Week 2

Monday Sep 19, 2011

16 28

Danario Alexander skies for a catch, then gets up and runs for more yardage. Photo by Tim Farrell/THE STAR-LEDGER.

The St Louis Rams waited a long time to take the field on Monday night, and as they waited to re-present themselves on the national stage, three competing narratives swirled about the national media. "Josh McDaniels is going to transform this offense" vs "Steve Spagnuolo is putting his aggressive stamp on the Rams defense" vs "The Rams? Dude, they totally blow!"

Most frustrating for Rams fans? All three were true.

The Rams appeared to grossly outplay the Giants in the first half, with only a fluke play and a bad call by the referees enabling a 7-6 New York lead. The crowd was mostly indifferent as the Rams flew down the field against a defenseless Giants secondary toward a go-ahead score. The path to a dominating Rams victory seemed assured.

Until Josh McDaniels sent in a fatefully bad play-call: a halfback option to Cadillac Williams on a third and eight on the Giants' 25 yard line. It was a play that, once witnessed, Rams fans will never be able to unsee.

Bradford's pass was not a good one. Cadillac's hands, so good in the passing game, were made of stone. His field awareness, something that is supposed to be as mature as a thirty-year-old scotch by this point in his NFL career, was lacking as the ball skipped away, an obvious fumble.

The Giants' Michael Boley scooped up the ball and ran. That was all he had to do to seize the moment, and rob the Rams of every shred of positive momentum they had built up in this game, this offseason, this attempt at a nation-wide renewal of face.

Mark Clayton is happy just to be walking again, let alone running routes. Photo from his Twitter account.

After an up-and-down start to his career in Baltimore, Mark Clayton thought he had finally found a home in St Louis, and a promising new start with rookie wunderkind Sam Bradford. Six short weeks later, he was in almost unbearable agony, abstract things like hope obliterated by the incessant pain and struggle of his rehab from patellar tendon surgery.

Clayton admits to Ron Clements of CBS Sports that he thought about quitting, and it wasn't until six months into the rehab that he started to feel capable of playing football again. By then, the Lockout had begun, putting his position with the Rams in limbo, and separating him from the team's trainers.

Now, after rejoining the Rams on a one-year deal, he starts the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, sidelined for the team's first five games. In a sense, he'll be able to complete the season he started in 2010.

Of course, that doesn't mean he's not itching to get out on the field right away.

The offense he'll come back to will have changed significantly from the one he just started to learn in 2010, stepping on the playing field with no training camp and just a handful of practices with the Rams. But that doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Clayton appeared to jump-start Bradford's comfort level in the new offense, but the team continued to grow after his departure, bettering their win total from the last three seasons combined and challenging for the NFC West title. The team will be facing up against some of the best the NFL has to offer while Clayton sits during the season's first six weeks.

Like Clayton's rehab process, there may be struggles and pain involved. But hopefully they will emerge a stronger and better-prepared football team for the rest of the season ahead.

The clock strikes midnight for Mardy Gilyard, this year's Cinderella story in Rams camp.

Just comparing stats between two young mid-round picks, something doesn't add up. Player A caught more passes this preseason than any other wideout; Player B caught one ball for six yards. Player A got nearly 80% of kick return duties; Player B had a few fair catches on his resume. But the stats clearly don't tell the whole story, as Player A - Mardy Gilyard - was released by the Rams today while Player B - Austin Pettis - can breathe a little easier, still hopeful of making the final roster.

Reading between the lines, the Rams' coaches put Gilyard on a fast track, knowing that he wasn't McDaniels' choice at receiver, giving him every opportunity during the shortened preseason to make a positive impression, and to earn a place on the team. And he did a lot right to earn as many opportunities as he did. However, he barely got any reps at all with Sam Bradford and the first teamers, in practice or on gameday, showing how steeply the odds were stacked against him. Meanwhile, Pettis got more time in practice with the first string offense, but appears to have been put on the shelf for more work and a longer evaluation.

