Week 3: Rams Report Card

09/25/2005

The Post-Dispatch staff grades the Rams' performances in their 31-27 win over the Titans:


Quarterback

Marc Bulger showed toughness and competitiveness and put up strong numbers.

Grade: A


Running back

Some guy named Marshall Faulk did a pretty fair job in relief of the injured Steven Jackson.

Grade: B


Receivers

Torry Holt gobbled up Pacman Jones and anyone else the Titans sent his way.

Grade: B +


Offensive line

In his NFL debut, Alex Barron stopped the bleeding at right tackle.

Grade: C minus-


Defensive line

Jolted early by aggressive Tennessee O-line but finished strongly.

Grade: B


Linebackers

Chris Claiborne, Dexter Coakley continue to make a difference on run defense.

Grade: B


Secondary

Produced 3 turnovers, including Adam Archuleta's huge interception return for a TD.

Grade: A


Special teams

Return game didn't have many chances, but coverage was decent.

Grade: C+


Coaching

Beyond the X's and O's, Mike Martz is instilling toughness and tenacity in this team.

Grade: B

Quarterback

Marc Bulger showed toughness and competitiveness and put up strong numbers.

Grade: A

[hr]

uhh... three fumbles, two lost is not an "A" performance.

Three fumbles. One was a lateral that was a highly suspect call. Really just an incomplete pass when evaluating the qb. One he got creamed and never saw the defender coming, thanks to sapiaia, i doubt any qb holds the ball in that situation. The third fumble i agree was not good, he needs to cover up better when running. On that basis, not an A, but certainly an A minus. He was deadly accurate whenever he had any time at all to throw, which of course he didnt have in the first quarter.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

I agree. It was an A- game.

Great to see our #28 has still got it....

But Marshall's fumble was a huge momentum shift that almost cost them the game...

B-

Gc, I Thought Bulger Was Outstanding, But Please Stop Blaming Everyone Else For The Fumbles,bulger Had The Ball In His Hands And Dropped It,the Lateral Well Ok Maybe Not,but He Fumbled The Ball, Doesnt Take Away From The Game He Played,he Displayed Great Toughness.i Would Love To Work For You If Everytime I Made A Mistake I Could Blame Someone Else.

I generally agree with the grades. I think Bulger gets an A- for the two legit fumbles (I don't fault him for the lateral). I'd also give the secondary an A- or a B+. The turnovers were great, but there were times when the Titans moved the ball well, specifically against Travis Fisher.

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Secondary

Produced 3 turnovers, including Adam Archuleta's huge interception return for a TD.

Grade: A

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This could have been a very bad weekend for our secondary. They were vastly undersized against the Titan's 2-TE sets and wideouts averaging 6'5" 220 lbs. However, our smaller faster DBs did an excellent job of slowing down their passing attack and stalling the Titans Air game for the most part. One of their better efforts against a physically superior receiving corp.

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Torry Holt gobbled up Pacman Jones and anyone else the Titans sent his way.

Grade: B +

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A+ Torry was schooling Jr.pacman all day.