ekansekans's blog: "df"

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher ended up giving his starters plenty of playing time. Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh got what he wanted -- a really long look at his backups. Sam Bradford threw three touchdown passes in 11/2 quarters, giving the Rams an early lead in a 31-17 win on Thursday night. Fisher, overseeing a franchise that has totalled 15 wins in the past five seasons, called for the second stringers after a 9-yard catch by Mike Hoomanawanui made it 21-0 with 6:59 to go in the half. "I took them out because we got some production, made some plays," Fisher said. "Its a good way to finish up." Bradford threw five touchdown passes in the preseason, all of them at home for the Rams (2-2). "Its very satisfying," Bradford said. "The way we finished definitely shows that were comfortable out there. I think were moving into the regular season in a very nice way." Harbaugh, gearing up for a Super Bowl run after losing in the AFC title game last season, started just a handful of his regulars as he does every year in the preseason finale. The Ravens committed four turnovers and Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback for Joe Flacco, and they also rested running back Ray Rice and linebacker Ray Lewis. Most of the regulars didnt even dress. "Every team does what they have to do in this game," Harbaugh said. "We didnt play a lot of our guys at all. It was a great opportunity from that perspective, to see how some of our backups match up." Curtis Painter, the third-string QB for Baltimore (2-2), threw three interceptions and added touchdown passes to Billy Bajema and Deonte Thompson. Harbaugh said he hasnt decided whether to go with two or three quarterbacks, leaving Painter and Taylor, a sixth-round pick last year, on the roster bubble. "All thats been done has been done to this point, so Im not going to worry too much about it," said Painter, who started last year for Indianapolis after Peyton Manning was injured. "Its out of my hands, so Ill just keep rolling until they tell me not to." Rookie Janoris Jenkins was a rare Rams starter who played into the third quarter, and made it 28-0 with a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown off a pass by Painter that deflected off Bobby Raineys hands. "Most definitely, I want to take it to the house," Jenkins said. "I always think that." The Rams intercepted Painter on the previous play, too, but Craig Dahl fumbled it back. Robert Quinn had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery while stripping Taylor to set up Danny Amendolas 7-yard score late in the first quarter. He also deflected a punt in the second quarter. The Rams played well in both home games despite sparse attendance. The Edward Jones Dome, which holds 66,000, was probably about one-third full for the opening kickoff and all but empty at the end. Fishers plan to play his starters backfired once when first-round pick Michael Brockers injured his right ankle after getting tangled up with Jah Reid near the end of the first quarter and did not return. Brockers was helped off the field by two trainers, but was able to put weight on the leg, then was carted off the field. X-rays were negative and an MRI was scheduled for Friday for Brockers, who was in a walking boot but didnt think it was a serious injury. Bradford was 11 for 16 for 175 yards and spread the ball to eight receivers, with Austin Pettis starting the scoring with a 14-yard catch capped by a dive inside the pylon. Bradford recovered his own fumble off a centre snap for a 5-yard loss the play before throwing the touchdown pass to Hoomanawanui. Rookie kickers for both teams showed plenty of leg. The Ravens Justin Tucker, who beat out Billy Cundiff, made a 49-yard field goal in the second half after barely missing from 57 yards near the end of the half. That was the lone miss in eight preseason attempts, including a pair from 50 yards or longer for the undrafted Tucker. The Rams Greg Zuerlein hit his fourth field goal from 50 yards-plus in the preseason with a 59-yarder that scraped the crossbar early in the fourth quarter. He was just short on a 62-yard attempt in the third quarter that was caught by the Ravens Asa Jackson just under the crossbar. Notes: Ravens backup OLB Courtney Upshaw (shoulder) will undergo an MRI Friday. "Yeah, were concerned," Harbaugh said. OL Justin Boren (right foot sprain) also will have an MRI, and TEs Bruce Figgins (right knee sprain) and Matt Balasavage (high left ankle sprain) were injured. ... The Rams are 3-0 against the Ravens in the preseason. