Every Down Back
by Dave Gardner
How far can Jim Haslett take the Rams? And other news and notes from Week 7.
The Associated Press is going to need a new award for Jim Haslett: interim coach of the year.
It would even have fair competition, with interim Raiders head coach Tom Cable winning his first game by beating the New York Jets.
Regardless of awards, the turnaround for the St. Louis Rams (2-4) has been astounding under Haslett. They have rebounded from a four-game losing streak to start the season with a two-game winning streak over supposed NFC East powerhouses Washington and Dallas.
The Cowboys were without their star quarterback, sure, and they also were without a couple of cornerbacks, but Haslett has a different theory about the win.
“I think it’s just the will of the players more than anything,” Haslett told reporters after the game. “You’ve got guys out there that are playing hard. If you’ve been to the practices, the guys are practicing with a purpose.”
The will of Steven Jackson was evident above any other. He ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, including a 56-yard run in the third quarter.
At least five Cowboys defenders were within and arm’s length of Jackson on the run, but none were able to bring him down.
Haslett attributed much of the success on the ground to the offensive line.
“I thought the line did a nice job blocking,” he said. “They were in rhythm.”
With the running game finally moving and the line finally protecting, the Rams were able to set up the play-action pass.
Halfway through the first quarter, the Rams had a first-and-10 at the Cowboys’ 42-yard line. In a single-back set with two tight ends and Donnie Avery the lone receiver split out to the left, Marc Bulger play-faked to Jackson and threw a perfectly timed rainbow to Avery.
“I think Marc’s really stepped up his game, more off the field in the areas you don’t see than what you actually see,” Haslett said. “He’s kind of taken over the team, he’s been a leader on offense.”
Bulger, who was an estranged figure under Linehan, has responded well to the vote of confidence from Haslett. Haslett, in turn, has benefited from Bulger’s leadership.
“He’s taken over,” Haslett said. “He’s the older guy, and you’ve got a bunch of young guys around him: a line that hasn’t been together that long and a couple of young running backs. He needs to take control of this football team, and I think he’s doing a nice job of it.”
For almost any other football team, a 2-4 record would mean they were delegated to the role of spoiler for the rest of the season. For this young team and this coach looking for a rebirth in his career, every win counts.
“We’re 2-4,” Haslett said. “You can say whatever you want. Hopefully we can get back into the division race. Fortunately we have games against the teams ahead of us.”
Admirably, Haslett isn’t taking any credit.
“It has nothing to do with the head coach,” Haslett said. “It’s the guys in that room. They decided they wanted to turn the season around.”
Whether or not the Rams do turn the season around – and it seems unlikely that they do – Haslett has changed the approach of the team.
He has made football fun again.
“We’ll go out and have fun, practice hard and do what’s right,” he said.
Doing what’s right may not get him a new AP award, but it should get him a new job.
Playoffs? You wanna talk about playoffs?
AFC
1. Titans (6-0): For a team coming off of a bye, the Titans had some troubling injuries in the wide receiving corps, but that’s not what this team is built on. Running backs Chris Johnson and LenDale White ran wild on Sunday.
2. Bills (5-1): Marcus Stroud ruined Philip Rivers’ day. The Chargers gave their best game, but the Bills are here to stay in the AFC East title race.
3. Steelers (5-1): The gap in the division continues to grow for the Steelers, but they have a couple of tough NFC East games coming up: versus New York and at Washington. Let’s see how tough that first-ranked defense really is.
4. Broncos (4-2): Andre Hall: 2 carries, 2 fumbles, negative seven yard on the ground. This team has got to start holding on to the football.
5. Patriots (3-2): A signature win for the Patriots ends with a sore knee for breakout star Sammy Morris. If he can take the pressure off of Cassell, the Patriots offense can get the training wheels taken off.
6. Jaguars (3-3): It’s hard to imagine two teams making the playoffs from the AFC South, and neither of them being the Colts. The Jaguars have lost Matt Jones for three games due to a suspension, but they should be able to take out Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit.
NFC
1. Giants (5-1): Two weeks in a row of uninspired play from Eli Manning and two weeks in a row of uninspired play from the Giants. That’s not a coincidence. This team goes as Manning goes.
2. Buccaneers (5-2): What’s not to love about this defense? Young stars like Aqib Talib and Barrett Ruud playing along wily veterans like Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks. They’re playing with speed, with power and, most importantly, with swagger. They know they’re tough, and they let opponents know it as well.
3. Cardinals (4-2): Who is going to step up and challenge Arizona in this division? The Matt Hasselbeck-less Seahawks or two teams with interim head coaches in San Francisco and St. Louis?
4. Bears (4-3): Kyle Orton looks like more than just a game manager in this offense, and, with just an average cast, is putting up some impressive perfomances. He’s not afraid to fit passes into tight windows.
5. Panthers (5-2): The victory was important for the Panthers after getting embarrassed by the Bucs in Tampa last Sunday. The NFC South race will come down to these two teams.
6. Redskins (5-2): Clinton Portis is the NFL’s leading rusher, and he’s on pace for an 1,800-yard season, and no one is talking about it.
Fast Facts
Fact of the Week No. 1: On opening weekend, Drew Brees recorded a passer rating of 124.9 against the Bucs. Combined average of opposing passer’s since: 58.6.
Fact of the Week No. 2: Trent Edwards passer rating by quarter. First, 83.6; Second, 86.1; Third, 95.1; Fourth, 133.1. Talk about clutch..
Fact of the Week No. 3: The Colts are averaging 3.3 yards per rushing attempt.
Weekly MVPs
Offense: Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins. Again, no one is talking about Clinton Portis. Sunday, Portis ran for 175 yards on 27 carries, a collegian 6.5 yards per carry. He has scored seven touchdowns on the ground this season, and he has been able to carry the offense when Jason Campbell has struggled.
Defense: Aaron Rouse, S Green Bay Packers. Rouse, who has missed a couple of games due to injury this season, was strong against the Colts. He moved all around the field, contributing five tackles, and a beautiful bait on Peyton Manning. He laid back in coverage, then jumped Manning’s pass and took it 99 yard for the game-sealing touchdown.
I’ll Deny I Ever Wrote This…
Mike Singletary, the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers, might have trouble remaining the coach after the season. Mile Holmgren has promised to take the year off, but he is moving to San Francisco, and you’d better believe that ownership is putting together a nice package for him in a G.M.-style role. And he’ll want his own guys running the show.
Don’t fight it, write it! Got a question or a comment? Send it in to theconstantgardner@newerascouting.com. Include your name and hometown, and I might include you in an upcoming article (unless you instruct me otherwise).