The Ravens made a late comeback, and it looked like the Rams were in danger of squandering a lead late in Thursday’s final preseason game for both squads. The defense held up, however, and St. Louis closed out the preseason with a 3-1 record after the 27-21 win.

Ok, none of that really matters. I have to admit, I’m a little excited after seeing what the team has done on both sides of the ball over the last four games, but we all need to be realistic. You can’t tell much from the preseason. That’s just the fact of the matter. Now, I will say I think it’s OK to be encouraged by what Sam Bradford has done, but going 3-1 is meaningless. If the team comes out and looks the same against the Cardinals on opening day, then I’ll be excited. But until then, I suggest no one get their hopes up too high.

As for my quick look at the game without really being able to analyze much since I only listened on the radio, here it is. A more in depth analysis will be coming tomorrow, but this is just my first take.

I thought both backup quarterbacks played well, and I just really like Thaddeus Lewis for some reason. Unfortunately, my guess would be that Keith Null gets the nod as the number three guy. Neither one of them did anything to lose the job, but Null has the experience from last season that probably keeps him employed.

The rookie defensive linemen were very good in my opinion. Eugene Sims had an interception, and George Selvie showed once again that he is capable of getting pressure in the backfield. Also, I thought Bobby Carpenter had his best game of the preseason, as he finished with four tackles and a sack. It’s about time he showed up to the party.

The backup running backs are still pathetic, although Kenneth Darby’s numbers look a little more respectable since he broke off a 29-yarder. He finished with 6 carries for 39 yards, meaning he got a whopping two yards per carry on his other touches. Toston was probably the best out of the group again tonight, as he picked up 47 yards on 10 carries, for a respectable 4.7 average. Chris Ogbonnaya finished with 16 carries for 31 yards. For all you non-math majors out there, that’s a simply unbelievable 1.9 yards a carry. Let me repeat that in case you missed it. 1.9 YARDS PER CARRY!

Bradford was outstanding yet again, as i mentioned above, and he finished a perfect 6-for-6 for 68 yards and a touchdown, making his quarterback rating 153.5. I’ll take that QB rating every Sunday.

As I said yesterday, the Rams made a minor move in trading Hall Davis (who was cut today by the Redskins, by the way) in exchange for Dennis Morris. Now, the opportunity has risen for the front office to step up and make a move that will actually help this team. Running back Derrick Ward was released by the Tampa Bay Bucs today, and there is no reason he should not be a member of the Rams this season. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that Ward is a phenomenal running back or anything, but he is far and away better than anyone we have on this roster to back up Steven Jackson. I have been saying it for months, but we desperately need a backup at the position, and I think Ward is a perfect fit. He has been productive as a backup in his career, and he played with Coach Spags with the Giants a few years ago ( we know how Spags loves “his guys”).

There have already been rumors that the Rams are interested, and we are to a point right now where I will be disappointed if they don’t seal the deal. I can’t imagine the team will go into the regular season without making an addition at the position, and I don’t see any reason to wait and take a chance that a better player gets cut. Ward is the fit, so let’s all hold our collective breaths.

Final Preseason Game Preview

Normally I would make this a separate post, but the final preseason game doesn’t tell us much except who will occupy the final spots on the roster. Here are some battles to watch tonight.

1. Third Quarterback- This thing has really developed into one of the best battles in camp, which is funny because it’s for a position that essentially means nothing to the success of the team. Keith Null and Thaddeus Lewis have both been impressive in the preseason, and tonight’s game could very well determine which players stays and which goes.

2. Wide Receiver- This battle became a little less interesting after the injury to Donnie Avery, but it’s still worth watching. It’s safe to say that Laurent Robinson, Mardy Gilyard, and Danny Amendola are in, and I’d say Brandon Gibson and Keenan Burton have a good chance to be in as well. As far as Danario Alexander goes, I would expect him to be a practice squad guy for at least the start of the season.

3. Defensive End- George Selvie and Eugene Sims are both back as far as I know, and I would expect to see plenty of both players tonight. It remains to be seen how much their respective injuries hurt them, but strong performances tonight would go a long way in securing spots.

I hope I didn’t get your hopes up with that title, because I can understand how you might think that this move actually improved the roster, when in fact, it didn’t. The team traded rookie defensive end Hall Davis to Washington in exchange for FB/TE Dennis Morris. I have to say, I don’t really understand the move. Apparently, Morris is more of a H-back, but I cant imagine he will crack the roster at either fullback or tight end. He isn’t better than Mike Karney as a fullback, and if there is one thing we have learned this preseason, it’s that we have some pretty solid young tight ends on this roster. I doubt if Davis would have made the team either, but but whatever.

