[Elvis]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... bQ.twitter

Concrete surrounding Dome's turf becomes issue

Joe Lyons

For the second time in as many weeks, a visiting player at the Edward Jones Dome was injured after losing his footing when reaching the concrete surrounding the artificial turf.

Last week, Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown skidded into the wall. He hurt his shoulder but stayed in the game. Sunday, veteran Reggie Bush was shoved out of bounds and slipped and fell after his cleats hit the concrete behind the 49ers’ bench.

Bush, slowed early this season with a calf injury, left the game with an apparent knee injury.

“Reggie’s getting an MRI and we don’t have an update at this time,’’ 49ers coach Mike Tomsula told San Francisco reporters Monday. ESPN reported that Bush would have season-ending knee surgery.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher also addressed the issue.

“Let me just say this, there have been hundreds of games here and they haven’t had any issues with it,’’ he said. “I don’t know whether it was different before I got here, but it’s been consistent. The organization, we have had discussions with the NFL league office to see if there’s something we can do. ... This is kind of out of my deal, but player safety is of the utmost importance. ... We’re going to do whatever we need to do to make sure that we don’t have an issue with it.’’

Fisher said his focus has been on his team and the upcoming game with the Minnesota Vikings, but he noted that the Dome isn’t the only NFL stadium with the configuration and that he’s never warned his players about the concrete.

“Never been an issue before,’’ he said.

GAME-CHANGING PLAY

With the Rams up 20-6 with about 5 minutes to play in the third quarter Sunday, the 49ers’ Arik Armstead stripped the ball from Rams running back Benny Cunningham and San Francisco’s Ahmad Brooks scooped up the loose ball and raced 41 yards for a touchdown.

But ...

On his way to collecting the bouncing ball, Brooks grabbed Cunningham’s facemask. So instead of San Francisco getting back into the game, the home team retained possession, picked up 15 yards on the penalty and went on to the 27-6 victory.

“It was a loose ball and there was a personal foul. Obviously, it was the right call,’’ Fisher said. “They felt that Benny had a chance to recover...’’

After the game, Brooks said: “I knew I hit him in the facemask. But it wasn’t intentional.’’

Later, he added: “So by me being taller and trying to get the ball, I guess I grazed his facemask.’’

It looked like more than a graze, and that’s the way the officials saw it, too.

DEFENSE SHINES AGAIN

The Rams’ defense, which has held its last two opponents without a touchdown, has moved to sixth in total defense in the NFL by allowing just 328.1 yards a game. It has been 12 years since the Rams have been ranked as high this late in a season.

In 2005, the Rams were ranked fourth, but for only one week. This year’s Rams are fourth in scoring defense (17.9 points a game), first in red-zone defense (31.3 percent), eighth in third-down conversion defense (34 percent) and tied for second in sacks (26).

Mark Barron, the Rams’ new linebacker, turned in another outstanding game, leading the team with 11 tackles, including 10 solos. He also had a quarterback hit and defended a pass.

Defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Nick Fairley had six tackles apiece. Brockers and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis combined for a first-quarter safety.

Brockers, Robert Quinn and Ethan Westbrooks had the Rams’ sacks. The home team had 14 quarterback pressures and 11 quarterback hits. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald led the way with six pressures and three hits. Defensive end William Hayes had four QB pressures.

PARTICIPATION

Quarterback Nick Foles and offensive linemen Garrett Reynolds, Greg Robinson, Jamon Brown and Tim Barnes were on the field for all 69 offensive plays for the Rams on Sunday. On defense, Barron, Laurinaitis, safety Rodney McLeod and cornerback Janoris Jenkins took all 67 snaps.

At running back, Todd Gurley took 36 snaps (52 percent) while Tre Mason took 21 (30 percent) and Benny Cunningham had 10 (14 percent).

Tavon Austin led the way at wide receiver with 49 snaps (71 percent), followed by Kenny Britt’s 41 (59 percent), Stedman Bailey’s 38 (55 percent), Brian Quick’s 35 (51 percent) and Bradley Marquez’s four (six percent).

Back after sitting out the Cleveland game, Lance Kendricks paced the tight ends with 49 snaps (71 percent). Jared Cook was on the field for 38 snaps (55 percent) and Cory Harkey played 24 (35 percent).

RAM-BLINGS

The NFL announced Monday that the Rams’ Nov. 15 home game against Chicago has been moved to CBS from Fox television. Kickoff remains at noon.

• From the Rams’ PR staff ... Johnny Hekker’s 49.8 net average on punts Sunday was a career best and the 54.5 gross average was the second-best of his career. As a rookie, he averaged 56.9 on seven punts in a 17-3 win over visiting Arizona on Oct. 4, 2012.

• Former Rams running back Isaiah Pead, a second-round draft pick in 2012 who was released earlier this season, has signed with Pittsburgh. On Sunday, the Steelers lost star RB Le’Veon Bell to a season-ending knee injury.

• Cornerback Brandon McGee, a Rams fifth-round draft pick in 2013, cleared waivers Monday after being released by the New York Giants. Also on Monday, Miami cut defensive back Trovon Reed from its practice squad. Reed spent some time on the Rams’ practice squad this season.

[TSFH Fan]

Reggie Bush Is The Latest Victim Of The Rams' Concrete Ring Of Death
http://deadspin.com/reggie-bush-is-the- ... socialflow

The 49ers believe Reggie Bush’s injury, suffered yesterday against the Rams, is a torn ACL, a season-ender. It’s a particularly frustrating one for Bush, who’s had trouble staying healthy throughout his career, because it had basically nothing to do with football. Bush was just the latest victim of a dangerous-as-hell feature unique to St. Louis. . . .

Rams are getting rid of their concrete wall of death
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/11/3/9 ... l-injuries

[RedAlice]

Concrete Wall of Death. LOL.

Good name for our front line.

[dieterbrock]

"Former Rams running back Isaiah Pead, a second-round draft pick in 2012 who was released earlier this season, has signed with Pittsburgh. On Sunday, the Steelers lost star RB Le’Veon Bell to a season-ending knee injury."

Interesting

[RedAlice]

It's interesting you posted this in the Concrete Wall of Death thread, but I can go with that.

Best headline: I Pead a Steeler (ok, I laughed!)

Best option for our Pead: I hope he can make it work supporting Williams there. I hope he is healthy. I hope he takes this opportunity to go play! and be him and make it work. My best to him, I always felt sad he couldn't make it work here.

[Hacksaw]

If a runner cant slow and stop before he gets out a country mile away from the legal playing field, they are either showboating or displaying an incredibly bad sense of depth perception.

[The Ripper]

It's not the Rams problems it's the CVC since the team is just a tenant and not responsible for maintenance.

[RedAlice]

It's not the Rams problems it's the CVC since the team is just a tenant and not responsible for maintenance.

Agree. Somone elsewhere was wondering if Bush could sue. I said that might be fun, because I think he would have to sue the CVC: St. Louis.

I believe they are planning to own the next generic green stadium as well.

[Elvis]

It's not the Rams problems it's the CVC since the team is just a tenant and not responsible for maintenance.

Yep.

As i recall the Rams had a lot of trouble getting the CVC to replace the old turf with the newer stuff back in the early 00's...

[RedAlice]

It's not the Rams problems it's the CVC since the team is just a tenant and not responsible for maintenance.

Yep.

As i recall the Rams had a lot of trouble getting the CVC to replace the old turf with the newer stuff back in the early 00's...

Bush suing the CVC right now could be amusing.