Here's how the Rams stack up in some of the NFL's most important categories after five games:
Offense
DEAD LAST in scoring. Should the Rams score 10 points in Dallas Sunday, they'll raise their season average (9.8).
25th in total yards
23rd in rushing yards per game, but tied for 11th in yards per carry (4.4). Hmm, maybe they should run more? Maybe not. They're tied for 30th in rushing TDs, with 1. You know who they're tied with? Dallas. The Chiefs are the only team without a running TD so far this season.
25th in passing yards per game, 30th in yards per pass at 6.0. In a passing game more committed to throwing downfield.
DEAD LAST in passing TDs, with 3. Didn't Aaron Rodgers throw for three TDs in the 2nd quarter last week?
Yes, they're also last in passing TDs per game.
WORST in sacks. The Rams are on a pace to allow a league-leading 70 sacks, 4.4 a game.
Sam Bradford is the 30th-ranked QB in the league with a passer rating of 72.2. He's 3.5 points behind Kyle Orton, who obviously just got benched, and barely ahead of Blaine Gabbert. It's depressing to see how badly some QBs are crushing Bradford. Matthew Stafford, drafted #1 the year before, will always be compared to Bradford? 98.2, 4th in the league. Cam Newton, drafted #1 the year after? 78.3 despite 9 INTs. Colt McCoy, 78.1. Tarvaris Jackson, 81.0. Donovan McNabb, who everyone agrees has been terrible this season? 82.9. Rookie Andy Dalton, 84.3. Michael Vick, 84.4. Curtis Painter, 93.0. ALEX FREAKING SMITH, 95.2.
On the bright side, just two INTs ties the Rams for BEST in the league, though the Colts, Vikings and 49ers have all matched that while playing an extra game. Seems like that would be a good statistic to lead the league in, but two of the four teams are winless and another is 1-5.
Defense
30th in scoring
30th in total yards per game
DEAD LAST in rushing yards per game (161.8), but they're within 22 of 31st place now (Carolina).
25th in yards per rush (4.8)
15th in passing yards per game, 17th in yards allowed per attempt (7.5)
25th in sacks (9)
21st in QB rating against (91.3)
22nd in interceptions (4)
Miscellaneous
The Rams have fallen to 9th in penalties committed, but they're 4th in penalties per game as I eyeball it.
18th in turnover differential (-1).
And last but not least, the Rams are #1 in something in the NFL..... most expensive beer. $9 for a small draft is the highest price in the league, according to a report in Business Insider this week. (reported in Sports Illustrated)
With so many reasons to drown our sorrows, wouldn't it be appropriate for the Rams to drop that price at least a little?
-$-
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Rams report, 10/20
(I may have mentioned that work has been pretty crazy lately. That's not a bad thing, but it does leave me way behind in keeping up with the Rams' quest to become the second 0-16 team in NFL history. Got about an hour break here, let's see how much I can catch up.)
* Transactions. Obviously, the Rams have traded with Denver for wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who I assume is starting Sunday against Dallas. He'll wear #83, and hopefully play nothing like the last guy I remember wearing that number here, Drew Bennett. The Rams will give Denver a 5th- or 6th-round pick next year depending on Lloyd's production. Since they just threw away their 5th-round pick in 2011 a couple of weeks ago, they probably feel like they got the infinitely better end of the deal.
Mike Sims-Walker was cut to make roster space for Lloyd. Jacksonville picked him up barely a couple of days later, a sign that the Jagwires may be the most desperate team at wide receiver in NFL history.
Let's see if I can track down the rest of the transactions made since I last had time to report...
In an attempt to make all right with the world again, the Rams brought TE/FB Ben Guidugli back to their practice squad September 29th. They'd cut him this time to clear a roster space for fifth-round pick Jermale Hines, but the Colts got to Hines first.
Safety Nate Ness was added to the practice squad October 9th, but was released Tuesday in favor of WR Gentleman Kris Adams. Chase Reynolds was cut when Ness was originally added. Adams was released from the Bears' practice squad last week.
Bradley Fletcher and Danny Amendola were put on IR October 10th, (ESPN says the 6th. I personally don't remember) ending their 2011 seasons. Their replacements are CB Brian Jackson and WR/PR Nick Miller. Miller was not active against the Packers and is likely to lose his spot when the Rams activate Mark Clayton from PUP.
* Ex-Ram update.
10/18: Baltimore waived OT Mark LeVoir.
