Rams' Future WR Watch: Week 4

After four weeks, the three active receivers are all tied with two TD catches, but Michael Floyd leads the receivers in receptions, as well as receiving yards. This week was the final week of AJ Green's suspension, and it should be interesting to see what Green does upon his return. Green is widely considered the best receiver in college football.

 

WEEK FOUR

MICHAEL FLOYD- NOTRE DAME 6'3" 227 lbs: Week 4 VS Stanford.- 8 receptions 110 yards 0 TD
                                     SEASON:  24 receptions 339 yards 2 TD

AJ GREEN- GEORGIA 6'4" 212 lbs: Did not play. Green is serving a four-game suspension for illegal contact with an agent.

JULIO JONES- ALABAMA 6'4" 220 lbs: Week 4 @ Arkansas- 5 receptions 55 yards 0 TD
                                    SEASON:  20 receptions 303 yards 2 TD


JON BALDWIN- PITTSBURGH 6'5" 230 lbs: Week 4 vs. Miami- 3 receptions 26 yards 0 TD 
                                    SEASON: 13 receptions 197 yards 2 TD

Rams beat Redskins 30-16: Post-Game Article

The Rams were fired up during the start of the game against the Washington Redskins. Steven Jackson started things off with a beastly 42-yard TD run. But it didn't stop there; on the second drive, the Rams were inside the 20-yard line, and Sam Bradford rolled out of the pocket, hitting TE Daniel Fells in the corner of the end-zone. The score was then 14-0; but unfortunately, the Rams we have come to know over the past few years decided to show up, and for a while things were not looking good.

The game began to even out after a drive by the Redskins that resulted in a field-goal, which was their first score of the game. That drive was actually a solid showing by the Rams' defense (other than a pass-interference call on CB Bradley Fletcher), and it is a miracle that they held Washington to only a field-goal. But on the kick-off following the field-goal, the Rams' kick-returner Mardy Gilyard fumbled the ball, and the Redskins' QB Donovan McNabb threw a TD pass on the very next play; meaning that Washington scored 10 points in only 13 seconds of play. This made the score 14-10.

Washington then scored another field-goal in the 2nd quarter, making the score 14-13. The Rams then tried to put together their final drive of the half, but Jackson received a groin injury on the drive, forcing the Rams to play back-up RB Kenneth Darby. However, Darby came through for the Rams on the drive with an 8 yard reception, followed by a 13 yard reception by WR Mark Clayton, which put the Rams on the Redskins' goal-line. But after six attempts (because of a penalty against Washington) the Rams failed to punch in a touchdown to end the half. Then it got even worse. The Rams had to settle for a field-goal, but it was blocked. It was the second blocked kick on the season for the Rams, and on top of that, K Josh Brown also missed an important field-goal last week against Oakland. Needless to say, the Rams entered the locker-room at half-time to the sound of "boo's" from their home crowd.    

Even so, the Rams still went into half-time with a 14-13 lead, even after their pathetic final drive. But that lead didn't last, as the Redskins got the ball back to start the half, which resulted in a field-goal to give the Redskins a 16-14 lead.

However, even with Jackson out of the game, the Rams were able to take the lead right back with a touchdown. Despite a couple of drops by WR Brandon Gibson, Bradford was able to throw his way into the red-zone, causing Washington's defense to completely forget about the run. Darby took advantage of that, and following a solid block by Adam Goldberg, Darby scored on a 12 yard touchdown run to give the Rams the lead once again, making the score 21-16. Darby's touchdown run was the Rams' second touchdown they've scored in the 3rd quarter in the past 19 games. 

The Rams finished the 3rd quarter on a high-note, hanging on to the lead as the game progressed into the 4th quarter. They started the final quarter off well, as they put up a field-goal to start it off, making the score 24-16.  

The Rams' primary goal of the 4th quarter was to kill the clock; and despite the fact their star running-back was on the bench, the back-up's Darby and Keith Toston, with the leadership of Bradford, were able to do just that. They even scored two more field-goals in the process, making the score 30-16, and the game ended with that score.

It's been a long time since the Rams have been able to put the game on their quarterback's shoulders, and let him carry the team to a win. The Rams were unable to do that with Marc Bulger leading the team; but Sam Bradford not only carried the team today, he ran away with it. He continues to play better than anyone could have possibly expected a rookie quarterback to play.

The Rams are now 1-2, and they are now in 2nd place in the NFC West. They are only one game behind Seattle and Arizona, who have a two-way tie for 1st place. Meanwhile, the preseason division favorites, the San Francisco 49ers, are in last place with an 0-3 record. The Rams will look to move up in the division next week when they play Seattle at 12:00 PM in St.Louis.

Rams vs Redskins Preview

Every season there are teams that overcome their past futility, and make a comeback. During the preseason, the Rams, and their fans, have been hoping that the Rams would be that team in 2010. But so far, the Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0, but the Rams are 0-2.

An optimist would say that the Rams are two plays away from being 2-0; referring to the Clifton Ryan fumble against Arizona, and the Fred Robbins penalty against Oakland. But a pessimist does not care about those two plays, because those plays are just more excuses from a team that is full of excuses.

But whether or not you view the Rams' current 2010 season in rose-colored glasses, or in disgust, the only thing that matters is that the team is 0-2, but they are still in the hunt for the NFC West. So therefor, they will get back on the horse, and face the 1-1 Washington Redskins in St.Louis. 