The pattern is predictable. In high school, in college, and now in the pros, Gilyard has dealt with serious challenges and setbacks in his second year. This year you can point to the Lockout, or his stormy offseason that reportedly included a trade request and skipping the player-organized practices to rehab his wrist. Or you can point to his maddening capacity for putting the ball on the ground at highly visible times - his first kickoff return of the preseason, and his first punt return of his final audition, to name two.

Still, though, Mardy came to work this year, and looked much more like a pro receiver than a year ago at this time. If not for the crunch of young talent on the St. Louis roster, he would probably have survived this weekend's cuts. As it stands, the best player and first NFLer to come out of Flagler Palm Coast high school in Florida is currently on the street, looking for work.

He may not have to look for long. Another receiver-poor team -- perhaps in Carolina, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, or a reunion with Pat Shurmur in Cleveland -- could be quick to give him a second chance. 

Or, in a bit of irony, he could stick with another team in the NFC West and come back to haunt the Rams.

49ersCBSSports
Mardy Gilyard released by the Rams. Seems I was wrong about him. Still, if I'm Niners I give him a look over any of their 6th WR candidates.

After this weekend, the Rams will only be bringing 53 players onto the field for their gameday. You could be right there next to them, thanks to the United Way.

Give. Bid. Win.

United Way's annual Online Auction started August 31, and runs until September 8th, the opening day of the NFL season, and there are a number of items available to bid on that Rams fans will be interested in, including:

• Rams on-field package for two. This package includes two pregame field passes that will let you experience the game like the players, as well as two lower level tickets that will let you sit back and enjoy the game. You won't get that experience from your living room.

• Fly with the Rams. It's not every day someone becomes a Rams VIP! Fly with the team to an away game when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers (Dec. 24), spend the night in the official team hotel, receive tickets to the game and pregame on-field passes to walk the sidelines as the team warms up. Hit the road with the Rams and enjoy a trip you'll never forget!

• Two Trips to Super Bowl XLVI: This is your chance to go to the biggest game of the year. You and a friend will be able to attend Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (And of course we hope that the Rams are there, too!)

Go online to www.givebidwin.com and sign up to bid on at least 100 items and one-time experiences. Some are valued as low as $25, others are incalculably unique. Great gifts for others or a nice treat for yourself are just a mouse click away. Proceeds from the auction go to United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Where does your money go?

The Rams have gotten a lot better since last year's event, but the economy hasn't, here or anywhere else. The good news is that all proceeds from this fundraiser stay here in the Saint Louis community -- the city, the county, the outlying counties, even across the river.

According to their statistics, one in three people in the Saint Louis area receives help from the United Way. 

About United Way of Greater St. Louis

United Way funds nearly 200 health and human service agencies located throughout a 16-county area in Missouri and Illinois. One in three people in our community receive services that strengthen families, help the elderly, keep children healthy and safe, and build stronger neighborhoods. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.stl.unitedway.org.

Danario Alexander extends for a deep pass from AJ Feeley in the first half of the Rams-Jaguars game.

The Rams completed a perfect 4-0 run through the preseason with a 24-17 win over Jacksonville on the road that started strong and finished well. Here's how the units graded out, position by position:

On Offense

Quarterbacks: A-

Sam Bradford looked a little rough in the first series but settled down quickly.  The play action fake has quickly become Sam’s best weapon.  It is the third game in a row he has thrown a touchdown pass off of play action.  Tonight, it was a 44–yarder to Lance Kendricks, who once again would prove to be Sam’s go-to-guy.

I’m not sure if AJ Feeley played as bad as I think he did tonight, or if his poor play is amplified in my head by Thad Lewis’s performance.  In reality, Feely played okay.  On his interception in the second quarter, he looked bad.  AJ stared down Salas, which prevented him from sliding in the pocket to avoid the rush and then he forced it for the easy pick.

What’s there to say about Thad Lewis that Derek hasn't already written below?  I thought early in preseason he earned the right to be on this team.  Now, I agree with Derek.  I think if it came down to it, I’d go with Thad at number two.

Running Backs: B

There was nothing doing in the run game tonight.  Soon to be a roster casualty, Chase Reynolds led all Rams rushers in carries (8) and yards (16).    But when the rushing game was bogged down, the Rams were able to see a new side of Josh McDaniels’ offense – the screen game.  SJ39, Cadillac, Reynolds, Totson and Norwood combined for 100 yards on 9 catches.  Add on two rushing touchdowns to those numbers and it was a decent night.

