49ers vs. Rams: How Is St. Louis Winning?
by David Fucillo on Nov 9, 2010 7:00 AM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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The St. Louis Rams are currently sitting atop the NFC West at 4-4 with an eye towards a potential playoff berth. While they're far from dominating, in a division like the NFC West, dominance is hardly needed. However, as we await the arrival of the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco this weekend, I find myself wondering how they're doing it. They've won four games with a squad that statistically is not all that impressive.
Tre9er will be around later this week with some more specific thoughts on Sam Bradford, among others. In the meantime I thought we could take a more general look at the Rams. They rank 27th on offense in traditional counting stats, and 28th according to Football Outsiders. On defense they rank 10th in traditional counting stats and 14th according to Football Outsiders.
A quick look at their schedule reveals victories at home against the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego Chargers, and Carolina Panthers. They've lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals and on the road to the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even their wins and losses don't tell us much about them. We can't really call them out for any "bad" losses considering some of the teams the 49ers have lost to, but for the purposes of previewing the team, my mind is filled with a big, fat HUH?! when I think about the 2010 St. Louis Rams.
I want to focus in on their relatively weak offense in this first post. Obviously the team is scoring enough points to get the job done. However, it's not an offense that would instill a lot of fear in the opposition. RB Steven Jackson is always scary, but this is an offense the 49ers defense should be able to handle. Of course, this isn't the first time I've said that this season.
Individually, the Rams are getting some solid performances across the board, although not spectacular. QB Sam Bradford is putting together rather solid numbers for a rookie as he is averaging 196.5 passing yards per game and has an 11/8 TD/INT ratio. He's sailing along with a 75.9 QB rating and a 58.6 % completion rate. Football Outsiders ranks him 26th among QBs, but generally folks are impressed with the rookie. I know a few people around here would say he has a certain IT factor, whatever IT actually is. As I mentioned, Tre9er will have more on Bradford this week.
His most frequent target thus far has been second year WR Danny Amendola, who has 45 receptions for 379 yards and two touchdowns. That's not exactly a huge per catch average, but 8.4 yards per completion is a solid enough number when factoring in the context of needing ten yards per play. The most impressive stat is that eight different players have had touchdown receptions, which is twice as many as the 49ers.
Steven Jackson remains a work horse for the team. He's putting up huge totals in spite of a relatively low yards per rush because the team is really working him, much like the 49ers have done with Gore. Jackson has eight more carries than Gore while averaging 3.9 yards per carry (Gore's at 4.2). This appears to be an offense predicated on pounding the ball with Jackson and putting Bradford in a position to make as few mistakes as possible.
I suppose this isn't exactly the most shocking bit of news any of us has heard. The 49ers have a fairly veteran defense and their goal on Sunday will likely involve stacking the box to set up third and long situations. After the Broncos game, Coach Mike Singletary mentioned in the post-game press conference that the plan was to shut down the running game and force the Broncos to beat the 49ers through the air. This opened up some big plays (see the flea-flickers) and the 49ers certainly benefited from some timely penalties.
I would say expect to see much of the same, only it will be a test as to whether Sam Bradford can make the 49ers pay on the back end. The Rams offense hasn't won games by out-running opponents like a track meet. Rather it's much like the 49ers have hoped to do. It's entirely possible Sunday's game will come down to which running back can break the will of the opposing defense first. I sense the kind of game Mike Singletary loves, even with the legs of Troy Smith on deck. Look for two of the premier running backs in the NFL, Frank Gore and Steven Jackson, to duke it out for 60 minutes.
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I'd say
good coaching and a heck of a rookie in sam bradford.
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."-Bill shankly
It's Amazing
When you have a good QB and now they are considered a good team. They have a great QB and that is the difference!
>< just win the d**n game or else! Or else what? Exactly!
A great QB?
Hardly. His stat line is barely better than Smith’s, even after playing one more game than Alex. He may have more of “It” but statistically he’s meh.
