Spagnuolo 10-34 as Rams stagger home
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ST. LOUIS (AP)
Job security has to be keeping Steve Spagnuolo up nights. After the latest dispiriting loss, he is just 10-34 as St. Louis Rams coach.
Spagnuolo met with owner Stan Kroenke after the Rams mustered a season-worst 157 total yards in Sunday's shutout loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but said the talk was not about his future.
''I'm not going to share it all, but we really just talked about the game,'' Spagnuolo said Monday. ''I love having Stan there, he's tremendously supportive. It's inspiring to me to have him there, talking with the guys and all that.''
Spagnuolo said it was great that Kroenke worked the locker room, encouraging players, but declined to say whether he, too, got a comforting pat on the shoulder.
''I'm not going to go into the conversation,'' Spagnuolo repeated. ''We talked about the game.''
Quarterback A.J. Feeley said Kroenke ''appreciates everyone's effort.''
''We're not satisfied with where we're at,'' Feeley said. ''But we have a bunch of fighters in this locker room.''
The Rams (2-10) made a six-game victory improvement last year and played for the NFC West title in the season finale. With Seattle up next on the schedule, they are now staring at a top-three pick for the fourth time in five years.
Deservedly so, too.
The offense is at or near the bottom of the NFL in most major categories, a total flop under new coordinator Josh McDaniels. They've mustered only 11 offensive touchdowns and had just one big play against the 49ers, a 34-yard sideline catch by Brandon Lloyd in the third quarter that was followed by an interception on the next play.
Any other bright spots?
Certainly not at running back. Steven Jackson was held to 19 yards on 10 carries and the Rams totaled 31 yards rushing, averaging just 1.3 yards.
''It's kind of the same story we've had all year,'' Feeley said. ''We just can't seem to put it all together.''
On defense, Spagnuolo's calling card, the Rams are dead last against the run.
They did a nice job limiting the damage in the first half by allowing three field goals, one of them after Feeley was stripped to give the 49ers possession at the 6. The defense gave up some big gainers in the second half, though.
''That's their style of offense,'' safety Craig Dahl said. ''Pound, pound, pound and then take a couple deep shots. Unfortunately, we gave up two deep passes, and that is not something we're proud of.''
It's no excuse, but the Rams have been hit hard by injuries.
There's a chance third-string quarterback Tom Brandstater, re-signed to the practice squad just last week, might start Monday at Seattle with both Sam Bradford and Feeley iffy.
Bradford aggravated a high left ankle sprain in practice last Wednesday and missed his third game, and Spagnuolo said the team would ''probably tread lightly'' early in the practice week.
''The less you put on it, the better off he is when you get down to a game-time decision,'' Spagnuolo said.
Feeley has a small fracture on his right thumb sustained when he hit a helmet in the fourth quarter.
''Can he grab a ball and all those other things?'' Spagnuolo said. ''We're not really sure. That's obviously concerning based on the situation Sam's in right now.''
The offensive line will have to be juggled again with guard Jacob Bell likely out for the year with a torn ligament in his right knee. Tackles Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith are already among the 13 players on injured reserve.
''These particular issues in this game of football are out of our control,'' Spagnuolo said. ''We can't go out and put pillows on everybody and hope they don't get hurt. You just can't play the game that way.''
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