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . -- Actor Jack Wagner and former pitcher Mark Mulder shared the lead Friday after the first round of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . Scrivens made 24 saves as the Toronto Marlies blanked the Abbotsford Heat 5-0 in American Hockey League action. http://elevatedcolor.com/hot.html . Daniel Hudson impressed him Saturday night. Hudson, making his second start since coming off the DL, made a big impression with eight strong innings to help the Diamondbacks to a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry Fraser wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hi Kerry, Regarding Mondays Devils/Rangers game. Prior to the Rangers second goal, Michael Del Zotto was taken down behind his net and while on the ice, moved the puck with his gloved hand almost completely across his body and threw it behind his body to a waiting teammate. Many fans called for a penalty, but I cannot find an actual reference in the rule book. The only references I can find to "closing a hand on the puck" is in regards to a player catching a puck in mid-air or a player covering up the puck in the crease. Does this fall under the referees judgment? Thanks, StephenLoveland, Colorado --- Kerry, Really appreciate your column and it brings so much insight to the fans on what goes on with the officiating. Very helpful. Quick question regarding the Devils-Rangers Game 1 around covering the puck with your hand. In the first period Anton Volchenkov got called for a delay of game, covering the puck while it appeared that Brian Boyle kept pushing him down when he tried to get up. I understand this could be a penalty, however what amazed me was the blatant covering of the puck by Del Zotto behind the Rangers net in full view of everyone, and no penalty was called. What gives? Martin Radicsh Stephen and Martin: Here is my take on the two plays that you have asked about. Just prior to 8:09 of the first period a battle for a loose puck in the Devils corner to the left of Martin Brodeur was taking place between Brian Boyle of the Rangers (closest to the boards) and Adam Larsson (pinning Boyle against the end boards from the backside). Anton Volchenkov provided the back door support and picked the loose puck while facing close to the end boards behind Larsson. Volchenkov moved to his left with the puck but while still facing the end boards he was shoved down onto the ice from behind by Ruslan Fedotenko. As Volchenkov fell he made a distinct move to cover the puck with his left hand that was observed by the referee. Travis Zajac of the Devils moved quickly in and engaged Fedotenko. Volchenkov elevated his body slightly up off the ice onto his knees and elbows. His hand however continued to cover the puck as Boyle pushed down at the head of Volchenkov multiple times prior to the referee blowing the whistle to assess a delay of game penalty to Volchenkov for covering the puck with his hand. The rule that was violated is 63.2—delaying the game: "A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player, including the goalkeeper, who holds, freezes or plays the puck with his stick, skates or body in such a manner as to deliberately cause a stoppage of play. With regard to a goalkeeper, this rule applies outside of his goal crease area." While Volchenkov clearly coveered the puck with his hand as he fell I have two problems with this assessment and they involve the action of the two Rangers players.dddddddddddd First, Fedotenko shoved Volchenkov from behind onto the ice and ultimately the puck. Secondly Boyle continued to shove at the head of Volchenkov and reasonably prevented him from getting up off the puck to allow play to continue. Whenever this situation presented itself I would yell at the player on the ice to get up and move the puck or a delay of game penalty would be forthcoming. This typically backed off any attacking players such as Boyle from maintaining physical contact with the player on the ice. Once the player (Volchenkov) got up off the puck the attacking player (Boyle) had an advantage to retrieve the loose puck. If the player such as Volchenkov did not heed the warning and remained on the ice covering the puck I would assess the delay of game penalty. Given the physical actions by both Ranger players on Volchenkov I felt this penalty was assessed too quickly without sufficient opportunity to instruct or allow Volchenkov to get up off the ice and allow play to continue. The second incident is an example of the referee being patient with the whistle when the puck was momentarily covered by Michael Del Zottos hand after he was taken down from behind by Travis Zajac. In reality Zajac deserved a tripping penalty as he first applied a slight push with his stick blade on the pants of Del Zotto and then down in the feet area once the Ranger defenceman lost his balance. Lets look at what resulted once Del Zotto fell to the ice as he place his glove over top of the puck. Rule 63.2 from above would not apply because sufficient time did not lapse in the coverage of the puck to cause a stoppage of play. The other potential violation would involve rule 67—handling the puck (closing his hand on the puck"). While a player cannot close his hand on the puck, Stephen is correct that this pertains to catching the puck in the air or picking the puck up off the ice. A player is allowed to cover the puck on the ice with his hand as Del Zotto did and slide it along the ice in a hand pass motion. This is legal so long as he does not cause a stoppage of play through extended coverage, prevents an opponent from playing it or picks it up off the ice and throws it. Neither of these violations resulted when Del Zotto placed his hand over the puck and then slid it behind his back around the boards to his defence partner Dan Girardi. Girardi was credited with the second assist on the ensuing play up ice that resulted in the scoring of Chris Kreiders third playoff goal. For a personally autographed copy of Final Call from TSN hockey analyst and former NHL referee Kerry Fraser, visit The Book Keeper website. For a regular copy of Final Call from TSN hockey analyst and former NHL referee Kerry Fraser, visit here. ' ' '