Rams 0 - 3 : Bucs "D" Dominates

It is said that the true test of a champion is how a champion rebounds from adversity.On Monday Night Football Sept 23,2002. The St. Louis Rams needed to come out and play a perfect game with no mistakes. One problema. Warren Sapp and the Buccaneer defense. Warren Sapp has always respected Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk. But once on the playing field it's all about punishment. Punishment was the theme of the game from the start and the end result was a loss of 26-14.

Rams 0 - 3 : Bucs "D" Dominates
By Rams Nation's Oscar F Lopez


The 1st Quarter seemed to me that the Rams had a good feel for the Bucs offense. They contained Brad Johnson pretty well, and only allowed a field goal by Gramatica for a three point lead. On the first possession, Kurt took his team down the field and set up Marshall Faulk for a 5 yard run for a touchdown, making the score 7-3. This is the turning point of the game. The Rams defense was holding their own against a descent Bucs offensive line. Going into the 2nd Quarter, the Rams defense led by Little and Wistrom did an oustanding job of holding the Bucs to another field goal making the score 7-6.

But oh how things change in a hurry in a hurricane storm. The storm named Sapp and Co. In the middle of the 2nd Quarter, Brad Johnson with time to throw and good offensive blocking threw a 9yard pass to Rickey Dudley for a touchdown , making the score 13-7. Hats off to both sides of the defensive side of the ball in the 3rd Quarter, they truly stepped it up and held the scoring to zero points.
Upon Marshall leaving on the flip over heels where he strained his neck. The Bucs defense just saw new light and their was no stopping them. They glared at Kurt like a missile ready to launch. And they just slashed the Rams offensive line like chopped liver. No Pace, Polley, Timmerman, and St. Clair could stop the rush of the front four. Sapp and Co with stand outs the likes of Sapp and Simeon Rice just tormented Kurt all night by recording 5 sacks combined. Kurt was tough all game long including running for needed yardage and taking a pounding.The whole timing thing is over rated now. Mike Martz just needs to understand that he needs to rely on the run with Lamar Gordon, especially now that Marshall is not 100 percent. The run sets up the pass play.

Trung Candidate is just not the answer. Lamar really showed what he can do with the football given the opportunity. His 21 yard touchdown run was Marshall like. At this point the score was 14-19. The combination of interceptions and penalties really caused the Rams to lose the game. They were in the game the whole time. They led in time of possession. And if we can believe it, Warren Sapp and Co. in the 4th Quarter were kind of worried when Kurt was making his comback with running and passing plays.

The Mike Martz gameplan needed to include more running. In a close game like this one, he needs to rely on his personel. When Marshall went down he should have had the confidence of plugging in Lamar Gordon. But he just does not understand close calls. On several occasions on 4th and 1 he opted to punt instead of running the ball to get maybe a field goal. He of all people should know by now, he can't blowout the Bucs. They are a great defensive unit. The only way to win is to score more points and if it means field goal's, so be it.

When we look at this game statistically, it was won by the Rams. Remove all the turnovers and it should have been a win. Just watching the 4th Quarter I could sense the feeling of mistakes. And there was Derrick Brooks intercepting for 39yards and a touchdown. The story of the game was the Warren Sapp stamp on the game with the sack to end the game. Credit Kurt Warner for being tough as nails. His 30 of 45 for 301 yards was great but just not enough. His individual accomplishments are just amazing. But one thing Mike Martz has to learn and learn quick. He can not rely on only his key players to get the job done. This is a different team. This is Mike's team. And this is a test as to how well he overcomes adversity and coaches.The Vermeil Era is officially over. I repeat the Vermeil Era is officially over.

Max Q is nonexistent. The reality for this team is that they are beatable. Injuries have taken it's toll. So Mike will have to win without explosiveness for now. Good old fashion football is starting to sound good. I do not care what he claims. Being 0-3 and losing close games just gets old quick. He set a standard of excellence and so far it has not been reached this year.

The defense with Grant Wistrom, Leonard Little, and Aeneas Williams leading the way will only get tougher. They showed their true committment today by rushing and playing aggressive football for four quarters.Offensively this team just has to protect better and give Kurt more time to find the receivers. The answer to this season I don't have. But I know one thing, if Mike Martz expects to be in San Diego in January , this team better start winning soon.

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