Tweet
USA TODAY
During the 2010 season, Rams running back Steven Jackson spoke often about how important it was for the offensive line in front of him to have continuity.
It is something the Rams' line has rarely had over the last decade. When it has, the result has been obvious. Even last season, though the Rams had a losing record, there was still improvement from the year before.
The five players on the line started all but one game the entire season. From 1999-2001, when the Rams had a cumulative regular-season record of 37-11, the opening-day starters on the line missed a total of seven starts in three seasons.
In 2002, there were several injuries on the line, and the record slipped to 7-9. It went back to 12-4 the next season when the all five linemen started every game.
Of course, the biggest disaster for the Rams was 2007. Coming off an 8-8 season in 2006, there was optimism heading into the next year. Jackson had led the NFL in combined yards from scrimmage. Quarterback Marc Bulger passed for over 4,000 yards, while receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce each went over 1,000.
But the attrition in the line in '07 started in training camp and extended into the first few weeks of the season. The casualties were Orlando Pace, Mark Setterstrom, Richie Incognito, Todd Steussie and Adam Goldberg, all by the fourth week of the season.
By the end of the season, 13 different players had started games on the line at 18 different positions. Bulger was beat up like a rag doll, and the record was 3-13. He really never recovered.
Now, the shuffling will likely be happening again on the line. Right tackle Jason Smith has already missed four games because of post-concussion symptoms and appears headed to injured reserve. Left tackle Rodger Saffold tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights last Friday and is done for the year.
His replacement, Mark LeVoir, suffered a pectoral injury against Seattle that won't require surgery but will keep him on the sideline for at least two games and maybe four. Rookie Kevin Hughes replaced LeVoir in that game, and the Rams signed tackle Thomas Welch off the Buffalo practice squad this week, but neither is expected to start.
The Rams are expected to play their best five guys, even if it means moving a guard to tackle. Both Jacob Bell and Harvey Dahl have played some tackle in their career, although it hasn't been for a while. Goldberg has also played left tackle in the past, and Jason Brown, who was benched two games ago at center, has played guard. Some NFL personnel people have thought Brown might be a better guard than center anyway.
Also keep in mind that four of the Rams' final six games will be played against teams (Arizona, San Francisco twice and Pittsburgh) that play 3-4 defenses.
Brown said he's not sure what the line will look like Sunday because he expects "everyone to be interchanging" during the week.
When asked if Brown could end up being involved this week, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Yeah, we're trying to find the right five here, so that's part of it and we'll get it figured out by Sunday."
Quarterback Sam Bradford said, "We're going to have to make a couple adjustments, but I've got full confidence in everyone that whoever's playing is going to do a good job."
Added offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, when asked about the makeup of the offensive line, "We're going to try to practice the guys we have healthy out here this week, we're going to give all of them reps at the positions that they play. We're going to ask some other guys to do multiple things because we have to.
"We're at that point now where you're going to potentially play a guard at tackle, potentially play a center at guard, swing guys left and right. And then if something does happen in the game, there's no question there's going to be some moving parts and pieces within the four quarters then, too. They've accepted the challenge and the burden that we have."
Said Spagnuolo, in referring to the issues at tackle, "It's hard. It's the one position, that and the secondary probably, in my opinion, in the game of football that needs to find some continuity throughout the year, and you tend to get better and better and that's been a struggle for us in both of those spots this year."
It's also been hard at wide receiver where on Thursday Mark Clayton became the third pass-catcher to be placed on injured reserve. Activated from physically unable to perform recently, Clayton first experienced Achilles soreness and then was dealing with pain in both knees this week.
Said Spagnuolo, "Mark has been struggling with both knees. Mark and I visited yesterday. You guys weren't out here for the whole practice yesterday, but he was very limited. He was really in pain. I could see that he was, so I have talked with him. He's really been struggling. The knee that he had surgery on has been giving him a hard time. The other knee is starting to; he's starting to feel it, too. What we were looking at is possibly scoping one of them or both of them; that's a five- or six-week deal. I really considered the player, and I don't want to put him through that, so we're going to put him on IR. We're going to lose Mark Clayton, and he understands. He toughed it out as long as he could."
With wide receiver Austin Pettis (knee) and Danario Alexander (hamstring) limited, the Rams signed Nick Miller, who can also return kicks.
