JIM FADLER's report on the Oaklnad game 8/8

St. Louis Rams' Torry Holt high steps into the end zone as back judge Don Dorkowski signals a touchdown during the first quarter of the Rams' pre-season football game against the Oakland Raiders at the TWA Dome in St. Louis Saturday, Aug. 7, 1999. Holt scored on a 39-yard pass from Rams quarterback Trent Green. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)

I have never been more cheered by a loss. The fourth quarter was hard to sit through and incredibly sloppy but the first quarter was a model of efficiency.

Quarterbacks:
Green is a master at play action fakes and they used them a lot. He put some of the talk about his arm to rest with a nice long ball to Torry Holt for a 39 yard TD. His ball is easy to snatch out of the air for the receivers and he throws from a very high release point (as opposed to Tony who threw from a very low release point). Green looked confident and even cocky a little bit on the sidelines after being taken out. I put my binoculars on him a lot on the sideline and for the most part he stood with the rest of the team and was with the coaches huddle when Warner and Germaine came to the sideline.

On the TD pass to Holt it looked to me like he looked left twice and then came back to the post pattern. He is quick but not fast in the pocket and scrambled once for good yardage. Bruce called his passes feathery soft on a post game interview and compared his long touch to Chris Miller's. He missed on a pass to Hakim in the first quarter that appeared to be his fifth option in the pattern. He gets through his reads really quickly and is obviously comfortable in the offense.

Kurt Warner doesn't really step into his passes but still gets alot on the ball even without striding into it. He stumbled and fell early and threw the ball up but was saved by the Wideout from an interception. Later he was tripped and still had enough presence of mind to get and throw a completion. I don't think they need anyone else.

Joe Germaine was horrible, but I still like him and his future. At one point his arm went forward but the ball stayed behind and tumbled all over the place. A guy behind me said out loud, "what was that." I turned around and said..."one scared to death rookie." I watched Green and Martz and everyone else try to settle him down...tough debut.

Running backs:
I think that Chad Levitt can play in the league but he may have a problem with numbers. Barring a catastrophic injury, I believe the Rams will trade Greg Hill to another team and very likely it may be the Lions. You all have seen the report about the De Vries (sp?) rumor and I think a deal will still be done.

Hodgins is in over his head. Holcombe has a separated shoulder..not sure of the severity. He looked good as the fullback but when I zeroed in on him he was not really attacking as the lead blocker. If Faulk had played I planned on storming the field and tackling Vermeil and trying to slap him silly...opps somebody beat me to it....no never mind.

WR:
I just flat out cannot wait to see Torry Holt full time as the starter. He looks taller on the field and plays with elan and exuberance. Bruce looked like he did in 1995 or 96, we will see. I was told by my friend with all the NFL contacts that I was crazy when I said that Tony Horne cannot play WR...I saw enough tonight that I guess I have to get another whipping boy. He looked comfortable and belonged out there.

The battle for the 6th spot was too hard to call tonight as Germaine had so much trouble that none of them were allowed to show what they could do. I half expected Kurt Warner and Chad Levitt back in there in the 4th quarter.

Linemen:
Cam Spikes has a bruised tendon in his knee, it was first diagnosed as hyperextended...he was on the bench for the rest of the half with ice on it. IMHO he is the clear starter at LG after watching him for most of the half.

Tucker put Jon the Bod Kirksey on his butt a couple of times. But honesty compels me to state that Kirksey had been in the game for a while both times.

Timmerman occupies a lot of space at guard when run blocking....he moves laterally very very well on pass blocking. At one point I saw him go outside the tackle to pick up a stunt and he still got there in time to get the block.

Flannery is playing with the 3rd string and that is sad to see after all he gave for the game.

Defense in general:
Little made a lot of plays with the 2nd and 3rd string...no reaction to his name on the PA. Styles looked better in pass coverage. Clemons knocks people back when he gets to the point of attack.

Van Hiles can play in the NFL and impressed me with a lot but he is in a really tough spot numbers wise. Dre Bly made a great play and closed on a ball that was well thrown. The Rams really like Clifton Crosby and he may push Taje Allen off the team. He looked like he was not such a sucker and did not get turned around like Allen does so much.

I came away happy......the 4th quarter only made my wife wise for not coming.