Offensive Line: B-

As mentioned above, there wasn’t much of a run game tonight.  To me the clear cut goal for tonight for the first group wasto prevent injuries to Sam Bradford tonight and they did that. They also did a great job in the screen game getting out in front and opening up the alley.

Receivers: B-

The first unit – Danny A, MSW, Gibson, all but got the night off.  As for the rest, I thought Avery did a good job keeping himself on the roster. He continues to show that he’s worked his way back and is healthy.   His speed is an asset to this team. His ability to make plays after the catch will be much needed.  I also think Greg Salas has continued to progress, adding 2 catches tonight.

DX ripped off a 42-yard gain on a nice ball from Thad.  Gilyard added 33 yards on 2 catches.  Rookie Austin Pettis went through the night without being targeted .  This, I’d imagine doesn’t bode well for him.  It’s going be a tough decision for Devaney.

Lance Kendricks has to be a name all fantasy football owners are talking about.  The kid seems to be a favorite target for Bradford.  Even on a night where the run game wasn’t dominating, Kendricks managed to find himself wide open for a 44-yard touchdown.  The Onobun project continued tonight.  He had 20 yards on 2 catches (had a drop unfortunately).  I do wonder where he stands come Saturday.

Defensive grades after the break...

Not only can he make plays with his feet, second-year QB Thaddeus Lewis is a fundamentally sound thrower starting to come into his own.

Coming into tonight’s Rams-Jaguars game Thad Lewis knew he was playing for a spot on the roster. That much was true. However as the game progressed just which spot he was playing for came in to question.

As I began organizing my thoughts for this piece before the game, I was taking the angle of Lewis playing for a spot on the roster all together. I have since completely discarded those notes and thoughts. And now I have my new angle. At the end of the game Lewis had failed to earn a spot on the 53 man squad as the Rams 3^rd QB.

Instead he won the job of Sam Bradford’s backup…as the #2 QB. Queue gasps.  This is not based on AJ Feeley’s performance. He did not play poorly this preseason. This is based on how well Lewis played. Fact is he flat up and stole the job from Feeley, probably made off with his wallet too.

The role of a backup is not to play. If they are in the game more than often that is a sign that something bad has happened. It is an opportunity to learn, to improve and should something happen to Bradford, to keep the team afloat. Lewis has much more upside than Feeley and given the chance to take all the snaps with the 2’s and study Bradford brings a much different look to a game than Feeley.

Hell, if nothing else coach him up into a tradable commodity. No one is coming after Feeley, not happening. Now I don’t think this is the approach to take but it does present another option you don’t have with Feeley.  Guarantee you other teams scouting the Rams this summer are daring them to cut Lewis.

Undrafted out of Duke in 2010 Lewis made this preseason his personal mission statement. Not invited to the combine…this has been his combine.  Undrafted free agents tend to play well for the Rams, play hard and play with a chip on their shoulder.  Admirable qualities that translate well onto a football field and have worked out well for the Rams in the past. See London Fletcher and Danario Alexander (see what I did there).

Lewis’ stat line for the preseason is solid; 23 of32 for 266 yards and a completion percentage of 72%, and no INT’s. But his play goes beyond the stat line. His two-minute drill against the Titans spoke volumes, 12 plays for 67 yards, passing for 1^st down on multiple occasions and leaving no time left on the clock.

Tonight Lewis showed his ability to control the clock as he milked nearly eight minute to leave the Jags with precious seconds to play for the tie. The fact that Spags trusted him enough to pass as often as he did on that final drive is a statement in itself.

Two plays stood out tonight. On 3^rd & 5 at the Jacksonville 35 yard line Lewis made it happen while scrambling out of the pocket and passing to the middle to Mardy Gilyard for 16 yards to the Jac19. Setting up a Josh Brown field goal. The other was a beautiful touch pass over the shoulder to Alexander for 43 yards to the 6 yard line.

Statement plays in a statement game from your new backup QB. Bank it.

