San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams: A Prospector's Guide
by Fooch on Sep 30, 2009 7:14 AM PDT
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vs. 
The Prospector's Guide returns after last weekend's brutal loss to the Vikings. The 49ers stand 2-1 and seem to slowly be reaching a legitimate level of respect around the league. Of course, all of that would come crashing down like a house of cards if they let the 0-3 St. Louis Rams pull out the upset at Candlestick. I realize the 49ers will be without Frank Gore, but this is still a must-win for the 49ers. No excuses will be tolerated.
The 49ers host the St. Louis Rams this weekend in what will be the 120th meeting between the two teams, dating back to 1950. St. Louis holds a 60-57-2 advantage over San Francisco in the series. The 49ers have won six out of the last eight games against the Rams, which includes both contests in 2008.
Last week, the 49ers suffered their first loss of the season after the Vikings scored a last-minute touchdown to put them ahead, 27-24, with 0:02 remaining in the contest. In that game, TE Vernon Davis recorded career-highs with 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns. QB Shaun Hill finished the game with a 94.6 passer rating, completing 15 of 25 passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns.
San Francisco’s defense has posted at least one interception in each game this year, while the team’s run defense ranks 1st in the NFC and 4th overall. The 49ers are one of three teams to have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. San Francisco currently has a four-game win streak when playing at home.
49ers-Rams Connections
Front Office
• Rams general manager Billy Devaney served as a pro personnel assistant with the 49ers from 2001-03.
• Rams quality control/offense Andy Sugarman served on the 49ers coaching staff from 1998-2002.
• Rams director of player personnel Mike Williams spent nine seasons (2000- 2008) with the 49ers pro personnel department.
Players
FORMER RAMS - WR Isaac Bruce played for the Rams from 1994-2007, totaling 942 catches for 14,109 yds. and 84 TDs in 197 games. He appeared in 4 Pro Bowls (1996, 1999-2001), was an All-Pro (1999) and won a Super Bowl (XXXIV) while with the Rams ... CB Dre’ Bly recorded 14 INTs while playing for the St. Louis Rams from 1999-2002 ... Jimmy Raye was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams from 1983-84.
FORMER 49ERS - TE Billy Bajema was a 7th round pick for the 49ers in 2005 and played for San Francisco from 2005-08 ... LB Larry Grant was a 7th round pick by the 49ers in 2008 and spent time on the 49ers practice squad last year.
ROLLING TIDES – 49ers RB Glen Coffee played at Alabama with Rams RB Kenneth Darby for two seasons (2005-06).
CARDINAL KIN - 49er C Eric Heitmann was a teammate of LB Chris Draft at Stanford.
LET’S GO HOOS- 49ers LB Ahmad Brooks played at Virginia with DE Chris Long.
WHO LET THE "DAWGZ" OUT - 49ers DT Demetric Evans was a teammate of Rams LB Will Witherspoon and TE Randy McMichael at the University of Georgia.
TROJAN TIES - 49ers G Chilo Rachal and Rams LB Larry Grant were teammates at the University of Southern California.
Series Highlights
Matchups: 119
Series Record: Rams lead series 60-57-2
49ers Home Record vs. Rams: Rams lead series 31-28-1
First Meeting: 10/1/50, Rams win, 35-14, at Los Angeles
Last Meeting: 12/21/08, 49ers win, 27-7, at San Francisco
Current Streak: Won 2
Longest 49ers Win Streak: 17 (12/17/90-12/27/98)
Longest Rams Win Streak: 10 (11/29/70-9/28/75)
Most 49ers Points: 48 (12/27/87): 48-0, at San Francisco
Most Rams Points: 56 (11/9/58), 56-7, at Los Angeles
49ers Shutouts: 6 Times; Last; 34-0, 49ers win, at San Francisco
Rams Shutouts: None
SAN FRANCISCO 17, ST. LOUIS 16
At St. Louis, MO, December 21, 2008
The San Francisco 49ers offense clicked just in time to erase a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a late-game rally that produced two touchdowns in the final five minutes for a 17-16 victory over the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Future Hall of Fame WR Isaac Bruce reached a pair of milestones during both of the 49ers late-game touchdowns. Bruce entered the game needing six receptions to become the fifth player in NFL history with 1,000 catches and 60 yards to move past Tim Brown into second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving list.
The game marked Bruce’s first visit back to St. Louis following his 14 seasons with the Rams. Bruce caught his 1,000 pass on a three-yard touchdown reception from QB Shaun Hill with 4:08 left to play to close the Rams lead to 16-10. After stopping the Rams on three plays, the 49ers got the ball back and Bruce passed Brown on an eight-yard pass two plays before Hill threw a 48-yard game-winning touchdown pass to WR Josh Morgan with 1:31 to play. St. Louis moved to the San Francisco 48-yard line on the ensuing drive, but CB Tarell Brown intercepted QB Mar Bulger with 22 seconds to play to secure the victory for the 49ers.