Cleveland signed Chris Ogbannaya off of Houston's practice squad. Obie was briefly the Texans' #2 back, but Ben Tate and Derrick Ward are healthy again.
10/11: Jacksonville waived punter Matt Turk, whose career is probably over (he's 43). He helped lose a game for them the previous Sunday by shanking a 22-yard punt from his own end zone.
10/10: DT Daniel Muir returned to Indianapolis.
10/5: Indianapolis signed OT Quinn Ojinnaka. He's already moved into their starting lineup.
10/4: David Vobora is active again with the Seahawks at last word.
OK, back to work.
-$-
* Transactions. Obviously, the Rams have traded with Denver for wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who I assume is starting Sunday against Dallas. He'll wear #83, and hopefully play nothing like the last guy I remember wearing that number here, Drew Bennett. The Rams will give Denver a 5th- or 6th-round pick next year depending on Lloyd's production. Since they just threw away their 5th-round pick in 2011 a couple of weeks ago, they probably feel like they got the infinitely better end of the deal.
Mike Sims-Walker was cut to make roster space for Lloyd. Jacksonville picked him up barely a couple of days later, a sign that the Jagwires may be the most desperate team at wide receiver in NFL history.
Let's see if I can track down the rest of the transactions made since I last had time to report...
In an attempt to make all right with the world again, the Rams brought TE/FB Ben Guidugli back to their practice squad September 29th. They'd cut him this time to clear a roster space for fifth-round pick Jermale Hines, but the Colts got to Hines first.
Safety Nate Ness was added to the practice squad October 9th, but was released Tuesday in favor of WR Gentleman Kris Adams. Chase Reynolds was cut when Ness was originally added. Adams was released from the Bears' practice squad last week.
Bradley Fletcher and Danny Amendola were put on IR October 10th, (ESPN says the 6th. I personally don't remember) ending their 2011 seasons. Their replacements are CB Brian Jackson and WR/PR Nick Miller. Miller was not active against the Packers and is likely to lose his spot when the Rams activate Mark Clayton from PUP.
* Ex-Ram update.
10/18: Baltimore waived OT Mark LeVoir.
Cleveland signed Chris Ogbannaya off of Houston's practice squad. Obie was briefly the Texans' #2 back, but Ben Tate and Derrick Ward are healthy again.
10/11: Jacksonville waived punter Matt Turk, whose career is probably over (he's 43). He helped lose a game for them the previous Sunday by shanking a 22-yard punt from his own end zone.
10/10: DT Daniel Muir returned to Indianapolis.
10/5: Indianapolis signed OT Quinn Ojinnaka. He's already moved into their starting lineup.
10/4: David Vobora is active again with the Seahawks at last word.
OK, back to work.
-$-
Rams injury report, 10/20
Sam Bradford - high left ankle sprain, suffered on the Rams' final offensive play of their 24-3 loss to the Packers last Sunday (RamView). Did not practice Wednesday. Says he believes the ankle is improving and that he wants to play Sunday against the Cowboys. Still in a walking boot.
All I know is, a high ankle sprain is usually a 4-6 week injury, and Sam's going to need healthy wheels to be able to get away from Demarcus Ware. And we saw how rushing players back to the field, or practice, worked for Danny Amendola.
Let A.J. Feeley take the pounding this week.
Mark Clayton - has returned to practice but has not been activated from the PUP list. But coach says he looks good, and Clayton says he's ready to go Sunday.
Marquis Johnson - a much needed body for the secondary, Johnson has also returned to practice. I am uncertain of his PUP status.
C.J. Ah You - Honestly, the d-line could use another body, too. Ah You has had the pins removed from his wrist, which he injured in preseason. But the pins were removed because he's got an infection in that hand now. Did not practice Wednesday.
Rodger Saffold - injured during the Green Bay game. That has been diagnosed as a bruised fibula. He returned to practice Wednesday.
Cadillac Williams - the Caddy was reportedly towed off the field in the second half last Sunday, then the Fox broadcast never followed up on the report. When a player gets carted off the field, you figure his season's over. Well, now we know Williams has a bruised thigh. He practiced Wednesday.
And in a (possible) correction from an earlier post, the right knee Bradley Fletcher blew out in practice a couple of weeks ago is apparently the same knee he blew out his rookie year. I had thought it was his left knee back then. It sure would be nice if the media would actually report which knee a player hurts at a given time. They all have two, you know. If he's blown out the same knee twice in three years, don't we have to wonder how much of a career he even has left? At best, Fletcher is now the Danario Alexander of the Ram secondary.