Preseason Game 4

September 1, 2011

17  24

NFL.com: Recap | Play by Play | Video

I don't want to overstate the importance of the Xs and Os of tonight's win over the Jaguars, or the Rams' sterling 4-0 record in games that don't count. But outside of a few well-executed cutback runs by Maurice Jones-Drew and his backup Deji Karim, the first team Jaguars had little fight to offer the first team Rams.

Sam Bradford and the starting offensive unit played until the whistle of the first quarter, and had put together an impressive resume consisting of one scoring drive and 3/4 of another. However, another Rams quarterback stole the show with his play in the second half, making a case for himself for the Rams' 53-man roster -- not necessarily as the third QB, but as the primary backup for Mr. Franchise.

First team highlights: Too many weapons.

On offense, Bradford seemed out of synch with his wide receivers early in the contest, a bit of a troubling sign with the regular season knocking on the door. But when he trained his sights inside to Lance Kendricks and Steven Jackson, the offense found its stride.

Bradford's scoring pass to Lance Kendricks was almost criminally easy. Kendricks broke out of a bunch formation on third and inches, getting behind the strong safety as Bradford showed the ball to the aggressive Jaguars' defense on a gorgeous play-fake. All he had to do was stifle the urge to bust out laughing until after releasing the ball to his wide-open tight end.

On defense, the Rams' defensive line went Waffle House on the Jaguars' quarterbacks, leaving them scattered, smothered and covered. Garrard completed only one of five passes before stumbling off the field, tending to various parts of his body that will only hurt more in the morning.

His replacement, Luke McCown, was also battered into a 1-for-5 start before the Rams began substituting in earnest.

With the addition of Mark Clayton to the Rams' stockpile of receivers, who will shake out as starters in week 1? Who makes the final 53? And who is the hardest player to cut from the ranks? Here's a roundtable of opinions from the RamsHerd writers.

Brennan Smith (@BrennanJSmith):

1. Sims-Walker - Gives the Rams the closest thing they have to a number one receiver.
2. Danny Amendola - Bradford's security blanket and a catch machine.
3. Brandon Gibson - Seems to be playing well in the preseason, front office went out of their way to get him last year.
4. Austin Pettis - Devaney won't eat a third round pick regardless of Pettis' struggles. It takes a while to adjust to being an NFL receiver.
5. Greg Salas - See Pettis, Austin.
6. Mardy Gilyard - Finally seems to be grasping the playbook and is making a difference in the return game.
7. Mark Clayton - Could begin the season on the PUP list but brings veteran presence valuable during lockout shortened offseason.

Toughest Cut: Alexander, who could become a Plaxico Burress type but has too many injury concerns.

Tim Shields (@Shields3L):

1. Danny A
2. MSW
3. Gibson
4. Avery
5. Salas
6. Pettis
7. Clayton - PUP reserve list until wk 6.

Toughest Cut: DX.  He's a ton of talent, but his body just can't hold up.  It is one of the worst places in the world to be as a football player.  Your mind says go and your body says no.  The upside is he may not draw much interest from around the league (he didn't last year remember).  He could get cut and resigned down the road if someone goes down.

Maurice Walker (@FuturisticRam):

1. Mike Sims-Walker
2. Brandon Gibson
3. Danny Amendola
4. Greg Salas
5. Donnie Avery
6. Austin Pettis - Just can't see cutting either of those draft picks so early after a truncated camp.
7. Mark Clayton (PUP)

Toughest Cut: Hardest to cut was Dominique Curry for me. A great special teams player and an underrated receiver in my opinion.

Derek Pease (@SportsbyWeeze):

I think the the Rams keep 7 WR's and start the season with Clayton on the PUP list essentially giving them 8. I have (in this order):

1. Amendola
2. Sims-Walker
3. Gibson
4. Avery
5. Salas
6. Alexander
7. Gilyard - I think Gilyard is the last one in and Pettis is the last out.
8. Clayton (PUP)

Toughest Cut: Pettis was the hardest decision for me. Essentially cutting loose your most recent 3rd round pick is not easy to do. But this needs to be a football decison, not a financial one. And Billy Devaney said it in the offseason, "we need to get better at every position and will continue to turn over talent until we get there." DX and Gilyard to me, offer much more explosive play potential that what Pettis offers.

