By Howard Balzer
Friday, August 15, 2008
Rams fans head to the Edward Jones Dome Saturday evening with a distinct degree of trepidation. The team’s poor performance against Tennessee has everyone wondering what kind of team will be fielded this season.
The note that the first unit has yet to score a touchdown with Scott Linehan as head coach has been repeated ad nauseum. But what does that really mean, and how much significance does it really have? And, Linehan isn’t in charge of the offense anymore, Al Saunders is. So, if the offense becomes productive, do we hail Saunders, but rip Linehan if it doesn’t?
In addition, I’ll go back to the question in the headline: Is this really the first unit? We know running back
Steven Jackson won’t play tomorrow night. It’s also likely wide receiver
Torry Holt will be on the sideline. Holt has been bothered by a tight back this week, so what earthly purpose is there to put a 32-year-old receiver on the field on Aug. 16? The answer is a resounding none.
So, the offensive group that huddles for the first offensive possession Saturday night will have either Antonio Pittman or Brian Leonard at running back, with the starting receivers anyone’s guess. During the team’s walk-through Friday afternoon, a three-receiver set with the No. 1 unit featured Drew Bennett, Reche Caldwell and Dante Hall. Hardly The Greatest Show on Turf or anywhere close.
It’s no great revelation that an offense with Pittman or Leonard as the starter won’t cause too many defenses to play eight in the box to stop the run.
Should there be enormous alarms if that first unit struggles? Sure, it would be good to see decent production, but it’s not very realistic against a defense as good as San Diego.
These are practice games, after all, but ones played in the glare of the spotlight at regular-season prices, compared to other major sports, where they are played in relative obscurity.
Asked if it’s fair to judge a team in the preseason, Linehan said, “I don’t know what’s ‘fair.’ I don’t know that it’s ‘fair’ to judge anyone in the NFL when we are all playing a lot of players and trying to evaluate the roster. I don’t know what’s ‘fair.’
“But, I’m really interested to see how this team plays tomorrow. I’ve seen lots of improvement in this team while we were away, but I didn’t see it in the game (last week).”
Seems the coach is just as curious as all of us.
*It appears as if Nick Leckey will start at center instead of Brett Romberg, who has been bothered by an injury to his right hand for a few weeks. Linehan said he’d like to have the first-unit line set by next week’s game against Baltimore. Leckey’s play has turned it into an unexpected competition.
*Quarterback Brock Berlin pulled even or slightly ahead of Bruce Gradkowski with his performance last week against Tennessee. Saturday, Gradkowski is expected to get the chance to start the second half, and Berlin will finish the game.
Marc Bulger will start, and Trent Green will probably play one or two series.
*Linehan said there was nothing of substance to report on the status of Jackson, but he did say, “There have been some talks and they are moving along.” Whatever that means, it’s certainly better than no talks.
Right guard
Richie Incognito on Jackson not being with the team: “With or without Steven, we have to get our fits right up front and block our butts off.” (He really did say “butts.”)
*Whether wide receiver Donnie Avery or linebacker
Will Witherspoon plays will be a game-time decision, but the plan is for them to play.
*Cornerback Justin King, who it was said was out for the season because of a toe injury, is seeking a second opinion on whether surgery is necessary. King had been scheduled for surgery Friday.
Linear Mode