Washington was one of only two teams that the Rams beat in 2008, and Washington barely pulled off a win over St.Louis in 2009. So despite the Rams futility the past few seasons, they have been able to stay competitive against the Redskins, and they even pulled off a win one of those games.

If you read my preseason preview on the 2010 season, then you  know that I am not buying into the Donnovan McNabb hype, and I don't believe that the Redskins suddenly became a solid team after signing him. But that doesn't mean that Washington does not have a solid defense, led by former-Ram LB London Fletcher, who is supported by star second-year player DE Brian Orakpo, and the troubled but dominate DT Albert Haynesworth.

Meanwhile, the Rams will have some rookies making their debuts. TE Fendi Onobun will likely receive playing time today, as tight-ends Mike Hoomanawanui, Daniel Fells, and Billy Bajema all have injuries. Onobun is a freak of an athlete; with blazing speed, and a great jumping ability he is an ideal receiver, but he struggles as a blocker. The other rookie that will likely get some playing time today is DT Jermelle Cudjo. Cudjo gained a solid reputation during the preseason, but has not seen a real NFL game yet.

The Rams offense will have their work cut out for them against this Redskins defense. But other than McNabb, the Redskins offense is nothing too dangerous. Expect a low scoring game, and expect the final score to favor the team that limits mistakes (which the Rams have not been able to do the past two weeks). If the Rams win today, the team just might receive the benefit of the doubt when discussing the first two games. But if the team loses, expect there to be pressure on this organization.

Rams need more veterans for leadership

Steven Jackson has been carrying the St.Louis Rams ever since Marshall Faulk retired, and ever since Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce grew past their primes. Anyone who has eyes can see that Jackson is an absolute warrior on the field come Sunday. Towards the end of the 2009 season, the Rams only had one win on the season (which would ultimately be their only win of 2009), and Steven Jackson was suffering a back injury. Jackson knew that the Rams were playing for nothing, as playoff hopes were long gone; but he muscled through it, and carried the team on his back until the end of the final 2009 game.

Jackson provides the solid veteran leadership that the Rams crave, but it is just not enough. Not that his contributions should not be fully appreciated, but he will not win games on his own. The Rams need more veteran leadership, like Jackson, before they can make a serious run at the NFC West.

Before the 2009 season, the Rams dumped a lot of big salaries- Torry Holt, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Drew Bennett and Orlando Pace; and before this season, the Rams dumped Marc Bulger, as well as Bulger's $60mm+ contract.

Sure, the Rams have some money tied up. The Rams signed Jason Brown in 2009, and made him one of the highest paid centers in the league. That same year, the Rams also re-signed CB Ron Bartell to a four-year $25mm contract. Not to mention their draft picks Jason Smith (six-years $61.7mm, which could make any self-respecting fan vomit) and their new QB Sam Bradford (five-years $81mm).

But despite those signings, the Rams actually have a cheap roster. However, it doesn't matter at the moment, because there is no salary cap this season (since the player's union and the owners could not settle on a new CBA). The salary cap will likely return, and when it does, the Rams are in good shape and have plenty of money to spend.

This past off-season was tricky; there were not a lot of free-agents for the Rams to sign. The lack of a new CBA made it so that players with five years (or less) of experience, that were due to become unrestricted free-agents, instead became restricted free-agents (meaning that the team that signs the player has to give up a predetermined draft pick to the former team as compensation). The Rams were not in a position to give up any of their much-needed draft picks, so therefor, the best free-agent they pulled in was DT Fred Robbins.  

The Rams will have no excuse in 2011. There will be plenty of free-agents available, and they will have plenty of money to spend. The Rams' new stability in ownership in Stan Kroenke helps as well. Some of the top 2011 free-agents include:
-WR Randy Moss
-OG Logan Mankins
-WR Braylon Edwards
-WR Santonio Holmes
-DT Haloti Ngata
-LB D'Qwell Jackson
-LB/DE LaMar Woodley
-RB Joseph Addai
-DE Robert Mathis
-WR Vincent Jackson
-OT Marcus McNeil
-DE Marcus Spears

That's just a small sample. There are many more free-agents to add to that list. The point is that the Rams need more than Steven Jackson to lead this team. Sam Bradford obviously has all of the tools to succeed, and will likely be the primary leader of the team in the future, but he needs some help right now, Jackson needs some help right now, and the Rams need help right now. The Rams should have the proper funds required to sign at least two solid veterans, such as any of the ones listed above.

This team needs to learn how to win, and Jackson can't teach them on his own. The team needs to bring in veteran leaders that have won in the past, and who can show this young team how to put away games. Winning is contagious, and it is a habit. It can not magically bloom from the efforts of the pups, but it needs to be taught. Until the proper veteran personnel arrives, this team will continue to lose, and this team will not even sniff the playoffs. It is time to end this. It is time to move on, and it is finally time for a season that is not already sealed in September.

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Rams lose to Raiders 16-14- Post-game article

The Rams start the season off 0-2 after another close heart-breaker, this time against the Oakland Raiders, losing the game 16-14. The buzz from the preseason seems to have completely evaporated, and the Rams are looking more and more like their former selves.