He’s a truly great rookie QB. In the larger picture, that just means that he’s a below average quarterback overall at this moment. But he’s having one of the best seasons for a rookie QB since Peyton Manning, if not the best.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 10:06 AM PST up reply actions
you make a good point mirrorball
stats don’t equate to wins. when bradford consistently kills drives with bad decision making, then he can be compared to alex smith.
bradford stands in the pocket and finds the open receiver. alex dumps the ball off to his checkdown. statistically comparable…but comparable as QBs…hardly.
by t p on Nov 9, 2010 2:56 PM PST up reply actions
Um Bradford checks down CONSTANTLY
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Nov 9, 2010 11:50 PM PST up reply actions
Stats?
4-4 and top of the NFC west division…
2-6 and bottom of the NFC west division
which stat sounds better?
>< just win the d**n game or else! Or else what? Exactly!
Very promising is a better way to describe him
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Nov 9, 2010 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed. Promising, but not yet great.
Certainly not in Marino or Manning territory yet.
If he keeps going the way he has been, this rookie season will rank right up there with Manning’s. Still a long way to go, but he has a good pace going.
Marino was just unreal as a rookie.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
Misjudging talent?
Coming into the season I figured that the Niners had the best talent in their division. Some of that was based on overpricing the talent at the QB position and in the defensive backfield and ignoring the problems along the O-line.
Still, I still think that their current dilemma has more to do with bad coaching and bad strategy (on both sides of the ball) than the talent. I am afraid that Singletary relishes having Troy Smith at quarterback as an excuse to keep the offense bland and vanilla.
Can the team turn it around and actually make a run for it? Mathematically, sure. But I suspect that Singletary will go into his prevent offense and prevent defense which will prevent the Niners from winning enough games to get back into race. I hope that with T. Smith the offensive philosophy changes, but I doubt that Singletary will do the self-examination needed here.
Singletary’s “Fysical” = Failure.
by Bob In Beaverton on Nov 9, 2010 7:24 AM PST reply actions
I mean
ignoring the problems you get with starting two rookies on the O-line.
by Bob In Beaverton on Nov 9, 2010 7:25 AM PST up reply actions
Singletary said this?!
“After the Broncos game, Coach Mike Singletary mentioned in the post-game press conference that the plan was to shut down the running game and force the Broncos to beat the 49ers through the air.”
Seriously? Did he not watch the Broncos all year? They are not comfortable with a running attack.
This worries me – Singletary is always petrified that a team will have success running the ball, regardless of the team, and ignores the fact that some teams will be all too happy to pass at the expense of the run.
But how many teams
Are successful in the red zone when they are passing?
by EcERyda69 on Nov 9, 2010 9:40 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I think passing is probably what makes most teams good in the red zone.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 10:07 AM PST up reply actions
They have Laurinaitis at MLB
How are you gonna lose with a player of his caliber anchoring your defense?
Gimme 1 round!
um we have Willis at MLB
how do we lose with a player of his caliber anchoring our defense?
Hit like Berry, Score like Jerry.
Rams fan here...
you pose some interesting questions. I would say the biggest thing you to fear is not our WR’s but Sam Bradford throwing on third down. Sam has 17 third down conversions, six TD’s, 0 INT, and 101.2 rating all on third downs. That is how we are winning games, we are converting third downs and keeping the drive alive. Our defense has been great this year. We are getting more pressure on the QB which causes mistakes. No one in St. Louis believes the Rams are going to the Super Bowl or anything, actually a lot of fans do not want to go to the playoff because we just don’t have the team to compete with other playoff teams. Now come next year and we have to WR’s….look out!!
They have a plus 3 in the turover battle , much better then our minus 7 ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!
3rd down play and turnovers..................
are huge factors. Our 3rd down play on Offense and Defense has been very unpredictable. It seems that we only move the ball consistently when we are down in a game. Our Defense seems to do great on 1st and 2nd down and crash on 3rd down although last game did seem to be better. When we are doing better on 3rd down coverage, then it seems that 1st and 2nd down tank it. -7 for turnovers is the other major factor. It is not a coincidence that our only two wins are wins where we won the turnover battle. Call me crazy, but I trusted Troy Smith a heck of a lot more out there than I have ever trusted Alex. With Alex out there I was cringinging because I knew he was going to turn the ball over at some point or miss an easy conversion. Troy seemed like he had everybody playing extra hard behind him. Everyone was more focused. Their rally around Troy was something I have not seen since the Philly game when Sing almost pulled Alex out and the players lobbied to keep him in. I like Troy better because he has the IT factor that Alex does not.
by LPG on Nov 9, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
We've only commited one
In the last three games. And that was because of David Carr. So maybe we turned it around?