In other news, it sounds as if Steven Jackson is ready for the regular season. Jackson said today that he would be fine with not playing in the team’s final preseason game this week, but he might still get a few carries. Let’s be honest… If Steven says he is ready, I believe him.

In some injury news, it looks like rookies George Selvie and Eugene Sims are both healthy, so that’s good news for the defense. I still love Selvie, so hopefully this injury didn’t hurt his chances to make the squad. Also, OG John Greco is back at practice and he hopes to get some snaps on Thursday. I’m not ready to give up on Greco just yet, but he needs to prove he can consistently stay healthy pretty soon or he might be  out of a job.

The team had to be feeling good over the weekend, with the obvious exception of wide receiver Donnie Avery. It has been announced by the team that Avery will miss the 2010 season with a torn ACL, and we wish him a speedy recovery. With that being said, this injury makes it even more vital that the team do something to find a veteran who can contribute at the position. We needed it before the injury, but now we are desperate.

Now, before I get the obvious questions, let me address it here. Two high-profile receivers were cut over the last few days, so it stands to reason that the Rams might be interested. I wouldn’t hold my breath. Antonio Bryant was let go by the Bengals after signing a 4-year, $28 million deal in the offseason. I don’t expect the Rams to show much interest here, as Bryant is still suffering from soreness in his knee that caused him to miss a good chunk of last season. I think he would be a nice fit, but the Bengals wouldn’t have let him go if they thought he could contribute at a high level this season. Laveranues  Coles was also released by the Jets, but he has discussed retirement. If he does decide to play, I doubt he will want to come here, and I also don’t know how much of an upgrade he would be. I wouldn’t rule either one of these players out, but don’t be shocked if you don’t hear much out of Rams camp about them.

In other news, the team parted ways with RB Jamie McCoy, CB Marcus Brown, and OL Joe Gibbs over the weekend. No big shockers here, but the interesting cuts will be coming in a matter of weeks. I am certainly interested in which receivers will make the team, even more so now that Avery is out.

Before I get into my first reactions of the Rams 36-35 win over the Patriots tonight, I would like to tell you all a story. I was sitting at work,  and I was trying to stay away from following the game so I could watch it when I got home, when my boss came in from covering a high school volleyball game. The first thing he says to me when he walks through the door is “Well, it look s like the Rams found their quarterback.” So, at this point I had to fire up the computer to see what was going on.

Now, I’m in the process of watching the game on my DVR  (at 2:48 a.m.), and I’m even more impressed with Sam Bradford than I was when I just saw the stats. The guy really looks like the real deal, and he did mostly all of this without the service of Steven Jackson (5 carries, 22 yards). Not only that, but he did it against the number one defense of a team that is supposed to be pretty good this season. It’s still only preseason, but Rams fans have to be ecstatic about their young QB.

Bradford was the star of the game, but how good is rookie tight end Michael Hoomanawanui? He has really proven to be a more than capable pass-catcher over the last few weeks, and he has certainly been Bradford’s favorite target thus far. If I was Daniel Fells, I would really be getting worried about making this team.

It wasn’t all good news, as wide receiver Donnie Avery suffered what is believed to be a serious knee injury. Obviously, this is a big blow to the offense. You can say what you want about Avery, but not having him available is going to hurt the passing game. This probably opened up a roster spot for one of the other receivers, so someone needs to step up and take advantage. Danny Amendola has also pretty much guaranteed himself a spot on this team, as he has been very good on offense and special teams.

The backup running backs weren’t great again, and I don’t know if Kenneth Darby really helped his cause much despite seeing a ton of playing time. Keith Toston was decent again, but we badly need a legit backup RB.

I thought the defense was very good, especially considering they went up against the first team offense for a bulk of the game. They gave up a few big plays, but it was mostly the second-teamers giving it up against Pats starters. I thought the first team went toe-to-toe with one of the better offenses in the league. Another solid game for Chris Long, and he has been very good in all three preseason games so far. I liked what I saw from Bradley Fletcher, and I maintain my stance the he has a chance to be a really good player.

Before I go, I also want to say that the backup QB’s did a really good job tonight. Thad Lewis really impressed me, and Keith Null led the big game-winning drive at the end. I will be very interested to see who wins that third QB job, and I think both guys helped their causes tonight.