The first blow to the Rams came off of a missed 36-yard field goal by kicker Josh Brown. The missed kick was ultimately the difference in the game. Missed field-goals, from very make-able distances, has been a reoccurring theme for Josh Brown ever since he arrived in St.Louis. This team now has a record of 6-44 dating back to 2007; this troubled franchise, and this fan-base, can not stomach another loss due to a missed field-goal. In this blogger's opinion, it would be nothing short of outrageous if Brown is still on the roster come Monday.

But Brown's missed field-goal was not the only blooper from this unfocused team. Bradley Fletcher, Ron Bartell, and Larry Grant all dropped would-be interceptions. That makes the total of 'dropped interceptions' on the season somewhere around six; which is completely unacceptable, given there have only been two games so far this season.

It doesn't end there. In the 4th-quarter, with about three minutes left in the game, the score was 16-14, and the Raiders were about the punt the ball, to give the Rams a shot at one final drive (a field-goal would've won the game); but on 3rd down, DT Fred Robbins gave Raiders' QB Bruce Grodkowski a shove, which drew a penalty. The shove was completely unnecessary, since Grodkowski no longer had the ball (he threw an incompletion), and all Robbins had to do was back off. The penalty resulted in a first-down, and Oakland was then able to run out the clock.

Same story, different day with the Rams. Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: 

THE GOOD: Steven Jackson had 125 total yards in the game. He was absolutely bull-dozing the Raider defense in the first half, but his spree came to a sudden stop at the beginning of the second-half. Not that it was his fault, he needs a hole to run through in order to gain yards, and it is up to the offensive-line to make that happen. But regardless, Jackson was definitely an asset for the Rams.

Sam Bradford might be losing some of the buzz surrounding his preseason performance, but he still had another solid outing. He was 14-25 with 167 yards, 2 TD passes, and 1 INT. Not a breathtaking performance, but he is still playing at a level that no one could have possibly predicted. Other than Steven Jackson, Bradford remains the only other clear asset for the Rams offense.

The defense had a good game overall, even though they made some mistakes. They held the opposing offense to only 16 points, and did a good enough job putting their team in a position to win the game, but it just didn't happen. They won the turnover battle, and even got a couple of sacks, but it was just not enough. Although, Oakland's offense did the majority of the damage during the 3rd-quarter, and there was no way that the Rams' defense was not completely gassed at that point. The Rams offense had one "3-and-out" after another in the 3rd-quarter, forcing the defense to stay on the field practically the entire quarter.

THE BAD: All though the defense was not completely at fault, since they got little help from the offense, it doesn't mean they didn't have some problems. The pressure was just not enough. Other than the two sacks, and a couple of select drives, the pressure was non-existent, and the Oakland quarterbacks had all the time in the world to throw. Unless the Rams call for an all-out blitz, their defense is incapable of getting any pressure.

However, the defensive-line wasn't getting much help. The defensive-backs were dropping potential interceptions, and leaving receivers wide-open. There were also some plays that exposed poor tackling on the Rams' part.

Outside of the defense, the offensive-line did not get it done. Bradford was getting hit, and feeling pressure all day. With that kind of protection, I fully expect Bradford to get injured at some point this season. Left-tackle Roger Saffold was even removed from the game at one point, due to a missed blocking assignment. And right-tackle Jason Smith has been nothing short of nauseating since getting drafted #2 overall in 2009.

A trade for Vincent Jackson is sounding better everyday, as Bradford got little help from his receivers. The receivers were completely over-powered. Don't let Mark Clayton's 2 TD catches (his only catches of the game) fool you, he was not able to get separation, and was shut down for the most part. Danny Amendola seems to be the only receiver on the team that is worth anything; but lets face it, he is nothing more than a slot receiver. He is not big, or talented enough to carry the load, or provide a sure target for Bradford.

THE UGLY: You don't have to look far to find something ugly about this game. It could be Robbins' penalty, Brown's missed field-goal, or the fact that the team is now 6-44 since the 2007 season opener. Or you could get a little more cynical about it, and point out the fact that head-coach Steve Spagnuolo is 1-17 as a head-coach; or that General Manager Billy Devaney, in his third season with the team, has yet to bring in one pro-bowl caliber player.

Call me foolish, but didn't the clock run-out for former head-coach Scott Linehan after losing eight games in a row? You could make an argument stating that Linehan didn't have to feel pressure until his third season, but Linehan also went 8-8 during his first year (Spagnuolo went 1-15). As much as I admire the intensity that Spagnuolo has ignited in the team, it just isn't enough. And the truth is, with a new owner, and a 1-17 start, Spagnuolo might not have the luxury of a third season, like Linehan had. 

OVERALL: It was a very tough loss, and with a 6-44 record since 2007, every loss is a tough one. But when a loss is this close, it is flat out unacceptable. I would not be the least bit surprised if the next home game (vs. Washington) is blacked out, due to a lack of ticket sales. And it will be interesting to see if Devaney and Spagnuolo make any roster moves, possibly as a result of feeling pressure from owner Stan Kroenke. If they do feel the need to make a move, they are certainly in a position to make a blockbuster move, as Vincent Jackson is available for trade, and will likely be traded by Wednesday (due to a dead-line stating he will be suspended for six weeks, as oppose to four weeks, if he is not traded by Wednesday at 4 PM). It is clear that wide-receiver is a huge need for the Rams, and at the very least, a move for Jackson would be a sign that Spagnuolo and Devaney are committed to winning NOW, and not next season. 