SERIES HISTORY: 66th regular-season meeting. Cardinals lead series, 32-31-2. That includes a 19-13 overtime victory on Nov. 6 in Arizona. The Cardinals have won nine of the last 10 games in the series, including six straight in St. Louis. The last time the Rams won at home in the series was 17-10 in 2004.
NOTES, QUOTES
—A report in the San Diego Evening-Tribune claimed Rams owner Stan Kroenke has made the decision to "blow up" the front office as well as change head coaches. The report said Kroenke is compiling a list of potential general manager candidates to replace Billy Devaney.
When asked if he feels there has to be positive result in the last six games for him to retain his job, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "I don't go there only because I don't do the six-week deal. I don't go that far into the future. It's just this game. I just know that's how I operate in this business. The good Lord takes care of the rest."
Kroenke has made no public statements during the season. Asked if he speaks to the owner, Spagnuolo said, "When I get an opportunity I visit with Stan, but I don't bother him. We're here pounding away. He's very supportive. Every time I see him ... I love him. He was in the locker room I think it was back in Arizona. I love having him around. I've got a great deal of respect for him. But he knows we're here pounding away."
—To the notion that the offensive line has been the biggest culprit in the performance of the team's offense, coach Steve Spagnuolo was also asked if there is anything the offense can do to improve.
He said, "Well yeah a lot of areas you can improve on. It's widespread. It's all 11 positions. It's not one, it's not one person, it's not one position. We approach the game a certain way, we thought that would be the best way to go. In some regards we still feel that way, it just didn't work out the way we had hoped."
The latter was a reference to the frequent use of the spread offense against Seattle last week.
BY THE NUMBERS: 60 — Total points the Cardinals have beaten the Rams by in the last six games played in St. Louis. Since 2005, Arizona has won by 10, 14, 3, 21, 8 and 4 points.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm going to trust in the leadership of the team and the players and the fact that they love the game of football and love being a part of this organization; that they're professionals, coaches and players and that it is about representing the organization and this city and our fans. I think that everybody understands that we're here in this business to put together a game plan and an effort by players to win football games. That's what we'll try and do this week." — Coach Steve Spagnuolo on how he keeps players motivated amid the losing.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
There could be shuffling in the offensive line by the time the game with Arizona rolls around Sunday as the Rams try to get the best five linemen on the field.
Jason Brown, who hasn't started at center the last two games, said he's not sure what the line will look like Sunday because he expects "everyone to be interchanging" during the week.
When asked if Brown could end up being involved this week, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Yeah, we're trying to find the right five here, so that's part of it and we'll get it figured out by Sunday."
Quarterback Sam Bradford said, "We're going to have to make a couple adjustments, but I've got full confidence in everyone that whoever's playing is going to do a good job."
Said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, when asked about the makeup of the offensive line, "We're going to try to practice the guys we have healthy out here this week, we're going to give all of them reps at the positions that they play. We're going to ask some other guys to do multiple things because we have to. We're at that point now where you're going to potentially play a guard at tackle, potentially play a center at guard, swing guys left and right. And then if something does happen in the game, there's no question there's going to be some moving parts and pieces within the four quarters then, too. They've accepted the challenge and the burden that we have."
PLAYER NOTES
—WR Mark Clayton was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2010 season. Clayton was trying to come back from 2010 knee surgery, and has been experiencing soreness in his Achilles and knee.
—WR Nick Miller, who was with the Rams briefly earlier this season, was re-signed with the goal of having him active for Sunday's game. A slot receiver, Miller could also be used on kick returns.
—LB James Laurinaitis (foot), who did not practice Wednesday, was limited in Thursday's practice.
—TE Lance Kendricks (head) had full participation in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday.
—CB Justin King (knee) had full participation in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday.
GAME PLAN: Run, run, and run. With there being major questions at tackle, the Rams are likely to give the Cardinals a heavy dose of RB Steven Jackson, who had 129 yards rushing when these teams met for the first time on Nov. 6.
Defensively, they will hope to limit RB Beanie Wells and WR Larry Fitzgerald, which they were successful doing in the first game played.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Rams DLE Chris Long vs. Cardinals RT Brandon Keith — Long has a career-high 9.0 sacks, including 6.0 in his last four games. The question is whether Long will be hampered by an ankle injury.
Rams secondary vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald — The cornerbacks that will be active for the game are Justin King, Josh Gordy, Rod Hood and Nate Ness. That's assuming King can play with swelling in his knee. The corners will get help from safeties in their effort to keep Fitzgerald from making big plays.
