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Bradford sharp, but not much else goes right for Rams
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_23b1e4e1-b657-5697-8e35-246152d318a3.html
Preseason game No. 2 was a mixed bag for the Rams. On defense they had no antidote for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who put up 10 quick points in what became a 21-7 Packers victory Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome.
On offense, they couldn't budge the line of scrimmage in the running game, despite a lot of work in that area during the practice week.
Running back Zac Stacy had only six yards on six carries while the starting offense was on the field, albeit a starting unit missing two line starters _ left tackle Jake Long and right guard Rodger Saffold.
But quarterback Sam Bradford passed his first test with flying colors, completing nine of 12 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, good for a passer rating of 127.4. Just as important symbolically, Bradford survived his first hit, and a big one at that when Julius Peppers steamed around left tackle Greg Robinson and flattened Bradford from behind.
But Bradford bounced right up, got back in the huddle and completed his next three passes to finish off a 76-yard touchdown drive.
"I felt good," Bradford said. "It was nothing new. I've been here before. I think for everyone else it's probably a bigger deal for me to get back out on the field. But it was nice to get out there in a live game, feel the pass rush, get the ball out of my hand, go out there and execute the way that we did."
The best part of the TD drive was a deep ball over the middle to Brian Quick. Quick went up to get the ball in traffic, and came down with it _ something Rams coaches and Quick have worked hard to make part of his game. Quick then added several yards after the catch for a 41-yard gain.
"Big catch," Bradford said. "That's what we've seen from him from OTAs, during training camp. I mean, he's made plays like that for a long time now and it's good to finally see it showing up on the field. I expect to see a lot of that from him this year."
Quick got behind the Green Bay secondary a second time on the drive with cornerback Sam Shields grabbing him to prevent a touchdown. The resulting pass interference penalty gave the Rams a first down a the Packers 17. Four plays and a penalty later, Bradford zipped an 11-yard TD pass caught by tight end Lance Kendricks despite blanket coverage by Packers safety Micah Hyde.
That narrowed Green Bay's lead to 10-7 midway through the second quarter. Bradford was done for the day after two series.
"I felt like we moved the ball the second drive," Kendricks said. "I felt like we got comfortable. The first drive was a little shaky, but the second drive we really found our (stride) and we pushed the all down the field great."
Bradford's biggest miss came on the Rams' opening drive when he had Kenny Britt open streaking down the right sideline. But Bradford was just a little wide on his throw, which came down out of bounds.
Just a few plays earlier, Bradford showed that he's not thinking about his surgically repaired knee. Coach Jeff Fisher decided to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Green Bay 43. With pass rushers swarming all around him, Bradford hung in the pocket and threw to tight end Jared Cook on a crossing pattern for a four-yard gain and a first down.
On the minus side, Rodgers toyed with the Rams' defense, completing 11 of 13 passes for 128 yards in his two series, leading the Packers to a touchdown and a field goal.
For the newcomers on the St. Louis defense, they got a taste of what it's like to play an elite quarterback. With neither team blitzing while the opposing team's starting quarterback was in the game, Rodgers bought time with his feet when needed, and as is almost always the case displayed pinpoint accuracy.
Rookie nickel back Lamarcus Joyner struggled to keep up. On the Packers' opening drive, Joyner appeared to get tangled up in the end zone, while Rodgers avoided the rush by moving the pocket to the right. He then rifled a strike to Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass on 2nd-and-goal.
On Green Bay's second possession, Rodgers once again scrambled away from pressure to his right and had time to survey the field. While the Rams scrambled around trying to keep up tight end Andrew Quarless got loose down field.
Rodgers threw another strike for a 35-yard gain to the Rams 12 before Joyner caught up to make the tackle. This time, the Rams held Green Bay to a field goal but only after an illegal use of hands penalty against Green Bay wiped out a TD pass from Rodgers to Jordy Nelson.
The score remained 10-7 Green Bay until late in the third quarter when backup Packers QB Matt Flynn completed a short pass over the middle to Jeff Janis, who nobody picked up on a crossing route. Janis turned up field and ended up scoring a 34-yard TD. Flynn then completed a two-point conversion pass to Davante Adams for an 18-7 lead with 1:01 to play in the third quarter.
The Packers added a 49-yard field by Mason Crosby with 6:46 left in the game. Highlights were few and far between for St. Louis. Greg Zuerlein missed wide right on a 55-yard field goal attempt earlier in the quarter. But Michael Sam registered his first sack of the preseason, dropping Flynn in the first quarter to force the Crosby field goal.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_23b1e4e1-b657-5697-8e35-246152d318a3.html
Preseason game No. 2 was a mixed bag for the Rams. On defense they had no antidote for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who put up 10 quick points in what became a 21-7 Packers victory Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome.