Rams' Future WR Watch: Week 3

The third week of the college season has come to it's conclusion, and here are the stats of the top receivers in college ball. Once again, AJ Green (possibly the best of them all) is still being held out by the NCAA, due to a four game suspension for illegally contacting an agent.

Michael Floyd's performance at Michigan State will be hard to beat. He didn't break the 100-yard barrier, but he got in the end-zone twice. Julio Jones had a solid game as well, but not as good as Floyd. Jonathan Baldwin will try to top both of them Thursday vs. Miami (FL). 

Here are the results:

WEEK THREE

MICHAEL FLOYD- NOTRE DAME 6'3" 227 lbs: Week 3 @ Michigan St.- 6 receptions 81 yards 2 TD
                                     SEASON:  16 receptions 229 yards 2 TD

AJ GREEN- GEORGIA 6'4" 212 lbs: Did not play. Green is serving a four-game suspension for illegal contact with an agent.

JULIO JONES- ALABAMA 6'4" 220 lbs: Week 3 VS. Penn St.- 5 receptions 106 yards 1 TD
                                    SEASON:  15 receptions 248 yards 2 TD


JONATHAN BALDWIN- PITTSBURGH 6'5" 230 lbs: Week 3 vs. Miami- Game is on Thursday, I will update after the conclusion.  
                                    SEASON: 10 receptions 171 yards 2 TD

Rams vs. Raiders Preview

A quick preview for the Rams vs. Raiders game this afternoon, in Oakland...

Two sub-par teams, looking to make a name for themselves, will duke it out in Oakland,CA. The Rams have displayed a solid run-defense in the preseason, but their defense loosened up a bit against Arizona. The Raiders, a poor team that is primarily known for their defense, gave up 38 points to Tennessee, including over 200 yards rushing.

The Rams will look to expose the Raiders' poor run-defense that they displayed last week. Look for Steven Jackson to become the primary factor for the Rams' offense this week. Rookie Sam Bradford will have a role in the game, especially if the Raiders stack eight men in the box to stop Jackson, but either way, Bradford's role will be somewhat reduced from last week, where he threw the ball over 50 times.

The Raiders have some very young, and inexperienced players on offense in Darren McFadden, and Darius Heyward-Bey. They also have a new QB in Jason Campbell, who is learning a new system in Oakland. The youth on the Radiers' offense prevents it from being a dangerous threat. If the Raiders win, it will be because the Rams made too many mistakes on offense, and the Raiders' D showed up ready to play. But DT Richard Seymour being inactive today certainly helps the Rams' chances on offense.

When a team goes 1-15 the previous season, there are no easy games. But that doesn't mean that Oakland is not one of the easier teams on the Rams' schedule. Rams fans see Oakland on the schedule, and think to themselves "easy team, easy game"; but when Oakland looks at the schedule and sees St.Louis, they are thinking the exact same thing. Oakland is looking to bounce back from their embarrassing opening-day performance, so a win this week will not come easy, but it is definitely a possibility.

Inactive Players:

Rams
DT Clifton Ryan
TE Michael Hoomanawanui
CB Kevin Dockery
LB Chris Chamberlain
CB Justin King
WR Brandon Gibson
TE Fendi Onobun
G John Greco

Raiders
Kyle Boller
CB Walter McFadden
RB Michael Bush
S Hiram Eugene
LB Travis Goethel
G Robert Gallery
WR Chaz Schillens
DT Richard Seymour

Cardinals Update- No more post-game articles

The result of watching the 2010 Cards daily.

I am no longer going to write post-game updates after every Cardinals game. We all know where the season is heading, and it is not good. Every game is very repetitive- the pitching is great, but the bats could only score a run, or two; or the bats finally come alive, but the pitchers took the night off. Same story, different day. This is a blog, not a news site. So I will not do an update for every game anymore, nor will I write about anything involving the Cardinals, until there is something to write about. When the off-season finally arrives, and certain players, certain coaches, and certain members of the front-office, are dragged to the guillotines, then there will something to write about.

Until then- the Cardinals just got swept by the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium for the first time in 22 years; Jake Westbrook finally decided to show up, only because he was facing the (much superior) player he was traded for, so he decided to start carrying some of his dead weight; and they are seven games behind the Cincinnati Reds.

Cardinals vs Cubs update: Cards lose 5-1

Just a quick run-down of the Cardinals vs. Cubs game- The Cardinals lost to the Cubs 5-1. Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, of the Cubs, got the win. Cardinals' starter Jaime Garcia got the loss.

Garcia went 6 innings; giving up 7 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), with 4 strike-outs, and only one walk.

Alfonso Soriano only got 1 hit, but it was a 2 RBI base-hit. Aramis Ramirez also got and RBI; but the real killer was Geovany Soto, who went 3-for3, with an RBI.

The Cards were, once again, cold at the plate. The exceptions were Matt Holliday, who went 2-for-4, with and RBI (the only Cardinal RBI of the game); and Yadier Molina, who went 2-for-2, and drew 2 BB.