Well
The offense scores early in the game, sustains drives, and runs clock, resting the defense and shortening the game, so that hopefully any comeback attempt runs out of time. The defense has been good at pressuring the QBs this year and has 23 sacks(9th) to show for it.
Go Rams!
Basically, it looks to me...
like the recipe you describe is what Singletary wanted the 2010 Niners to look like. Failure on 3rd downs and costly, costly turnovers are the difference between 2-6 and 4-4.
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And...
Playing well at home. Rams have yet to win on the road.
Can you believe that the Niners are 6 point favorites?
“Playoffs? Playoffs?!?!? I just hope we can win a game!”
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
It's entirely possible for the 49ers to beat the Rams in candlestick
Though to my knowledge, Bradford is a pretty humble guy as it is.
he's a quality human being
he and mccoy will always have me in their corner. both have shown nothing but professionalism in their years at college and now in the pros.
by t p on Nov 9, 2010 3:03 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah...
I don’t really know who’s serving the Pride Popovers.
Troy Smith is a Heisman winner and a good enough QB to (pretty much) beat the Denver Broncos single-handedly.
Why would that be so humiliating? I’d actually think losing to Alex would be more humiliating, just because so few teams have done so over the years.
49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)
Frankie G
Had a big part in the beating of the Broncos.
Also, an interesting question
Did you guys know that the Rams played 4 quarters against Troy Smith as a Raven in week 4 of the preseason? Troy went 18/38 for 237 0TD 2INTSs a fumble and a rushing TD. Do you think that the Rams have an edge at all via tape of that game and having faced Troy before?
Well as you mentioned, it was preseason....
and that means squat (just look at the Nines, 4-0 in preseason and 2-6 now). Of course, the bland offensive playcalling that you usually see in the preseason has been what Singletary has preferred in the regular season, so you never know lol
by sanfranfanmdk on Nov 9, 2010 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
As a Ram fan I know how that feels
Thank God our OC has finally decided to straighten up and fly right, our playcalling was BAD for a while…
it's still bad
I will not have complete confidence in the Rams offense until they run a play designed for more than 8 yards.
Hold thy horses
I never said I have complete confidence, flying right means a 33 yard pass to Gibson, and a 23 yard TD pass to fells. Shurmer always leave room for improvement, it’s his specialty!
I'm only laughing to keep from crying
… But you better start preparing your “OMG [insert WR going up against the 49er secondary here] is our future!!!” comments.
You’re gonna see more production out of Sam Bradford’s arm and anyone in a Rams jersey running downfield than you probably only dreamed of two weeks ago.
49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)
gosh I hope not
I’m telling Taylor Mays I don’t want him sniffing the backfield one bit until he sees the ball in the RB’s hands and the ball-carrier is thru the D-Line already. Stay back and don’t get beat deep!
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
As a Rams fan...
I’m hoping your coaches are telling this to all of your DBs, considering not one of the Rams receivers can get past single coverage, and none of them run longer then 12 yd patterns.
it's our biggest problem in the secondary
it’s not speed, it’s not any of that…we don’t cover, period. We sniff the run and bite on double moves…our guys just don’t get in position to cover a guy through the whole route
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Then there is hope for the Ram offense, because i don’t see S.Jax running for 70+ yards against Willis and crew. Niners will make Bradford beat them with the pass, and if they can’t cover the crappy receivers, then Bradford will.
you can have anything inside of 15 yards, all day
we don’t cover the middle…then if you want, play action and send a WR on a deep post…he’ll be in single coverage with the safety trailing him.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
This is exactly why i thought the Rams should’ve been on Moss. We don’t have that guy for a deep route.
Yes you do
Against our CBs, you could probably pick up Moss’ grandma.
Just kidding, of course- She’s probably too expensive.
49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)
Wow
Upon re-reading, that can be taken in completely the wrong way.
Let’s go ahead and change that to “Just kidding, of course- She’s probably a locker room cancer too.”
