Rams Team Report/Interesting Numbers, Notes & Quotes

Rams Team Report
Yahoo! Sports - Sep 15, 2:30 am EDT


New season, but it sure looked like the same old Rams after the team's ninth consecutive loss to the Seahawks Sunday. After the 28-0 defeat, the Rams have now been outscored 98-19 in their last three trips to Seattle, and since 2005 the Rams are 4-21 in division games.

The defense kept the Rams in the game Sunday with three early takeaways, but the offense stumbled along thanks mostly to penalties that constantly created down-and-distance problems.

The offensive woes included four false starts, several penalties that wiped out good gains and a woeful conversion rate of 2-for-12 on third down. Much of that was traced to a 10.7-yard average to go on third down.

Quarterback Marc Bulger noted how mistakes prevented the offense from establishing any rhythm.

Said Bulger, "We'd drive the ball and then shoot ourselves in the foot. There was holding or offsides or personal fouls. We have to find a way to get past that 30 and start handing the ball to Jack (running back Steven Jackson). He's too good of a player to not be able to use. That's on all of us."

On the Rams' 12 third-down plays, the average distance to go was 10.7 yards. The two they made were third-and-2 and third-and-6, the two shortest of the game. The 10 misses averaged 12 yards and included to-go distances of 11, 12, 14, 20 and 22 yards.

Overall, the Rams ran 57 plays, 22 of which were first-and-10. Of the other 35 plays, there were two of first-and-15, eight of second-and 10 or more (10, 10, 10, 12, 15, 15, 20, 20) and the five third-and-10 or more. On those 15 plays, the average yards to go was 14.3.

That means 15 of 35 plays (42.9 percent) were 10 yards to go or more.

Conversely, the Seahawks were 8 of 15 on third down, and were 7 of 11 before missing on three of their last four when the outcome was decided. On their third-down plays, the average to go was 5.0 yards, and they had no second- or third-down plays of longer than 10 yards.

Seattle had 30 first-and-10 plays. Of their other 40 plays, just eight (six second-and-10 plays and two third-and-10 plays) were 10 yards or more. That's 8 of 40 for 20 percent compared to the Rams' 42.9 percent.

Said coach Steve Spagnuolo, "You can't have the penalties, and that's a discipline thing, and that falls on the head coach. That's the second time that's happened, and in the preseason we had multiple penalties, and that's my fault. I'll work with the players, I know the players will work with me, and we'll try to get that ironed out. It's hard to win in this league without penalties, it's doubly hard when you do have them. It makes it tough".

NOTES & QUOTES

One of the costliest penalties came on special teams. In the final minute of the first half, defensive end C.J. Ah You blocked a field goal, which was picked up by cornerback Quincy Butler and returned 51 yards for a touchdown that would have tied the game, 7-7.

However, a booth review determined the Rams had 12 players on the field. That not only wiped out the touchdown, but gave Seattle a first down. Three plays later, the Seahawks scored a touchdown and led 14-0 at the half.

Most crushing for Ah You, who was playing in his first NFL game, was that he was the 12th man.

"I wasn't supposed to be out there," he said. "I just wasn't paying attention with the personnel that was out there. It was a mistake on my part, and it cost us."

Said tight end Randy McMichael, "It was unbelievable. When you're on the road, you need breaks, and we felt like we got a break. As bad as we were playing, we were still in the game and you felt like that was … going to get the wind behind your back."

As coach Steve Spagnuolo noted Monday, it's unlikely the field goal would have been blocked had the Rams had just 11 players on the field.

Of the Rams' 10 penalties, eight were by the offense, including four false starts and two personal fouls. A holding penalty on wide receiver Donnie Avery brought back a long Steven Jackson run.

Right guard Richie Incognito was guilty of a false start on the first play of the game, and then received two personal fouls. The first 15-yard penalty turned a third-and-7 into third-and-22, while the second resulted in second-and-20 instead of second-and 5.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo defended Incognito, who has had similar issues in the past. Said Spagnuolo, "When that happens to anybody, they get wrapped up in the moment. I talked with Richie. We have a lot more games to go, and we'll go from here. I told him that I still had confidence in him. I don't lose confidence in a guy on one game. I think Richie is one of our passionate guys, I really do. I think he plays his butt off. Sometimes you have to temper that a little bit, that's all."