Will Horton (@RamsHerd):

This was a very tough decision to make, and I could see a trade market for Donnie Avery or Mardy Gilyard opening up that might change this lineup. But if it's just "cut vs keep," here are my finalists.

1. Gibson - Stepped up big time this offseason, and still has room to grow. 
2. Amendola - Will have to pry the starting slot position out of his cold dead fingers.
3. Sims-Walker - Flashes of big-time talent. Could become the #1 in time, but doesn't need to.
4. Avery - I think the Rams have been hiding him a little bit this preseason. Gives McD a different kind of weapon.
5. Salas - Emerged as the better playmaker between the two WRs taken in the draft.
6. Gilyard - A surprise, but earned second life with a strong camp.
7. Clayton (PUP) - what happens when he returns?

Toughest Cut: Not Danario, as I believe the Rams could send him to the IR, as suggested by 101 Sports' Cliff Saunders. No, it's Austin Pettis, who I liked coming in to camp.

It's tough to justify cutting a rookie after such a short look, but if the addition of Clayton and other veterans up and down the lines show anything, it's that the team's commitment to youth only goes so far. You have to make plays in your time on the field, and while Pettis was doing it in practice, his game-time production has been trending downward week by week. Out of anyone, though, he has the best chance today to do something to change my mind.

The Rams and Jaguars kick off tonight in the final preseason game for both teams, and the final chance for players on the bubble to make a gameday impression on their coaches before roster cutdowns begin in earnest. After this weekend, 27 players don't have to go home, but they can't come back to the Rams.

Coach Spagnuolo has said that he will play the starters a little longer than usual, a welcome concession to the Lockout-shortened offseason, giving our first teamers a few extra full-speed reps with McDaniels' offense and Spagnuolo's defense. That said, after the first 20 plays or so, the game will devolve into a Battle Royale of desperate players trying to stick on both teams' rosters.

Here are three storylines to watch:

For the Rams: Keep the quarterbacks clean. (For the Jaguars: can they get to the QB?)

The Rams have done an admirable job so far this preseason in keeping their quarterbacks off the turf, allowing only 4 sacks in the first three games. Look for that trend to continue against Jacksonville, which hasn't been able to consistently pressure the pocket since 2008's defensive end draft-day disaster. They traded seven picks to draft two DEs, Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, who turned out to be colossal busts. Just three years later, neither is with the team.

Jack Del Rio has been struggling to reestablish his team's defensive identity ever since. The Jaguars were one of the easiest teams to pass on last year, a by-product of ranking 30th in sacks. This year's big addition is former Packer Aaron Kampman, who has yet to play this preseason.

Without him in the lineup, the aqua cats have been shut out. Zero sacks so far.

As The Jaggernaut reports, Kampman is set to return tonight, and the hope is that the sacks will follow. But nobody on the Rams' line wants to give up that first one.

Before the Rams passing game became the Amendola show, Mark Clayton was Sam Bradford's favorite target. What happens now that he's back?

You hear that sound? That's the sound of a couple thousand Rams roster predictions being simultaneously shredded.

After weeks of playing hard to get, Billy Devaney finally made a commitment to bring Mark Clayton back to St Louis, adding him to a crowd of young receivers that are already difficult to separate. Here's what his return means:

1. The Rams could still conceivably keep 7 other WRs... if they want.

Most roster predictions by us internet guys assume that the Rams will hold on to seven wideouts. Partially, it's because that many and more players have been having a strong camp. And while cutting the list of viable options down to seven is hard enough, cutting to six means really making some difficult choices.

However, Clayton could be added to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the season, which would give Clayton a "free" spot on the roster until Week 6, allowing Devaney, Spagnuolo and McDaniels to continue their evaluation of fringe guys like Danario, Mardy, Donnie, and/or the two rookies.

Clayton is on the Preseason PUP list now, which expires this Saturday, so he won't be suiting up or playing in Jacksonville tomorrow night. So once again, he'll come into the Rams offense cold, with no preseason games or practice reps with Bradford. Didn't exactly hurt him last time around.