Some good and bad stats to take away from the game.

[JdashSTL]

Aside from their offensive line the one position decimated like no other unit across the league has been the Rams’ cornerback unit. With Justin King missing, Roderick Hood (-0.4) was forced into starting his second game of the season this week. However, it was Josh Gordy (+2.6) starting his sixth straight game on the opposite side who provided a rare beacon of hope for the Rams in pass coverage. His big play came early in the second quarter as he jumped an out route by Andrew Hawkins at the 14:17 mark to pick off the pass and take it 30 yards the other way to give good field position just short of scoring range, which was wasted with another St Louis three and out. For the day, Gordy allowed only one reception of seven yards to AJ Green on the five passes thrown his way whilst also breaking up another pass intended for Jerome Simpson in the third. This is only an isolated performance but in such a season of abject misery for the Rams at corner it is at least something to cling to.

- Bengals’ third round pick Brandon Ghee recorded his first defensive snaps of his NFL career this week. Both were in coverage and he was targeted on neither play.

- The Rams tied their season low with only three missed tackles in this game.

The Bengals have for years lacked a real presence at defensive tackle and this season their patience has been fully rewarded with a breakout season by second year player Geno Atkins. After yet another strong performance (+6.3), his best grade of the season, his fine season shows no signs of slowing as he took St Louis’ stand-in left guard Jason Brown to task for the entire game. Atkins, as always, was in the backfield at every opportunity and picked up one sack, two hits and three pressures in the passing game. His also recorded two tackles behind the line with his pursuit to Steven Jackson at the 12:44 mark of the first quarter particularly impressive as he got the Bengals off the field on the opening drive of the game. He will need to maintain this type of play for a couple more seasons to truly be thought of amongst the elite defensive tackles in the league, but for this year at least Atkins is as good as it gets as in interior defensive lineman.

It seems unfair to pile on to a Rams offensive line that bears absolutely no resemblance to the one they intended to field this season, but at the end of the day these guys aren’t getting the job done. Adam Goldberg (+1.3) returned to the fold at left tackle to at least provide some semblance of stability at left tackle but that was just about it, as once again the Rams failed to find a stable base for their offense. Harvey Dahl (-1.2) was solid in pass protection at his unfamiliar position of right tackle but let himself down with two penalties on the same play, with a hold and then dropping an F-bomb on referee Jerome Boger that saw him sit down for one play. Inside the Rams are simply a mess and the money they invested in Jason Brown (-3.8) has not seen the desired returns. Injuries have killed this unit and the Rams will be looking forward to long off-season to allow their starters to heal up and attempt to re-form a strong cohesive unit.

With another top three draft choice almost certainly on the horizon, the Rams will once again be spoiled for choice for top end talent and one position, among many, that they need to look at boosting on their roster is wide receiver. This week Danario Alexander (+2.1) flashed the ability that at times filled the Rams with hope that they had a free agent steal, but this performance could mean to Alexander what it meant to the Rams in this game, too little too late. Alexander’s touchdown grab was an impressive one rising over Adam Jones and avoiding an errant lunging Taylor Mays, but all he had contributed to that point in the game was some solid work as a run blocker, valuable work but the Rams need more. With Sam Bradford deserving of more time and the jury still out on their offensive line investments, why not take a look at some of the top receivers in the draft to link up with Bradford and Brandon Lloyd?

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/19/re-focused-bengals-rams-week-15/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/20 ... s-week-15/</a>

 

[-X-]

- The Rams tied their season low with only three missed tackles in this game.

Wow. To be honest, I thought there were more than that. But hey, I ain't complainin'. Did a good job containing Cedric Benson.