Week 11 Game Recap: St. Louis Rams 0, Carolina Panthers 15

What you need to know

St. Louis Rams

QB Marc Bulger was hit hard and often through the first half. The Saint Louis patchwork offensive line showed little to no ability to protect Bulger. The Rams responded with terribly conservative play calling in the third quarter resulting in four consecutive three and out series. Their 111 yards of total offense are indicative of how much they miss Pro Bowl LT Orlando Pace.

RB Steven Jackson’s seven receptions were related to the Rams’ inability to protect. The Panthers’ pass rush forced QB Marc Bulger to get rid of the ball quickly. They didn’t have a chance to get the ball deep down field to Bruce and Holt.

The Rams’ rush defense has serious issues. They allowed four Panthers to combine for a franchise record of 243 yards on the ground. Over the last four weeks they’ve allowed 216, 186, 160, and 243 yards for an average of 201 yards per game. During this stretch running backs are routinely gashing the Rams with seven to ten yard carries.

Carolina Panthers

The rushing duo of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams ran for 126 combined yards in the first half (63 yards each), but Foster left the game with a hyper extended elbow and received x-rays in the locker room. He didn’t return to action. Williams saw the bulk of carries in the second half, but still shared with FB Brad Hoover and backup RB Nick Goings. Williams appears to have regained the explosive burst fully returning from the ankle injury.

WR Steve Smith abused rookie CB Tye Hill and might have posted monster numbers if the game situation would have dictated it. Smith had a second touchdown negated due to an offensive lineman illegally downfield, and a possible third score missed due to a terrible pass from WR Keyshawn Johnson on a reverse. Further, the Panthers didn’t need to throw the ball because they were finding it so easy to pile up rushing yards.

What you ought to know

QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 19 - 34 - 142 - 0 TD / 1 INT

Bulger faced a very heavy pass rush through the first half. He was dropped five times and hurried on several other throws. The Rams were forced to go conservative with their play calling to try and keep Bulger upright. He misses LT Orlando Pace more than words can express. Bulger simply didn’t have a chance to be successful throwing the ball because he isn’t mobile enough to avoid the pass rush by himself.

RB Steven Jackson, Rush: 7 - 27 - 0, Rec: 7 - 30 - 0 (9 targets)

The Rams never gave Jackson a chance to control the game with the run. It seemed as if they abandoned Jackson carrying the ball before the game started knowing that they wouldn’t be able to move the sticks with him carrying the ball. He had a single carry in the first quarter on three Saint Louis possessions. Even though the game was only a 13 point deficit the Rams never leaned on Jackson as a ball carrier. They opted to keep dropping back and using Jackson as a passing outlet when QB Marc Bulger was hurried.

RB Stephen Davis, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets)

Davis entered the game on the second Rams’ possession in the first quarter. His only touches were a single carry and passing target.

WR Torry Holt, Rec: 7 - 68 - 0 (11 targets)

Holt had his first catch negated by a penalty, and followed that up with a drop on his third target. Holt saw the majority of his targets on short crossing routes. He was able to turn two of them up the field for longer gains, but realistically Holt didn’t have much of a chance due to the dynamic of the weak Saint Louis offensive line and strong Panthers’ pass rush. Holt ended the game on a down note as well. Just when the Rams started to click at the start of the fourth quarter Holt fumbled to kill a drive. He was switching the ball from one hand to the other as he was getting hit and the ball popped out.

WR Isaac Bruce, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (6 targets)

Bruce suffered from the Rams’ lack of protection for QB Marc Bulger. However, he didn’t help himself either with two dropped passes in the first half.

WR Shaun McDonald, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets)

McDonald dropped a sure catch on third down to start the game, killing the Rams’ opening drive. His only catch was on another third down in the third quarter. McDonald caught a short out on third and 8, but only ran the route five yards.

WR Kevin Curtis (4 targets)

Curtis made his lone reception at the start of the fourth quarter just when the Rams’ offense started to show some life. He did a nice job of diving for the sticks to make sure he gained enough for the first down on the play.

TE Joe Klopfenstein, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Klopfenstein was responsible for the long gain of the day for the Rams. His 18 yard reception was on a deep out on the right sideline.

PK Jeff Wilkins 0 - 0 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 0 points

Wilkins didn’t attempt a field goal or an extra point in the game.

STL Rush Defense

The Rams’ front seven is getting manhandled week in and week out. They aren’t able to close up running lanes and teams are taking full advantage of it. It was expected from LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson, but not Maurice Morris and the previously anemic Panthers’ running game. The defensive front is consistently getting dominated at the point of attack and the linebackers aren’t filling gaps when quickly and with authority.

STL Pass Defense

Rookie CB Tye Hill was tested early and often by WR Steve Smith. He was beat on the first play of the game deep, but QB Jake Delhomme missed Smith with an overthrow. Smith beat him shortly after that play for a 22 yard touchdown, but a penalty on an offensive lineman bailed Hill out again. Smith beat him for a 62 yard touchdown later on. Hill rebounded to intercept a pass late in the game, but it was off a horribly thrown pass from WR Keyshawn Johnson on a trick play. The Rams’ pass rush was led by the two sacks of DT La’Roi Glover, but largely insignificant due to the success of the Panthers’ running attack.

QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 13 - 25 - 191 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - -3 - 0

Aided by the team’s 243 yards rushing, Delhomme only need to make sure he didn’t screw up and lose the game. After having an early touchdown pass negated by penalty Delhomme threw a poor pass intended for WR Keary Colbert that was picked off killing a sure scoring drive. He rebounded later hitting WR Steve Smith on a long touchdown, but the pass was under thrown and Smith did a good job coming back to the ball. From that perspective Delhomme got lucky. The Panthers continued to struggle on third downs (currently last in the NFL at 26.9%). They converted six of fifteen chances on third down today, but it could have been more if Delhomme was more accurate and made better decisions.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 20 - 114 - 0, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (1 targets)

Early in the game Williams split carries with starting RB DeShaun Foster. Williams flashed the same explosion that he displayed early in the season before his ankle injury. He has the start and stop ability to break runs to the outside for huge gains when there’s no room to run between the tackles. After Foster left the game with an elbow injury Williams saw the majority of carries in the second half that put him over the century mark, but he still split carries with RB Nick Goings and FB Brad Hoover. Williams nearly returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the second half, but was caught from behind by CB Tye Hill (there was also a penalty that brought the play back). On a negative note Williams fumbled near the end of the third quarter as he was pounding between the tackles, but luckily fell straight down on the ball.

RB DeShaun Foster, Rush: 9 - 63 - 0

Foster found tons of room to run through the first half. He was through the line of scrimmage and into the secondary on four of his nine first half carries running mostly between the tackles. However, he landed hard on his arm just before halftime on a carry. He sprung up quickly, but ran directly to the sideline holding his arm. X-rays were taken at halftime and early indications were that Foster suffered a hyper extended elbow. He reportedly could have returned if he was needed but he did not play in the second half.

RB Brad Hoover, Rush: 7 - 34 - 0, Rec: 1 - -3 - 0 (4 targets)

Hoover saw an inordinate amount of touches in this game primarily due to the elbow injury to starting RB DeShaun Foster. Hoover saw three first half carries and two passing targets. He followed that up with four later carries when the Panthers were winding down the clock. However, Hoover fumbled on his last carry when the Panthers were about to score and put an exclamation point on the win.

RB Nick Goings, Rush: 4 - 34 - 0, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (2 targets)

Goings was gifted the last touch of the first half and took a short pass up field for a 23 yard gain. When RB DeShaun Foster didn’t return in the second half Goings picked up extra touches with four carries and another reception.

WR Keyshawn Johnson, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rec: 4 - 55 - 0 (7 targets)

Johnson didn’t see his first target until early in the second quarter. He caught his only other target on a short seven yard out before halftime. Johnson caught three consecutive targets at the start of the fourth quarter. The first two were short dumps on first down plays. The last was a deep 34 yard slant converting a long third down. He grabbed the defenders face mask attempting use a stiff arm resulting in a personal foul. Johnson took a reverse on the next play and attempted to thrown deep towards the end zone to WR Steve Smith, but the throw was woefully short and intercepted.

WR Steve Smith, Rec: 4 - 90 - 1 (9 targets)

Smith was targeted deep down the right sideline on the first Carolina play from scrimmage, but QB Jake Delhomme overthrew him slightly. The two hooked up shortly after this for a 22 yard touchdown, but a penalty on an offensive lineman negated the play. Smith also had another reception negated by his own offensive pass interference later in the first quarter. He rebounded before halftime with a 62 yard touchdown over the top. Smith made a nice adjustment coming back to the ball while it was in the air. He missed out on another scoring chance when WR Keyshawn Johnson threw an interception on a reverse intended for Smith. He was open behind the defense, but the pass was under thrown.

Smith gave owners a scare when he appeared to injure his shoulder after landing hard on it stretching out for a long reception. He stayed on the ground for a second and looked to be in obvious pain. He was also battling a stomach issue as after the shoulder injury, he promptly went to the sidelines, covered his head with a towel and threw up in a trashcan. Smith quickly returned to action though.

WR Keary Colbert (1 targets)

Colbert’s lone target was intercepted at the end of the first Carolina possession. He wasn’t open on the route. It was a poorly thrown pass from QB Jake Delhomme.

TE Kris Mangum (1 targets)

Mangum saw his lone target just before halftime. He was a non-factor in the Saint Louis offense this week.

PK John Kasay 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

There was nothing to significance to report from the Carolina kicking game.

CAR Rush Defense

The Panthers’ front seven weren’t tested in this game. RB Steven Jackson had only seven carries. The Rams came into the game intending to utilize a short passing game due to injuries and inadequacies across their offensive lines.

CAR Pass Defense

Carolina set a team record with seven sacks. Missing LT Orlando Pace had a huge impact on the game. QB Marc Bulger’s longest completed pass was only 18 yards because they had little to no chance of stopping the Panthers pass rush. The Rams choose to double All-world DE Julius Peppers freeing up others in the front seven to take advantage of one on one blocking situations.