During the 2010 season, Rams running back Steven Jackson spoke often about how important it was for the offensive line in front of him to have continuity.
It is something the Rams' line has rarely had over the last decade. When it has, the result has been obvious. Even last season, though the Rams had a losing record, there was still improvement from the year before.
The five players on the line started all but one game the entire season. From 1999-2001, when the Rams had a cumulative regular-season record of 37-11, the opening-day starters on the line missed a total of seven starts in three seasons.
In 2002, there were several injuries on the line, and the record slipped to 7-9. It went back to 12-4 the next season when the all five linemen started every game.
Of course, the biggest disaster for the Rams was 2007. Coming off an 8-8 season in 2006, there was optimism heading into the next year. Jackson had led the NFL in combined yards from scrimmage. Quarterback Marc Bulger passed for over 4,000 yards, while receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce each went over 1,000.
But the attrition in the line in '07 started in training camp and extended into the first few weeks of the season. The casualties were Orlando Pace, Mark Setterstrom, Richie Incognito, Todd Steussie and Adam Goldberg, all by the fourth week of the season.
By the end of the season, 13 different players had started games on the line at 18 different positions. Bulger was beat up like a rag doll, and the record was 3-13. He really never recovered.
Now, the shuffling will likely be happening again on the line. Right tackle Jason Smith has already missed four games because of post-concussion symptoms and appears headed to injured reserve. Left tackle Rodger Saffold tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights last Friday and is done for the year.
His replacement, Mark LeVoir, suffered a pectoral injury against Seattle that won't require surgery but will keep him on the sideline for at least two games and maybe four. Rookie Kevin Hughes replaced LeVoir in that game, and the Rams signed tackle Thomas Welch off the Buffalo practice squad this week, but neither is expected to start.
The Rams are expected to play their best five guys, even if it means moving a guard to tackle. Both Jacob Bell and Harvey Dahl have played some tackle in their career, although it hasn't been for a while. Goldberg has also played left tackle in the past, and Jason Brown, who was benched two games ago at center, has played guard. Some NFL personnel people have thought Brown might be a better guard than center anyway.
Also keep in mind that four of the Rams' final six games will be played against teams (Arizona, San Francisco twice and Pittsburgh) that play 3-4 defenses.
Brown said he's not sure what the line will look like Sunday because he expects "everyone to be interchanging" during the week.
When asked if Brown could end up being involved this week, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Yeah, we're trying to find the right five here, so that's part of it and we'll get it figured out by Sunday."
Quarterback Sam Bradford said, "We're going to have to make a couple adjustments, but I've got full confidence in everyone that whoever's playing is going to do a good job."
Added offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, when asked about the makeup of the offensive line, "We're going to try to practice the guys we have healthy out here this week, we're going to give all of them reps at the positions that they play. We're going to ask some other guys to do multiple things because we have to.
"We're at that point now where you're going to potentially play a guard at tackle, potentially play a center at guard, swing guys left and right. And then if something does happen in the game, there's no question there's going to be some moving parts and pieces within the four quarters then, too. They've accepted the challenge and the burden that we have."
Said Spagnuolo, in referring to the issues at tackle, "It's hard. It's the one position, that and the secondary probably, in my opinion, in the game of football that needs to find some continuity throughout the year, and you tend to get better and better and that's been a struggle for us in both of those spots this year."
It's also been hard at wide receiver where on Thursday Mark Clayton became the third pass-catcher to be placed on injured reserve. Activated from physically unable to perform recently, Clayton first experienced Achilles soreness and then was dealing with pain in both knees this week.
Said Spagnuolo, "Mark has been struggling with both knees. Mark and I visited yesterday. You guys weren't out here for the whole practice yesterday, but he was very limited. He was really in pain. I could see that he was, so I have talked with him. He's really been struggling. The knee that he had surgery on has been giving him a hard time. The other knee is starting to; he's starting to feel it, too. What we were looking at is possibly scoping one of them or both of them; that's a five- or six-week deal. I really considered the player, and I don't want to put him through that, so we're going to put him on IR. We're going to lose Mark Clayton, and he understands. He toughed it out as long as he could."
With wide receiver Austin Pettis (knee) and Danario Alexander (hamstring) limited, the Rams signed Nick Miller, who can also return kicks.
