The St. Louis Rams will step on the field for the first time under new Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo as the team opens the preseason against the New York Jets.

Spagnuolo, the 25th head coach in the 72-year history of the Rams, leads the Rams in his return to The Meadowlands after spending 2007-08 as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. The contest marks the first preseason meeting between the two teams and features two first-year NFL head coaches as the Jets are led by former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

The NFL will get its first look at the revamped Rams after the team underwent numerous offseason changes. Billy Devaney was promoted to General Manager and Kevin Demoff was named Executive Vice President of Football Operations/Chief Operating Officer. Devaney helped lead the coaching search that resulted in the hiring Spagnuolo on Jan. 19. Spagnuolo heads a staff of 19 assistants including Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur, Defensive Coordinator Ken Flajole and Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon.

The Rams also feature new faces on the field, including 2009 draft choices T Jason Smith and LB James Laurinaitis. Currently, the Rams have nine players 30 years old and above on the roster. They ended the 2008 season with 19 players 30 years old and above.

4th Quarter

- The Rams got a stop and promptly went three and out to open the fourth quarter. Jones’ punt to New York’s 26.

- The Jets went to work and covered 74 yards in just four plays as Erik Ainge hit David Clowney for a 50-yard touchdown. The extra point made it 20-16 Jets with 10:27 to go in the game.

- The Rams could not respond on the following drive as they went three and out.

- On second down of that possession, Brock Berlin was hit after throwing the ball away and was down for a minute. Rookie Keith Null replaced him and completed a pass but fell short of the first down.

- The Jets couldn’t handle the ensuing punt and the Rams recovered at New York’s 24.

- Rookie running back Chris Ogbonnaya picked up 11 yards on the first play from scrimmage.

- Two plays later, Null made a beautiful throw to undrafted rookie Sean Walker for a 13-yard touchdown. Rams lead 23-20.

- New York charged back with a long drive into Rams’ territory.

- Upon getting to the Rams’ 21, defensive ends Ian Campbell and Eric Moore converged on Ainge and hit him. Moore knocked the ball loose and the Jets lost 20 yards on the play, making it third-and-31 at their 42.

- After an incompletion forced the Jets to punt, the Rams took over at their 15. A first down or two would salt it away and Ogbonnaya picked up 7 on first down.

- Ogbonnaya promptly picked up the first down and the Rams ran the clock almost all the way out.

- A team effort and protecting the ball leads to a Rams win 23-20 as they improve to 1-0 on the preseason.

3rd Quarter

- The Rams got the ball to start the second half and made a statement right away. Samkon Gado got his first opportunity as a kick returner and picked up 25 yards but then got his first carry of the game and promptly busted a 77-yard touchdown run off the left side.

- The long run and the extra point gave the Rams a 16-10 lead with 14:35 to go in the third.

- The teams exchanged three and outs on the ensuing two possessions.

- On first down at their 34, the Jets’ Shonn Greene broke a 35-yard run.

- The Jets couldn’t find the end zone though and had to settle for a field goal from Feely to cut the deficit to 16-13.

- The Rams moved into Jets territory on the ensuing possession but just missed converting a third down and had to punt. Jones booted a high, arcing punt that was fair caught at the New York 8.

- At the end of a relatively uneventful (other than Gado’s run) third quarter, the Rams lead the Jets 16-13.

2nd Quarter

- The Jets’ drive continued with the momentum from the final play of the first quarter as Sanchez hooked up for gains of 14 and 26 yards.

- On second-and-goal, Thomas Jones leaped for the goal line but was above the pile and lost the ball right near it. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo threw his first challenge flag as Todd Johnson scooped up the fumble. It was awfully close but it appeared Jones was in.

- After a short review, it was ruled Jones broke the plane for a 2-yard touchdown. With 11:40 to go in the half, the Jets lead 10-3.

- The Rams’ first team offense got some additional work with the exception of Jackson in the second quarter. Spagnuolo wants to see more from this top unit.

- That unit responded well as the first play from its 26, Bulger hit Laurent Robinson with a beautiful deep ball down the right sideline for a gain of 50 yards. Two plays later, Bulger hit McMichael for a 9-yard gain.

- Another sack, this time by Jets cornerback Donald Strickland, derailed the drive though and the Rams settled for a 34-yard field goal by Brown.

- With 7:57 to go in the half, the Rams trail 10-6.

- The Rams defense came up with a stop on the ensuing possession as the run defense proved stout and Jonathan Wade came up with a pass break up on third down. Rams get it back at their 16 with 4:29 to go.

- The offense pieced together a nice drive, spearheaded by a revived Antonio Pittman. Pittman picked up 45 all purpose yards on the drive to set up a 39-yard field goal by Brown.

- Brown converts to make it 10-9 Jets as we head to the locker room at halftime.

1st Quarter

- Rams wearing all whites. Leonard Little, Marc Bulger and Chris Massey are the captains for coin toss. Each player the longest tenured at his position.

