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Fisher still upset about quick whistle
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_0ff48594-fa7f-5777-9e81-d9beb58e08dd.html
With San Francisco leading 10-3 midway through the second quarter Sunday, the Rams’ Kendall Langford tackled the 49ers’ Frank Gore after a short gain near midfield when the ball came loose and James Laurinaitis recovered and headed for the end zone.
But the officials ruled that Gore’s forward progress had been stopped and blew the play dead.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher was not happy at the time and was still upset about the ruling when he met with reporters late Monday afternoon at Rams Park.
“I’ll just say this, it’s nice to have won this game because that is a game-changing call,’’ Fisher said. “That’s a defensive touchdown and it’s the wrong call, the incorrect call. It was not progress. The ball was out.
“(The official) should’ve thrown the bean bag, ruled it a fumble. They you go back to replay and replay shows it’s a fumble. It’s a defensive touchdown.
“In essence, they took a defensive touchdown away from us because he blew the whistle. The forward progress ... there were a number of other instances in that game where you could say, ‘OK.’ When they picked up Tre (Mason) and dropped him on his head, that’s forward progress. Whistles didn’t blow there.’’
Fisher added: “I was disappointed in the call and I will be. It’s the incorrect call, the wrong call.’’
MASON’S FIRST NFL START
Mason, the Rams’ third-round draft pick in May, made his first NFL start Sunday and responded with a game-high 65 rushing yards in 19 carries. One of his rushes went for a game-best 21 yards.
“I thought he played pretty well,’’ Fisher said. “He missed a couple holes, but he ran hard. He overcame some things. His ball security’s good, pass protection is good. He needed to get out in the routes.”
Still, Fisher isn’t naming anyone the full-time starter.
“I can’t tell you who’s starting this week,’’ said the coach, who later joked, “You guys come to Arizona, watch the first play, figure out who’s gonna start.’’
Mason was on the field for 38 offensive plays while Benny Cunningham took 16 offensive snaps. Cunningham rushed for 10 yards on four carries and had a team-leading three catches for 38 yards. Rookie Trey Watts had a 6-yard reception while Tavon Austin ran twice for 7 yards.
Zac Stacy, who ran for 973 yards as a rookie last year, suited up Sunday but did not play.
“Zac handled things professionally,’’ Fisher said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play, but he will get to play. He’ll get his reps. We have not lost faith or confidence in him. But it’s hard to spread the ball around.’’
Fisher said the running back situation remains a week-to-week decision, based in part on scheme and approach.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
According to the coaches’ review of the tape, linebackers Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree paced the Rams with 10 tackles each. Laurinaitis also had a sack and recovered the fumble in the end zone to finish the game.
Other tackle leaders were safety Rodney McLeod (eight), cornerback E.J. Gaines (seven), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (seven), safety T.J. McDonald (six), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (five) and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (five).
The Rams, who entered the game with six sacks, had eight against the 49ers. Robert Quinn and William Hayes each had two. Laurinaitis, Brockers, Aaron Donald and Eugene Sims chipped in with one.
The Rams also had 18 pressures against Colin Kaepernick.
Chase Reynolds paced the special teams with two tackles. Jake McQuaide, Greg Zuerlein, Will Herring and Mark Barron had one each. It was the Rams debut for Barron, a safety acquired earlier in the week from Tampa Bay for a couple of draft picks.
“I went to Mark before the game as we were trying to sort out the inactives,’’ Fisher said. “The way it went, I talked to Mark about playing some special teams and I think he told someone he hadn’t played special teams since pee-wee football. He did a really nice job on our kickoff return and kickoff coverage.
“We’re going to work, like we said, to see if we can get him into some packages on defense to get him on the field.’’
RAM-BLINGS
Rams quarterback Austin Davis was forced to leave the game for a play late in the opening quarter after a rough slide into the turf at Levi’s Stadium.
“As he slid, the (knee) brace got caught in the grass and the brace twisted, so he had the brace re-adjusted,’’ Fisher explained, noting that all Rams quarterbacks wear a knee brace on their front leg during games.
Veteran Shaun Hill came in for the one play, handing to Mason for a 4-yard gain.
• Fisher said that rookie cornerback Marcus Roberson is dealing with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Trumaine Johnson, who had three tackles in his first action since hurting his knee in the preseason. Fisher said Johnson probably will start this week. The coach is “optimistic’’ about the return of Janoris Jenkins (knee), too.
• Defensive end David Bass, who starred at University City High and Missouri Western, has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster by the Chicago Bears.
