The Tape: Rams @ Seahawks 4th Quarter

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2008 1:39 PM PDT in Seahawks Game Recaps

Not much to report from an anticlimactic and uncompetitive quarter of football, but that gives me a chance to pass along a couple global impressions from Sunday's contest with the Rams.

First, here's a brief site announcement. I'll be gone from midday Thursday to Saturday night. Alanya and I are camping in Olympic National Park.

Returning a Frozen Dove: Matt Hasselbeck has really struggled throwing short passes, both taking too long to pass and throwing the ball into the dirt. Passes to Julius Jones have been worth -32 DYAR, currently worst in the NFL among backs targeted eight or more times. That suckfest nearly cancels out Jones' contributions as a running back. Of course, excepting his one drop, Jones hasn't been to blame for the poor production. Maybe it's a feel thing, or a trust thing, but Beck was good short passer last season. I think the two figure it out and reverse the trend.

Chris Spencer, Steve Vallos and Adam Carriker: Carriker is among Saint Louis's finest talents. Against Seattle he recorded three tackles for a loss, two more tackles that prevented success and a pressure that forced an incomplete. Those six solo tackles were Carriker's first solo tackles of the season. In their previous two games, the Rams faced 63 rush attempts. Carriker managed only an assist. Some of that's on Spencer, who looks to be developing into an average center, a flop of a first round pick. Still average is tenable. Vallos is anything but. On Sesattle's final meaningful rushing attempt of the game, Vallos subbed for Floyd Womack. At the snap, Carriker bowled Vallos over and into the legs of Duckett, tackling Duckett for a loss of one. So, bust or not, it can get a lot worse.

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any impressions on...

chris long?

by langsty on Sep 24, 2008 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

He looks overmatched as an end, even small.

I think Carriker and Long would play better in a 3-4. Carriker at nose or end and Long as an outside linebacker. There’s so little talent there an overhaul would be painless.

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

What about his ridiculous

makeup? Guy thinks he’s the Crow or something

Dick Dastardly and Muttley with sick laughter

by Wayward Llama on Sep 24, 2008 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Are you factoring in passes the Hass is just throwing away towards the RB?

I’ve noticed 1 or 2 just chucked into the dirt because the RB wasn’t going to go anywhere.

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Sep 24, 2008 2:00 PM PDT reply actions

Football Outsiders factors in any pass targeting a running back according to play by play.

I’m accounting for throwaways, but some of those passes into the dirt were just bad passes.

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Heh, maybe Matt's just used to throwing to the dirt

After all, passing to Shaun was not much different.

by djafrot on Sep 24, 2008 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions

What did you think of Duckett's big runs? Just garbage time carries against a tired defense, or did he actually show something?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 24, 2008 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

I think he looked good.

Cutting back, picking lanes and showing a decent second gear. I didn’t see the Rams defense give up. One could argue that the Rams knew the run was coming every play and Duckett still performed. I think, all in all, Duckett had a good game against a somewhat below average run defense.

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions