Rams Patriots Recap
This just in: The St Louis Rams have themselves a bona fide quarterback.
By: StlouisramsX
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rookie QB Sam Bradford made his first start in three exhibition games tonight against the Patriots, replacing A.J. Feeley who missed the game with a sprained thumb. And based on the way Bradford handled himself tonight, he may have just surpassed Feeley on the depth chart. Bradford drove the Rams to a touchdown on their opening drive and threw two touchdown passes to rookie tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. As painful as it may be, announcers are going to have to practice the pronunciation of “Big Mike” if he continues to display the hands and athleticism he showed in Foxborough.
Bradford finished the night 11-of-15 for 189 yards (68% completion) and 2 TD’s, with a passer rating of 125.0. Despite a couple of pedestrian performances in the first two preseason games in which Bradford played, this game showed the side of the former OU QB that piqued the interest of the Rams way back in March of this year. Bradford was calm, collected, ran through his progressions, recognized blitzes, found his second and third receivers, and checked down very well tonight. His ability to get rid of the ball to avoid sacks and roll out to give his receivers more time was also on display. And just when you thought that the Rams would fall victim to their own redzone woes, Bradford showed Rams fans that there would be no more of that nonsense on his watch.
Also showing up in this game was Pat Shurmur. This was a nicely called game with lots of deep passes and scripted plays that kept Bradford in manageable 3rd down situations. Even without Steven Jackson for most of the game (5 rushes for 22 yards), the Rams showed a propensity to move the chains seemingly at will the entire first half.
The Patriots, on the other hand, were stymied by the Rams in the first half. They could not stop the Rams on offense, and the defense was unyielding. It wasn’t until Steve Spagnuolo pulled his starters that the Patriots showed “signs of life.” If showing life translates to leaving your starters (including Brady) in the game until the 4th quarter and you’re playing against 2nd and 3rd string defensive players, then yeah. The showed signs of life (cue rolling-eyes emoticon).
Speaking of rolling eyes, there was clearly a look of disgust on Belichick’s face when it was evident that Spagnuolo wasn’t going to let this game get by him. Spagnuolo lined up his offense after a 4th quarter score by Keith Toston (2 yards) to try and tie the game at 35-35. Yes, CLEARLY a classless act to try and tie a game that this young Rams team needs after the past three seasons. And CLEARLY classless to try and do so after watching the opposing coach run roughshod over your 2nd and 3rd string defense for the past 1.5 quarters with his starters. However, as fate would have it, a holding penalty on the Rams moved them back and Thaddeus Lewis was unable to get a clean release after New England sent the house on a blitz. Lewis threw a corner fade that was overthrown, and the score remained 35-33.
But not for long.
Once Belichick sent out HIS 2nd and 3rd stringers, they were once again unable to move the ball successfully and Keith Null took over with roughly 4 minutes remaining. You just knew it was going to end with a field goal off the foot of Josh Brown, and just like that…. Steve Spagnuolo 2, Bill Belichick zero. Another meeting in the middle of the field with Belichick unwilling to meet the eyes of his (now) greatest nemesis, and this one is in the books.
Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished.
Donnie Avery, who was expected to be the Rams’ top wide receiver this year, left the game with what appeared to be a serious right knee injury when he went down hard trying to catch a deep pass from Bradford in the 2nd quarter.
NBCSports.com described the situation:
“Avery’s knee buckled, and he immediately reached for it in pain once he hit the ground. He was down for several minutes. Avery was carted off.”
There was no immediate information on the extent of Avery’s injury, but in all likelihood it’s going to be bad. Avery’s foot clearly got tangled up in the Foxboro turf as he came down, and his leg shook in a manner that you knew there was something seriously wrong.
Before Avery was carted off the field, Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker went over and extended his hand in true sportsmanship fashion (he didn’t learn that from Belichick). Welker is no stranger to knee injuries, as he is playing again after having surgery for a torn ligament in his left knee in February.
We can only hope it’s not serious, but again, in all likelihood it’s going to be. A source told Fox Sports Analyst, Adam Caplan that the injury looks to be season ending. The loss will take away the Rams’ deep threat for the time being. Newly signed Mizzou receiver, Danario Alexander is going to have to be brought up to speed rather quickly, and this may present a new course and direction for the rookie in the coming weeks.
The Real Deal
As is the case with most 3rd week preseason games, the first half is a demonstration of the starter’s abilities against the other team’s starters, and it’s as close to a regular season as you’re going to get at this stage of the NFL season. Given that OBVIOUS protocol, we’re going to take a look at ONLY the first half stats. The stats that had the Rams absolutely OWNING the Patriots. Fortunately for New England, they registered a quick 7-0 lead off of a nice opening kickoff return by 2nd year receiver, Brandon Tate. Outside of that, it was all Rams.
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS
Rams: 15, Patriots: 4
First Downs Rushing-Passing-by Penalty
Rams: 2 – 12 – 1, Patriots: 0 – 4 – 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY
Rams: 4-7-57%, Patriots: 0-4-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS
Rams: 241, Patriots: 106
Total Offensive Plays
Rams: 42, Patriots: 18
NET YARDS RUSHING
Rams: 59, Patriots: 16
NET YARDS PASSING
Rams: 182, Patriots: 90
Gross Yards Passing
Rams: 189, Patriots: 103
At the end of the first quarter, the St Louis Rams had outgained the Patriots on offense by a margin of 159 to 20.
********
You can quote me on this
“I don’t think we played well,” he said. “Or coached well. We just didn’t do a good job tonight.”
– Bill Belichick
“We’ve got to get back to the drawing board and do a better job, in every area,”
– Same dude.
“They were able to move the ball at will,” “It was demoralizing.”
– Patriots safety James Sanders
“It was a blast out there tonight,” he said. “I had fun. I was used to doing what I was doing — moving the offense up and own the field.”
– Sam Bradford
“He was putting the ball on the money,” “You can tell he really knows the offense. I’m really impressed with how far he’s come in a short time.”
– Steven Jackson (on Sam Bradford)
“Before I went out there, I took a deep breath and said, `Do what you know how to do,’ ”
– Sam Bradford
August 27th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Rams Patriots Recap http://f.ast.ly/SYTKE
August 27th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Patriots Rams Recap | St Louis Rams Blog…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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August 27th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
It was hardly a classless act. Brady stayed because he needed reps. Just think: the Rams offense were on the field for almost 44 minutes. That gave Pats 16. The Rams made 30 first downs. Brady had 30 snaps in the game. He played, because quiewt simply: he did not get the number of reps. It’s not about winning the game or make you comfortable at the sofe. Simply giving enough gametime for the starting QB.
You may say Brady played “into the 4th quarter”. But the reality is this: this games are glorified practicies. And Bradford had 20 minutes practice with his offense(in the first half), and Brady had 10 minutes(in the whole game).
August 27th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
@underwatercartooncat:
I think you need to re-read what I posted. I said it was evident that Belichick thought SPAGNUOLO was being classless by trying to tie the game late in the 4th quarter. That said though, Brady needs extra reps against a 2nd & 3rd string defense like he needs to re-learn how to ride a bike. I think it was evident that Belichick just didn’t want to lose to Spagnuolo — again.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
No, it was not evident. Brady had 18 snaps, played for 7 minutes or so.
And I honestly do not think i could convince you about anything, but will give a try.:)
To be honest, I have no idea how Rams handles the preseason games. But I can tell you thisÉ Brady almost everytime plays into the 3rd quarter in the 3rd game, sometimes til the end of the 3rd Quarter. Regardless of the opponent. Brady hardly plays more than one drive in the 4th games, if he enters the field at all. So nothing “special” happened. (Even though if BB was REALLY pissed with the offense this could be different this year)
In case you asked, why he played at the start of the 4th: he finished the drive from the 3rd quarter, and his only drive before was 2 snaps. (On the other side of the ball the Rams started the half with a 9:19 drive) Bradford and Lewis both sent more time on the field than Brady. And what can he parctice? Well, no hudle offense for example. Better to do it against the Rams second, than their very own scout team.
