Rams Crushed in Chicago

Preseason Pick: LOSS 38-6, 3rd in NFC West (1-2)
Actual Results: LOSS 23-6, 4th in NFC West (1-2)

Okay, so I saw the Rams scoring two field goals, but the Bears and Jay Cutler didn't exactly shut them out as much as I foresaw. With all the craziness (and controversy) that happened in the NFC West over the weekend, the Rams fell to 4th place after a tough loss to the Bears in Chicago. Although the Rams played tough, they showed some signs of their previous teams during the mostly defensive battle. Let's take a look at what we saw.

The defense was the story of the game, harassing Jay Cutler early and forcing him to anticipate difficult throws. The Bears quickly discovered the Rams' over-happy blitz and rush packages, and quickly established a nice (but sneaky) little screen play that seemed to work effectively throughout the game. Once the Bears discovered to rely on Michael Bush and Khalil Bell, the Rams could not stop them. The D-line provided a lot of pressure up front, and the corners were solid for most of the day. The linebackers were okay but shaky at times. The problems with tackling that the Rams had in previous years showed it's ugly face again at times, which should not be a problem as this group jells down the road. Overall, the defense was satisfying. The pressure was certainly there. If they can become more controlled and reduce penalties (at least two or three Bears scoring drives happened due to bad Rams penalties), then this defense can be top-quality.

Offensively, the Rams sputtered. The O-line played down a notch from last week. Sam Bradford was hit all day and frequently had little time to throw the ball. Interestingly, he did not go to the quick passes underneath to Danny Amendola very often. The Rams were putrid on third downs and Bradford frequently held the ball too long waiting for his wideouts to get open. THe running game was efficient in early downs but the Rams frequently went to the pass as their consistency broke down. Brandon Gibson had an ugly drop that could've been a TD (ah, drops like it's last year). And now to the O-line. The were beaten a lot by the stingy Bears D. The Bears seemingly read the Rams with ease and easily converged on the football (like any good team). They were also astounded agile in open-field tackles, particularly the corners (which resulted in passes to the flats for only minimal yardage). Overall, the offense did need some work, but it was against a tough Bears D.

Special teams was good once again, although Johnny Hekker looked like he would have a punt blocked sooner or later. Greg Zuerlein is a machine, nailing long 40-50 yard kicks that proved to be the only points in the game. He is a great asset to this team. Kick and punt returns seemed to have coverage issues but the Rams must work on getting downfield on offense first anyway.

Overall, the Rams kept this game close for a half or so, but lost control after the offense sputtered on 3rd downs. The Rams were so efficient at converting against Washington that it makes you wonder if they were anticipating a tough Bears D and playing conservatively. The Rams definitely had chances, but the Bears managed to keep them out of the red zone all day. Fortunately there were no critical injuries, and the team looks like it will have a lot of work to do on medium or long yardage situations. They can't rely on Bradford staying in the pocket too long, but perhaps moving pockets or switchback routes might help some.

LOOKING AHEAD: By now you've probably heard about the team that's coming to town next week. As much as the controversy in Seattle still resonates, there will be none of that here as the Rams look to avoid falling victim to a dangerous Seattle team. Seattle has an offense that can play both wide open and narrow, so it will be key for the Rams to stop Marshawn Lynch and bring pressure on Russell Wilson all day. Sam Bradford will have to study up on the Hawks defense, since their coverage guys are big guys who can really attack at the football. If the O-line can play better than they did against the Bears, the Rams can certainly score a lot more points next week. The defense will have to step it up if the game remains close. This will be a tight and heated contest between two division rivals, and considering all that happened last night, a lot of people may have their eyes on this one. Let's hope that for whichever team wins, they're actually winners.