Said Incognito, "I am disappointed in myself, disappointed that I let my teammates down and I got to carry the burden now into next weekend. This is something I worked hard at to overcome and it is not a feeling that I like to have. You look at the positives situation and there really is none, the personal foul game. It has to stop. That's it."

On the first penalty, Incognito took a swing at a Seattle defensive lineman. He said, "I just lost my cool. Classic case of it. The juices were flowing, exciting first game of the year out there. They got 61, 66,000 people out there screaming and I really just lost my cool. I lost my head and retaliated on what was a chippy play."

Running back Steven Jackson also took exception to some of Seattle's tactics, as did quarterback Marc Bulger, who came heated after a second-half run.

Said Jackson, "Would you rather us just get our tail kicked and walk back (to the huddle)? I think you saw some fight in this team. We are talking about the Rams. We lost the game, but it's a lot different around here. I've been around here for six years and this team is intense and I love it. I love it."

Spagnuolo said it will be his job heading to Washington to get the team to play smarter.

He said, "I'm obviously disappointed in the result, but I'm not disappointed in the effort. Sometimes it's hard to see, but I can feel it on the sideline, and I can see it. I know the passion in those guys' eyes. I told them that there are passionate football players on this team, and that's a good thing. If we turn that passion into productive play, we'll be ok. What we can't do is let the passion get the best of us and sometimes that happened today."

Spagnuolo on whether this is the same 'ol Rams: "I'm not going there. This was the first game of the 2009 season. That's what it is, we didn't win. We will play the second game of the 2009 season next week."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

Quarterback Marc Bulger noted how mistakes prevented the offense from establishing any rhythm.

Said Bulger, "We'd drive the ball and then shoot ourselves in the foot. There was holding or offsides or personal fouls. We have to find a way to get past that 30 and start handing the ball to Jack (running back Steven Jackson). He's too good of a player to not be able to use. That's on all of us."

On the Rams' 12 third-down plays, the average distance to go was 10.7 yards. The two they made were third-and-2 and third-and-6, the two shortest of the game. The 10 misses averaged 12 yards and included to-go distances of 11, 12, 14, 20 and 22 yards.

Overall, the Rams ran 57 plays, 22 of which were first-and-10. Of the other 35 plays, there were two of first-and-15, eight of second-and 10 or more (10, 10, 10, 12, 15, 15, 20, 20) and the five third-and-10 or more. On those 15 plays, the average yards to go was 14.3.

That means 15 of 35 plays (42.9 percent) were 10 yards to go or more.

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No wonder we lost. When penalties wipe out all the gains from first and second down or put you so far back that you can get almost ten yards and still be at third-and-long, I'd imagine it would really restrain you from running the kind of game plan you want.

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Originally Posted by Goldenfleece

No wonder we lost. When penalties wipe out all the gains from first and second down or put you so far back that you can get almost ten yards and still be at third-and-long, I'd imagine it would really restrain you from running the kind of game plan you want.

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Yeah, when I saw these numbers it really put the offensive difficulties into perspective.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by C.J. Ah You

"I wasn't supposed to be out there," he said. "I just wasn't paying attention with the personnel that was out there. It was a mistake on my part, and it cost us."

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Ouch! That's a hard way to break into the NFL. I hope he puts it behind him because he has loads of potential IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Goldenfleece

No wonder we lost. When penalties wipe out all the gains from first and second down or put you so far back that you can get almost ten yards and still be at third-and-long, I'd imagine it would really restrain you from running the kind of game plan you want.

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Quit sugar coating it we all know the offensive woes were totally Bulgers fault. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

Ouch! That's a hard way to break into the NFL. I hope he puts it behind him because he has loads of potential IMO.

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Can't read that quote without thinking about Adeyanju being inactive so Ah You could play. Not saying that anyone could have seen this coming, but it does make you wonder a bit about how a play like this may have been impacted.