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Rams vs. Cardinals Post-Game

If nothing else, the game was very exciting, and entertaining. Arizona was ahead 17-13 when they got the ball back, with less than two minutes left in the game. It seemed as though the outcome was sealed; but running-back Tim Hightower fumbled the ball, when all they had to do was run out the clock, and the Rams recovered.

A moment like that made it seem as though rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, and the Rams, were destined to win their home-opener. But they were unable to take advantage of the dramatic turn of events. Some may argue that coach Steve Spagnuolo displayed poor clock-management; but it doesn't matter, because there was more to this loss than just the final drive.

Several key mistakes were the difference in this close game- Dropped passes, a critical fumble, a blocked field goal, more dropped passes, and an interception (I only mention one, because the other two picks were understandable, as Bradford had no other choice but to force the pass).

It was a very close game, but still... "If this would've happened, if that would've happened, if only..." Rams fans are tired of that. We've heard that 15 times last season, and now the team is 6-43 (dating back to 2007). That is why any loss is devastating for this team, especially when it could have been won so easily.

Here is the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

THE GOOD:  Fans that didn't actually watch the game might be discouraged by the fact Bradford had three picks. But the truth is, as mentioned earlier, two of them were the result of Bradford airing the ball out on a 4th down, as a last chance, and only out of desperation. Bradford actually had a phenomenal game for his NFL debut. Has anyone ever heard of a rookie QB (in their first game) throwing the ball 52 times, completing 32 of those passes, for 253 yards and a TD? Has anyone ever seen a rookie QB change so many doubters into believers, and look like a poised veteran this early in their career? It is clear that the Rams have a potentially great quarterback on their hands.

Other than Bradford, star RB Steven Jackson had a solid game. The line didn't give him lot of room, at least not consistently, but he pounded away for 81 yards on 22 carries. Also obtaining good stats, was the newly acquired receiver Mark Clayton. Clayton had 10 catches for 117 yards, but he wasn't as helpful as the stats indicate. He made some good plays, and got great separation, but he had some key drops that hurt the offense.

The defense played with some intensity, and put some hits on QB Derek Anderson. Anderson was actually banged up at one point, and started to favor his ribs; he will likely be hurting tomorrow. The intensity also ignited a couple small scuffles, but nothing major enough to draw penalty flags.

THE BAD:   The special teams allowed Arizona to block a field-goal in the first-quarter of the game, and that turned out to be huge. Arizona still won by four points, but during the Rams' last two drives of the game, things could have gone differently if the play-calling was aiming for field-goal range, rather than a touchdown. 
As briefly mentioned, when discussing Clayton, drops from the receiving core were devastating. One of Clayton's drops came in the first-half, and had he caught the ball, he likely would've made it into the end-zone. Another key drop in the game, one that really stood out, was a drop by Laurent Robinson on the final drive, which lost them a 1st down.

The pass-defense really slipped up towards the end of the game, which resulted in Arizona scoring the touchdown that took the lead. It seemed as though the defense just completely ignored Steve Breaston. And CB Ron Bartell, though he was very solid against Larry Fitzgerald for most of the game, screwed up his coverage on Fitzgerald in the end-zone, which allowed Arizona to take the lead.


THE UGLY:  Clifton Ryan, you have got the be kidding me. Many Rams fans believe that DT Clifton Ryan is an underrated player in this league, but I disagree. I've always thought he was average, and he proved me right by losing the starting job to journeyman Gary Gibson. Ryan made the biggest play of his mediocre career by picking up a fumble, and heading to the end-zone. However, Breaston was able to catch up to him, and knock the ball loose. It was the biggest play Ryan has, or ever will make, and he managed to screw it up.

OVERALL:  It's hard to watch a team, that has lost so many games the past few seasons, lose again in a close game. Arizona kept on handing the Rams opportunities on a silver platter, but they just couldn't capitalize, and made a lot of bone-headed mistakes; the same kind of mistakes that have haunted this team in the past. It was a lack of focus that lost the Rams this game... a game they should have run away with.

But despite the fact they lost, it was a good game, and they still looked much better than the Rams of the past three seasons. They made a lot of stupid mistakes, but played some very good football at times. For example; Bradford's TD pass at the end of the first half... it was a very gutsy call by Spagnuolo to throw the ball on 4th down, on the one-yard line, at the end of the half; but the team was able to execute and get the TD. Is there any doubt that Marc Bulger would've screwed up that play?

The point is- this team did enough to have fans encouraged for the future. There are a lot of sub-par teams that the Rams will face this season, and Arizona wasn't even one of those teams (almost though). The Rams take on the troubled Oakland Raiders next week, for their first "easy" game of an easy schedule. Most fans realize that the Rams aren't making the playoffs this year, but if they can exit the season encouraged, then it should go a long ways.

Rams' Future WR Watch: Week 2

At 6'5" Jonathan Baldwin is a dangerous red-zone target.

Once again, here is a look at the weekly performances of the NCAA's top receivers. The Rams will likely be looking for a primary target for Sam Bradford in April, for the 2011 Draft. 'STLsport' will track these college receivers all season. 

WEEK TWO

MICHAEL FLOYD- NOTRE DAME 6'3" 227 lbs: Week 2 VS. Michigan- 5 receptions 66 yards 0 TD
                                     SEASON:  10 receptions 148 yards 0 TD

AJ GREEN- GEORGIA 6'4" 212 lbs: Once again, did not play. Green will serve a four-game suspension for illegal contact with an agent.