Overall, it was a very encouraging night for the Rams. You have to be excited about the young players, and I think we found our quarterback.

I got a late start tonight because I had to watch Hard Knocks before I did anything else when I got home, so I’m going to get through this as quickly as possible. P.S., if anyone out there is a football fan who doesn’t watch Hard Knocks religiously, you need to start. If you don’t have HBO, find it online or go to a buddy’s house. It is can’t miss TV.

Anyway, let’s start with Stan Kroenke. Kroenke was officially voted as the new majority owner of the Rams on Wednesday, so congrats to him. The vote was unanimous, so obviously the other owners are completely behind the move. I’m glad this situation is over, and I hope Kroenke takes an extreme personal interest in the team. Considering the work he has done with his other franchises, I have no doubt he will.

Now, moving on to tonight’s preseason game against the hated Patriots. I know it’s just preseason, but I wish we could pound the crap out of them. Yes, I still hate the Pats for cheating us out of a Super Bowl, and I’m not letting that go anytime soon. Here are a few things to keep an eye on tomorrow night.

1. Sam Bradford- Yes, it is redundant, but Bradford is still the number one thing to watch. With AJ Feeley out with a thumb injury, Bradford will make the start and the plan is for him to play the entire first half. I’d like to see the coaches open up the offense a bit, so look to see if they give him a chance to work downfield.

2. Backup Running Backs- I don’t want to keep hammering these guys, but we have to see someone step up tonight. If we keep getting the same production out of Ogbonnaya, Darby, and Toston, the team needs to serious consider cutting ties with every one of those players. I can almost guarantee you that won’t happen, but someone really needs to prove they can be at least a serviceable NFL back.

3. Receivers- This group has been about as bad as the backup RBs, but I’m giving them a pass for now because of how the offense has been called thus far. This group needs to prove they are better than we think, and tonight will be their best chance so far with the starters seeing a bulk of the time.

4. Secondary- The secondary has been pretty banged up, but they really need a good night. Marquis Johnson needs to build on last week’s game if he wants a roster spot, and someone needs to step up and take that spot opposite Ron Bartell. Watch Bradley Fletcher tonight, as I think he has a chance to be a really good player if he can stay healthy.

5. Offensive Line- Let’s see how the starting line plays against a pretty solid and disciplined Pats defense. I still think there is potential for this line to come together and surprise people this season, but we should learn plenty after their performance tonight.

I know this news is a few days old, but in the process of working around my broken computer and my addressing the comment in yesterday’s post, I haven’t been able to discuss it until today. The Rams have signed former Mizzou standout wide receiver Danario Alexander to a contract. I know many of you are big Tiger fans, and I know that this move is going over well with most everyone in Rams Nation. As for my take, I love it. Alexander’s upside is off the charts, and he could develop into a legitimate threat at the NFL level. For those of you who are expecting him to be rookie of the year this season, you might want to lower your expectations. Transitioning from college to the NFL as a receiver is supremely difficult, and that’s assuming you have OTAs, training camp, and the preseason to prepare. Alexander will hardly have any of that, so I expect it to take awhile before he is able to contribute to this team.

With that being said, this could be a major move for the organization’s future. It’s pretty obvious that this team is extremely lacking at the position, so bringing in talent is never a bad move. You have to like the future potential of a Sam Bradford, Mardy Gilyard, Danario Alexander trio. Toss in Steven Jackson and Donnie Avery, and you have the makings of what could develop into an exciting offense. This team is still a long way from contending, but I like the steps being taken to make it better. Now, if someone would just address the backup running back issue, we might have something going.

In a related note, the team apparently released Brooks Foster to make room for Alexander on the roster. I hate to see Foster go, as I really thought he had some potential. You have to wonder where he would be if he hadn’t gotten hurt last season, but people get hurt in the NFL. It happens. Good luck to Foster in his future endeavors, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds a home somewhere else rather quickly.

I had an interesting question posed to me in the comments section of my last post by esteemed reader Betty White, and instead of addressing it there, I thought it would be a good issue for its own post. The question is, would it be better for the Rams to play to the strengths of quarterback Sam Bradford by using mostly shotgun formations, or is it better to cater to running back Steven Jackson by using more under center, run-heavy formations? This is an interesting dilemma for Coach Spags and the rest of the staff. It’s obvious after two preseason games that Bradford is far more comfortable in the gun, and I think we expected that since he did most of his work in that capacity in college. On the other hand, Jackson is really the only offensive weapon we have at this point, and the shotgun certainly wouldn’t help his cause.