SERIES HISTORY: 66th regular-season meeting. Cardinals lead series, 32-31-2. That includes a 19-13 overtime victory on Nov. 6 in Arizona. The Cardinals have won nine of the last 10 games in the series, including six straight in St. Louis. The last time the Rams won at home in the series was 17-10 in 2004.
NOTES, QUOTES
—A report in the San Diego Evening-Tribune claimed Rams owner Stan Kroenke has made the decision to "blow up" the front office as well as change head coaches. The report said Kroenke is compiling a list of potential general manager candidates to replace Billy Devaney.
When asked if he feels there has to be positive result in the last six games for him to retain his job, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "I don't go there only because I don't do the six-week deal. I don't go that far into the future. It's just this game. I just know that's how I operate in this business. The good Lord takes care of the rest."
Kroenke has made no public statements during the season. Asked if he speaks to the owner, Spagnuolo said, "When I get an opportunity I visit with Stan, but I don't bother him. We're here pounding away. He's very supportive. Every time I see him ... I love him. He was in the locker room I think it was back in Arizona. I love having him around. I've got a great deal of respect for him. But he knows we're here pounding away."
—To the notion that the offensive line has been the biggest culprit in the performance of the team's offense, coach Steve Spagnuolo was also asked if there is anything the offense can do to improve.
He said, "Well yeah a lot of areas you can improve on. It's widespread. It's all 11 positions. It's not one, it's not one person, it's not one position. We approach the game a certain way, we thought that would be the best way to go. In some regards we still feel that way, it just didn't work out the way we had hoped."
The latter was a reference to the frequent use of the spread offense against Seattle last week.
BY THE NUMBERS: 60 — Total points the Cardinals have beaten the Rams by in the last six games played in St. Louis. Since 2005, Arizona has won by 10, 14, 3, 21, 8 and 4 points.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm going to trust in the leadership of the team and the players and the fact that they love the game of football and love being a part of this organization; that they're professionals, coaches and players and that it is about representing the organization and this city and our fans. I think that everybody understands that we're here in this business to put together a game plan and an effort by players to win football games. That's what we'll try and do this week." — Coach Steve Spagnuolo on how he keeps players motivated amid the losing.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
There could be shuffling in the offensive line by the time the game with Arizona rolls around Sunday as the Rams try to get the best five linemen on the field.
Jason Brown, who hasn't started at center the last two games, said he's not sure what the line will look like Sunday because he expects "everyone to be interchanging" during the week.
When asked if Brown could end up being involved this week, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Yeah, we're trying to find the right five here, so that's part of it and we'll get it figured out by Sunday."
Quarterback Sam Bradford said, "We're going to have to make a couple adjustments, but I've got full confidence in everyone that whoever's playing is going to do a good job."
Said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, when asked about the makeup of the offensive line, "We're going to try to practice the guys we have healthy out here this week, we're going to give all of them reps at the positions that they play. We're going to ask some other guys to do multiple things because we have to. We're at that point now where you're going to potentially play a guard at tackle, potentially play a center at guard, swing guys left and right. And then if something does happen in the game, there's no question there's going to be some moving parts and pieces within the four quarters then, too. They've accepted the challenge and the burden that we have."
PLAYER NOTES
—WR Mark Clayton was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2010 season. Clayton was trying to come back from 2010 knee surgery, and has been experiencing soreness in his Achilles and knee.
—WR Nick Miller, who was with the Rams briefly earlier this season, was re-signed with the goal of having him active for Sunday's game. A slot receiver, Miller could also be used on kick returns.
—LB James Laurinaitis (foot), who did not practice Wednesday, was limited in Thursday's practice.
—TE Lance Kendricks (head) had full participation in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday.
—CB Justin King (knee) had full participation in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday.
GAME PLAN: Run, run, and run. With there being major questions at tackle, the Rams are likely to give the Cardinals a heavy dose of RB Steven Jackson, who had 129 yards rushing when these teams met for the first time on Nov. 6.
Defensively, they will hope to limit RB Beanie Wells and WR Larry Fitzgerald, which they were successful doing in the first game played.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Rams DLE Chris Long vs. Cardinals RT Brandon Keith — Long has a career-high 9.0 sacks, including 6.0 in his last four games. The question is whether Long will be hampered by an ankle injury.
Rams secondary vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald — The cornerbacks that will be active for the game are Justin King, Josh Gordy, Rod Hood and Nate Ness. That's assuming King can play with swelling in his knee. The corners will get help from safeties in their effort to keep Fitzgerald from making big plays.
Comment