| UpdatedAug 21, 2011 7:26 PM ETST. LOUIS (AP)The only thing perfect about the St. Louis Rams is their 2-0record. Coach Steve Spagnuolo gave the thumbs down to every otheraspect of play off the second preseason game.The Rams' first-string got whipped in the first half of Saturdaynight's 17-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans, stalling onoffense after pulling off an 83-yard touchdown pass on their firstplay and getting gashed for huge gains both passing and running ondefense.Following a day of review, Spagnuolo did not back off hisassessment that there'd be no shortage of teaching points whenpractice resumes on Monday. Certainly much more raw material towork with than after the preseason opener when the Rams clicked onall cylinders in a victory over the Colts.''After the one play, I didn't think the team responded verywell,'' Spagnuolo said Sunday night. ''I think we relaxed a littlebit and led to some problems.''Tennessee held the Rams to 44 yards rushing on 21 carries withonly two first-down carries, including only 10 yards on six carriesfor Steven Jackson in his preseason debut. After the quick striketo a wide open Brandon Gibson off play-action, Sam Bradford was 7for 14 for 50 yards with an interception.''Well, we did some good things. We did some bad things,obviously,'' Bradford said.Bradford got banged around more than usual behind an injuryweakened line, getting knocked down on consecutive plays in thesecond quarter. Guard Jacob Bell (knee sprain) wasn't in uniformand tackle Rodger Saffold left with back soreness in the second,and center Jason Brown said the patched-up unit had a lot oftrouble with the Titans' frequent blitzing.''I was very upset seeing Sam on the ground,'' Brown said.''Even though it's preseason, do their guys hold up or back off anybefore they're about to hit our quarterback? No, they do not.''So, those hits definitely hurt and we definitely have to getall that stuff corrected not before the regular season starts butbefore next week.''Spagnuolo said the problem was more reacting rather than lack ofcommunication. Bell is expected back next week at Kansas City andSpagnuolo said Saffold was feeling better and could practiceMonday.''Was it an issue last night? Yeah,'' Spagnuolo said. ''Is it aconcern? Yeah. Is anybody panicking? No.''Spagnuolo said Sunday that the Titans and Rams run virtually thesame blitz package, noting that Tennessee just did a lot better jobon execution.''I don't think what they did was real extravagant, for lack ofa better word,'' Spagnuolo said. ''I don't know if they caught ourguys off-guard.''The defense was vulnerable to cutback runs and surrendered 198yards rushing with a 5.7-yard average, including a 46-yard carry byJustin Harper and a 29-yard jaunt by Stafon Johnson, while JaredCook and Harper each had receptions over 20 yards.Spagnuolo said players straying from their gap assignment led tomost of the woes, along with some missed tackles.''We need to get those things ironed out,'' he said.There were some plusses.Third quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was impressive on the drivethat set up Josh Brown's game-winning 42-yard field goal as timeexpired. Lewis was 7 for 9 for 68 yards in 12 plays while eating upthe final 3:34.Heavy pressure on Titans backup quarterback Jake Locker led toJames Butler's interception in the third quarter that set up DonnieAvery's touchdown catch from A.J. Feeley. Avery made his firstappearance since a season-ending knee injury in the third preseasonweek last year.The defense stiffened in time to force three field goals. Ofcourse, the Titans didn't have star running back Chris Johnson, acontract holdout.''This is a good growing experience for us because let's behonest, if that's Chris Johnson in there a lot of those areprobably not stopped in the red zone,'' middle linebacker JamesLaurinaitis said. ''Those are probably going the distance.''Two defensive linemen are nursing minor injuries. Chris Longwill be reassessed Monday morning for a foot injury that Spagnuolosaid is not turf toe and tackle Fred Robbins (back contusion) maybe limited early in the week.Third-string CB Dionte Dinkins (hyperextended knee) is anaddition to the injury list.
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