[Elvis]

Fisher says Cook did the right thing sitting down in zone coverage. Do we buy it?

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/p ... ers-pick-6

Rams' protection breakdown gave Packers' pick-six

Nick Wagoner

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A look back at the turning point play in the St. Louis Rams' 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday:

The situation: Near the end of the first quarter, the Rams and Packers engaged in a shocking exchange of turnovers. It started when Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis ended Aaron Rodgers' streak of nearly 600 pass attempts without an interception at Lambeau Field and was followed just three plays later when quarterback Nick Foles threw one to Packers defensive back Micah Hyde.

But the Rams found a way to get a defensive stop after that sudden change and get the ball back at their 41 after stopping running back Eddie Lacy on fourth-and-1. That gave the Rams a fresh start with good field position and facing just a 7-0 deficit. After a delay of game penalty and two plays that netted 6 yards, the Rams had third-and-9 at their 42.

The play: Foles lined up in the shotgun with tight end Jared Cook split right, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin split left and running back Benny Cunningham next to him in the backfield. The Packers, meanwhile, offered a more unique look with two down linemen and Clay Matthews and Mike Neal standing up outside the shoulder of the offensive tackles.

As you'd expect on third-and-long, Green Bay was clearly looking for pass here with five defensive backs and two linebackers dropping into a basic zone coverage. That means they only rushed four, which should have given the Rams a chance to block it considering they only had five in to protect Foles. But this play was pretty much doomed from the start.

From his spot at the top of the formation, Cook ran a simple crossing route with his primary focus on finding a soft spot in the zone (presumably beyond the sticks). But before any of that happened, Green Bay defensive lineman Datone Jones exploded off the ball and split right tackle Rob Havenstein and right guard Rodger Saffold.

The Packers were running a game in which Jones was to push the edge and allow Neal a chance to circle inside and get to Foles. But Jones was so successful pushing between Havenstein and Saffold that Neal really never got much of a chance to do anything. Jones quickly got past Saffold, who fell to the ground with a shoulder injury, and left Havenstein trying to get in front of Jones. With one eye on Neal, Havenstein was unable to get in position to stop Jones, who was in Foles' face in short order.

With Jones there so quickly, Foles forced the throw to the left to Cook, who had found his spot in the zone but didn't have a chance to make a play on the ball as Foles threw wide left as the pressure came.

Havenstein put blame on himself for the play after the game but it's clear from re-watching that he was in an almost impossible spot given the circumstances.

"So, when you talk about quarterback play, so many other things that are related to that," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "Now, in retrospect Nick said, ‘I should’ve taken the sack.’ He was hoping to step up and make that throw. Then he felt the pressure. Then he tried to get it to Cook. He didn’t see the outside defender.”

The outside defender happened to be Green Bay defensive back Quinten Rollins, who happily grabbed Foles' throw and raced 45 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.

The fallout: There were more big plays and near misses that happened along the way before this one was over but Rollins' pick-six was Foles' second interception in as many drives and the one that happened to lead to the game-winning points for Green Bay. Rollins' score and subsequent Lambeau Leap gave Green Bay a 14-0 lead, a lead that would shrink to 14-10 but never saw the Rams get any closer.

Foles went on to throw two more interceptions, including another to Rollins on a day when the Rams defense managed three takeaways. But it was the Rams' own turnovers that proved the difference between an expected loss and a surprising win. None of those Green Bay takeaways were bigger than the one that instantly resulted in a touchdown.

[snackdaddy]

So the line was responsible for the pressure? One GB lineman just beat the blockers. Period. Shouldn't be a surprise. Our blockers aren't good enough to win individual matches. They need to find something that will work. Handing off to Gurley is one obvious solution. But when you know you have to throw, and the defense knows it too, we're at a huge disadvantage. Defenders are licking their chops knowing that guy in front of him isn't good enough to stop him.

[dieterbrock]

My man Cook blew it.
If he completes his route, worst case is an incomplete

[Elvis]

Maybe Fisher is saying Cook didn't blow it on that play because he's on the block?

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jas ... t-heats-up

JASON LA CANFORA
CBS Sports NFL Insider

Teams target Vernon Davis, Jared Cook as tight end market heats up
October 18, 2015 8:38 am ET

Several teams are exploring upgrading at tight end ahead of next month's NFL trade deadline, with the 49ers and Rams fielding recent calls exploring the availability of Vernon Davis and Jared Cook, respectively, according to multiple league sources. Both clubs appear open to that possibility, and while no deals are imminent at this time, they could well come to pass prior to the Nov. 3 deadline.

The 49ers and Rams have not begun shopping those players to all comers, but it is widely held among other teams that they could be had, and teams will continue to monitor that market and determine price points for those players up until the deadline.

San Francisco is rebuilding, Davis is in the final year of his deal and he has not clicked with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and will not be returning to San Francisco next year in all likelihood. He has been injured, but is nearing a return and would very much welcome a change of scenery, sources said.

Dealing him at the deadline would require a team to pay a little more than half of his $4.7-million salary (including weekly roster bonuses). The 49ers have already had an exodus of veterans in recent years and Davis could well be the next; landing a draft pick for Davis now -- rather than waiting for a compensatory pick in 2017 should he leave as a free agent -- would appeal to the 49ers. Similarly, a team that trades for him could then offset the loss of the draft pick traded for Davis by netting a 2017 compensatory pick should he not be re-signed.

Cook's contract makes a move for him trickier, but that has not stopped teams from at least making exploratory phone calls. He has two years, worth $7 million a season, left on his deal beyond 2015, but all of his guaranteed money is paid, so a team could part with him in the offseason without cap or cash ramifications. His production has been spotty, but he does have the capacity to make explosive plays. It may prove difficult for the Rams to get the kind of return they would hope given the expense involved in picking up the contract, but with tight end Lance Kendricks under contract in St. Louis through 2018, teams will continue to gauge Cook's value ahead of the deadline.

Several NFL executives believe this could be a more fertile trade deadline than normal, with clubs now adjusted to the later deadline and with there being a growing delineation between the haves and the have nots, with half a dozen teams undefeated and a legion of clubs with one win or less. Teams generally have been reluctant to assume the seller's role in the NFL, even when struggling, but that stigma seems less relevant to some of the younger general managers in the game, and with bigger name players available (including Matt Forte in Chicago) and the salary cap finally seriously on the rise, the potential for meaningful moves seems greater.

[Stranger]

Please please please deal Cookie to another team.

[Hacksaw]

Sorry Elvis. Didn't see your La Canfora article here.

[Elvis]

No worries, i like the initiative. If you find some news, post it...