Rams Win Nail-biter in Home Opener

Preseason Pick: WIN 27-24, Tied 2nd NFC West (1-1)
Actual Results: WIN 31-28, Tied 2nd NFC West (1-1)

With Robert Griffin III throwing a 68-yard touchdown to Leonard Hankerson putting the Redskins up 21-6 in the second quarter, all hope seemed lost for a Rams team that had almost beaten the Lions a week earlier. And yet, thanks to a multitude of questionable calls and smart plays, the Rams managed to escape their home opener with a thrilling 31-28 win over the upstart Washington Redskins. This was a very physical and chippy game, but I must make it clear that the officials absolutely sucked in this game. I feel for both Rams and Redskins fans as many controversial calls swung the pendulum of momentum in this game unnecessarily back and forth. Players also started to get a bit chippy after and during plays, and the officials totally lost the game. By the time Josh Morgan threw a football angrily at Cortland Finnegan in retaliation (which forced the Redskins to kick a difficult 62-yard field goal to tie the game late) the game was already out of hand. One could easily blame Morgan's penalty on the officials' general ineffectiveness throughout the game, but we won't get into that. What's important is that the Rams have their first win of the season and are 1-1. An early win certainly guarantees that this won't be a winless year, but also shows the Rams have what it takes to possibly win a few more games this year. Let's take a look at the main phases of the Rams' game.

First up, the offense. Quarterback Sam Bradford picked quite a day to have a coming out party, throwing over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game, a rarity for the young Bradford. Bradford's performance was similar to his game against the Broncos a few years back, but Bradford was simply masterful in this game. Bradford really read the defense and called the audibles at the line, and generally went through his progressions well (although he still doesn't make as many reads as Brady or Brees, and typically only goes to his dumpoffs when the primary is covered). Bradford is still not comfortable throwing the ball into tight windows, but hopefully his accuracy and confidence will improve with time. He was certainly comfortable in the pocket yesterday, absorbing hits as he let the ball fly. The credit for Bradford's protection goes to the offensive line, who played outstanding. Aside from a few penalties, the O-line really played as a cohesive unit, giving Bradford just enough time to make throws without being pressured too much up the middle. And this O-line was without Scott Wells and Rodger Saffold for most of the game. Much props to those guys and the backups for stepping up. The receivers did a fairly good job of getting open, although the offense frequently exploited the Redskins' zone playing corners. Fairly odd, but the Rams did a good job finding open men in the seams, particularly Danny Amendola. Amendola was one of the stars of the game, catching 15 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown. Amendola is Bradford's safety blanket, so it's good to have him back. Runningback Steven Jackson performed well early, but a questionable touchdown call led to an unsportsmanlike penalty on Jackson, which followed with Jackson leaving for the rest of the game. Fisher revealed after the game that Jackson had a groin issue, which is concerning. However, Jackson's backup Daryl Richardson was marvelous (apart from a late fumble), and provided a real change of pace to Jackson's brute running style.

Defensively, the Rams were a little more up-and-down compared to last week. The defense is still way better than last year, but they showed glimpses of their past selves, making a big stop on one down and then giving up a big play on the very next down. The D-line provided pressure all day, and managed to penetrate several times to get a few key stops. James Laurinaitis had a solid game, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar also had several key plays. In the secondary, the corners were very hot and cold. I think this unit will be like that for the better part of the season. Finnegan and Jenkins can play tough, physical coverage, but when they are beat, they can get beat bad. Mikell and Dahl are serviceable safeties, but generally only provide insurance on the long plays. As such, it's up to the D-line and 'backers to make the most plays up front that they can. Playcalling was questionable (on both sides), and it pays to wonder whether one defensive coordinator could help the defense create an identity more quickly. But in this game, the defense managed to make one more play than RGIII, despite the fact that Griffin played exceptionally well.

Special teams was great, as usual. Punter Johnny Hekker got the Rams out of a potential jam by punting from the Rams' 10 yard line all the way to the Washington 21. Greg Zuerlein was perfect on field goals once again, despite almost missing one prior to a "Shanahan Freeze". The special teams play of the game goes to Matthew Mulligan, who blocked a punt deep in Redskins territory, then scored a nice touchdown on a play action fake at the goal line.