49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)
Well, our top 3 deep options would’ve been Avery, Clayton, and Danario Alexander. None of which will be wearing pads on sunday.
Brandon Lloyd beat us deep...'nuff said
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Brandon Lloyd is averaging over 20 yards per reception this season, and almost 16 for his career. The only thing he’s ever been capable of doing as a receiver is beating people deep. It’s his specialty. So I’m not sure that actually is ’nuff said.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 1:14 PM PST up reply actions
dude, he's not that fast though was my point
he and Orton are in a zone right now. He beat us deep because Mays was picking his nose when Lloyd was running past him, not based on any athletic ability.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
And my point is that he’s made a modest career of surprising teams by getting behind them. Speed or no, his only valuable skill as a receiver is getting behind guys. Getting guys like Mays to flub their coverage is one of the ways he’s been successful doing it. The fact that Orton is taking advantage of it more than anybody has in the past is a credit to them not only recognizing that this guy has one skill, but also actually using it.
Getting behind guys isn’t just about being fast. And Lloyd has been doing it everywhere he’s been. His being awful at everything else is what’s kept his career so poor up to this point.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 1:47 PM PST up reply actions
I see your point
I felt as though his comment had more to do with speed as so many feel that is all you need to be a deep threat.
FWIW the route wasn’t even that great…I really don’t put any of it on Lloyd on the big play…He just ran.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Can you put blinders on your Safety?
If we could, and could make Mays just listen for the “Ruuuun!” and “Paaaaass” calls (once the defense has diagnosed what’s happening), I’d feel a lot better.
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
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Probably Right
I’d like to see some stats on what opposing QB ratings are vs the 9ers. We make pretty much everyone have a 100+ rating and look like a pro bowler.
A 100 QB rating in one game is pretty meaningless anyway.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 10:37 PM PST up reply actions
unless you start looking at the game logs of every QB that goes against your team...
and each one of them has a 100 rating in the particular game that they faced your team.
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
Actually, I was alluding to the fact that QB rating is basically meaningless anyway.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2010 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
I think the fact that each of them carries over a 100 rating is significant
That means your secondary is allowing receivers to get open and your pass rush isn’t forcing the QB into mistakes.
Basically it means they are all playing well against our secondary, though how well is at issue with QB rating
For instance Matt Ryan looked bad against us. Downright bad for most of the game. He had a 67.3. The only problem is that he’s about the only QB who has looked bad against us.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Nov 10, 2010 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
Well, QB rating on its face is lousy. A guy could throw 10 passes with one 25-yard TD strike and have a QB rating of 115. You really have to look at the actual lines. QB rating on its face is useless.
Hasselbeck put up a pretty pedestrian 108 QB rating against us in week 1. He was efficient, but hardly prolific – with less than 200 yards and an INT.
The next week, Drew Brees also put up a 108 QB rating. Except he threw and completed more passes, accounted for about 80 more yards of offense, and didn’t throw any interceptions. We basically contained Hasselbeck while Brees ran circles around us, and they get the same exact score by QB rating. We let Cassel put up an even better performance against us than Brees did, and the QB rating for the single game is again almost identical. We let Matt Moore do things to us that Hasselbeck considers sinful – and his QB rating was a full 12 points lower than Hasselbeck’s from week one!
It’s a crap system.
Look at the passing lines. QB rating for one game is useless. Heck: QB rating for 16 games is almost useless.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2010 4:26 PM PST up reply actions
To summarize: Giving up high QB ratings doesn’t mean all that much, because it could come in a game where your defense gives up 170 yards of passing offense and takes a pick, like it did in week one.
Embarrassing weeks stand out when you look at the full passing lines. And the 49ers have given up a few of those.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2010 4:29 PM PST up reply actions
No
All I’ve read around here for the last 24 hours is veiled wishes for Troy Smith to bomb than explaining how Alex Smith will dump this inept organization to turn the Cardinals into the team of the decade.
"Coach, it came down like a hail marry"
LMAO
I predicted in another thread he’d have a 0TD 2 TO game. And I was thinking he might have a rushing TD. That is the caliber of your savior boys.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Nov 9, 2010 11:53 PM PST up reply actions
Why did the coaching last year seem so horrible?