-$-
All I know is, a high ankle sprain is usually a 4-6 week injury, and Sam's going to need healthy wheels to be able to get away from Demarcus Ware. And we saw how rushing players back to the field, or practice, worked for Danny Amendola.
Let A.J. Feeley take the pounding this week.
Mark Clayton - has returned to practice but has not been activated from the PUP list. But coach says he looks good, and Clayton says he's ready to go Sunday.
Marquis Johnson - a much needed body for the secondary, Johnson has also returned to practice. I am uncertain of his PUP status.
C.J. Ah You - Honestly, the d-line could use another body, too. Ah You has had the pins removed from his wrist, which he injured in preseason. But the pins were removed because he's got an infection in that hand now. Did not practice Wednesday.
Rodger Saffold - injured during the Green Bay game. That has been diagnosed as a bruised fibula. He returned to practice Wednesday.
Cadillac Williams - the Caddy was reportedly towed off the field in the second half last Sunday, then the Fox broadcast never followed up on the report. When a player gets carted off the field, you figure his season's over. Well, now we know Williams has a bruised thigh. He practiced Wednesday.
And in a (possible) correction from an earlier post, the right knee Bradley Fletcher blew out in practice a couple of weeks ago is apparently the same knee he blew out his rookie year. I had thought it was his left knee back then. It sure would be nice if the media would actually report which knee a player hurts at a given time. They all have two, you know. If he's blown out the same knee twice in three years, don't we have to wonder how much of a career he even has left? At best, Fletcher is now the Danario Alexander of the Ram secondary.
-$-
Monday, October 17, 2011
Further details on Lloyd trade
* The Rams will give Denver a fifth- or sixth-round pick next year for Brandon Lloyd, depending on the number of catches he has here this season.
* Mike Sims-Walker has been released to allow the Rams to add Lloyd to the roster.
-$-
* Mike Sims-Walker has been released to allow the Rams to add Lloyd to the roster.
-$-
Rams acquire Brandon Lloyd
NFL.com is now reporting that the Denver Broncos will trade wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the Rams. The Rams' end of the trade has not yet been reported. The assumption here is that the Rams will give up a 4th or 5th-round pick in 2012. The Broncos had opened the bidding around the league at a third-rounder but reportedly hadn't received any offers better than a 7th-rounder.
Lloyd led the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,448 on 77 catches and scored 11 TDs. His 2011 numbers are nowhere near approaching that so far, just 19 catches and 283 yards in 5 games. He's 30 years old, 6'0, 188. 2010 was easily the best season of Lloyd's 9-year career, so it's worth noting Rams OC Josh McDaniels was Denver's head coach at that time. Lloyd's current contract expires at the end of this season; one assumes the Rams didn't trade for him without being close to an agreement on an extension.
This trade obviously re-unites Lloyd and McDaniels, and almost certainly spells the doom of Mike Sims-Walker's Rams career of dropping balls and forgetting where to line up.
-$-
Lloyd led the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,448 on 77 catches and scored 11 TDs. His 2011 numbers are nowhere near approaching that so far, just 19 catches and 283 yards in 5 games. He's 30 years old, 6'0, 188. 2010 was easily the best season of Lloyd's 9-year career, so it's worth noting Rams OC Josh McDaniels was Denver's head coach at that time. Lloyd's current contract expires at the end of this season; one assumes the Rams didn't trade for him without being close to an agreement on an extension.
This trade obviously re-unites Lloyd and McDaniels, and almost certainly spells the doom of Mike Sims-Walker's Rams career of dropping balls and forgetting where to line up.
-$-
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Things I hope the Rams did during bye week (but probably didn't)
In no particular order...
1. Gave Chris Chamberlain and Bryan Kehl full opportunity to take over the starting job at WLB, where Ben Leber has put the "weak" back into "weakside". I'm not sure which of the younger players would win out, but I am sure that Leber doesn't deserve to be on this roster after his performance so far this season.
2. Prepped first-round pick Robert Quinn to take over the starting role at RDE. James Hall has not been effective enough this season but could probably contribute more in a spot role.
3. Got Lance Kendricks a new jersey number. The #88 thinks it's got Eddie Kennison in it again. Bad juju. Put Kendricks in #89, Dane Looker had pretty good hands. Then again, jersey juju doesn't explain why Greg Salas is off to such a crappy start in Rickey Proehl's old jersey.