Overall, the Rams were very solid, particularly on offense. Defensively, there's area for improvement, particularly in consistency. If both units can steadily improve, the Rams have a chance to win several more games this year. But before everyone gets excited about the new Rams, let me just say that they are not a playoff team just yet. They played two close ones the past few weeks, and could easily be 0-2 or even 2-0. The Rams must learn to separate themselves from the competition, and not stay too close in games.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams are surely looking to build off their steadily rising success against the Bears next week. Chicago got embarrassed against the Packers last week, and will be looking to move back into the conversation for the NFC Title. The Bears have a multitude of weapons and, unlike the Redskins, will have their top wideout available in Brandon Marshall. The Rams defense will really have to step up in this one, since the loss of Matt Forte will undoubtedly give the Bears more incentive to throw. Of course, the Bears defense is no slouch either, and could give the new look Rams offense fits if things start to fall apart. This game could be closer than I predicted in the preseason, but I still see the Bears taking this one handily. The Rams just aren't ready for a solid group like Chicago's.

Rams Fall Late to Detroit

Preseason Pick: LOSS 42-10, Tied 2nd NFC West (0-1)
Actual Results: LOSS 27-23, Tied 2nd NFC West (0-1)

It should go without saying, but Week One games should be taken with a grain of salt. Week One is in many ways simply Week Five of the preseason, albeit the fact that the starters are playing much more. It's more of an adjustment period to the middle stretch of the season, when the games will start to show and separate the best teams from the bad ones. Thus, it's hard to take much away from this game. On the surface, a loss is a loss, and the Rams have mastered that art through the last seven years or so. However, this game offered a bit of optimism for many Rams fans. The team played well, and almost managed to steal one against the Detroit Lions, a 2011 playoff team. Let's take a look at how they almost achieved a victory, but yet still lost.

The Rams actual started this game really well, keeping pace for pace with the difficult Lions offense by intercepting Matthew Stafford 3 times. Cortland Finnegan provided the game changing play with an interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Rams a 13-7 lead. Overall the defense played better than most thought they would, but got lucky on those turnovers in the red zone. They were lucky that the Lions could drive but couldn't finish, save for the very last drive.

The Rams offense played relatively conservatively early, going with many different running plays and barely passing. Of course, that resulted in less turnovers for Sam Bradford and company, but the Rams didn't take advantage of Detroit's weakened secondary until it was too late. Although Bradford performed well throughout, Steven Jackson struggled late in the game, resulting in not enough chances to secure the game late. Things will take time to jell, but I have confidence that the run game will improve, and give more chances to the passing game. More concerning, however, were the injuries to starting center Scott Wells and starting left tackle Rodger Saffold. Both have injury pasts, but both are also arguably the best and most important pieces of this brittle O-line. Although the line provided serviceable protection for Bradford late in the game, the possible loss of Saffold and/or Wells for an extended period of time will be a huge concern for the Rams. If not addressed, Bradford and the offense will continue to look like how they did in years past.

The Rams special teams did a pretty good job, not allowing the Lions to make too many big plays while also making some big plays of their own. Zuerlein and Hekker continued to impress in their kicking games, and Isaiah Pead performed admirably on kick returns that he could return.

Overall, this game had both positives and negatives. The Rams looked like they could stand up against at least a few teams this year, and that will mostly be due to a rejuvenated defense. Now the pressure lies on the offense to perform, but that may be difficult without Saffold and Wells. If the Rams manage to jell and survive without them, they stand a better chance at developing Jeff Fisher's system.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams play at home next week against a dangerous Redskins team. As I said in the first sentence, Week One games should be taken with a grain of salt. The Redskins-Saints shootout could have gone either way, which makes the analysis of the game much more relaxed. But it did surprise me (and a lot of other people) that the Redskins managed to win this one, and put up 40 points no less. Granted, the Saints aren't as strong defensively as they have been in the past, but the Redskins under Robert Griffin III have seemingly developed a new identity and moxie that specifically revolves around their new star quarterback. The defense is dangerous and the shaky Rams O-line may not be able to handle them. The Rams must also watch out for the freakish RG3, who can be accurate on the deep pass, and can also use his legs to extend plays. What was looking like an easy win in the preseason is now looking even more difficult than the Detroit game. If the Rams can keep the ball out of RG3's hands, they may have a chance. But after this week's games, the scales are starting to tip in Washington's favor.

