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By Nick Wagoner
Staff Writer
Apparently, Torry Holt didn’t get the memo.
For the receiver known as “Big Game,” Holt treated the Rams’ third preseason game as if the Lombardi Trophy was on the line. Scratch that, he treated the first half, the second quarter in particular, as though a championship was on the line. Holt, who really doesn’t know any speed except full, lit up the Redskins to the tune of 143 yards on seven catches and a touchdown. Holt called it a night after the first half.
The Rams routed Washington 28-3 on Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome with a performance that almost certainly made Don Coryell, who attended, proud. St. Louis improved to 1-2 in the preseason with one game to play. Washington dropped to 2-2.
Holt’s play sparked a struggling offense to a 14-3 lead at the half that the Rams would not relinquish. Rams’ coach Mike Martz said Holt wasn’t supposed to be as big a part of the offense as he was, but a jammed right index finger to Isaac Bruce made Holt the top target.
“We didn’t necessarily want to give him the ball that much,” Martz said. “We wanted to get Torry the ball deep. Torry was outstanding.”
The starting offensive unit had made it a goal to get in the endzone against Washington after failing to in the first pair of preseason games. When the clock started running in the second half, the Rams’ offense joined it. With 9:09 left in the second quarter, it accomplished its goal. Bulger hit Holt for a 7-yard touchdown pass on an impressive 74-yard drive that lasted just over five and a half minutes.
Holt, who is known around Rams Park for his singing prowess, showed his dance moves after the touchdown. Unfortunately, Holt spun the ball on the ground in the face of beaten Washington defender Shawn Springs, and was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That penalty was one of the few negatives on a night full of bright spots. Key plays on the drive included rookie running back Steven Jackson’s 18-yard gain off left tackle on the drive’s second play. A 19-yard catch by Dane Looker on third-and-15 and an 18-yard strike to Holt set up the touchdown.
Bulger called it a night after his touchdown pass, finishing six-of-12 for 78 yards. Running back Marshall Faulk ended his night a possession earlier with 11 yards on four carries.
Martz said Bulger would continue to get better as he takes more snaps.
“Some of those routes you just have to throw blind,” Martz said. “You can’t see them, they just disappear. He just needs to play.”
St. Louis’ defense held the Redskins to a three and out on the next possession and Chandler entered the game. Chandler wasted no time finding Holt, hitting him for a 14-yard gain on the second play. That drive stalled and it appeared momentum might swing Washington’s way as Patrick Ramsey hit Taylor Jacobs for a 44-yard gain over the head of cornerback Kevin Garrett, making the start for the injured Travis Fisher. Garrett didn’t give up on the play and punched the ball loose. FS Aeneas Williams came over to scoop up the ball, the Rams’ first defensive takeaway of the preseason.
Williams returned it 5 yards, setting the stage for Holt’s next big play. After an incompletion, Chandler floated a perfect deep ball to Holt, who caught it in stride on a 58-yard pass play, and was brought down at the 1-yard line. Chandler did the honors on the next play with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown and a 14-3 lead.
Chandler continued his impressive preseason showing, once again proving his value as an experienced backup quarterback. Chandler finished his night nine-of-15 for 190 yards.
Chandler said his performance was helped by the improved play along the offensive line. “I think those guys did a great job,” Chandler said. “As quarterbacks, there is so much to worry about that you don’t worry about what those guys up front are doing.”
The offense wasn’t the only part of the Rams clicking. Aside from the 44-yard completion to Jacobs, the defense held its own. If it weren’t for the penalties against St. Louis on Washington’s first drive, the Redskins probably wouldn’t have scored. As it was, Washington finished with 205 yards, but only 153 net yards after the opening drive. Defensive end Leonard Little said the defense had a meeting earlier in the week in an effort to get the team to play at a higher level.
“We had to (play better),” Little said. “We made a real effort this week to try to focus on the run and making them pass the ball. We were able to do that.”
The St. Louis offense continued where it left off in the first half with the first possession of the third quarter. Sparked by a 32-yard strike from Chandler to Shaun McDonald, the Rams traveled 70 yards on 10 plays. Jackson capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown burst around right end. Wilkins’ extra point gave St. Louis a 21-3 edge.
The second half turned out to be the Steven Jackson show, as he rushed 17 times for 103 yards after halftime, and finished with 25 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown. The rookie showed the power and speed that made him the first running back taken in the draft. When Jackson left with slightly more than five minutes to play, the Edward Jones Dome crowd gave him one of the loudest ovations of the night.
Jackson said he is getting closer to being the type of back he wants to be. “I’m feeling really good, especially in the running game right now,” Jackson said. “I’m feeling comfortable and I understand most of the schemes. I still have some things to work on, but that comes with the territory.”
On the Rams’ next possession, Chandler continued to have the hot hand, finding McDonald again, this time for 35 yards and a touchdown. Wilkins booted his fourth extra point for a 28-3 advantage.
With the big lead, Martz went to third quarterback Jeff Smoker on St. Louis’ next possession. Martz said earlier in the week he planned to use Bulger and Chandler for the rest of the preseason, but the large lead made it easy to make the switch.
The first quarter proved to be relatively uneventful. The Redskins scored first on John Hall’s 28-yard field goal. Two Rams’ possessions garnered no points. Washington’s drive went 62 yards on 11 plays with the help of a pair of costly St. Louis penalties helping it along the way.
“I feel good about the performance in all three phases,” Martz said. “This week was really kind of a week for this team to come together. We’re excited.”
Maybe, just maybe, Holt knew that in advance.