On offense, they couldn't budge the line of scrimmage in the running game, despite a lot of work in that area during the practice week.
Running back Zac Stacy had only six yards on six carries while the starting offense was on the field, albeit a starting unit missing two line starters _ left tackle Jake Long and right guard Rodger Saffold.
But quarterback Sam Bradford passed his first test with flying colors, completing nine of 12 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, good for a passer rating of 127.4. Just as important symbolically, Bradford survived his first hit, and a big one at that when Julius Peppers steamed around left tackle Greg Robinson and flattened Bradford from behind.
But Bradford bounced right up, got back in the huddle and completed his next three passes to finish off a 76-yard touchdown drive.
"I felt good," Bradford said. "It was nothing new. I've been here before. I think for everyone else it's probably a bigger deal for me to get back out on the field. But it was nice to get out there in a live game, feel the pass rush, get the ball out of my hand, go out there and execute the way that we did."
The best part of the TD drive was a deep ball over the middle to Brian Quick. Quick went up to get the ball in traffic, and came down with it _ something Rams coaches and Quick have worked hard to make part of his game. Quick then added several yards after the catch for a 41-yard gain.
"Big catch," Bradford said. "That's what we've seen from him from OTAs, during training camp. I mean, he's made plays like that for a long time now and it's good to finally see it showing up on the field. I expect to see a lot of that from him this year."
Quick got behind the Green Bay secondary a second time on the drive with cornerback Sam Shields grabbing him to prevent a touchdown. The resulting pass interference penalty gave the Rams a first down a the Packers 17. Four plays and a penalty later, Bradford zipped an 11-yard TD pass caught by tight end Lance Kendricks despite blanket coverage by Packers safety Micah Hyde.
That narrowed Green Bay's lead to 10-7 midway through the second quarter. Bradford was done for the day after two series.
"I felt like we moved the ball the second drive," Kendricks said. "I felt like we got comfortable. The first drive was a little shaky, but the second drive we really found our (stride) and we pushed the all down the field great."
Bradford's biggest miss came on the Rams' opening drive when he had Kenny Britt open streaking down the right sideline. But Bradford was just a little wide on his throw, which came down out of bounds.
Just a few plays earlier, Bradford showed that he's not thinking about his surgically repaired knee. Coach Jeff Fisher decided to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Green Bay 43. With pass rushers swarming all around him, Bradford hung in the pocket and threw to tight end Jared Cook on a crossing pattern for a four-yard gain and a first down.
On the minus side, Rodgers toyed with the Rams' defense, completing 11 of 13 passes for 128 yards in his two series, leading the Packers to a touchdown and a field goal.
For the newcomers on the St. Louis defense, they got a taste of what it's like to play an elite quarterback. With neither team blitzing while the opposing team's starting quarterback was in the game, Rodgers bought time with his feet when needed, and as is almost always the case displayed pinpoint accuracy.
Rookie nickel back Lamarcus Joyner struggled to keep up. On the Packers' opening drive, Joyner appeared to get tangled up in the end zone, while Rodgers avoided the rush by moving the pocket to the right. He then rifled a strike to Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass on 2nd-and-goal.
On Green Bay's second possession, Rodgers once again scrambled away from pressure to his right and had time to survey the field. While the Rams scrambled around trying to keep up tight end Andrew Quarless got loose down field.
Rodgers threw another strike for a 35-yard gain to the Rams 12 before Joyner caught up to make the tackle. This time, the Rams held Green Bay to a field goal but only after an illegal use of hands penalty against Green Bay wiped out a TD pass from Rodgers to Jordy Nelson.
The score remained 10-7 Green Bay until late in the third quarter when backup Packers QB Matt Flynn completed a short pass over the middle to Jeff Janis, who nobody picked up on a crossing route. Janis turned up field and ended up scoring a 34-yard TD. Flynn then completed a two-point conversion pass to Davante Adams for an 18-7 lead with 1:01 to play in the third quarter.
The Packers added a 49-yard field by Mason Crosby with 6:46 left in the game. Highlights were few and far between for St. Louis. Greg Zuerlein missed wide right on a 55-yard field goal attempt earlier in the quarter. But Michael Sam registered his first sack of the preseason, dropping Flynn in the first quarter to force the Crosby field goal.