Again every year Brady gets the most snaps during the 3rd game and plays at least into the mid 3rd. But his offense could not reenter before 5:41 in the 3rd.
And no, this is absolutly not like riding a bike. He had a rookie TE(Gronkowski) and another one, who just arrived this spring(Crumpler). His second WR in the second half was a second year player(G. Tate), who is virtually a rookie.(Played only 2 games in 2009 because of injuries) So every snap they can work together could be the difference.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
That’s fair.
Do the Pats also play their starting defense deep into the third quarter as well? I’ll have to go back and re-watch the game, but I thought I remembered the starters on D against Lewis and Darby and the 2nd tier WR’s of the Rams. Is that commonplace as well? I could be wrong about that, and if I am, let me know.
All that aside, how do you feel about the 1st half of that game? You seen objective enough to render a decent analysis.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Rams Patriots Recap http://t.co/2SyKUk1 via @AddThis
August 28th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Well, it’s hard to say. The defense has 3 clear cut startersÉ Wilfork, Mayo and Meriweather. Most of the other players are rookies, 2nd year players who were mostly subs, or special teamers, or did not play(IR or coaches decision) last year and new signings. The OLB should have been clear, but because Banta-Cain and Burgess just returned to the camp, they are a bit behind the others. (BC started, Burgess not against the Rams)
Just to give a hintÉ Pats lost in the last 2 years defenders like Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Rosevelt Colvin, Ellis Hobbs, Junior Seau. And this are the more nown ones.
But I think 1 stat says a lot: Belichik used a very few rookie starters during the year during the decade he spent with the Pats.
(Matt Light and Logan Mankins somes to my mind)
This year? We may see 4 rookies in the starting line up (2 in offense, 2 in defense) More rookie startes than in a decade.
Not surprisingly the potential starting rookis had the most reps in the first 2 games already. They started with the starters and played well into the 2nd half every game. They need every single reps against any possible opponents.
So trust me when I say this: Belichik is busy enough to make a competitive side with some 20+ rookies and 2nd year players, let alone a few free agent signings. He does not care about anything else. He simply does not have time to do so.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:24 am
I think you should step back and realize who you’re preaching to about lost starters. You DO know that the Rams have completely overhauled their team (both offensively and defensively) the past 2 years, yes? Not to mention starting a rookie QB, rookie LT and 2 year RT (who played a handful of games last year) to go along with their rookie TE, and 1st & 2nd year WR’s against the Pats.
Here’s what I was able to ascertain through watching that game, and feel free to correct me if you think I’m wrong. It’s cool.
Belichick was CLEARLY upset (hence the eye roll) when Spagnuolo tired to tie the game up late with a 2-point conversion. The camera crew made a point of capturing his reaction when Spagnuolo sent his offense out again.
That was the point I was making in that article. That (apparently) he thought it was a classless move. The commentary I offered about his playing his 1st string offense into the 4th quarter is echoed by beat writers across America. Maybe it was due to not having been able to share a practice with the Rams, and he wanted to see how his team would respond? I don’t know, and I don’t think you do either. I guess in the end, according to our joint analysis here, the Rams had more players they needed to evaluate and that’s why they pulled their “starters” earlier.
I don’t know if I can get on board with that. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that the Patriots had a bunch of rookies they needed to evaluate as well? And you don’t think for one moment that Belichick wanted to get a lead in this game after that awful 1st half? How much evaluation did he get from a 60+ yard pass to Moss? That Moss can get open against backups or Brady can throw far?
C’mon…….
