Tweet
QB decision may be needed
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/12/2009
Concerning the quarterbacks, it could be an interesting week at Rams Park.
Between Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, which — if either — will emerge as the healthiest? And which — if either — will be running the No. 1 unit when practice resumes Wednesday?
The odds probably are with Bulger. Yet throughout the bulk of Sunday's 38-10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Boller appeared to be pushing hard to hold on to the starting job he's had the past two weeks while Bulger recovers from an injured shoulder.
That changed on the second play of the fourth quarter. Boller was clobbered by defensive end Ray Edwards just as he released a pass into the end zone. The ball was intercepted and Boller was shaken up.
"I took a pretty good shot and I was a little fuzzy, a little dizzy," Boller said. "I don't think I was out completely ... (or) a hundred percent concussed."
Still, he was dazed enough that coach Steve Spagnuolo turned to Bulger, who served as Boller's backup after suiting up as the No. 3 quarterback last week.
"I don't think (playing) was the plan," said Bulger, who suffered a bruised rotator cuff Sept. 27 vs. Green Bay. "But when it happened to Kyle, we had to do it."
Although he was going against Minnesota's defensive reserves with the Vikings cruising 24-3, Bulger came back with a bang: He hit on all seven of his passes for 88 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Donnie Avery, and compiled a "perfect" passer rating of 158.3.
"I'm just glad we could go in and get some points and escape without hurting the shoulder again," said Bulger, who added that he believes he'll be sound enough to return to the lineup Sunday at Jacksonville.
"It's getting close," he said. "I still need a little more velocity throwing the ball. You never know till you get hit, so we'll see. But ... I think I'll be ready to play the game next week."
If asked, that is. Should Boller bounce back quickly, Spagnuolo might have a decision to make.
Boller was at the helm most of the way as the Rams cobbled together their most productive offensive showing of the year. They rolled up 400 yards, including a season-high 278 through the air, against the NFL's 11th-ranked defense. Four turnovers, three inside the Vikings' 10-yard line, snuffed scoring chances.
"Both quarterbacks looked really sharp," running back Steven Jackson said. "We were able to move the ball. We actually were able to stretch the field, and our receivers made plays."
Boller wound up completing 20 of 31 passes for 209 yards, with the interception; his passer rating was 70.5. He also lost a fumble when "the ball just popped out of my hand," with defensive end Jared Allen scooping it up and scooting 52 yards to the end zone.
Nonetheless, Boller guided the offense on drives of nine, 14 and 15 plays, each ending with a turnover near the goal line: the end-zone interception; plus fumbles by Jackson and tight end Daniel Fells.
Despite its miscues, the offense, which was averaging a league-low six points a game and stood 30th overall in the 32-team league, is beginning to come together, Boller insisted.
"Oh, definitely," he said. "It's just a matter of finishing the drives. That's 21 points (lost by the turnovers) right there."
Added Bulger: "You hate the cliches: 'We moved the ball,' 'We shot ourselves in the foot.' Good football teams don't do that. We have to learn how to protect the ball better ... before we start winning games."
Now, Spagnuolo has to determine which quarterback has the best chance to help the woebegone Rams toward that goal.
"That's up to the coaches," Bulger said. "I'll just show up, and if I'm with the ones, then I'll go with the ones."
Boller will have to shake the "little bit of a headache" he was experiencing late Sunday afternoon and probably pass a neurological exam before he's cleared.
But if he gets the go-ahead, Boller vowed to be "ready for whatever the coaches decide."
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/12/2009
Concerning the quarterbacks, it could be an interesting week at Rams Park.
Between Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, which — if either — will emerge as the healthiest? And which — if either — will be running the No. 1 unit when practice resumes Wednesday?
The odds probably are with Bulger. Yet throughout the bulk of Sunday's 38-10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Boller appeared to be pushing hard to hold on to the starting job he's had the past two weeks while Bulger recovers from an injured shoulder.
That changed on the second play of the fourth quarter. Boller was clobbered by defensive end Ray Edwards just as he released a pass into the end zone. The ball was intercepted and Boller was shaken up.
"I took a pretty good shot and I was a little fuzzy, a little dizzy," Boller said. "I don't think I was out completely ... (or) a hundred percent concussed."
Still, he was dazed enough that coach Steve Spagnuolo turned to Bulger, who served as Boller's backup after suiting up as the No. 3 quarterback last week.
"I don't think (playing) was the plan," said Bulger, who suffered a bruised rotator cuff Sept. 27 vs. Green Bay. "But when it happened to Kyle, we had to do it."
Although he was going against Minnesota's defensive reserves with the Vikings cruising 24-3, Bulger came back with a bang: He hit on all seven of his passes for 88 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Donnie Avery, and compiled a "perfect" passer rating of 158.3.
"I'm just glad we could go in and get some points and escape without hurting the shoulder again," said Bulger, who added that he believes he'll be sound enough to return to the lineup Sunday at Jacksonville.
"It's getting close," he said. "I still need a little more velocity throwing the ball. You never know till you get hit, so we'll see. But ... I think I'll be ready to play the game next week."
If asked, that is. Should Boller bounce back quickly, Spagnuolo might have a decision to make.
Boller was at the helm most of the way as the Rams cobbled together their most productive offensive showing of the year. They rolled up 400 yards, including a season-high 278 through the air, against the NFL's 11th-ranked defense. Four turnovers, three inside the Vikings' 10-yard line, snuffed scoring chances.
"Both quarterbacks looked really sharp," running back Steven Jackson said. "We were able to move the ball. We actually were able to stretch the field, and our receivers made plays."
Boller wound up completing 20 of 31 passes for 209 yards, with the interception; his passer rating was 70.5. He also lost a fumble when "the ball just popped out of my hand," with defensive end Jared Allen scooping it up and scooting 52 yards to the end zone.
Nonetheless, Boller guided the offense on drives of nine, 14 and 15 plays, each ending with a turnover near the goal line: the end-zone interception; plus fumbles by Jackson and tight end Daniel Fells.
Despite its miscues, the offense, which was averaging a league-low six points a game and stood 30th overall in the 32-team league, is beginning to come together, Boller insisted.
"Oh, definitely," he said. "It's just a matter of finishing the drives. That's 21 points (lost by the turnovers) right there."
Added Bulger: "You hate the cliches: 'We moved the ball,' 'We shot ourselves in the foot.' Good football teams don't do that. We have to learn how to protect the ball better ... before we start winning games."
Now, Spagnuolo has to determine which quarterback has the best chance to help the woebegone Rams toward that goal.
"That's up to the coaches," Bulger said. "I'll just show up, and if I'm with the ones, then I'll go with the ones."
Boller will have to shake the "little bit of a headache" he was experiencing late Sunday afternoon and probably pass a neurological exam before he's cleared.
But if he gets the go-ahead, Boller vowed to be "ready for whatever the coaches decide."
Comment