Reflections From A Fan After The St. Louis Rams Disappointment In Week 11

Credit to Michael Schaefer for this post

“This has the potential to be a letdown game”, those were my thoughts looking ahead to the Rams/Jets game after the unexpected tie against the 49ers last week.  I thought it would be easy to come off the inspired play (albeit with dumb penalties) against the Niners, clearly with the arrow pointing up, and see the floundering Jets, and assume an easy victory.  With the Jets absolutely desperate for something, anything good to happen, it was a perfect recipe for a letdown for the Rams.

Every time I think this team is beginning to turn the corner, they remind us that they still have a long way to go, in every category.  Offensively, as with last week against San Francisco and the game before against New England, the Rams started off very well, going 13 plays for 86 yards and a touchdown, but then went dormant after that.

With regard to discipline, for the second straight week the team committed costly penalties that cost them dearly.  Last week a delay of game called back what would have been a game winning field goal, and illegal formation negated an 80 yard play for Danny Amendola.  This week a holding call negated Chris Givens’s kickoff return for a touchdown late in the first half.  The Rams are currently 2nd in the league in penalties, trailing only the Redskins. If this team is going to give themselves chances to win games, they simply cannot continue to shoot themselves in the foot needlessly.

Speaking of shooting themselves in the foot, not only did the Rams turn the ball over 3 times, (and get zero takeways themselves) all 3 of their turnovers were inside their own 40.

On a positive note, Steven Jackson looks as though splitting time with Daryl Richardson is doing him good, with 81 yards on 13 carries today.  He looks as effective in week 11 as one would expect the first week of training camp, running the past 2 weeks like a mad man possessed.

Also on a positive note, Janoris Jenkins made some solid plays again today, blocking one field goal, and very nearly blocking another.  I think, though only time will tell, that last week’s benching and discipline from Coach Fisher, helped him regain his focus.  He and Chris Givens last week had to run stairs with trainers on hand IN THE STANDS at Candlestick, as their teammates were on field as the was getting ready to start.  If that doesn’t wake them up and send a message, I don’t know what will.