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BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/05/2009
Who would've guessed that at the midway point of the season, the Rams' touchdown leader would be Daniel Fells and fellow tight end Billy Bajema would have the team's highest yards-per-catch average?
"I'll tell you who would've guessed that — the tight ends would've guessed that," Fells shot back in mock indignation.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Fells has found the end zone three times, most recently on Sunday in the Rams' 17-10 victory in Detroit. Fells hustled 36 yards after taking a short pass from kicker Josh Brown on a fake field goal.
Fells' other TDs came on passes of 16 and 19 yards Sept. 27 in a 36-17 loss to Green Bay. Given that the Rams have mustered only seven TDs on offense — fewest in the NFC — Fells' scores stand out.
"Danny's an athletic tight end," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "For a big guy, he really moves around well and he's got good hands."
Bajema, 6-4 and 259, hasn't scored yet. But first things first … until Sunday, he'd caught only seven passes in four NFL seasons. His two grabs vs. the Lions covered 43 yards; his 21.5-yard average is 8.5 better than the Rams' runner-up, wide receiver Donnie Avery.
After getting five receptions in 2005 as a rookie out of Oklahoma State, Bajema has seen his role change.
"My second year in the league, we had a couple of good receiving tight ends in San Francisco, and I think I kind of became known as a blocking guy," he said. "But I have a lot of confidence in my ability as a receiver."
HONOR FOR BROWN
Kicker Josh Brown, who had a hand in 11 of the Rams' 17 points in Detroit, is the NFC's special-teams player of the week. He scored on a 41-yard field and two extra points. He also tossed the pass to Fells on the successful fake field goal. Brown, a seven-year veteran, had received the honor three times previously, when he was with Seattle.
INJURY UPDATE
Amendola, who suffered a concussion returning a kickoff Sunday, passed his neurological exam Wednesday. He's expected to return to practice Monday, when the team reassembles at Rams Park after its bye.
Guard Jacob Bell, who also sustained a concussion, was back at practice Wednesday. He passed his exam Tuesday. ... Defensive lineman C.J. Ah You was a full participant in practice for the first time since spraining an ankle Oct. 25 vs. Indianapolis. ... Running back Samkon Gado was excused so that he could take care of a personal matter, Spagnuolo said.
RAM-BLINGS
Practice was followed by a barbecue lunch, and then the players were dismissed until Monday. … The Rams' next three games are at home: Nov. 15 vs. New Orleans, Nov. 22 vs. Arizona and Nov. 29 vs. Seattle.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/05/2009
Who would've guessed that at the midway point of the season, the Rams' touchdown leader would be Daniel Fells and fellow tight end Billy Bajema would have the team's highest yards-per-catch average?
"I'll tell you who would've guessed that — the tight ends would've guessed that," Fells shot back in mock indignation.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Fells has found the end zone three times, most recently on Sunday in the Rams' 17-10 victory in Detroit. Fells hustled 36 yards after taking a short pass from kicker Josh Brown on a fake field goal.
Fells' other TDs came on passes of 16 and 19 yards Sept. 27 in a 36-17 loss to Green Bay. Given that the Rams have mustered only seven TDs on offense — fewest in the NFC — Fells' scores stand out.
"Danny's an athletic tight end," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "For a big guy, he really moves around well and he's got good hands."
Bajema, 6-4 and 259, hasn't scored yet. But first things first … until Sunday, he'd caught only seven passes in four NFL seasons. His two grabs vs. the Lions covered 43 yards; his 21.5-yard average is 8.5 better than the Rams' runner-up, wide receiver Donnie Avery.
After getting five receptions in 2005 as a rookie out of Oklahoma State, Bajema has seen his role change.
"My second year in the league, we had a couple of good receiving tight ends in San Francisco, and I think I kind of became known as a blocking guy," he said. "But I have a lot of confidence in my ability as a receiver."
HONOR FOR BROWN
Kicker Josh Brown, who had a hand in 11 of the Rams' 17 points in Detroit, is the NFC's special-teams player of the week. He scored on a 41-yard field and two extra points. He also tossed the pass to Fells on the successful fake field goal. Brown, a seven-year veteran, had received the honor three times previously, when he was with Seattle.
INJURY UPDATE
Amendola, who suffered a concussion returning a kickoff Sunday, passed his neurological exam Wednesday. He's expected to return to practice Monday, when the team reassembles at Rams Park after its bye.
Guard Jacob Bell, who also sustained a concussion, was back at practice Wednesday. He passed his exam Tuesday. ... Defensive lineman C.J. Ah You was a full participant in practice for the first time since spraining an ankle Oct. 25 vs. Indianapolis. ... Running back Samkon Gado was excused so that he could take care of a personal matter, Spagnuolo said.
RAM-BLINGS
Practice was followed by a barbecue lunch, and then the players were dismissed until Monday. … The Rams' next three games are at home: Nov. 15 vs. New Orleans, Nov. 22 vs. Arizona and Nov. 29 vs. Seattle.