JULIO JONES- ALABAMA 6'4" 220 lbs: Week 2 VS. Penn St.- 4 receptions 49 yards 0 TD
                                    SEASON:  10 receptions 142 yards 1 TD


JONATHAN BALDWIN- PITTSBURGH 6'5" 230 lbs: Week 2 vs. New Hampshire-    6 receptions 100 yards 1 TD                                                                
                                    SEASON: 10 receptions 171 yards 2 TD

Late Update: Cardinals lose to Braves 6-3 (Saturday 9/12)

This is a late update; but the Cardinals lost to the Atlanta Braves yesterday, in extra-innings, with a score of 6-3. I wish I could write some more in-depth articles on the Cardinals' season (other than game updates); but the fact is, there is nothing to dissect, or analyze. The team is a long-shot to make the wild-card, and the division race isn't even close. Other than Albert Pujols' milestone (becoming the first player to hit 30+ HR, 100+ RBI, and .300+ BA, for ten seasons in a row) , and Adam Wainwrights Cy-Young consideration, there won't be a lot to discuss until the off-season gets underway.

But about last night... Starting pitcher Jake Westbrook had a somewhat solid outing (compared to most of his starts so far with the Cards), he only gave up 2 runs (both earned), and had 3 strike-outs. He gave up 7 hits in his 6 innings, and also had 5 BB.

Dennys Reyes took over for Westbrook, and he continues to struggle (after just recently returning from injury). Reyes gave up a home-run in the 7th inning to Jason Heyward. Jason Motte finished the inning for Reyes; Motte gave up a hit, but was able to get out of the inning without causing any damage. Ryan Franklin and Kyle McClellan pitched two innings each, and they were perfect, other than a walk given up by McClellan. Mitchell Boggs lost the game in the 12th inning, after giving up a 3-run bomb to Alex Gonzalez.

At the plate, the bats were cold for the most part. Brendan Ryan was the only Cardinal to get multiple hits (2-for-5), and Pujols got all three of the Cardinals' RBI's, which put him over 100 RBI's on the season. Two of his RBI's came in the 6th inning, when he doubled with Skip Shumaker and Ryan on base. His third RBI came in the 8th inning when he scored Brendan Ryan (for Ryan's second run of the game) off of a single.

The pitching was pretty solid, outside of Boggs and Reyes, but the bats just couldn't get it done. Nothing new to see here, this game was just another typical game for the 2010 Cardinals.

Rams vs. Cardinals Pre-game Preview

     September 10th,2010 By:Steven G. of STLsport

The Cardinals' dangerous air-attack retired with Kurt Warner.

In a way, it is hard to believe football is back already, and in other ways, the wait was excruciating. But nonetheless, the NFL season will kick-off tonight (Thursday Sept. 9th) with the Vikings, and the Saints. The rest of the NFL will follow, Sunday Sept. 12th.

The Rams will start off the season against a division rival, a team they have not defeated since 2006, the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams will look to get off to a good start, and climb out of the cellar of the NFL. While the Cardinals will look to defend their 2009 NFC West title, and prove they can play without Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Karlos Dansby.

The Vegas betting line favors Arizona by four. But Ram fans have been optimistic about this game, as a direct result of rookie QB Sam Bradford's phenomenal preseason performance.

Here is a comparison of the two teams...

OFFENSE   

Quarterback: As mentioned, Bradford has been great so far for the Rams. It has been clear for a while that he would ultimately get the opening-day start against Arizona. But even though he played well in the preseason, the regular season is a different story. The intensity rises to a whole different level, and Bradford must be prepared for that. However, unlike the preseason, Bradford will have the luxury of Steven Jackson in the backfield for the entire game, as oppose to just one drive. The Rams will run the ball, and try to take pressure off of Bradford. If the Rams can get Arizona to respect their run game, then Bradford just might have some success through the air. But either way, it will certainly be a difficult test for Bradford, given it's his first start, and he will be facing one of the better defensive-backfields in the league.

The Cardinals will no longer have a Hall-of-Fame caliber QB under center. Warner's protégé, Matt Leinart, was released by the Cardinals, and now the team will have to rely on Derek Anderson to run the offense. Anderson's best season (by far) came in 2007, when he made the pro-bowl (as an alternate) after throwing 29 TD vs. 19 INT, with 3787 yards. Anderson has never obtained a decent completion percentage, even in 2007 his completion percentage was only 56.5%... a career high. Last season, for the Browns, Anderson (in seven starts) had 3 TD passes, 10 INT, and only 888 yards. He will have some weapons in Arizona (Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Tim Hightower) that he didn't have in Cleveland, but it is clear that Arizona will likely run the ball more than anything.

Running-Back:  The Rams are thin at running-back, but their primary back is one of the best in the game. Jackson proved in the preseason that he is fully recovered from his April back surgery, and he is ready to carry the load. Jackson led the NFC in rushing yards in 2009, and he will be the Rams most dangerous weapon on offense. If Arizona stacks eight men in the box to stop Jackson, then they will have trouble stopping Bradford's arm; and if Arizona loads up on DB's to stop Bradford, then Jackson will run all over them. Jackson staying on the field, for the entire season, will be key to the Rams' offensive success in 2010.

