Colts vs. Rams: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for St. Louis
The St. Louis Rams lost 24-14 to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, giving St. Louis its third consecutive loss in the preseason.
The score might not show it, but this was the best overall performance by the Rams this preseason, at least for the first-team units. It wasn't a phenomenal outing, but it was enough to slightly reassure Rams fans after last week's nightmare exhibition against the Tennessee Titans.
Nick Foles was the star of the show. He had just one incompletion, exceeded 100 yards passing and tossed his very first touchdown in a Rams uniform. The defensive front seven was also quite impressive. The unit provided relentless pressure, stingy run defense and appears to be approaching regular-season form.
We saw a lot of positives, but it was still not enough to overcome the deficit and secure the win.
This article will break down the game, including position grades, key observations and quotes.
Position Grades for Rams
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| Position | Grade |
| QB | A+ |
| RB | B+ |
| WR | B |
| TE | C |
| OL | C- |
| DL | A+ |
| LB | A |
| DB | B |
| Special Teams | B |
| Coaching | C |
After last week's debacle against the Tennessee Titans, the Rams bounced back and had a much better showing at nearly every position.
Foles' performance could not have been more flawless. He went 10-of-11 with 128 yards, including a beautiful 44-yard bomb to Chris Givens. Foles had a horrific 18-yard performance last week in Tennessee, so this is exactly what Rams fans wanted to see before the regular season.
The backs did not post gaudy numbers, but they played with a lot of guts. Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham had catches for 16 and 14 yards, respectively. Isaiah Pead also contributed with a nice 13-yard run, and Trey Watts rushed for a touchdown with the second-team offense.
Kenny Britt and Givens were the only wideouts to catch a pass with the starting unit. Britt had a few poor routes, including a miscommunication that resulted in Foles' only incompletion of the night. Still, Givens' touchdown was a remarkable play. Tavon Austin also had a nice 25-yard grab, but it was wiped out thanks to a very questionable penalty by the refs.
The tight ends were quiet. Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks combined for two catches and nine yards, but they did a nice job as blockers.
Of course, the offensive line remains the biggest question mark. The run blocking is still lacking, and Rob Havenstein nearly got Foles killed after being beat by the pass rush on two occasions. Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney both had facemask penalties on the same series, killing one of St. Louis' best drives of the night.
On the bright side, the defensive line was excellent. On one instance, with the Colts starting a drive backed up at their own goal line, Aaron Donald made three consecutive stops in the backfield, forcing a punt. The pressure was consistent, and the Rams held the Colts to just 28 rushing yards in the first half.
The linebackers also had a great night. One of the coaches must have given this group a serious pep talk, because they were all over the field. James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree were all over the backfield, and backup linebacker Bryce Hager had a fumble recovery in the second half.
The secondary had its ups and downs. Janoris Jenkins was torched by Andre Johnson for a 32-yard touchdown. On the other hand, T.J. McDonald was excellent in run support, and Andrew Luck only completed 57.1 percent of his passes.
On special teams, the only negative was Indianapolis' successful onside kick. Punter Johnny Hekker was the star of this group, as he kept the Colts pinned back in their own territory.
As for the coaching, the play-calling was much more effective this week. Unfortunately, the penalties and lack of discipline continue to be a major issue.
Nick Foles Can Win with Proper Support
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We saw it in Philadelphia. And despite last week's terrible outing, we're beginning to see glimpses of it in St. Louis.
When the offensive support is up to par, Foles has what it takes to win football games. He's one of the key elements the Rams have been lacking the past two seasons. With a top-notch defense and a competent quarterback, the Rams have all the pieces to compete in the NFC West.
The primary question is whether or not the supporting cast on offense will allow Foles to thrive.
After three preseason games, the offensive line is not improving with its run blocking. As we saw in 2013, when Foles made the Pro Bowl, a healthy run game is absolutely vital toward his success. Foles got it done through the air that season, but the Eagles also had the best rushing attack in the NFL. Without that, it's doubtful the Rams can maximize Foles' talents.
Also, while the receivers have been solid this preseason, it's still not enough. Britt running routes short of the first-down marker, despite being a seventh-year veteran, is not doing Foles any favors. And when the receivers can't get open, forcing Foles to constantly check down to his backs and tight ends, it hurts the entire offense.
If the offense is going to allow Foles to thrive and the team to compete, the line needs to overcome its inept run blocking, and the receivers have to play like veterans.
If that doesn't happen, Foles will be helpless, and we'll witness yet another year of incompetent play on that side of the ball.
Sky Is the Limit for the Defense
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The Colts—one of the top offenses in the game—were completely overwhelmed by the St. Louis front seven.
What's frightening is that the defensive unit is only giving a heartless preseason effort. When opening day arrives and the throttle is cranked up, there's no telling how dominant the St. Louis defense will be. With a star-studded defensive line, the Rams have the tools to finally create the best defense in football—a goal this organization has been building toward for some time.
