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Rams quarterback laments mistakes
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Oct. 05 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — A former California high school player of the year who went
on to a record-breaking college career at nearby Cal-Berkeley, Rams quarterback
Kyle Boller was happy to be home again.
"It's always fun to be back in California and San Francisco," Boller said late
Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. "But I don't care where you are, losing
is no fun."
The Rams are having no fun these days.
An error-filled 35-0 spanking at the hands of the San Francisco ***** dropped
the Rams to 0-4 for the season and extended their franchise-record losing
streak to 14 games.
Boller was given the opportunity to help stanch the bleeding, as he started in
place of Marc Bulger. A bruised rotator cuff in his right shoulder relegated
Bulger to emergency duty as the No. 3 quarterback.
New quarterback. Same result.
"It's very frustrating," said Boller, a seven-year pro making his first start
since 2007 with Baltimore. "I felt like in the beginning, we were moving the
ball a little bit, and then we'd have something that'd ... kill our drives."
The Rams mustered just 177 total yards, a low-water mark in this rapidly
sinking season. The turndown came just a week after the offense produced season
highs of 336 yards and 17 points against Green Bay. Boller took over when
Bulger was injured late in the first quarter of that game.
Inopportune penalties stifled the Rams' progress vs. the *****. "Sometimes when
we got some plays, there was either a flag or we did something to move it
back," Boller said. "We could just never get in any rhythm."
Nine of the Rams' 13 possessions lasted three plays or fewer. A nine-play,
62-yard drive moved them to the San Francisco 33-yard line in the first
quarter. But their chance to grab the lead fizzled when Josh Brown's 51-yard
field goal attempt fell short.
The Rams would cross the 50 just twice more, poor field position plaguing them
most of the day.
Boller completed 13 of 24 passes for 108 yards; his passer rating was a meager
48.6. He was intercepted once, and it stung: Linebacker Patrick Willis cut in
front of wide receiver Keenan Burton and raced 23 yards for a touchdown that
made it 21-0 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
"I was trying to make a play, but ... I've been in this league long enough to
know you never want to throw the ball across your body like that," Boller said.
"I can't give them an easy score like that."
Boller also was charged with a lost fumble on a handoff that wideout Danny
Amendola was unable to corral on a reverse play. Niners defensive tackle Ray
McDonald grabbed the loose ball and scampered 11 yards to the end zone.
Fullback John Karney said Boller did "the best that he could do. ... You just
can't hurt yourself, not in this league. I don't care who you're playing. The
teams are too good."
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Oct. 05 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — A former California high school player of the year who went
on to a record-breaking college career at nearby Cal-Berkeley, Rams quarterback
Kyle Boller was happy to be home again.
"It's always fun to be back in California and San Francisco," Boller said late
Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. "But I don't care where you are, losing
is no fun."
The Rams are having no fun these days.
An error-filled 35-0 spanking at the hands of the San Francisco ***** dropped
the Rams to 0-4 for the season and extended their franchise-record losing
streak to 14 games.
Boller was given the opportunity to help stanch the bleeding, as he started in
place of Marc Bulger. A bruised rotator cuff in his right shoulder relegated
Bulger to emergency duty as the No. 3 quarterback.
New quarterback. Same result.
"It's very frustrating," said Boller, a seven-year pro making his first start
since 2007 with Baltimore. "I felt like in the beginning, we were moving the
ball a little bit, and then we'd have something that'd ... kill our drives."
The Rams mustered just 177 total yards, a low-water mark in this rapidly
sinking season. The turndown came just a week after the offense produced season
highs of 336 yards and 17 points against Green Bay. Boller took over when
Bulger was injured late in the first quarter of that game.
Inopportune penalties stifled the Rams' progress vs. the *****. "Sometimes when
we got some plays, there was either a flag or we did something to move it
back," Boller said. "We could just never get in any rhythm."
Nine of the Rams' 13 possessions lasted three plays or fewer. A nine-play,
62-yard drive moved them to the San Francisco 33-yard line in the first
quarter. But their chance to grab the lead fizzled when Josh Brown's 51-yard
field goal attempt fell short.
The Rams would cross the 50 just twice more, poor field position plaguing them
most of the day.
Boller completed 13 of 24 passes for 108 yards; his passer rating was a meager
48.6. He was intercepted once, and it stung: Linebacker Patrick Willis cut in
front of wide receiver Keenan Burton and raced 23 yards for a touchdown that
made it 21-0 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
"I was trying to make a play, but ... I've been in this league long enough to
know you never want to throw the ball across your body like that," Boller said.
"I can't give them an easy score like that."
Boller also was charged with a lost fumble on a handoff that wideout Danny
Amendola was unable to corral on a reverse play. Niners defensive tackle Ray
McDonald grabbed the loose ball and scampered 11 yards to the end zone.
Fullback John Karney said Boller did "the best that he could do. ... You just
can't hurt yourself, not in this league. I don't care who you're playing. The
teams are too good."