August 29th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Again: you should not care about the “the beat writers across America” They just have a quick looks: ah, Brady played into the 4th quarter. The fact, that Bradford actually spent significantly more time in the game (He played 20+ minutes, Brady less than 15), had more snaps, and had the same amount of pass attemps(22) does not bother them. Why? Well, because they do not check it on the first place. When at less than 5 minutes in the 3rd the starting offense returned, the Pats tv announcer told: it’s not a punishment, they simply did not spend any time on the field, they have to go back. (Well, he was actually there, and saw the game)
As for Belichik’s face. You are too full of yourself.
He did not care there about the Rams, looked like toi me he heard what called in the defense Matt Patricia, and he did not like the call. (As sidenote: nobody likes a potential overtime in preseason, but this was not the case IMHO)
As for the 60 yard bomb: Brady said he tried one against the Falcons and missed, and he “had to sit with it for a week”. So I think that try was asked by Brady. And yes, you had to to try it, it went over 60 yards in the air, it’s not just an automatic throw, not many QBs you gonne see throw it over 60 yrads. (Actually I checked it: when he “underthrew” Moss last week, the ball was in the air 65 yards. Hard to imagine when you see them, but the run as hell for 45-50 yards with full speed for Moss, and backing 10-15 yards for Brady and air it out to the full speed running Moss when he just arrives to the spot: it’s not automatic. It needs Practice. Lot’s of it. Not that Brady can throw or not (even though he practices that as well, of course, zillion times). Not that Moss can run a rout or not. But to send the ball to 60 yards right at the moment when the receiver arrives the spot.
And I’m just reapeting one thing in different ways: Belichik does what he thinks prepares his team the best for the season opener. You hnestly think he cares about “uh, the Rams wanna beat us in a preseason game, how dare they, I am soooo upset” Yeah, he was upset, and disgusted. With his own team’s performance.
And about this:
“I don’t know if I can get on board with that. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that the Patriots had a bunch of rookies they needed to evaluate as well?”
Well, the Pats handled the 3rd preseason game, as they used to. The Rams probably handled the 3rd preseason game as they used to.
Could you give me the win-loss stats of the last decade for both teams?
Sorry mate, that was just a too high ball, had to kill it.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Well, you make some good points, but I’m not sold on all of them. That happens with fans of opposing teams. And we’re going to get into debating single sentences soon, and that’s never good.
By the way, I could give you the W/L of the last decade for both teams in the 3rd preseason game, but that’s too much like work.
August 30th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I would offer you this. This is an interview with Tom Brady from this morning. He got one funny question at 19m40s, and I would like to hear your opinion after that.
The questionis basicly: what was the longest play he ever did call. His answer, and what he says after will give you some idea about the complexity of the plays the Pats run.
http://audio.weei.com/m/33870924/tom-brady-patriots-qb.htm
BTW, during the show before he was asked, what does he think, if Moss’s and and Welker’s knowledge is 100% about the playbook, where the rookie TEs are now (because both Hernandez and Gronkowski looked comfortable with the plays). Brady answered, like he does not know, but the guys do not know yet there is 2 other play book they did not even see yet. Plus the Patriots unlike many teams changes about the 2/3rd of the offensive playes based on the opponents, running every week just the 1/3rd basic plays they always use. (This basic playes the rookies worked on all spring and summer)
August 30th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I will not further subject myself to Patriots news and/or audio. That’s like asking me to wait in line for an autograph of Rodney Harrison. I ain’t doin’ it.
If you say it’s customary to play your entire starting offense and defense into the 4th quarter in preseason games when you get waxed in the first half, then okay. I’ll believe you by default. Belichick always was a bit of a trend-buster and marched to the beat of a different photographer; I mean, drummer.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Brady had training camps during 9 seasons as starter. In 2008 Brady did not play at all in the 3rd game because of an injury, and last year he was gradually eased in(more importantly he hurt his shoulder during the Redskins game)
This leaves us 7 seasons. In 3 games including this year he played every single offensive snap in the 3rd quarter. If you asked, on how many of this 7 games Brady played in the 3rd quarter, the answer is: all 7. So yeah, it was pritty special…