It's also encouraging that the backups continued to thrive against Indianapolis in the second half, holding the Colts to just one touchdown. That's a sign of capable and productive depth.
The key to Saturday's solid defensive showing was the secondary. The defensive backs did much better in coverage this week and forced incompletions on nearly half of Luck's pass attempts. The improved coverage gave the front seven more time to create a pass rush and make plays, and the result was extremely positive.
If the secondary can find some consistency, it will be difficult for opposing teams to overcome the St. Louis defense. Without question, it will be a fun group to watch this season.
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Don't Expect the Penalties to Improve
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The Rams opened the preseason with 10 penalties against the Oakland Raiders and followed that up with nine in Tennessee. Against the Colts, the Rams were guilty of another 10 penalties.
Overall this preseason, the Rams have lost the penalty battle 29-15—nearly doubling the number of penalties committed by opponents—for a total of 229 yards.
The rate of penalties this preseason has reached an absurd level. When Jones and Rhaney both had facemask penalties on the same drive, ruining a nice series, it became clear that this team isn't even making an effort to cut back on flags.
It's hard to say why we aren't seeing more of an emphasis on this issue. Perhaps Jeff Fisher fears that consciously avoiding penalties will take away from the team's nastiness and intensity. Or, maybe the officials are too aware of St. Louis' reputation as an edgy team, resulting in the refs being unfairly overcritical.
Whether it's poor coaching or ref discrimination, one thing is perfectly clear: The penalties will not end.
It's probably best to just get used to it and hope the Rams can pull off wins regardless.
Torry Holt on Chris Givens
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"The second play in a second week to the same guy." - Torry Holt on Rams receiver Chris Givens, per the Fox broadcast.
If there was any doubt, consider it gone. Givens has made this football team.
Last week in Tennessee, Givens torched the Titans defense for an 80-yard touchdown bomb. Against the Colts, Givens came up big again with a 44-yard score—the first touchdown of the preseason for the first-team offense.
Givens is starting to resemble his rookie self. That year, he caught a pass of 50 or more yards in five straight games.
After catching just 11 passes for 159 yards last year, it appeared Givens was being phased out of the offense. He was on his last leg. Now, he's suddenly outplaying every receiver on the team.
Bud Sasser is no longer with the team, and Damian Williams has been silent this preseason, so Givens' competition for a roster spot is basically nonexistent. Even if Sasser and Williams were still in the mix, it'd be hard to justify cutting Givens loose after his excellent preseason performances.
Foles thrived in Philadelphia with small, speedy receivers on the outside—DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin—so he certainly knows how to maximize that type of receiver. Givens is less talented but still built from the same mold.
It will be interesting to see if Givens can revive his once-promising career. It seems he'll have every opportunity to do so this season.
Andrew Siciliano on Trey Watts
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"You can argue that Trey Watts is the third-best back on this team." - Andrew Siciliano on running back Trey Watts, per the Fox broadcast.
Watts was excellent a week ago against the Titans. He racked up 99 total yards, including 53 rushing yards and an 8.8 yards-per-carry average.
His numbers were less flashy against the Colts—six carries for 18 yards—but he did punch in St. Louis' second touchdown of the game on a nice three-yard run.
What hurts about Watts' preseason success is the fact he'll be unavailable early in the year. According to NFL.com, Watts was suspended for the first four games of 2015 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
As Andrew Siciliano mentioned during the broadcast, an argument can be made that Watts is a top-three back on this team. Maybe not a strong argument, since Cunningham has been a great role player for this team, but it's clear that Watts has something to offer.
A lot of people are eagerly awaiting Todd Gurley's return, but the return of Watts in Week 5 will also be a great upgrade for the offense.
Until Gurley proves he can stay healthy and productive, the Rams will be depending on a rotation at the position. With Watts around, that rotation will be slightly stronger.
Jim Thomas on the Injury to Jamon Brown
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"(Jamon) Brown's foot (or) ankle injury doesn't appear to be severe. Brown got (his) ankle taped and is standing on the sideline. No ice." - Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on guard Jamon Brown's injury, via Twitter.
Rookie offensive lineman Jamon Brown took a nasty hit during Foles' touchdown to Givens. Brown dropped to the turf and stayed down for some time, but he eventually walked off with the trainers.
When a player is hit low and doesn't get up, the usual fear is that it's the dreaded ACL tear. Fortunately, Brown's knee is fine, and Jim Thomas reported that it's not thought to be serious.
Even though Brown is only a rookie, it's still vital for the Rams to keep all starting linemen healthy. The unit is struggling enough as it is and cannot afford to lose a starter.
Expect Brown to join Rodger Saffold on the sidelines until Week 1. The two injured linemen need to be ready for the opener, so the Rams won't take any chances by forcing them on the field too early.
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