- The Jets won the toss and elected to receive. Gibson got good push on first play and Thomas Jones picked up 2.

- After a first down completion, Jones picked up 1 on a nice tackle by Little.

- Jonathan Wade busts up screen in backfield for a loss of 2 on second down and Little got more pressure and came up with a sack and forced a fumble. James Hall recovered and Rams took over at 27.

- The Rams couldn’t get anything going though as Bulger was sacked on third down and they settled for a 48-yard field goal from Josh Brown for a 3-0 lead with 10:11 to go in the quarter.

- The Jets responded after the disastrous first drive by piecing together a nice drive. Brad Smith burst on a reverse for 28 yards to get into Rams territory. Gibson missed a golden sack opportunity but the Rams held New York out of the end zone.

- The Jets ultimately settled for a Jay Feely 34-yard field goal to tie it at 3 with 4:05 to go in the quarter.

- The Rams had a promising start to their drive with a 13-yard pickup by Steven Jackson and a 15-yard completion from Bulger to McMichael. A sack by Calvin Pace and a 5-yard false start on McMichael killed the drive and the Rams punted back to the Jets.

- New York started its third drive from its 7 and quarterback Mark Sanchez dropped a perfect pass to receiver David Clowney for a 48-yard gain. The Jets have the ball at the Rams’ 45 at the end of the first quarter with the score tied at 3.

- In injury news, the Rams lost guard Jacob Bell to a head injury. He was replaced by Roy Schuening.

Pregame Notes

- Greetings from Giants Stadium, where the Jets are opening their final season in this place. From the looks of it, it’s about time for a change. The new stadium next door looks amazing, for what it’s worth.

- The Steve Spagnuolo era sort of begins tonight as the Rams play an opponent for the first time under his guidance. Should be interesting to see how the team fares even in a more controlled, vanilla situation.

- Let’s get right down to business in terms of injuries and inactives. Of course, there is no official inactive list in the preseason but the Rams will have a few players unavailable.

- Defensive tackle Adam Carriker (ankle) is out for tonight as expected. Gary Gibson replaces him in the starting lineup.

- Also, no surprise here, Donnie Avery (foot) did not make the trip and Keenan Burton replaces him in the starting lineup.

- Rookie James Laurinaitis will start at middle linebacker. Chris Draft gets the start at strong side linebacker.

- For the Jets, the changes are more numerous. On the offensive line, New York is without center Nick Mangold and guards Damien Woody and Alan Faneca. Robert Turner replaces Mangold with Stanley Daniels for Faneca and Wayne Hunter for Woody.

- Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is out and is replaced by Sione Pouha and Dwight Lowery replaces Darrelle Revis at cornerback.

- Aside from those injuries, the Rams are expected to have everyone else available including Ron Bartell, Mike Karney and Darell Scott, all of whom have been banged up in recent days.

2nd Quarter

KTVI, FOX 2 is once again “The Home of the Rams” in 2007.  On Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., check out Rams Weekly where Fox 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne goes one on one with head coach Scott Linehan and a Rams’ player.

Prior to each game, Kilcoyne will be joined by the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Bryan Burwell, FOX 2’s Rob Desir and FOX 2’s Maurice Drummond for Rams Gameday pregame show, bringing viewers in-depth analysis, player profiles and the latest inside scoop on every Rams game.

The 2009-2010 broadcast team for Rams Radio is as follows:

Rams Radio Pre-Game Show:
Host: Randy Karraker
Analyst: Coach Jim Hanifan
Reporter: Brian Stull
Gameday Insider: Jim Thomas
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Segment Contributors: Bernie Miklasz, Bryan Burwell, Pat Parris,
D’Marco Farr and Steve Savard
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

Rams Radio In-Game Coverage:
Play by Play: Steve Savard
Color Analyst: D’Marco Farr
In-Game Reporter: Brian Stull
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

Rams Radio Post-Game Show:
Hosts: Steve Savard and Brent Stover
Analysts: D’Marco Farr and Coach Jim Hanifan
Locker Room Interviews: Brian Stull
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

All of the Rams game day shows and coverage, along with the weekly Rams programs will be executed under the watchful eye of Executive Producer Chris Neupert. Studio Producer duties will vary by program and schedule, rotating between 101 ESPN Producers Ben Boyd, Todd Wise and Chris Gardner. Steve Bear will be the In-Game Spotter, and engineering responsibilities will be handled by Dodie Rahlman, Craig Rutledge, Marshall Rice, Bob Hoffman and Ken Cunetto.

Along with the Rams game day coverage and pre-and post-game shows, 101 ESPN will broadcast “Rams Rush Hour Shows” weeknights from 7:00 until 8:00 pm. As part of “Rams Rush Hour Shows,” Coach Steve Spagnuolo and General Manager Billy Devaney are expected to do weekly shows.

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