The St. Louis Rams came off the bye week and beat up the Cleveland Browns by a score of 24-6.
The Rams defense was in full attack mode, they hurried, hit, harassed, sacked and stripped Browns QB Josh McCown, who remarkably completed 26/32 with no interceptions. The Rams defense help put them out front with a 7-0 lead that wasn’t relinquished. Rams safety Rodney McLeod had a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown thanks to a big hit by cornerback Janoris Jenkins jarring the ball loose.
The Rams defense totaled four sacks and four recovered fumbles. Two of those sacks came from defensive end William Hayes, who has been one of the best free agent signings in the Jeff Fisher and Les Snead era. It was Hayes’ sack and strip of McCown that helped put the Rams in position to go up 10-0.
Poor Josh McCown. This marks the third straight time he has lost to the Rams. This was his third straight time playing the Rams with different teams. He got beat in 2013 while playing with the Chicago Bears, lost a nail biter 19-17 in 2014 while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now this 18-point loss.
The Rams also got a huge day on defense from Mark Barron, who is getting more playing time since OLB Alec Ogletree is injured. Barron totaled 16 tackles included two for losses. He has stepped up his level of play as the Rams defense looks like it’s about to start warming up. And there is still a lot of time left in the season as the Rams presently sit at 3-3.
The Rams offense was powered by rookie RB Todd Gurley who finally got into the end zone, as he posted his third straight 100-yard rushing game. Gurley has been better than advertised – he just hits the hole and takes off. He doesn’t waste time jitterbugging on the field. Gurley hasn’t fully recovered from his ACL injury from last year, and the best is yet to come.
Nevertheless, the Rams still have to get others involved in the offense. The way that this defense has played all season, with better production up front this team could be 4-2 or 5-1. Wideout Tavon Austin led all Rams receivers with just 43 receiving yards. Both Austin and Gurley had four catches each. The rest of the receivers or tight ends were silent – except for Jared Cook, who did something different; instead of dropping a pass he fumbled the ball, killing a Rams drive.Â
If William Hayes is the best free agent signee in their regime, then Jared Cook is the worst. He has problems blocking, catching and securing the football. Has no field awareness at all – has no idea where the first down marker is while running his route. For example, it’s third and goal when QB Nick Foles is flushed out of the pocket and throws a pass to Jared Cook. The pass was incomplete, but even if the play was executed it was still short of the goal line.
As bad as some people want the Rams to cut him, he’s due a lot of guaranteed money. That may be the reason he’s still on this team.
I wish I knew what is wrong with placekicker Greg Zuerlein. He has missed five field goals in the last two games. Wish I knew why Fisher keeps trotting him out for 60-yard kicks when he struggles to make kicks shorter than that. He missed that 63-yard kick by more than a mile.
Big division game against San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. Can the Rams move above .500 and put together back to back wins?
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