Sunday, October 30, 2005
- Where do I even begin tonight? I have to admit, I didn't think the Rams had much of a chance this week, but what a great win. If the New Orleans win was a good one, this was a great one.
- My game ball for the week goes to the offensive line. I could give it to anyone really, including coach Joe Vitt again, but this line was outstanding today. I will have to look at this game on tape again, but it seemed that Adam Timmerman, Andy McCollum and Tom Nutten were fantastic against those big defensive tackles from Jacksonville. For all the criticism and injuries the offensive line has suffered, it has really been good since the right tackle spot was solidified by rookie
Alex Barron.
- I have said it before and I will say it again, Timmerman is the ultimate gamer. He has been battling a back injury for the past two weeks, an injury that doesn't exactly help an offensive lineman. But Timmerman played through it because, well, that's what he does. He was pulling, on sweeps and delays, pushing people around in the middle and holding his own in pass blocking. It was another gutsy performance in a career of gutsy performances for No. 62.
- More props to the offensive line for Nutten's performance. Without Claude Terrell, who is a little more dynamic as a run blocker, Nutten stepped up to the challenge. McCollum goes essentially unnoticed every week, but he is consistently solid in the middle of the line and still shows a great ability to get to the second level. His block to spring
Steven Jackson for the winning touchdown was nothing short of textbook.
- Barron went through a few growing pains today, but he gets a pass because he has had so few of those during his first few games as a starter. Barron bounced back from those bad penalties and was solid again pass blocking. He continues to improve as a run blocker also. With
Orlando Pace and Barron as the bookends, the future of the offensive line looks bright.
- Best of luck to Vitt, who is having a minor procedure Monday morning. It doesn't appear that it is anything major and I have been told it's been planned for some time.
- How can you not like the attitude Vitt is instilling in this team right now? He finds new and interesting ways to connect with the team through means such as the movie Gladiator and all he cares about is his team and his coaching staff. The fact that he has never even been a coordinator is partially his decision, but let's face it, this guy is at the very least coordinator material.
- Say what you want about Jamie Martin, but he was the quarterback that helped the Rams to two absolutely huge victories in the absence of
Marc Bulger. Martin didn't win those games by himself, but he made the plays when he needed to. His throw to Kevin Curtis was a thing of beauty and at least loosened things up for Jackson in the running game.
- For everyone, myself included, waiting for Jackson's breakout game, this was it. He showed flashes last week against New Orleans, but this was his signature game. He had the passion, the power, the speed, the whole package. Jackson is settling into his role just fine and he is showing this coaching staff that even when Isaac Bruce,
Torry Holt and Bulger return, he needs to get his touches.
- Curtis just continues to find ways to make big plays. He and Jackson are the best play makers on the field when Bruce and Holt aren't around and yet they both still find ways to make plays. Memo to the Jacksonville defensive back trying to catch Curtis from behind: next time save yourself the energy, it's just not happening. As Curtis continues to grow and win jump balls and things of that nature, he will become one of the elite receivers in this league.
- One guy who has kind of gone overlooked recently is
Dane Looker. Looker just flies under the radar and finds ways to make catches and get first downs. He has been a huge option in the passing game and is so reliable. Sometimes these receivers have struggled with knowing where they are on the field and getting past the sticks, but Looker always seems to know where he is and where he needs to go.
- Free safety Mike Furrey continues to find himself in position to make big plays and he continues to convert those opportunities. Does he sometimes take bad angles to the ball? Absolutely. He is well aware that he isn't a finished product yet as a free safety, but I know this for sure, he is a major upgrade over what has been playing free safety for the better part of the past season and a half. Furrey will learn the angles and get better as a tackler as he gets more experience. He isn't scared to tackle, he just is out of position sometimes. I think in time that will get corrected. In the meantime, enjoy the big plays he provides.
- Without Travis Fisher and Chris Johnson things looked bleak for the secondary against Jacksonville's giant trio of receivers. But
Ron Bartell and especially Corey Ivy were up to the challenge. Ivy is a battler and he just doesn't stop competing. Ivy might have a case of small man's complex, but he refuses to back down because he gives up some inches to the guy across from him.
- DeJuan Groce continues to be solid in coverage and didn't allow a crafty veteran like Jimmy Smith to beat him. That's a win for Groce.
- Chris Claiborne has been an excellent addition to this defense. Claiborne is tough and stout against the run. He even got some blitz opportunities and made plays in coverage today. He needs to be on the field and when the opponent's offensive package allows for that, he gets it done.
- Ryan Pickett is so active in the middle of the defense. I believe this team can't afford to lose Pickett to free agency. He holds his blockers in his running lane, makes tackles and gets pressure on the quarterback. I'm not sure there are 10 tackles in this league playing better right now than Pickett. All of the talk coming into the game was about Henderson and Stroud. Don't get me wrong, those guys are impressive and I was one of those talking about them, but Pickett was the best tackle on the field Sunday.
- Another big play by the special teams. At some point, people have to forget the past and acknowledge that this unit is much-improved and is consistently providing at least one big play every week. Drew Wahlroos is strictly a special teams guy and he makes it work. Nice run back by
Brandon Chillar, also.
- 4-4 at the bye isn't what this team hoped for and that San Francisco loss still has to sting some, but there is a great amount of pride on this team and these two wins proved that. With a bye week to heal up and get some star power back on the field, I fully expect this team to come back ready for a battle in Seattle two weeks from today.
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