After taking a 3-0 lead behind a 48-yard field goal by PK Joe Nedney in the first quarter, the second quarter was proved disastrous for the 49ers. Hill threw two interceptions and TE Vernon Davis fumbled as the Rams scored 13 points for a 13-3 halftime lead. Hill committed the 49ers fourth turnover of the afternoon in the third quarter with his third interception and entered the final quarter with only eight completions on 19 attempts for 89 yards. The third interception was converted into a Rams field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 16-3 advantage. Hill rallied in the fourth quarter by completing 10-of-15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns to erase the 10-point deficit and give the 49ers a series sweep of St. Louis. The Rams out gained the 49ers (343-273) and held the ball for over 38 minutes but could not stop the 49ers two-minute offense in the fourth quarter.
2009 Statistics
| 49ERS (rank) | RAMS (rank) | |
| 2-1 (1st NFCW) | Record | 0-3 (4th NFCW) |
| 22.3 (10th) | Points per game | 8.0 (32nd) |
| 276.0 (t-28th) | Total Offense | 276.0 (t-28th) |
| 111.7 (16th) | Rushing Offense | 117.3 (13th) |
| 164.3 (27th) | Passing Offense | 158.7 (29th) |
| 31:20 (10th) | Possession Avg | 27:27 (25th) |
| 17.7 (t-9th) | Points allowed/gm | 24.3 (26th) |
| 319.7 (13th) | Total Defense | 403.3 (29th) |
| 66.7 (4th) | Rushing Defense | 148.0 (27th) |
| 253.0 (24th) | Passing Defense | 255.3 (25th) |
| 6 (t-11th) | Sacks | 3 (t-25th) |
| 49.5 (5th) | Punting Avg (Gross) | 49.7 (4th) |
| +2 (t-9th) | Turnover Differential | -1 (t-16th) |
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your injury report later this week on this game should be interesting
QB Marc Bulger – rotator cuff bruise, hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday
WR Donnie Avery – rib injury
WR Laurent Robinson – surgery for a broken fibula and also has a high ankle sprain, out for season
OT Jason Smith – knee injury
SS James Butler – out for 2 weeks with MCL sprain
LB David Vobora – suspended
What was that you said about this being a must-win and no excuses will be tolerated? Yeah. That whole thing about playing up to a good team’s level and playing down to a bad team’s level? Let’s have none of that.
"We’ll see them again in the playoffs." - Mike Singletary, right after the Week 3 Minnesota game
by Persiflage on Sep 30, 2009 7:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
With all of those injuries we should be able to have a shutout like the one Fooch posted “48-0”.
Their current star receiver is out and their 2nd best receiver may be out as well. Their O-line is already horrible and if Smith Doesn’t play I could see more than 4 sacks happening. Vobora is their best LB and with him out expect Coffee to get a plentiful amount of yards “I have him starting in my Fantasy :)”. Last but not least, Bulger will be out, not much to say about him but when you don’t have your starting QB playing it looks pretty bad. I say we have to win this game. It’s so mandatory that I don’t even think about a “what if” situation that we could lose. Go 49ers.. Smash the Lambs and the following week lets get up to NFC supremacy with a home win against the Falcons =)
by StevenC on Sep 30, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Their current star receiver is out and their 2nd best receiver may be out as well.
Roman will still find a way to get burned
by sundaysfinest on Sep 30, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes indeed
I wish he would just retire…he should have taken the hint when we told him he could find any kind of trade and the 49ers would accept it. When noone offered a thing for him he should have gotten the point.
"Of all the things in the world losing isn't so bad; it just starts to feel like it does when you do it for so long"
by ninerfanNVA on Sep 30, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Larry Grant...
… is a former Buckeye, not Trojan.
by Quiet Fool on Sep 30, 2009 7:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
that's what I thought too.
Just emailed the 49ers for clarification.
by Fooch on Sep 30, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why not Sheets?
Coffee has a mild hip pointer – left the Minn game briefly. First 3 opponents have clogged the middle – median gain is only @ 2 yards. Niners need to keep the D honest by, yes, passing but also using the wide areas of the field.
by BobE on Sep 30, 2009 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the big Sheets questions are
One: who do you cut to make room for Sheets?
Two: Do the coaches trust Sheets to handle blitz pickup? If the response is “we only want him in on run plays” that would make us even more run predictable than we currently are.
