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Rams chat with Jim Thomas

Submit your Rams and NFL questions and comments NOW; talk to Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas.

by Mike Smithon Oct 8, 2012 at 2:40 PM

Sorry I'm a little late. Just got out of a long meeting. For starters, I've gotten questions the past couple of weeks on the salary cap ramifications in 2013 and beyond of the contract extensions signed by Chris Long and James Laurinaitis. Long counts $13.25 million against the cap in 2013; $13.2 million in 2014, $10 million in 2015, and $11.75 million. There are some escalators tied to the Pro Bowl and playoffs that could raise those figures by about $400,000 per season. Laurinaitis counts $12.4 million in 2013; $10.4 million in 2014; a modest $4.025 million in 2015; $6.175 million in 2016, and then $8.1 million in 2017. He has escalator clauses that can increase his cap number by $500,000 annually if reached..

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:22:53 PM
With Amendola being out for an indefinite periold who will be getting the touches? Pettis would seem to be the guy with Givens being the 3rd option.

by housemouse 10/9/2012 6:23:24 PM
Based on participation in the past two games, I would say Givens over Pettis. Givens has gotten more than three times the reps against Seattle and Arizona than Pettis did. But we'll see. Either Pettis or Steve Smith should get the time that Amendola spent in the slot.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:24:53 PM
Can Bradford lead this team to a game winning touchdown in the final two minutes?

by bjf 10/9/2012 6:25:01 PM
Why not? Were it not for the clock operator error he might have led the Rams to a fourth-quarter game-winning field goal against Detroit. Of course, it's going to be tougher to do that over the next several weeks minus Amendola.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:26:34 PM
What go the Ram Defense going this last weekend? They have showed flashes in the past, but against the Cards, they actually did it a whole game....What heppened?

by Knight17 10/9/2012 6:26:53 PM
1.) They faced a team without a strong running game, and were able to make the Cardinals one-dimensional. 2.) They led from start to finish, and playing with the lead makes a lot things possible. 3.) In Kolb, they faced a QB that although nifty, wasn't really a scramble (such as RGIII or Russell Wilson. 4.) They blitzed a season-high 20 times.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:28:52 PM
Jim I see 10&6 what do u think?

by tabari 10/9/2012 6:28:56 PM
The Parade Meter stays at six this week.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:29:12 PM
To this point Jeff Fisher coach of the year?

by Kyle 10/9/2012 6:29:29 PM
He certainly has to be in the conversation at this point. As would Leslie Frazier of Minnesota among others.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:30:19 PM
Wouldn't Quick get reps before Smith? I didn't get to watch the Arizona game on TV. Did Quick play much? If not, why?

by Fletch 10/9/2012 6:30:51 PM
According to NFL statistics, Quick got a total of 26 snaps (combined) against Seattle and Arizona. I think it was 12 in one game and 14 in the other. He was the intended target on the pass in the back of the end zone that Patrick Peterson made that impressive INT. Smith might get the reps only because of his experience playing the slot in the NFL.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:33:47 PM
Did M. Brockers play the majority of the AZ game? How's his ankle?

by Gladdy 10/9/2012 6:36:27 PM
Brockers was in for 47 plays, or 58 percent of the defensive plays. He had two tackles and two quarterback hurries. The ankle still isn't 100 percent, but I thought he moved around better against the Cardinals than he did four day earlier against Seattle.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:38:48 PM
You've said in the past Fisher is pretty tight-lipped about giving out injury info -- are you OK with him declining disclose a report until Wednesday? The club you cover doesn't play many Thursday games, but how does that compare to other team's policies?

by EssJay 10/9/2012 6:39:35 PM
I believe this is a case of Fisher meeting the NFL's minimum requirements on injury information. I don't think you have to file an injury report until Wednesday during a week in with you play on a Sunday.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:40:34 PM
Do you think Darian Stewart is a long term solution at safety for the Rams?

by Greg 10/9/2012 6:40:37 PM
If he avoids the missed tackles that have plagued him in the past, learns the nuances of this defense, and avoids injury, he has a chance. He can sure bring some heat as a tackler _ but that mentality, I think, also has led to some missed tackles.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:42:17 PM
Just curious, how is your relationship with Fisher/Snead compared to past regimes? More open with the media or less open?

by Greg 10/9/2012 6:42:21 PM
We're still getting to know each other. It takes a while. But with the exception of the injury stuff, I'd say overall it's pretty good.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:42:56 PM
Is the NFC West truly the best division in the NFL - or is the 14-6 record misleading?

