Rams Mix It Up On Monday Night
By Rams Nation's Don Ackerman
The play of the game, though for no points, has to be Isaac Bruce's pass to Torry Holt. This was Bruce's first pass since 1996!! I don't think we have a quarterback
controversy but it was a sweet pass. I'll talk about the offense more later.
D steps up!
This game was all about the D. The 1st series was 3 and out! That was a sign
to come for this game. Throughout the game, the D was swarming. In fact, the
Falcons were unable to score and the Rams D scored 9 points.
Butler the weak spot?
On D, the Falcons did seem to find the Rams' weak spot. On the first Falcons
drive, Butler was exposed on 2 straight plays. On the first play, Butler allows
Peerless Price to be wide open. Luckily for Butler, Doug Johnson overthrew Price
on a sure touchdown. But Butler's luck was short lived. On the next play, Finneran
is left open by Butler. Butler recovered but I think Atlanta saw something that
Saint Louis better address before the Green Bay game.
Aeneas is +9!
A strong spot on the Rams is #35 Aeneas Williams. Thanks to an interception
by Aeneas Williams in the first quarter, the Rams prevented a touchdown by Atlanta
then marched down the field for a 28-yard field goal.
Then in the second quarter, Aeneas strips and recovers a fumble.
The D looked good and pitched a perfect shutout.
Offensively Minded
But the 2003 Rams are also offensively minded. On offense, the Rams were all
over the field sharing the ball and the love. Running, Lamar Gordon had great
success with 19 carries for 92 yards (4.8 yards per carry). Martz' scheming
was in full effect. In the second quarter, on 2nd and goal at the 3, Bulger
sees no linebacker across the line from him, so he runs untouched into the endzone.
Beyond that, it was a game of multiple looks mixed in with "traditional
football." How can anyone gameplan for the 2003 Saint Louis Rams?
If you somehow cover Holt (11 receptions for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns), Bruce
(4 catches for 87 yards and 1 pass for 25 yards), and Looker (4 catches for
43 yards), you have to watch out for Arlen Harris who caught 1 ball for 26 yards!
Who ya gonna cover?
Bulger was great but not perfect. Bulger completed 23 of 34 passes (67.6%) for
352 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 INTs. It's the INTs that are somewhat troubling.
In the 3rd quarter, Bulger tried to throw a touchdown to Brandon Manumaleuna.
Manumaleuna fell down and Ray Buchanan of the Falcons picked it off. However,
tonight was the Rams' night. On 2nd down, Grant Wistrom collected a safety.
But Bulger made up for that throughout the rest of the game. In the 4th quarter
on 2nd and 10 from the 14-yard line, Bulger scrambled right, avoided the rush,
then threw a touchdown pass to Torry Holt. Wow!
Everything Goes Rams' Way
This game was only 10 to zero at half but throughout the game, it was the Rams'
night. You read about the interception then safety and mid-way through the 4th,
Bulger threw his second interception. But this was Saint Louis' night as Kyle Turley knocked the ball loose and in a twist of fate, Arlen Harris recovered
the fumble.
Who Cares About School?
One thing I don't get about Monday night introductions is each player telling
us their college. Tonight a couple of players shared with us their high schools.
Micheals comments how they have to tell us their colleges because of these smart
alecs. I have to ask, do they?
Ram on,
Don