Oh right, because they sucked. What a difference winning makes.
Run the table, Niners!
This appears to be an offense predicated on pounding the ball with Jackson and putting Bradford in a position to make as few mistakes as possible.
I think that this makes perfect sense, and really jives with the way the league has gotten success out of recent rookie QBs (Roethlisberger, Ryan, Sanchez, Flacco, etc.), but I don’t think it’s exactly true in Bradford’s case. The Rams coaching staff is not “protecting” this kid with Stephen Jackson. Bradford is throwing the ball a lot. I know extrapolation is an inexact science, but he’s on pace to make nearly 600 passing attempts. As a rookie. Flacco as a rookie threw the ball 428 times. Matt Ryan had 434 attempts. Sanchez threw 364 times. Roethlisberger threw fewer than 300 passes. Bradford really is being asked to participate more in this offense than any rookie QB since Peyton Manning, and he’s largely doing a good job of it.
I mean, in half a season right now, he’s thrown the ball as much as Roethlisberger did in each of his first two seasons. Now, Ben was a guy who was put into a position to make as few mistakes as possible thanks to a great running game. Bradford is actually being asked to run a much more balanced offense than that, and he’s doing it well.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
Steven Jackson deserves this season’s success more than anyone in the NFC West. He’s been waiting a long time for his team to put together this kind of season.
Run the table, Niners!
Agreed, Bradford has had a ton of attempts.
In fact, it’s somewhat remarkable that he doesn’t have higher notable numbers (yards/tds/ints) than he does given the amount that he’s been hucking it.
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
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I was sad when Mark Clayton went down...
He had earned me like 3 fantasy points that Sunday, and I needed 12—which he’d been getting every week to that point!
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
His TD and INT rates are both basically league average right now, which, again, is really, really good for a rookie quarterback. The fact that he’s not throwing a lot of interceptions is really remarkable.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
I will bust this wide open later in the week
just wait
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Just for a preview...
If a spectrum was laid out by which 0 is “Bradford is all an illusion” and 10 is “Bradford is historically good”, around what number will your analysis be assigning?
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
great question Howie
I’m also interested in Tre9er’s analysis. I do know that Bradford had 3 of his interceptions in the 1st game of the season, and after @ week 3, he said the game was starting to slow down for him a bit. I don’t believe Bradford has thrown any INTs over his last 3 games.
it's fairly broad, more a single observation about things
but I’d give him pretty high marks still because as a rookie, completing any pass and not turning it over much, while still picking yourself up from sacks and reading confusing defenses…he’s doing well in that regard.
My “analysis” (as if I’m qualified) is more about enlightening the casual fan about Bradford and the typical game one might see.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Ok, I've gotta take issue with this:
The most impressive stat is that eight different players have had touchdown receptions, which is twice as many as the 49ers.
Don’t you know that this very stat is what makes the Niners’ offense waaaay better than the Rams’ for fantasy purposes? “Eight different players have had touchdown receptions” isn’t impressive — it’s a recipe for fantasy frustration!
(see my new sig…)
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
good point
It’s why the Shanahan coached Broncos were fantasy kryptonite for running backs!
by David Fucillo on Nov 9, 2010 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
I thought Mike Anderson was a decent fantasy option
It’s everyone after Mike and Tatum who faltered.
Run the table, Niners!
Tatum
Didn’t he get kicked off the team for stealing something from somebody or something? Or am I thinking of somebody else?
by David Fucillo on Nov 9, 2010 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
He stole Rudi Johnson’s luggage, but he was kicked off the team before that incident. The theft happened as he was clearing his locker.
Run the table, Niners!
That's totally Bush League
The Tatum story is chapter 1 in a new best selling book entitled “how to never be seen or heard from again in the NFL.”
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
I thought it would be good if the Rams used a high pick to get a RB who could spell SJax next season
But SJax is old school and wants all the carries. Imagine if the Rams drafted a COP back like LaMichael James.
Run the table, Niners!
I cant think of the last team to use a high draft pick on a RB, with the purpose of using him as a back-up.
I guess Spiller was drafter pretty high, but something has been holding him back this year. injuries ?