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_0ff48594-fa7f-5777-9e81-d9beb58e08dd.html
With San Francisco leading 10-3 midway through the second quarter Sunday, the Rams’ Kendall Langford tackled the 49ers’ Frank Gore after a short gain near midfield when the ball came loose and James Laurinaitis recovered and headed for the end zone.
But the officials ruled that Gore’s forward progress had been stopped and blew the play dead.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher was not happy at the time and was still upset about the ruling when he met with reporters late Monday afternoon at Rams Park.
“I’ll just say this, it’s nice to have won this game because that is a game-changing call,’’ Fisher said. “That’s a defensive touchdown and it’s the wrong call, the incorrect call. It was not progress. The ball was out.
“(The official) should’ve thrown the bean bag, ruled it a fumble. They you go back to replay and replay shows it’s a fumble. It’s a defensive touchdown.
“In essence, they took a defensive touchdown away from us because he blew the whistle. The forward progress ... there were a number of other instances in that game where you could say, ‘OK.’ When they picked up Tre (Mason) and dropped him on his head, that’s forward progress. Whistles didn’t blow there.’’
Fisher added: “I was disappointed in the call and I will be. It’s the incorrect call, the wrong call.’’
MASON’S FIRST NFL START
Mason, the Rams’ third-round draft pick in May, made his first NFL start Sunday and responded with a game-high 65 rushing yards in 19 carries. One of his rushes went for a game-best 21 yards.
“I thought he played pretty well,’’ Fisher said. “He missed a couple holes, but he ran hard. He overcame some things. His ball security’s good, pass protection is good. He needed to get out in the routes.”
Still, Fisher isn’t naming anyone the full-time starter.
“I can’t tell you who’s starting this week,’’ said the coach, who later joked, “You guys come to Arizona, watch the first play, figure out who’s gonna start.’’
Mason was on the field for 38 offensive plays while Benny Cunningham took 16 offensive snaps. Cunningham rushed for 10 yards on four carries and had a team-leading three catches for 38 yards. Rookie Trey Watts had a 6-yard reception while Tavon Austin ran twice for 7 yards.
Zac Stacy, who ran for 973 yards as a rookie last year, suited up Sunday but did not play.
“Zac handled things professionally,’’ Fisher said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play, but he will get to play. He’ll get his reps. We have not lost faith or confidence in him. But it’s hard to spread the ball around.’’
Fisher said the running back situation remains a week-to-week decision, based in part on scheme and approach.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
According to the coaches’ review of the tape, linebackers Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree paced the Rams with 10 tackles each. Laurinaitis also had a sack and recovered the fumble in the end zone to finish the game.
Other tackle leaders were safety Rodney McLeod (eight), cornerback E.J. Gaines (seven), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (seven), safety T.J. McDonald (six), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (five) and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (five).
The Rams, who entered the game with six sacks, had eight against the 49ers. Robert Quinn and William Hayes each had two. Laurinaitis, Brockers, Aaron Donald and Eugene Sims chipped in with one.
The Rams also had 18 pressures against Colin Kaepernick.
Chase Reynolds paced the special teams with two tackles. Jake McQuaide, Greg Zuerlein, Will Herring and Mark Barron had one each. It was the Rams debut for Barron, a safety acquired earlier in the week from Tampa Bay for a couple of draft picks.
“I went to Mark before the game as we were trying to sort out the inactives,’’ Fisher said. “The way it went, I talked to Mark about playing some special teams and I think he told someone he hadn’t played special teams since pee-wee football. He did a really nice job on our kickoff return and kickoff coverage.
“We’re going to work, like we said, to see if we can get him into some packages on defense to get him on the field.’’
RAM-BLINGS
Rams quarterback Austin Davis was forced to leave the game for a play late in the opening quarter after a rough slide into the turf at Levi’s Stadium.
“As he slid, the (knee) brace got caught in the grass and the brace twisted, so he had the brace re-adjusted,’’ Fisher explained, noting that all Rams quarterbacks wear a knee brace on their front leg during games.
Veteran Shaun Hill came in for the one play, handing to Mason for a 4-yard gain.
• Fisher said that rookie cornerback Marcus Roberson is dealing with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Trumaine Johnson, who had three tackles in his first action since hurting his knee in the preseason. Fisher said Johnson probably will start this week. The coach is “optimistic’’ about the return of Janoris Jenkins (knee), too.
• Defensive end David Bass, who starred at University City High and Missouri Western, has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster by the Chicago Bears.