Well, here is my answer to the question. I know Bradford is the $50 million man, but if this team is going to win, Jackson has to be the one to be the focal point of the offense. He is truly one of the best backs in the league, and he would be the featured player on most, if not all, teams in the league. With this receiving corps, I don’t see how the team can hope to win letting Bradford throw the ball 45 times out of the gun.

That was the answer, but the real solution to the dilemma is pretty simple if you ask me. This is the NFL. It isn’t college, and it’s not the Big 12. If Bradford is going to be an NFL QB, he has to learn how to run an offense from under center. I’m not saying get rid of the shotgun altogether, but while Steven is on this team, the offense has to stay under center.

What say you, Rams Nation? Make your voice heard in the comments section.

I know it was only a preseason game, but we needed a more positive vibe on this blog. There were more things to like this week, that’s for sure, but there were plenty of things to work on for this Rams team.

Things I Liked: The first offensive drive of the game was good. Steven got a few touches, and it’s pretty obvious that this is a much better offense when he is on the field. Chris Long was very good for the second game in a row, and it seemed like he had his nose in almost every play that he was on the field. The tight ends were much better tonight, and they had plenty of opportunities. Marquis Johnson (who I hammered last week) was much better tonight, especially tackling the ball-carrier. Mardy Gilyard was pretty impressive as a return man, and there is certainly some excitement in his game.

Things I Didn’t Like: I hate to beat a dead horse, but our backup running backs are pathetic. Keith Toston was ok against backups, but the Rams have to address the position before the start of the regular season. Sam Bradford had some pretty awful numbers, but I didn’t think he was as bad as it looked on paper. There were some drops, and the rain certainly didn’t help. The wide receivers were pretty much nonexistent, and although the conditions played into that as well, they were still pretty hard to watch as a group.

Overall, a better effort, but this offense needs to find a way to stretch the field. If Bradford isn’t going to throw to anyone farther that five yards down the field, then AJ Feeley needs to remain as the starter until Bradford is ready. I also thought Jordan Kent was good tonight, and I’m really rooting for him since he is an Oregon Duck.

This was more or less a first reaction, so I will get a little more in depth tomorrow when I’ve had some time to process the game.

In an update on my computer situation (since I know it has been keeping everyone up at night, lol), the cracked screen was bad enough that my computer is heading to the warehouse to be fixed. I won’t have it back for 2-4 weeks, but never fear, I will be using a combination of my work computer and possibly my roommates’ computers to continue to give you content. You can all rest easy.

I’m back, baby! My computer screen still isn’t fixed, but I made other arrangements for the time being. Since I haven’t had a chance to discuss the preseason game yet, I thought I’d start there. 

Things I liked: Hmmm… This is a tough one. There wasn’t much to like, to be honest. I thought the rookie DE’s did a decent job, especially my boy George Selvie. Larry Grant continues to prove that he is going to be starting on opening day. Rookie DT Jermelle Cudjo was very active, and apparently he has been a standout in camp as well. 

Things I didn’t like: Pretty much everything else. Offensive line-Terrible. Secondary-Abysmal. Backup running backs- Atrocious. That about sums it up.

Now let’s take a look at my Five Things To Watch from before the game and how those things played out.

1. Sam Bradford- Bradford certainly didn’t shine, as he finished 6-for-13 for 57 yards. It’s hard to judge his performance because of the terrible O-line play, but needless to say, it wasn’t what we hoped for.

2. Wide Receivers – I didn’t think anyone really stood out in this group, although once again the O-line didn’t do them any favors. A few guys made some plays, like Laurent Robinson and Danny Amendola, but nothing to write home about yet again. I will say that I think Amendola will make this team, and I didn’t think so a few weeks ago.

3. Tackles – I’ve said enough about the line at this point, so I’m not going to keep hammering home the point. I will say that it sounds like Coach Spags has established a starting line, and they are reportedly going to see plenty of action on Saturday. For those curious, the line is expected to be, from left to right, Saffold, Bell, Brown, Goldberg, Smith.

4. Rookie Ends – I did think this group was one of the bright spots. Selvie got some pressure, and overall this group played well. It sounds like Selvie has been out of practice for a few days with a leg injury, so that’s more bad news.

5. Corners – This group was hard to judge because so many guys didn’t play due to injury, but I think it is obvious after Saturday that Marquis Johnson isn’t going to make this team. He was pretty awful. I think he is going to have to make a complete 180 to make the final squad, unless the injuries persist and we are forced to keep him.