Third: In three weeks when Gore is ready, do you risk cutting Sheets and hoping he clears waivers to return to the P.S.? If he’s played decently that would be quite risky. But it would be alikely decision since our current roster makeup is obviously the desired one for the coaches.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
by SpurredOn on Sep 30, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sheets is on PS and would have to clear waivers
Not sure if the staff sees this as a serious enough situation to risk loosing Sheets at this point in the season. If after the bye Gore is not 100% and Coffee is down or out then they would likely take that risk.
by WC-Ninerhead on Sep 30, 2009 9:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
roster
Sheets would not have to clear waivers going from the PS to the 53-man roster. However, the 49ers would have to cut somebody to make room for Sheets and if they wanted to place that player on their PS, HE would have to clear waivers. Then, once Gore was healthy, if the 49ers wanted to put Sheets back on the PS, he’d have to clear waivers at that point.
by Fooch on Sep 30, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry if I miss- understood but
I recall that in the PS thread there was much discusion about clearing waivers. My bad then.
by WC-Ninerhead on Sep 30, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
no problem
It’s just going to PS that waivers is an issue, not coming off PS.
by Fooch on Sep 30, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ive seen nothing
so far that would indicate that the 49ers are going to bring sheets up to the 53 man roster. If they were you would think it would have happened already so that he can get practice in with the team. So it looks as if its going to be a heavy dose of Coffee(that might wake up the rams) and Robinson.
"Of all the things in the world losing isn't so bad; it just starts to feel like it does when you do it for so long"
by ninerfanNVA on Sep 30, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a good game to let Hill carry the load.
If Sing/Raye still have questions about whether or not Hill can carry the offense with his arm, there is no better game on the schedule in which to find out. He’s earned the chance, imo, and it’s better to find out now, against a weak opponent, than to try it against the Falcons the week after. From everything I’ve seen, Hill shouldn’t have a problem except when he’s called upon to make those 30-yd cross-field tosses after rolling out. He seems to have good timing and rapport with VD. I’m getting tired of watching the 9ers attempt to pound the rock when the OL can’t open holes and the play calling is so predictable. Time to pass to open up the run, which in turn makes play action work.
by MontanaPass on Sep 30, 2009 11:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Unleash the passing game fury!!
by sundaysfinest on Sep 30, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Olaf unleashes hot fury!
Dang, I gotta to dig up my old Super Nintendo someday… Larry Huffman rules! Holy Toledo!
Sorry for OT…
by musketeer54 on Sep 30, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I want to see the playbook open up a lot more this game. Should be one of those “let try this” “will this work” type of games. Don’t think we have to worry too much. Should just be a fun game that will allow us to rest up a bit and get ready for Atlanta!!
by agchee on Sep 30, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
17-3 Niners
Mizzou 37 - Illinois 9
by STLRegalia on Sep 30, 2009 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our defense
will get a couple turnovers and put us in positions to score.
I hope we can score more than 17 on the Rams.
We scored 23 against a much better Vikings D.
by mountaindew77 on Sep 30, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually,
one of the TDs we scored was not against their D…
by musketeer54 on Sep 30, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True.
But I still expect more than 17 points against the Rams.
by mountaindew77 on Sep 30, 2009 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But, while were only worrying about just how big a win it’s going to be...
(and may I add, rightfully so, as far as Im concerned), I hope Coach Sing is hammering it into his players’ heads this week that even a game against the Rams is not going to win itself for us.
by musketeer54 on Sep 30, 2009 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course he is..
It’s Singletary. He won’t let the team think they’ve already won.
by mountaindew77 on Sep 30, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
niners 38-7
i expect this and if we only win by a little i would be disappointed. we should get td’s from everywhere against the rams. passing, rushing, defense, rams mistakes. we should, NOOO not should we will dominate, WE BETTER!
by 49ersAllTheWay on Sep 30, 2009 3:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Fooch
Have you heard anything about Brandon Jones? Does he have the green light to play this weekend?
by Drew K on Sep 30, 2009 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Jones
It’s my understanding he had the green light to play last week, they just chose to keep him inactive. Rumor has it we might see him AND Hill get activated. Remember that with no Sheets, the 49ers will be short a running back, meaning space for one more player to be active.
by Fooch on Sep 30, 2009 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hope we can get a shutout
It would be nice if we could get that shutout. Hopefully coffee gets a big 200 yd game but I guess that would be hoping for too much. Niners win 35-0
by manraj76 on Sep 30, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I really hate this game
It’s a division game, those are always tough no matter how early into the rebuild or how hurt the opponent might be. The Rams still have a healthy defensive line and Stephen Jackson running ball, that can beat a team alone on Sunday.
This game should not be taken lightly. As undermanned as the Rams have been they at least play hard and put up a fight for the full 60 minutes. We won games as a bad team doing that alone.
by bignerd on Oct 1, 2009 12:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This.
I don’t expect the 49ers to lose, but I hope they’re not taking them as lightly as some fans seem to be. As you mention, Jackson can win a game practically on his own, and 49ers fans should all know what determination and grit can get a team on a football field.
by sfgfan on Oct 1, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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