
RECEIVERS: Another solid outing by WR Danny Amendola: 7 catches for 55 yards. Donnie Avery had some good moments and caught a 1-yard TD. Brandon Gibson didn’t do much, getting just 18 yards on three receptions. Ruvell Martin covered 60 yards on just two catches but didn’t see the field during the second half. Again, little production from the tight ends (three catches, 43 yards). GRADE: C
OFFENSIVE LINE: With injured starters Richie Incognito and Jason Smith watching from the sideline, the unit already was undermanned. When C Jason Brown left with a knee injury just before halftime, the juggling continued, and the outcome wasn’t good. Boller took a beating, and the run-blocking wasn’t very effective, either. Tough circumstances, sure, but a poor showing nevertheless. GRADE: D
DEFENSIVE LINE: The Rams’ run defense has gone south, and that starts with the people up front. The Seahawks — last in the league in rushing when they came to town — gouged out 170 yards on the ground. Justin Forsett (who?) piled up 130 of those on 22 carries and scored two TDs. DE Leonard Little got some pressures, but the Rams’ only sack was registered by a linebacker. A rookie, DT Darell Scott, was the unit leader in tackles, with four (press box stats). GRADE: F
LINEBACKERS: Rookie James Laurinaitis tied for the team high with nine tackles (press box stats), and got his first NFL sack. WLB Paris Lenon forced a fumble that the Rams recovered. Otherwise, not much from this group, which also much gets a fair amount of blame for the woeful run defense. GRADE: D
SECONDARY: The Butlers — S James and CB Quincy — had strong showings. S Oshiomogho Atogwe was active. Overall, the pass coverage was pretty good. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for a meager 102 yards. GRADE: B
SPECIAL TEAMS: Josh Brown nailed a season-long 55-yard FG, but also missed from 46. Good numbers for P Donnie Jones (gross 52.4, net 37.8), although none of his five punts wound up inside the 20. Rams coverage was mediocre. Danny Amendola’s returns were so-so. GRADE: C
COACHING: HC Steve Spagnuolo didn’t manage the clock well at the end of the first half and made a questionable decision in passing up a 42-yard FG try to go for it on 4th-&-4 with the game tied 7-7. The subsequent pass was returned 65 yards for a TD. OC Pat Shurmur finally unveiled some four-wideout sets and deployed more play-action, which was generally effective. Why didn’t Ruvell Martin get more work, though, after totaling 60 yards on two first-half receptions? If the Rams still aren’t filling their gap assignments, as several players maintained, and obviously are having tackling problems, DC Ken Flajole deserves some heat. GRADE: D
I’d have to give Spagnoula an F on this game. I know it’s tough with all the injuries but the defense,especially run defense has regressed. This was a very winnable game against a lousy Seahawk team and the Rams made them look impressive in the victory.
This team has to go down as one of the worst Rams teams of all time. If today’s game is any indication of how the Rams will play out the rest of the season, it doesn’t give one much hope for next year.
Lets face it they were NOT prepared for the lowly seahags of all teams. Jackson played so-so- the 89 yards rushing is misleading as he ran one play for about 25; the other attempts averaged about 2 yards a run and he was dancing again.
Team is not fun to watch and I’am embarassed to be a Rams fan !!
This team is quitting and begining to come apart. Gibson….. Drama queen or what ? Just catch the ball.
Went to the game today…offensive line injuries really hurt the rams…Steven Jackson probably shouldn’t have played..he looked hurt…We paid Ron Bartell all of that money for ???? He has been the BIGGEST disappointment of the season…although he didn’t hurt the rams today, he did nothing to help either and at his salary, he should make plays and hasn’t all season long….Spags’ worst coaching job (as far as decision making) this season…QB, WR, and DL help Please For 2010…Positive note, Rams played hard yet again under Spags…
Boller is jinxed, does he ever score in the red zone.
Looks like he always gives up points when threatening to score on the opponent.
“O” game plan SUCKED, “D” looks bad…………… REAL BAD. Bottom dwellers AGAIN.
We are missing some of are DTs and I think thats hindering are run defense. Once Gary Gibson went down, are run D hasnt been the same. Give it time, its only Spags first year here hopefully he can fix this team up.
This game was as disappointing to me as any this year. This was one of the few genuine opportunities to win on our schedule. We had home loss and Seahawks’ loss streaks to break. We’ve been generally progressing throughout the season. This was an opportunity to make some changes to our personality as losers. And we sucked. So, instead of making a statement that our bottom is in the past, we made a statement that we will continue to troll the bottom of the league for the indefinite future. I am not going to reach a conclusion on Spagnuolo this year. It wouldn’t be fair. But this was a loss that makes you wonder whether he’s got the stuff. His team did not show up for him when it had a chance to show the world that he’s making progress here. With 5 to go on another pitiful season, looks like the guys are starting to look forward to the off season. Not a good sign for the Spagnuolo era. I sure hope that Spagnuolo has the brains and courage to can his OC after this season. The offense is crap from concept to execution. If we are going to change QBs after this season, then the inevitable OC change must come after this season too. If Spagnuolo makes that change, my hopes will be buoyed. If not, it will be hard to get interested in the development of next year’s team. Or, for that matter, the year after that.
Josh Brown is stealing money. Big contract and he misses at least 1 field goal a game ? Pathetic !
BTW can he ever kick it into the endzone on kickoffs ? What.
Hey Devaney if you want to save some big bugs cut this tool. My God an average soccer player is better, total waste of dough.
man this team sucks. I am beginning to hope that they move back to LA so I don’t feel guilty rooting for the Cowboys like I used to before we got our own team.
Every player and coach gets a fat ”F”. All this baloney about the Rams getting better, playing hard, blah blah blah was once again shown to be nothing but worthless hot air and dribble by some fans and the columnists. I want the Rams to win, but it is obvious they won’t. The Great Overhaul of summer 2009 has not made anything better. The Rams STINK!