Rams' RB Steven Jackson will finally get to play 4 quarters in 2010, vs. Arizona

Arizona has a solid duo at running-back in Beanie Wells, and Tim Hightower. Wells is looking for a break-out year, after a solid rookie campaign (793 yards, 7 TDs, 4.5 yd/carry). Wells has been banged up this week, and has not practiced (bruised knee); his status for Sunday is not 100% certain. Typically with Arizona, when they have a player listed as "questionable", 9 times out of 10 that player doesn't play. That is just Arizona's style when it comes to injury reports. But with or without Wells, the Cardinals will have Tim Hightower, who is their ideal back for passing, and goal-line situations. If the Cardinals want success on offense, it will have to be on the ground. But luckily for the Rams, their run-defense has been very solid throughout the preseason.

Wide-Receiver:  The Rams traded for Mark Clayton from the Baltimore Ravens. Clayton should be a pretty solid receiver, and is an ideal replacement for Donnie Avery (who is out for the season with a torn ACL). Reports indicate that Clayton is catching onto the Rams offense quickly, but it is uncertain if he will be ready for Sunday (though he seems to think so). If Clayton is limited, then the primary target for Bradford will be Danny Amendola, who has emerged as a dangerous slot receiver; and Laurent Robinson, who had a quiet preseason, but has been a productive receiver in the past. Brandon Gibson will also see some action on the outside (due to his size and physicality); and Mardy Gilyard, as well as Dominique Curry, may also be worked into the mix. Curry will likely see time on special-teams.

It is also worth mentioning that Bradford has favored his tight-ends throughout the preseason. Particularly, Mike Hoomanawanui, who caught Bradford's first two TD passes during the preseason. But Daniel Fells, and blocking TE Billy Bajema, will likely be the starters.

Arizona lost their pro-bowl WR Anquan Boldin to Baltimore. The presence of Boldin made it difficult to double-cover all-pro WR Larry Fitzgerald, who is possibly the best receiver in the NFL. But the luxury of Boldin is now gone. The team still has Steve Breaston, who posted a 1000+ yard season in 2008, and Fitzgerald is at the top of his game, but having Anderson deliver the ball will hurt the Cardinals.

Offensive Line: The Rams' offensive-line had a rusty start against Minnesota in the preseason; but since then, the line has gelled, and has been playing much better. Rookie Roger Saffold has been a pleasant surprise; he has been one of the better linemen on the team, and has already earned the starting LT job over (2009 #2 overall pick) Jason Smith. Smith will be the starting RT, and is a solid run-blocker, but needs some polishing when it comes to pass protection. LG Jacob Bell has been a disappointment ever since he signed as a free-agent in 2007, but was finally able to play at an acceptable level at times during 2009 season. Part of Bell's improvements are due to C Jason Brown, who was made the highest paid center in the league last season, after signing a free-agent contract with the Rams. Brown has been a solid foundation, and is one of the better centers in the league. Utility-lineman Adam Goldberg will start at RG; Goldberg is a solid back-up, and he will start Sunday. OG John Greco might steal the job from Goldberg whenever he fully recovers from his injury; he is back on the field, but needs to get up-to-speed before starting.

The Cardinals will still have LT Levi Brown, C Lyle Sendlein, and RG Deuce Lutui, as returning starters for their line. Each of those players have started on the Cardinal's line (for all 16 games) the past two seasons, and will be the starters again, for a third season straight. On top of that, the addition of pro-bowl LG Alan Faneca (from the New York Jets), will provide a solid upgrade for their line. RT Brandon Keith will be a starter for the first time in his career, and for the most part, he is an unknown.  

DEFENSE

Defensive Line: The Rams have struggled to establish a consistent pass-rush during the preseason. The Rams lack a beastly pass-rusher, but they are hoping Chris Long emerges as somewhat of a pass-rush threat, and has a break out year in the process. George Selvie has been outstanding, at least for a 7th round pick (2010); he has missed some time lately due to injury, but he should see some playing time in pass-rush situations. During run situations, veteran James Hall should get the majority of the snaps at DE, opposite Long.

Fred Robbins has been a solid defensive-tackle so far for the Rams. Robbins did not get a ton of playing time during the preseason, but in his limited time, he has been able to get some push up the middle. The other starting DT will be Gary Gibson, who stole the starting job from Cliftom Ryan during camp. Ryan, and DT Darrel Scott, will rotate in-and-out with Robbins and Gibson.

The Rams' d-line has been very solid against the run, which will be very beneficial this Sunday, because Arizona's offense will strongly depend on the run. But if the Rams really want to get ahead in the game, the line must also provide a pass-rush.

Arizona has a solid DE in Darnell Dockett; whichever Rams' OT faces Dockett will have their work cut out for them. Calais Campbell had a solid year for Arizona in 2009, but it was his first year as a starter. It is not clear yet if Campbell will continue his success in his second year; but if he's at the top of his game, he could possibly cause some problems. NT Bryan Robinson is just average; with Jason Brown at center for the Rams, their o-line should be able to focus on Dockett and Campbell effectively.

