St. Louis Rams vs. Washington Redskins: Full Report Card Grades for St. Louis
The St. Louis Rams (6-7) came away with an encouraging 24-0 win over the Washington Redskins (3-10), and this article will grade St. Louis' performance.
Not only was this the first time St. Louis has secured back-to-back victories this season, but according to the Fox broadcast, it's also the first time the team has earned back-to-back shutouts since 1945, when the team was known as the Cleveland Rams.
The Redskins were totally overwhelmed by the St. Louis defense. There were numerous three-and-outs and many missed opportunities, so it comes as little surprise that the crowd was screaming for Robert Griffin III by the second half.
The Rams have now gone eight quarters without allowing a single point, and St. Louis has outscored opponents 76-0 throughout the stretch.
This was a great team win for the Rams, and it'll give the team some great momentum as it heads into a Thursday night game against the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals.
For now, here are the grades for each Rams unit against Washington...
Quarterback: A
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Shaun Hill had an excellent afternoon despite dealing with some sloppy protection at times.
Hill ran the offense like a veteran game manager. He went 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) with 213 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. He didn't turn the ball over once.
Hill threw a pick at the end of the game against the San Diego Chargers and lost the game for St. Louis, but other than that one play, he has been a safer option at quarterback and makes fewer mistakes than Austin Davis. You have to wonder if the Rams would have a better record at this point had they stuck with Hill initially.
The Rams need to add a franchise quarterback this offseason, but Hill is proving that the Rams do not need someone elite under center—they need a reliable game manager capable of the occasional big play.
Running Backs: B
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Tre Mason has been excellent for the Rams since taking over the starting role, but this wasn't a flashy performance for the rookie back. He finished with 66 yards and 20 carries and did his part, but he had very few big plays—a 15-yard run was his longest of the game.
It was Tavon Austin who really added a spark to the run game. He carried the ball five times for 46 yards. He took several carries off the reverse and ran very well.
No. 2 running back Benny Cunningham also had a nice day running the ball with 20 yards on three carries.
Mason didn't have the same run lanes that we saw during his 117-yard performance last week against the Oakland Raiders, but overall, Mason and the backs still had a decent game.
Wide Receivers/Tight End: B+
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Without a top-notch quarterback and with pass protection that can be hectic at times, the Rams receivers will seldom produce eye-popping numbers, but this game is about as close as it gets.
Tight end Jared Cook had 61 yards and two touchdowns, making this his second multiple-touchdown game since joining the Rams last season.
At wide receiver, veteran Kenny Britt and second-year pro Stedman Bailey accounted for most of the production. The two receivers combined for four catches and 99 yards.
None of the Rams receivers produce consistently week-to-week, but the offense does a good job at spreading the ball around and getting everyone involved. In this case, the diversity in the receiving game helped the Rams secure the win.
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Offensive Line: C+
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The offensive line got into trouble early on with penalties on Greg Robinson and Scott Wells, but the group managed to cut back on flags and got it together as the game progressed.
The line was certainly not overwhelmed by Washington, and the group turned in an acceptable performance. However, there were some clear struggles that are hard to ignore.
Right tackle Joe Barksdale was completely outmatched by Washington pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan beat Barksdale for two sacks, and the Rams line allowed four sacks overall, per ESPN.
Also, the run blocking was fairly weak. Mason had a monster game last week, but he averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in this game. The St. Louis backs frequently ran into a brick wall of defenders, and it forced many 2nd-and-long situations.
The line has some adjustments to make before it's ready for Arizona, but it could have been much worse.
Defensive Line: A
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Once again, the St. Louis defensive line proves that it's one of the premiere units in the NFL.
Robert Quinn was an absolute nightmare for Washington. He constantly created pressure and finished the game with 1.5 sacks. On one play, he beat left tackle Trent Williams and sacked the quarterback without being touched by Williams—not even a finger.
Rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald had another excellent showing and finished with a sack. He continues to make a case not only for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but also the Pro Bowl. He has seven sacks on the year.
Backup defensive ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims finished with one sack each. Not only can the Rams get it done up front with the starters, but the backups can create havoc as well.
This was another jaw-dropping performance by a group that has become elite after a slow start to the season.
Linebackers: A
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The St. Louis linebackers really struggled with run defense early in the year, but the group has tightened up and has been excellent in recent weeks.
James Laurinaitis finished with 1.5 sacks and now has 3.5 on the year. Second-year pro Alec Ogletree looked lost early in the year but is now becoming a playmaker on defense—he had six tackles and batted down a key pass at the line of scrimmage.
Thanks to the linebackers stepping up their game, it's hard to find another defensive front in the NFL that's currently outplaying the Rams.
Secondary: A
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The defensive front can be counted on week-to-week, but it's the improved secondary play that allowed St. Louis to beat the Denver Broncos and secure back-to-back wins against the Oakland Raiders and Washington.
Starting safeties T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod each secured an interception, and McLeod added a forced fumble. Backup safety Mark Barron also got involved with a quarterback sack, and he has done very well with limited playing time.
The Rams cornerbacks completely shut down the Washington receivers. Pierre Garcon had 95 yards, but St. Louis did not allow a single reception for 20 or more yards.
Thanks to the secondary's great game, the St. Louis defense finishes with straight As for a second consecutive week.
Special Teams: B-
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This is by far the hardest unit to grade from this game.
On one hand, we can't let Greg Zuerlein off the hook for his missed point after touchdown (PAT) and two missed field goals (28 and 38 yards). That's unacceptable, and it could have easily cost St. Louis the game if not for Washington's totally inept offense.
However, Zuerlein came back and nailed a 34-yard kick in the third quarter. Additionally, Johnny Hekker faked a PAT and hit Cory Harkey for a two-point conversion pass, and Austin returned a punt for a 55-yard touchdown.
There were some brutal moments on special teams but also some brilliant moments. As such, the grade should land somewhere in the middle for a B-.
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