Spiller has gotten fewer than 10 touches a game in Buffalo
He dances too much behind the line. When he hits the hole quickly, he can really fly, and he’s a good Kick Returner, but hardly a #1 RB at this stage in his career. He was overdrafted, in my opinion — looks Reggie Bush-esque.
He has remained healthy, though, which is a good thing. If they had anything resembling an offensive line in Buffalo, and if he wasn’t stuck behind Fred Jackson (who has looked like a better runner so far FWIW), he might be doing more this season.
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Fred Jackson is great
one of those guys who’s been buried behind other guys but is a good back. Spiller will get his…my guess is he’s a liability in pass pro, doesn’t know the playbook all that well yet, and Gailey’s offense isn’t “there” yet to use Spiller in creative ways.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Jackson is great
totally underrated. He came out of nowhere last year to make Lynch expendable. He doesn’t break as many tackles as Lynch (who’s a beast that way), but his agility is significantly better than Lynch’s and he’s got better speed (though a notch below Spiller’s, of course).
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Rams Rushin Defense vs. 49ers
Rams 7th in total yards allowed, 49ers 9th.
Rams allowing 97.8 ypg, 49ers 100.3
BUT…Rams YPC allowed is 4.3 compared to 3.6 for 49ers. We’ve had a lot more attempts against us (because we turned the ball over and got blown out a few times too) hence higher total yards allowed.
Still, S.Jax is probably the toughest RB we’ve faced thus far. That guy is unbelievable.
Troy Smith is the MVP.............of the 4th Q of the Denver game.
Nitwitter
Jackson
Dude is amazing, and i’m not just talking about his on-field performance. If ANYBODY had the right to quit on a franchise, it’s been Jackson, for what he’s been through the last few seasons. He’s been an un-wavering team leader, and a great example for younger players on life (on and off the field).
Jackson is no Barry Sanders, however, and actually needs a hole to run through. Teams have consistantly kept 8-9 defenders in the box, because they are not worried about any Ram getting behind the defense. The Niners have the front 7-8 to take Jackson away. It’s how they cover the slants and short receiver routs that will detemine their success.
Jackson
I’m a big fan of Jackson. In a fantasy keeper league I run I’ve won two titles in four years and he was on both teams. I drafted him this year and I’m looking good so far. Drafting Arian Foster and picking up Peyton Hillis off waivers helped, but Jackson’s my lucky charm!
by David Fucillo on Nov 9, 2010 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
hmmmmmm
I think I’ll be fine with a poor performance this week.
by David Fucillo on Nov 9, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
Every once in a while...
reality trumps fantasy.
In order to avoid this scenario, I drafted a team full of 49ers (ok, not really), but I did draft Gore and Crabs.
Fantasy Ontology: the world's most entertaining form of reductionism!
twitter me @grantmp1
From a comment I posted elsewhere
I’m not impressed with the Rams run defense when this is who they’ve faced (rushing ranks in parenthesis):
Arizona (25)
Oakland (2)
Washington (24)
Seattle (27)
Detroit (30)
San Diego (15)
Tampa Bay (18)
Carolina (28)
I’d give Tampa a little bit of a boost there because St. Louis faced Blount, who has been much, much, much, much better than Cadillac Williams, who started at least half of their games this year.
That said, their run defense wasn’t spectacular against any of Arizona, Washington, or Tampa, and was downright awful against Oakland. There are holes there for good running teams.
In 2010, teammates Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell perfected the art of brotational hitting.
by howtheyscored on Nov 9, 2010 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
How did the Rams win 4 games?
With a top-10 defense, as you noted in your post. One would think that should be good for a .500 record, no?
Here is something to make you feel good :-)
QB Sam Bradford. He is the leading candidate for rookie of the year, and it’s not hard to see why. The Rams, who were 1-15 last year, already have four wins and Bradford is the biggest reason for the turnaround. Bradford has been hard to rattle and is very accurate from the pocket and on the run. He has a third-down passer rating of 101.2, which is third in the league and shows his advanced maturity and poise.
GO RAMS!
I think its going to be a close game, I’m hoping we win just a much as ya’al hope that your team does. See ya Sunday….
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2010-11-10/week-10-matchup-rams-at-49ers#ixzz155UE3YlS
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