Linebacker: James Laurinaitis will lead the way for the Rams' linebacking core, as he looks to build on his promising rookie campaign, which led to him getting a vote for 'defensive rookie of the year'. Larry Grant has been a beast in the preseason, and has rightfully earned a starting role at OLB. Veteran Na'il Diggs will start at the other OLB spot. They have been solid against the run, but it would be nice to see the linebackers help out in the pass rush. The linebackers will be busy all day, as Arizona will likely run the ball for the majority of their offensive plays.

Joey Porter is a sack machine, and even though he has a knee injury, he will be expected to play Sunday. Hopefully Porter's injury slows him down a bit, or else he might be dangerous against the Rams' inexperienced tackles. The Cardinals are pretty weak at MLB, Paris Lenon is one of their inside-linebackers, and as most Rams fans know, he is nothing to worry about (Lenon was a starting linebacker for the Rams in 2009). The other inside-linebacker is rookie Daryl Washington (2nd round pick 2010), who shouldn't be a major factor, due to inexperience. Clark Haggans will start at OLB opposite Porter. Haggans is experienced, and a solid starter, but he is not an elite player.


Defensive-Backs: The Rams have struggled against the pass so far, at least in the preseason. It has probably been due to the lack of a pass-rush, and the fact that their starters have been limited. OJ Atogwe will be starting at FS, and he has been absent from the line-up for most of the preseason. The sure-tackler, SS Craig Dahl, will be the other starter. Ron Bartell will the the primary CB; Bartell has been a solid starter for the Rams, but had a down year in 2009 due to injury. Opposite Bartell, the impressive second-year player Bradley Fletcher will be the other starting CB. Fletcher showed a lot of promise during his rookie campaign, but was placed on the IR early on, due to a season ending knee injury. Fletcher looks to be fully recovered from his injury. Overall, the Rams' secondary should be much improved from the preseason, with all of their starters playing full-time.

The Cardinals have a very strong secondary, and it is clearly the strong point of their defense. Adrian Wilson is one of the best strong-safeties in the game, and is a very solid tackler. Newcomer Kerry Rhodes started 14 games for the New York Jets in 2009, when the Jets finished with the best defense in the NFL. Rhodes is a solid replacement for Antrel Rolle, who left the Cardinals this past off-season as a free-agent. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie made the pro-bowl last year, which was only his second year in the league. Roger-Cromartie, and Wilson, are the two players that make this possibly an elite unit for the Cardinals.

OVERALL: The Cardinals' offense is not as dangerous as it has been the past two seasons. Their new QB, Anderson, is prone to making mistakes. If the Rams' defense remains solid against the run, then the Rams should be able to effectively contain the Cardinals' offense.

Arizona's defense has surrendered 45 points in each of their last two (real) games. If their defense plays that way against the Rams, then it will likely be an upset. If the Rams run the ball well, allowing them to open up the passing game, then that could also result in an upset.

If the Cardinals win, it will be because their run game is too much, or their pass game is miraculously better than expected, or because their defense stiffened up from last season. But, it could also be a little of all three of those things. Either way, I don't expect either team to "blow out" the other team, but the Rams certainly have a good shot at starting off their season on the right foot; by beating Arizona for the first time since 2006.

Carp and the Cards fall short, losing 8-6 to Atlanta

The Cardinals were able to score some runs, including a solo shot by Chris Carpenter, helping his own cause, but it was not enough to beat the Atlanta Braves.

Carpenter, the Cardinals co-ace, only pitched five innings- giving up 8 runs on 8 hits, including 6 earned runs. Relief pitcher Jason Motte did not look as sharp as his last appearance, he gave up 2 hits; but neither he, Mitchell Boggs, or Kyle McClellan, gave up any runs.

At the plate, Carp hit a HR, as mentioned; but Matt Holliday had the best night at the plate, he was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI's, and 2 runs scored. He also hit his 26th HR of the season, a 2-run shot in the 3rd inning.

Albert Pujols was quiet, he went hitless on the night. Actually, despite the score, most of the team was quiet at the plate. Holliday and Carpenter were the only Cards to get any RBI's, and Brendan Ryan (along with Carp and Holliday) were the only players to get multiple hits.

The Cardinals' bats, and pitchers, have struggled to get in sync all season. If one shows up, the other is no where to be found.

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Cards get blown out by the Brewers, losing 8-1 (last night)

Albert Pujols hit his 36th home-run of the season last night against the Brewers, but that was the only highlight of the game for the Cards. Starting pitcher Jaime Garcia has had high and low points all season; but, for the most part, has been consistent as of late. However, last night was an exception- Garcia only pitched four innings, and the gave up seven earned runs, off of seven hits.

Other than Pujols, the only other starters to get hits were Colby Rasmus, and catcher Matt Pagnozzi (who filled in for Yadier Molina). Brian Anderson also got a hit, but it came off of a pinch-hit.

The only other positive from last night's game, other than Albert's home-run, was Jason Motte. Motte just recently returned from injury, and has been a major asset for the Cards' bullpen; he pitched 1.1 innings without giving up a hit or a walk. Motte's return should benefit the Cards in September.

The Cardinals remain six games behind the Reds. Cincinnati has lost four games in a row, so the Cardinals had a chance to reduce their deficit to only four games, but failed to capitalize in the last two games. With only 25 games remaining, they are not out of the hunt, but they need to go on a tear if they want to make the playoffs. The Reds are cold right now, so losing the last two games could ultimately prove to be fatal. I fthe team doesn't get going right now, then they are done.