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Originally Posted by Nick

Can't read that quote without thinking about Adeyanju being inactive so Ah You could play. Obviously no one could have seen this coming, but still...

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Good point Nick. Ouch again!:D

Interesting that nothing has been said about Adeyanju not being active for the game. He looked so dominant during the preseason.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rammiser

Quit sugar coating it we all know the offensive woes were totally Bulgers fault. :D

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Sadly, the numbers are just another example of Marc's lack of leadership, undemonstrative demeanor and inability to motivate his teammates to stay focused. Totally Bulger's fault. After all, he's the quarterback.;)

When your average yards to get on third down is 10.7, that dosen't bode too well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

Sadly, the numbers are just another example of Marc's lack of leadership, undemonstrative demeanor and inability to motivate his teammates to stay focused. Totally Bulger's fault. After all, he's the quarterback.;)

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I mean it's so obvious, Mike. Bulger doesn't have that 'it', that 'aura'. If he would just yell more, or look mad; more.....more...what's the word......fiery!

Gosh, if we could just find a QB like that, we'd be set. The penalties would stop. The O-line would block. The D would stop someone.

I bet Yosemite Sam would make a golly swell QB for this team.

I agree with all the sarcastic remarks about Bulger but one thing is certain, he'll have to start making plays with this personnel or something will happen. Will it be fair? Probably not but QB's are mainly graded on W's and L's. Bulger hasn't been a winning QB in awhile. It's not his fault specifically but the QB is more than hero and more the goat than anyone. Eventually, he will have to rise above all the Cog crap, all the Bell whiffs, all the late play calling and make some plays himself. If he doesn't the Rams will go in a different direction quickly.

Quote:

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Overall, the Rams ran 57 plays, 22 of which were first-and-10. Of the other 35 plays, there were two of first-and-15, eight of second-and 10 or more (10, 10, 10, 12, 15, 15, 20, 20) and the five third-and-10 or more. On those 15 plays, the average yards to go was 14.3.

That means 15 of 35 plays (42.9 percent) were 10 yards to go or more.

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So in other words, the probability of the Rams standing still or moving backwards as a result of their 1st-and-10 was dang near 43%.

Wow! That ain't gonna git 'er done.

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Originally Posted by txramsfan

I agree with all the sarcastic remarks about Bulger but one thing is certain, he'll have to start making plays with this personnel or something will happen. Will it be fair? Probably not but QB's are mainly graded on W's and L's. Bulger hasn't been a winning QB in awhile. It's not his fault specifically but the QB is more than hero and more the goat than anyone. Eventually, he will have to rise above all the Cog crap, all the Bell whiffs, all the late play calling and make some plays himself. If he doesn't the Rams will go in a different direction quickly.

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You really think Spags would make the move to Boller? Null?

I just don't see it happening. Now you're right about the QBs being too much hero, too much goat. That's exactly how the fans see it. But when Head Coaches start acting like fans, they will be sitting with them in the stands and not on the sideline.

I really do think that he will go to Boller. He'll do it to shake up the team. If Boller starts making plays, then Bulger will sit. If Boller doesn't start making plays, then the Rams will draft a QB high in Round 1 and go with him next year. I;m not saying it's right or fair, but it's coming.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by txramsfan

I really do think that he will go to Boller. He'll do it to shake up the team. If Boller starts making plays, then Bulger will sit. If Boller doesn't start making plays, then the Rams will draft a QB high in Round 1 and go with him next year.

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Well, maybe, tx. Personally, I just don't see it. I can't imagine that Boller will have much more success with the same group than Green did in the same situation. And it's no knock on Boller. I like the guy. Tough as nails; arm like a cannon. I just don't know that he has the accuracy to move the ball. There's three QBs on this team, and Bulger is the best one to move the ball in this offense.

Maybe a reborn Boller is the future?

Maybe Null is the future?

Maybe (1st rd. pick) is the future?

But Bulger is the present.

Yes, Bulger is the present....for now. If he gets a win in Washington that will extremely help the cause. However, if he goes let's say 0-4 I don't see him starting another game for awhile.