4. Can't believe I'm saying this one. Got Austin Pettis ready to start in the slot. He's got the only reliable hands in the whole receiving corps; he needs to be on the field as often as possible.
5. Cut Mike Sims-Walker. He's useless, and he's bad luck. Yes, I know the Rams won't do this. But they should.
6. Spent about 80 hours in front of JUGS machines.
7. Got a veteran kick returner who actually knows how to play the position and judge things like whether or not he can catch a ball safely without getting creamed by a defender. The Rams signed Nick Miller during the bye week. Let's just say he does not fit the bill. From Paul Gutierrez at ProFootballTalk:
As far as Miller is concerned, he was respected in the locker room for his work ethic. But with the Raiders' depth at receiver, Miller had to stand out as a return specialist to validate his roster spot.
Instead, he struggled mightily on return duty, especially in Buffalo, where he slipped and fell several times and averaged just 15.3 yards on four kickoff returns and 9.5 yards on two punt returns.
1. Gave Chris Chamberlain and Bryan Kehl full opportunity to take over the starting job at WLB, where Ben Leber has put the "weak" back into "weakside". I'm not sure which of the younger players would win out, but I am sure that Leber doesn't deserve to be on this roster after his performance so far this season.
2. Prepped first-round pick Robert Quinn to take over the starting role at RDE. James Hall has not been effective enough this season but could probably contribute more in a spot role.
3. Got Lance Kendricks a new jersey number. The #88 thinks it's got Eddie Kennison in it again. Bad juju. Put Kendricks in #89, Dane Looker had pretty good hands. Then again, jersey juju doesn't explain why Greg Salas is off to such a crappy start in Rickey Proehl's old jersey.
4. Can't believe I'm saying this one. Got Austin Pettis ready to start in the slot. He's got the only reliable hands in the whole receiving corps; he needs to be on the field as often as possible.
5. Cut Mike Sims-Walker. He's useless, and he's bad luck. Yes, I know the Rams won't do this. But they should.
6. Spent about 80 hours in front of JUGS machines.
7. Got a veteran kick returner who actually knows how to play the position and judge things like whether or not he can catch a ball safely without getting creamed by a defender. The Rams signed Nick Miller during the bye week. Let's just say he does not fit the bill. From Paul Gutierrez at ProFootballTalk:
As far as Miller is concerned, he was respected in the locker room for his work ethic. But with the Raiders' depth at receiver, Miller had to stand out as a return specialist to validate his roster spot.
Instead, he struggled mightily on return duty, especially in Buffalo, where he slipped and fell several times and averaged just 15.3 yards on four kickoff returns and 9.5 yards on two punt returns.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
A week to forget
Then the Rams lost Danny Amendola for the season, after he tore the triceps in his left arm, a re-aggravation of the dislocated elbow he suffered in week 1. Amendola was the one pushing to return to practice, but it was totally within the Rams' power to shut him down, and they should have, until he healed completely. Poor personnel decisions and performances at wide receiver made everyone too desperate here, and now it's cost the Rams their leading receiver for the rest of the season. It's the kind of decision a poorly-run organization makes when it's scrambling to cover its mistakes.
One of those poor mistakes, Mike Sims-Walker, apparently didn't feel like he'd done enough to screw this team with his repeated dropped passes and inability to line up properly or know what the play is half the time, so he took it upon himself to put the Rams' only good corner, Bradley Fletcher, out for the season. Fletcher blew an ACL after tangling with Sims-Walker during bye week practice. Yes, the Rams even suck during bye week. Knowing his skillset, Sims-Walker was probably trying to walk and chew gum at the same time, tripped over his own feet, and things went downhill from there.
Fletcher's left knee was blown out against the Colts his rookie year and it's his right knee that's blown out now. He came back quicker than normal from his first ACL injury, but odds here are that it'll be lucky if he's ready for the start of the 2012 season. And with Ron Bartell recovering from a broken neck, cornerback has leaped to the top of the Rams' needs not just for the rest of this season, but next offseason as well. They're going to need to make a major cornerback acquisition in free agency and draft one high, too, possibly with the pick we've all been thinking was meant for Justin Blackmon.
Only a team as lousy at this year's Rams could manage to lose two of their best players for the season during their freaking bye week. Even the defensive coordinator got injured!
Enjoy this one last Sunday of football tomorrow, before the Rams spoil things by playing the last twelve weeks.
-$-
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