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The Rams have signed 23-year old TE Mike McNeill. McNeill played in 4 games for the Colts this year but he didn’t catch any passes. The Rams need all the help they can get, so McNeill will likely get a shot to show what he can do the next two weeks.
The Rams have placed 24-year old linebacker Josh Hull on the Injured Reserve List, ending his season due to a high ankle sprain. Hull played in 11 games for the Rams this year and he had 2 tackles. He has now played in 12 games in his first two years in the NFL and he has 3 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. This isn’t much of a loss for the Rams, and that really says something about Josh Hull.
The Rams put up a fight earlier today before falling short against the visiting Bengals. QB Kellen Clemens got the start today and he completed 25 of 36 passes for 229 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs. Steven Jackson was very busy with 18 carries for 71 yards (3.9 ypc) and he also caught 9 passes for 72 yards (8.0 avg). Cadillac Williams pitched in with 16 yards rushing on 3 carries (5.3 ypc) in this game. WRs Danario Alexander (3 rec, 52 yards, TD) and Brandon Lloyd (5 rec, 42 yards) also helped out in the passing game for the Rams today. The Rams finished up with 95 yards rushing on 24 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4%) for 210 yards as they had possession of the ball for 29:57.
The defense was pretty solid for the Rams today. Safeties Quintin Mikell (10 tackles and 1 pass defensed) and Darian Stewart (7 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Rams on D in this game. LB James Laurinaitis (6 tackles) and DB Josh Gordy (2 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) also made some solid plays today. The Bengals finished up with 110 yards rushing on 34 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 26 passes (57.7%) for 173 yards in this game. The Rams are now 2-12 on the year.
The Rams have lost four games in a row by a combined score of 103-40. The Bengals have lost four of their last five games, but this is a big game for them as far as making the playoffs are concerned. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:
When the Rams have the ball: The Rams are starting Kellen Clemens at QB in this game, so look for them to lean on RB Steven Jackson to try to carry them home both running and catching the ball out of the backfield. The problem with that philosophy is that the Bengals are only giving up 100.0 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry so far this year. Jackson will have to fight for every yard he gets tomorrow. Rams’ QBs have been sacked 46 times already this year, so Clemens is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly tomorrow. The Rams are going to need a WR or TE to step up as the Bengals will likely be double covering WR Brandon Lloyd.
When the Bengals have the ball: The Rams are going to have to deal with power RB Cedric Benson in this game. That could be bad news for the Rams as they are giving up 156.8 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry so far this year. The Rams can’t really gang up to stop Benson, as rookie QB Andy Dalton is having a solid year throwing the ball for the Bengals. WR A.J. Green is a true gamebreaker in the passing game, so the Rams might consider doubling him tomorrow. WR Jerome Simpson, WR Andre Caldwell and TE Jermaine Gresham give Dalton more solid options in the passing game.
PREDICTION: BENGALS 23, RAMS 10
The Rams have placed 25-year old fullback Brit Miller on the Injured Reserve List, ending his season due to a knee injury. Miller played in 12 games for the Rams this year and it was the first time in his career that he actually got to touch the football. Miller carried the ball 5 times for 14 yards (2.8 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 41 yards (13.7 avg) this year. Miller also had 7 tackles. He has now played in 26 games in his NFL career and he has 20 tackles. The Rams are going to miss Miller’s blocking in the running game and they are also going to miss him on special teams.
24-year old QB Sam Bradford is supposed to be the Rams’ QB of the future, so should they run him out there injured against the Bengals (home), Steelers (in Pittsburgh) and 49ers (home)? He looked like a pinata last night behind the Rams’ injury depleted offensive line. Bradford has played in 10 games for the Rams so far this year and he has completed 191 of 357 passes (53.5%) for 2,164 yards with 6 TD passes and 6 INTs (70.5 QB Rating). He has also carried the ball 18 times for 26 yards (1.4 ypc) so far this year. Bradford has now played in 26 games in his first two years with the Rams and he has completed 545 of 947 passes (57.6%) for 5,676 yards with 24 TD passes and 21 INTs (74.2 QB Rating). He has also carried the ball 45 times for 89 yards (2.0 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career so far. The Rams should seriously consider shutting Bradford down due to his injuries and the state of the offensive line.
The Rams were pathetic last night. Sam Bradford gutted in out and played on his bad ankle, but he should have sat out based on how he played. Bradford completed 12 of 29 passes for 193 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT. Steven Jackson had a hard time finding running room as he rushed for 63 yards on 20 carries (3.2 ypc) with 1 TD run. He also caught 3 passes for 60 yards (20.0 avg) last night. Cadillac Williams pitched in with 49 yards rushing on 8 carries (6.1 ypc) in this game. WR Brandon Lloyd led the way in the passing game for the Rams with 5 grabs for 82 yards (16.4 avg). The Rams finished up with 114 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 12 of 29 passes (41.4%) for 167 yards as they had possession of the ball for 28:31.
The defense and special teams were awful in this game. WR Doug Baldwin of the Seahawks blocked a punt in the first quarter which was recovered and returned 17 yards for a TD by RB Michael Robinson. This set the tone of the game. LB James Laurinaitis led the way for the Rams on D in this game with 12 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed. Safety Darian Stewart (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 tackle for a loss), LB Chris Chamberlain (8 tackles) and LB Brady Poppinga (5 tackles and 1 fumble recovery) also pitched in for the Rams in this game. The Seahawks finished up with 145 yards rushing on 32 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 34 passes (61.8%) for 214 yards. The Rams are now 2-11 on the year.
The Rams have lost three games in a row by a combined score of 73-27! The Seahawks have won three of their last four games, including a blowout 31-14 over the Eagles last Thursday in Seattle. The Seahawks play pretty well at home, so this game could get ugly. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:
When the Rams have the ball: Sam Bradford (ankle) and A.J. Feeley (thumb) are not likely to play in this game. That means that 27-year old Tom Brandstater will likely be the starting QB against the Seahawks. If that is the case, the Rams are going to feed the ball to Steven Jackson as much as possible. Jackson will have to fight for every yard as the Seahawks are giving up 103.5 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry so far this year. The Seahawks will likely double team Brandon Lloyd and dare Brandstater to beat them by throwing the ball to someone else.
When the Seahawks have the ball: The Rams are giving up 157.8 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry so far this year, so Marshawn Lynch is likely in for a HUGE game this Monday Night. He has been really running well lately and I don’t see the Rams slowing him down. If Lynch is effective, it sets up QB Tarvaris Jackson for playaction shots down the field. Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t have anyone to throw to who should scare the Rams’ secondary, and he does throw the ball to the opposing team (12 INTs) when under pressure.
PREDICTION: SEAHAWKS 23, RAMS 7
The Rams have claimed 28-year old QB Kellen Clemens off waivers from the Texans. Clemens didn’t get into any games for the Texans this year. He has played in 25 games (9 starts) in his first six years in the NFL and he has completed 147 of 284 passes (51.8%) for 1,686 yards with 5 TD passes and 11 INTs (67.4 QB Rating). Clemens has also carried the ball 46 times for 128 yards (2.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs so far in his career. Clemens as a career record of 4-5 (44.4%) as a starting QB in the NFL. Clemens will likely be the Rams’ backup QB this Monday Night against the Seattle Seahawks, as Tom Brandstater will likely be making his NFL debut in this game.
The Rams have waived 25-year old CB Nate Ness. Ness played in 2 games for the Rams this year but he didn’t have any tackles. Ness has now played in 6 games in his first three years in the NFL and he has 8 tackles. This is not much of a loss for the Rams as Ness didn’t do much in his stint with the team.