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St. Louis Rams’ Notebook, Week 7 – Entering Rougher Waters

October 23rd, 2012 at 3:49 PM
By Brennon Keys

Forgive me for sounding like the eternal optimist, but the St. Louis Rams are just fine.

They've already exceeded their win total from an abysmal 2011 campaign. On eye test alone, the defense looks like a completely different beast than any Rams team since the franchise arrived in St. Louis. In addition, the rushing performances have improved week after week behind what seems like a two-headed attack and an offensive line that continues to solidify.

Granted, it's not hard to improve when you're starting at the bottom but improve, the Rams (3-4) certainly have. The team has a new personality that not only better personifies the city it plays in, but the division as well.

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St. Louis Rams Continue to Improve in 30-20 Loss

October 21st, 2012 at 4:45 PM
By Brennon Keys

A lot of football heads apply the term “garbage time” to a team that finds any offensive success while attempting to come back from a deficit of two touchdowns or more late in the fourth quarter. The St. Louis Rams found success in garbage time, as Sam Bradford found an open Austin Pettis in the back of the end zone with 19 seconds left in the game.

However, it was garbage time. The touchdown simply made the final score a little prettier, but the 30-20 victory for the Green Bay Packers wasn't as pleasing to the eye of Rams fans.

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Rams 101 Closer Look – Second-Round Selections Quick, Pead Remain Behind Curtain

October 18th, 2012 at 5:15 PM
By Brennon Keys

Michael Brockers. Brian Quick. Isaiah Pead.

Everyone tuned in to the 2012 NFL Draft heard these names called on behalf of the St. Louis Rams in late April, but we haven't heard them much since. Why?

Let's take a closer look.

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St. Louis Rams’ Notebook, Week 6 – Holding Steady

October 17th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
By Brennon Keys

To the casual football fan, the St. Louis Rams didn't look too much like the lesser team in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Sure, both teams currently sit at 3-3 following the game but so do 10 other NFL franchises, including the entire AFC East. The game didn't get nationally televised thanks to the Dallas Cowboys – Baltimore Ravens battle, but it still pitted two of the up-and-coming defenses in the league against each other in a defensive affair. The Rams’ offense rolled up a season-high 462 yards — including a relatively impressive 162 on the ground — against the NFL's No.1 rush defense in the Dolphins.

Only one little problem: the Rams again found difficulty punching the ball in the end zone after crossing their opponent's 20-yard line. It took Sam Bradford almost being broken in half to get a touchdown in the red zone, a perfect representation of the fight and the struggle the team has.

I argued with my father yesterday about the problem, stating that it isn't just limited to the home team. With the league's gradual shift to more dominant passing attacks came smaller offensive linemen and skill players, allowing defenses to match up better when their backs are against the wall.

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St. Louis Rams See Red in 17-14 Loss

October 15th, 2012 at 8:50 PM
By Brennon Keys

The St. Louis Rams had three trips into the red zone Sunday afternoon in Miami but only cashed in with one touchdown, an abysmal rate of 33 percent. For this reason alone, the Rams are 3-3 instead of 4-2 following a 17-14 defeat at the hands of the Miami Dolphins.

Well, maybe not just that reason. St. Louis had many opportunities to make plays on all areas of the field, in all phases of the game. There was crucial play after crucial play that altered the final score in hindsight. But the most glaring disposition is one the Rams have faced all season and seasons’ prior: they can't convert red-zone trips into touchdowns.

Although they had been getting away with this flaw in 2012, the Rams’ safety net — rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein — finally showed signs of wear and tear. Zuerlein missed his first three field goals of the year, including a game-tying attempt to end the game.

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