Predictions for the 2012 Rams Season

The 2012 NFL season is quickly coming up upon us. All 32 teams have finished cutting down their rosters to 53 players, and while some wheeling and dealing will occur in the next few days, the starting lineups are, for the most part, set. With that, I'll be looking at the Rams' schedule and making predictions on how well (or terrible) they will do this season. Note that predictions are, as always, very "unpredictable". As such, these predictions are highly tongue-in-cheek, just to make it more interesting. My score predictions will be in bold below a short assessment of the game, as well as a weekly NFC West Ranking. We'll just have to wait and see how true they stay to form.


Week 1: RAMS @ DETROIT

The season opener starts off with a bang as the Rams quickly face one of the league's top tier teams. The Rams are hoping the result this time around won't be as bad as the Eagles game a season ago. The Rams start off strong against the Lions, scoring a field goal on their first drive. But after trading punts, the Lions score a big touchdown on a 62-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson, and never look back after that. The Lions continue to pass on a shaky Rams defense during the rest of the game.
LOSS 42-10, Tied 2nd in NFC West (0-1)


Week 2: WASHINGTON @ RAMS

The Redskins come to town as the Rams try to regain some confidence after their big loss to Detroit last week. The Rams quickly come out and score two touchdowns on a reeling Redskins defense, but Robert Griffin III makes the game interesting by throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for one more. Ultimately, though, the Rams escape on a close and controversial 4th down play, in which cornerback Cortland Finnegan manages to escape a pass interference penalty on a pass intended to Pierre Garcon up the sideline.
WIN 27-24, Tied 2nd in NFC West (1-1)


Week 3: RAMS @ CHICAGO

The Rams head on the road once again, and once again they struggle against a tough NFC North team. Chicago seemingly moves the ball at will, and their defense terrorizes Sam Bradford. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler throws for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Rams get annihilated a week after their first win.
LOSS 38-6, 3rd in NFC West (1-2)


Week 4: SEATTLE @ RAMS

The Seahawks come to town looking to rebound after a tough loss against Green Bay on Monday Night. Russell Wilson and company manage to exploit a Rams D that is suffering from several injuries (notably DT Michael Brockers), and win it on a 32-yard rainbow from Wilson to Braylon Edwards.
LOSS 30-24, Tied 3rd in NFC West (1-3)


Week 5: ARIZONA @ RAMS

In a battle of 1-3 teams, the Cardinals come to town looking to upset the somewhat decent Rams. John Skelton has been horrible over the last four weeks, throwing 5 interceptions compared to 2 touchdowns. The Rams take full advantage of the slowly sinking Cards, and manage to put out their best offensive showing since Week 2. Steven Jackson rushes for two touchdowns in a good win for St. Louis.
WIN 27-7, 3rd in NFC West (2-3)


Week 6: RAMS @ MIAMI

The Dolphins have one of the worst teams in the league, and are off to a sluggish start as well. St. Louis takes advantage, managing to win a close one on a defensive stop. Reggie Bush does provide an early scare on a 57-yard touchdown run, but it's all Rams football after that.
WIN 20-13, 3rd in NFC West (3-3)


Week 7: GREEN BAY @ RAMS

Already considered a good season by Rams standards, St. Louis returns home to face a tough Packers squad. Aaron Rodgers has a field day against an injured St. Louis defense, passing for nearly 350 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Rams keep the game close at first, but the Pack eventually pulls away with a big win.
LOSS 37-17, 3rd in NFC West (3-4)


Week 8: NEW ENGLAND @ RAMS

With the bye week in site, the Rams may be looking too far ahead. They are certainly playing in a different set of conditions with the game being held in London and all. The Rams struggle against New England at Wembley, and Sam Bradford is injured. Quarterback Austin Davis replaces him but throws two picks as the Rams get dumped in England.
LOSS 27-3, 3rd in NFC West (3-5)


Week 9: BYE WEEK

The Rams get to their bye week with a relatively reasonable record, but not completely unscathed. Sam Bradford is out for a few weeks with an ankle sprain, Cortland Finnegan and Craig Dahl are out with a thumb and chest injury (respectively), and two offensive linemen are playing with injuries. Fortunately, the stable of wide receivers and runningbacks are relatively healthy, but not necessarily athletic. The Rams hope to recover from the injuries soon as they face several tough division foes in the last half of the season.