Staff Writer
Apparently, Torry Holt didn’t get the memo.
For the receiver known as “Big Game,” Holt treated the Rams’ third preseason game as if the Lombardi Trophy was on the line. Scratch that, he treated the first half, the second quarter in particular, as though a championship was on the line. Holt, who really doesn’t know any speed except full, lit up the Redskins to the tune of 143 yards on seven catches and a touchdown. Holt called it a night after the first half.
The Rams routed Washington 28-3 on Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome with a performance that almost certainly made Don Coryell, who attended, proud. St. Louis improved to 1-2 in the preseason with one game to play. Washington dropped to 2-2.
Holt’s play sparked a struggling offense to a 14-3 lead at the half that the Rams would not relinquish. Rams’ coach Mike Martz said Holt wasn’t supposed to be as big a part of the offense as he was, but a jammed right index finger to Isaac Bruce made Holt the top target.
“We didn’t necessarily want to give him the ball that much,” Martz said. “We wanted to get Torry the ball deep. Torry was outstanding.”
The starting offensive unit had made it a goal to get in the endzone against Washington after failing to in the first pair of preseason games. When the clock started running in the second half, the Rams’ offense joined it. With 9:09 left in the second quarter, it accomplished its goal. Bulger hit Holt for a 7-yard touchdown pass on an impressive 74-yard drive that lasted just over five and a half minutes.
Holt, who is known around Rams Park for his singing prowess, showed his dance moves after the touchdown. Unfortunately, Holt spun the ball on the ground in the face of beaten Washington defender Shawn Springs, and was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That penalty was one of the few negatives on a night full of bright spots. Key plays on the drive included rookie running back Steven Jackson’s 18-yard gain off left tackle on the drive’s second play. A 19-yard catch by Dane Looker on third-and-15 and an 18-yard strike to Holt set up the touchdown.
Bulger called it a night after his touchdown pass, finishing six-of-12 for 78 yards. Running back Marshall Faulk ended his night a possession earlier with 11 yards on four carries.
Martz said Bulger would continue to get better as he takes more snaps.
“Some of those routes you just have to throw blind,” Martz said. “You can’t see them, they just disappear. He just needs to play.”
St. Louis’ defense held the Redskins to a three and out on the next possession and Chandler entered the game. Chandler wasted no time finding Holt, hitting him for a 14-yard gain on the second play. That drive stalled and it appeared momentum might swing Washington’s way as Patrick Ramsey hit Taylor Jacobs for a 44-yard gain over the head of cornerback Kevin Garrett, making the start for the injured Travis Fisher. Garrett didn’t give up on the play and punched the ball loose. FS Aeneas Williams came over to scoop up the ball, the Rams’ first defensive takeaway of the preseason.
Williams returned it 5 yards, setting the stage for Holt’s next big play. After an incompletion, Chandler floated a perfect deep ball to Holt, who caught it in stride on a 58-yard pass play, and was brought down at the 1-yard line. Chandler did the honors on the next play with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown and a 14-3 lead.
Chandler continued his impressive preseason showing, once again proving his value as an experienced backup quarterback. Chandler finished his night nine-of-15 for 190 yards.
Chandler said his performance was helped by the improved play along the offensive line. “I think those guys did a great job,” Chandler said. “As quarterbacks, there is so much to worry about that you don’t worry about what those guys up front are doing.”
The offense wasn’t the only part of the Rams clicking. Aside from the 44-yard completion to Jacobs, the defense held its own. If it weren’t for the penalties against St. Louis on Washington’s first drive, the Redskins probably wouldn’t have scored. As it was, Washington finished with 205 yards, but only 153 net yards after the opening drive. Defensive end Leonard Little said the defense had a meeting earlier in the week in an effort to get the team to play at a higher level.
“We had to (play better),” Little said. “We made a real effort this week to try to focus on the run and making them pass the ball. We were able to do that.”
The St. Louis offense continued where it left off in the first half with the first possession of the third quarter. Sparked by a 32-yard strike from Chandler to Shaun McDonald, the Rams traveled 70 yards on 10 plays. Jackson capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown burst around right end. Wilkins’ extra point gave St. Louis a 21-3 edge.
The second half turned out to be the Steven Jackson show, as he rushed 17 times for 103 yards after halftime, and finished with 25 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown. The rookie showed the power and speed that made him the first running back taken in the draft. When Jackson left with slightly more than five minutes to play, the Edward Jones Dome crowd gave him one of the loudest ovations of the night.
Jackson said he is getting closer to being the type of back he wants to be. “I’m feeling really good, especially in the running game right now,” Jackson said. “I’m feeling comfortable and I understand most of the schemes. I still have some things to work on, but that comes with the territory.”
On the Rams’ next possession, Chandler continued to have the hot hand, finding McDonald again, this time for 35 yards and a touchdown. Wilkins booted his fourth extra point for a 28-3 advantage.
With the big lead, Martz went to third quarterback Jeff Smoker on St. Louis’ next possession. Martz said earlier in the week he planned to use Bulger and Chandler for the rest of the preseason, but the large lead made it easy to make the switch.
The first quarter proved to be relatively uneventful. The Redskins scored first on John Hall’s 28-yard field goal. Two Rams’ possessions garnered no points. Washington’s drive went 62 yards on 11 plays with the help of a pair of costly St. Louis penalties helping it along the way.
“I feel good about the performance in all three phases,” Martz said. “This week was really kind of a week for this team to come together. We’re excited.”
Maybe, just maybe, Holt knew that in advance.