by Gladdy 10/9/2012 6:46:22 PM
Misleading only in the sense that Seattle got awarded a victory against Green Bay because of a blown call. But I don't know how you can say it's not the best division at this point in the season. As you note, the NFC West is 8 games over .500. The next closest division, the NFC North, is 3 games above .500. And the defenses in the NFC West have been just short of unbelievable so far. This past week, the NFC West combined allowed only two offensive touchdowns _ the two the Rams scored against division rival Arizona.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:49:14 PM
Jim, before his injury was Amendola starting to be looked at around the league as a #1 type receiver.

by DB 21 10/9/2012 6:49:18 PM
I think so. To me, he looked quicker than ever prior to the injury. He's got great hands. And despite a couple of hiccups against the Big Red, he and Bradford are totally in sync.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:50:15 PM
Who is calling the defensive plays? I guess we got used to spags trying to blitz on kickoffs but it seems like we aren’t blitzing as much this year. Think it has anything to do with the lack of quality at the safety position?

by hman99 10/9/2012 6:50:24 PM
All indications remain that it's LB coach Blake Williams, the son of Gregg Williams, with lots of input from Fisher, McGinnis, Cecil. The Rams actually blitzed 20 times against Arizona, which is a pretty high number, and easily a season high. I think it depends partly on the opponent's scheme, partly on quarterback mobilty, and partly on game circumstances. But you're right, they hadn't blitzed much in the first four games, but the Arizona game showed they have that flexibility.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:53:40 PM
What are the chances that S Jackson will be in Rams uniform next season?

by stal 10/9/2012 6:55:08 PM
I can't really put odds on it at this point. I think he wants to stay here.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:55:29 PM
Why do you think the Rams have not thrown much to the backs out of the backfeild or thrown hardly any screens?

by gbt 10/9/2012 6:56:09 PM
A good question, and I don't really have a good answer for you. Rams backs have caught only 13 passes so far this season out of 85 total receptions. Part of it could be that the Rams are keeping backs in to help with blocking. Part of it could be that Bradford isn't looking to his check-down options enough. The Rams have tried a few screens, but most of them haven't gone very far.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 6:59:27 PM
Pettis showed flahes in the preseason of being a good slot receiver. Do you think he can keep the ship afloat until Amendola returns?

by lefton 10/9/2012 6:59:44 PM
He'll probably get that chance, although I don't think any one play on the current roster can truly replace Amendola.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:00:19 PM
What games are the Rams wearing the throwback uniforms this year?

by Gary 10/9/2012 7:00:53 PM
The only one I know of for sure is the Dec. 2 home game against San Francisco.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:01:20 PM
It looks like Steven Jackson is still not healthy for a full workload. What do you think?

by Hobbitt 10/9/2012 7:01:59 PM
We'll check in with Jackson on Thursday. I think he's probably pretty close to 100 percent after the long weekend off for the players. I get the impression, however, that Daryl Richardson will continue to get worked in as was the case against Arizona. In other words, I think Jackson still gets the majority of the touches, but not say 25 carries for SJax and 5 for Richardson.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:03:58 PM
With the DE's crashing so hard this lessens their ability to run stop. Do u think we have the personnel at DT and LB to tighten the run defense?

by Delz 10/9/2012 7:04:15 PM
We'll see. Reggie Bush and the Dolphins running game will provide a test. I think as Brockers gets healhtier and gets more playing time, he will improve. And that will help Langford, who after a so-so start played I thought his best game Thursday against Arizona (4 tackles, 3 QB pressures, 2 QB hits).

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:05:47 PM
How would you rated the play of the two ots so far and when will Saffold be back.

by bjf 10/9/2012 7:06:29 PM
I've yet to look at the offensive tape from the Arizona game, but so far Hunter has played surprisingly well. I think Richardson has been pretty good run-blocking, but has had some glitches pass blocking. I think Saffold still is a couple, three weeks from practice.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:07:43 PM
How is Quick progressing? Does he seem like he has a solid grasp of the offense?

by steve 10/9/2012 7:07:54 PM
He still makes at least one jaw-dropping catch a week on the practice field. I think he has a pretty good grasp of the offense.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:08:19 PM
Who will fill in at safety for Mikell? And who's the 3rd safety for the Miami game?

by Gladdy 10/9/2012 7:08:27 PM
Darian Stewart would start in Mikell's place. Normally any kind of a concussion and a player is ruled out for the next game. I'm just wondering in this case, since it will be 10 days between games if Mikell might have a chance to play. Rodney McLeod, who has played very well on special teams, is the logical choice. (He's a free safety, not a strong safety though because of his size and skill set.) But if Mikell is a game-day inactive, I think you'll see four safeties up, with Matthew Daniels joining starters Stewart and Craig Dahl. Daniels is over his hamstring issues.

by jthomas 10/9/2012 7:11:29 PM