Week 10: RAMS @ SAN FRANCISCO

The Rams head to Candlestick under the leadership of newly acquired veteran Kellen Clemens, who they cut prior to the season opener. Clemens performs well, throwing one touchdown and one interception, but the Rams cannot get the ground game going against San Fran, and cannot stop San Fran's monstrous backfield and passing attack.
LOSS 39-17, 3rd in NFC West (3-6)


Week 11: NEW YORK JETS @ RAMS

The Rams face the struggling Jets at home, and almost manage to pull it out. With 2:39 left in the game, Jets starting quarterback Tim Tebow leads the Jets 83 yards down the field on a touchdown drive that ends in a floating pass to wideout Santonio Holmes with 19 seconds left. The Rams are furious that they let this one slip away.
LOSS 23-20, 3rd in NFC West (3-7)


Week 12: RAMS @ ARIZONA

The Rams look to earn their first win since Week 6 by trying to sneak past the fledgling Cardinals. But it's the Cards who manage to sneak away with the win, blocking a 55-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal as time expires to earn their first win since Week 7. The Rams look forward to next week's return of quarterback Sam Bradford, just in time for a key game against San Francisco.
LOSS 20-17, Tied 3rd in NFC West (3-8)


Week 13: SAN FRANCISCO @ RAMS

The Rams face the division leading 49ers, who are looking for their ninth win on the season. Sam Bradford leads the team down the field multiple times in the first half, and for a second it seems that the Rams may pull the upset. But San Fran piles on the points in the second, as the defense gives up several big plays to a contending Niners team.
LOSS 40-27, 4th in NFC West (3-9)


Week 14: RAMS @ BUFFALO

Snowy weather causes the Rams to play a sloppy game against the advantageous Bills, who manage to win a rough-and-tumble cold weather bout. The Rams are shut out for the first time as they struggle to move the ball, and an interception return almost goes for a touchdown before Janoris Jenkins slips on a cutback and fumbles away the ball. The Rams are still seeking their 4th win on the season as they try to avoid somewhat of a repeat of last year's horrendous 2-14 season.
LOSS 14-0, 4th in NFC West (3-10)


Week 15: MINNESOTA @ RAMS

With renewed confidence playing at home, the Rams manage to defeat the Vikings in a hard fought game. With the Vikings leading for the first three quarters, the Rams score two late touchdowns on a Sam Bradford toss and a Danny Amendola end-around to put the Vikings away, and earn their first win since Week 6.
WIN 30-20, Tied 3rd in NFC West (4-10)


Week 16: RAMS @ TAMPA BAY

With 4 seconds to go, Greg Zuerlein nails a 59 yarder at the buzzer to claim a Rams victory over Tampa in a tight contest. The Rams celebrate even as Steven Jackson is lost for the rest of the year with a calf injury. Since they are long out of playoff contention, the Rams will hope to win the next game in Seattle and prevent the 8-7 Seahawks from possibly going to the playoffs.
WIN 26-23, 3rd in NFC West (5-10)


Week 17: RAMS @ SEATTLE

The Rams once again end the season in Seattle, although this time it won't be for a playoff spot (for the Rams at least). Seattle needs one win to possibly advance to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Rams do not get the win in this one as they cannot get their run game going without Steven Jackson playing. Although the do end the season on a low note, they did manage to more than double their win total from last season.
LOSS 38-10, 3rd in NFC West (5-11)


The Rams finish the season 5-11, good enough for third in the NFC West behind San Francisco (12-4) and Seattle (9-7) but in front of Arizona (4-12). Of course, all of these predictions are purely, as I've said before, hypothetical tongue-in-cheek plots, so if any of these games are remotely close to the outcome I described, you can call me God from now on. But it's still fun to guess what might happen, but not be too completely realistic (although, realistically, pessimism abounds for us Rams fans). Either way, enjoy the upcoming season Rams fans! Hopefully it will be better than these predictions!