Article: 5 sleepless-night narratives emerging out of LA Rams' first preseason game
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5 sleepless-night narratives emerging out of LA Rams' first preseason game
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By Bret Stuter | Aug 12, 2023
The LA Rams may not have had a great game plan for the first game, but the execution of the offense was not exactly crisp. In fact, the execution of the entire Rams team looked very much like a young team that needed about two or three more weeks to prepare.
If you wanted clean crisp football, you were likely disappointed by this one. At halftime, 12 penalties were called by the referees for 110 penalty yards.
Hey, it's preseason. The uglies show up early and often in this one. As far as coachable events, the Rams coaches had to be happy with the team's performance. There were plenty of teachable moments in this one. Not just for the players on the field, but for the entire team.
The LA Rams starting offense may need to put up a lot of points because the Rams' defense looks a bit raw and unsettled. When the team needed to make a stop, they didn't
V: Rams run defense is going to have serious growing pains
The LA Chargers averaged 6.8 yards per carry on 20 carries in this one. Despite that success at grinding out the yards on the ground, the Rams' defense held the Chargers' offense to just 20 points late into the fourth quarter.
But this was preseason. The Rams defense struggled to make stops against the run. It's early, but on several plays with a 'pile,' far too many Rams defenders stood back and watched while Chargers offensive linemen moved the pile forward before the whistle blew.
IV: Backup QB Brett Rypien looks rusty and Stetson Bennett looked reckless
While had completed his first three passes, backup QB Brett Rypien ended the first half with three out of six passes for 11 yards and a quarterback sack. The problem was not just the Rams allowing pressure, but the incompletions, Rypien failed to connect with open receivers.
QB Stetson Bennett entered the game and the Rams' offense came alive. But on multiple plays, Bennett threw the ball into the hands of a defensive back. The only reason that the offensive drive did not end on any of the three such plays is that the defensive back dropped the ball.
That allowed the Rams to put up a pair of touchdowns. Unfortunately, the offensive output was just too little too late. , In so many ways, this game was all LA Chargers.
III: Rams OL Logan Bruss and QB Brett Rypien were not quite ready to start in preseason Game 1
Well, not so much for RT Logan Bruss, who gave up a quarterback sack in the Rams' first series. But like many players in this one, he settled down and the offense seemed to settle in for a long drive in the second quarter.
But some of that falls on the quarterback as well. Whether it was his pace or what he was seeing or not seeing in coverage, Rypien was very ineffective. While he is a veteran NFL quarterback, he does not look like a quarterback who is fighting for a roster spot on this team.
There is always a bit of rust in any preseason opener. But you have to hope that is the only reason for these early struggles. I'm not convinced that the Rams starting offensive line is truly 'set,' and I will be quite curious to see how the Rams address the group for the other two preseason games.
II: Rams punt coverage already surrendered a touchdown
For the Rams, the moment of truth had finally arrived. The LA Rams fans were about to witness the full Rams special teams roster. The Rams debuted the preseason with placekicker Tanner Brown, punter Ethan Evans, and return specialist Ronnie Rivers.
If you wanted to see exactly what all of the fuss over rookie punter Ethan Evans was about, you had your chance. In the first half, Evans delivered three punts for 148 yards, including one that downed inside the Chargers' 20-yard line, and one that was boomed for 61 yards. It was heartbreaking to witness Ethan Evans' 61-yard punt be converted into an 81-yard punt return touchdown.
But if you need to end this one on a positive note, Ethan Evans punted one 63 yards into the end zone as the second half started. And if you were not aware, Ethan Evans kicked off in this one too.
I: LA Rams penalties really hurt team
While the Rams' defense only surrendered 13 points in the first half, the team shot itself in the foot far too often. In fact, penalties seemed to hurt the Rams on both sides of the football. With 100 yards of offense in the first half, the Rams' penalties took away 58 yards of field position in that first half.
That's not exactly the way the Rams hoped Game 1 would turn out. But it shouldn't come as a complete surprise. With 10 minutes remaining in this game, the Rams were penalized nine times for 111 yards.
The Rams young team is a bit of a mixed bag. There were clearly some outstanding players. But keep in mind that the Rams rotated a lot of players into the game, so continuity in this game resembled the lack of continuity that plagued the entire Rams roster one year ago.
A fourth down and one yard to go resulted in a fase start by Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson, pushing the Rams back. The subsequent field goal attempt was no good.
And in the fourth quarter, Timarcus Davis ran through a wide receiver on an overthrown pass, giving the Charges a new set of downs and a chance to score again.
8:48 minutes remaining Q4
Chargers 27
Rams 17
The LA Rams have some positive takeaways for this one, and clearly some things to work on. But, in theory, this was a learning experience, and as bad as it should get for the Rams team
Trending: LA Rams enter the preseason with a depth chart and many...
The LA Rams are not a polished team just yet, and may need to put a couple of games in the rear view mirror. There are some promising developments in this game. Clearly the Rams punt coverage needs some work. The Rams run defense will need to stiffen up as well. But overall, the Rams did not fall apart. And it's clear that backup rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett has some fight in him, and he brings that out in the Rams offense as well.
Chin up Rams fans. Preseason games are just dress rehearsals.
#HelmetHornsMatter
“Well, the color is good, I like the metallic blue,” Youngblood recently said while laughing, via NFL Journal. “The horn is terrible. It looks like a ‘C.’ When I first saw it on the logo I honestly thought it was a Charger logo.
“Now when I see it on the helmet, it just isn’t a ram horn. There is no distinct curl like a mature ram horn. I don’t know how the Rams could get that wrong. That is your symbol and it has been for what? Seventy years or more? Longer than I have been alive? It’s just not us, it’s not the Rams.”---Mr. Ram Jack Youngblood
5 sleepless-night narratives emerging out of LA Rams' first preseason game
link
By Bret Stuter | Aug 12, 2023
The LA Rams may not have had a great game plan for the first game, but the execution of the offense was not exactly crisp. In fact, the execution of the entire Rams team looked very much like a young team that needed about two or three more weeks to prepare.
If you wanted clean crisp football, you were likely disappointed by this one. At halftime, 12 penalties were called by the referees for 110 penalty yards.
Hey, it's preseason. The uglies show up early and often in this one. As far as coachable events, the Rams coaches had to be happy with the team's performance. There were plenty of teachable moments in this one. Not just for the players on the field, but for the entire team.
The LA Rams starting offense may need to put up a lot of points because the Rams' defense looks a bit raw and unsettled. When the team needed to make a stop, they didn't
V: Rams run defense is going to have serious growing pains
The LA Chargers averaged 6.8 yards per carry on 20 carries in this one. Despite that success at grinding out the yards on the ground, the Rams' defense held the Chargers' offense to just 20 points late into the fourth quarter.
But this was preseason. The Rams defense struggled to make stops against the run. It's early, but on several plays with a 'pile,' far too many Rams defenders stood back and watched while Chargers offensive linemen moved the pile forward before the whistle blew.
IV: Backup QB Brett Rypien looks rusty and Stetson Bennett looked reckless
While had completed his first three passes, backup QB Brett Rypien ended the first half with three out of six passes for 11 yards and a quarterback sack. The problem was not just the Rams allowing pressure, but the incompletions, Rypien failed to connect with open receivers.
QB Stetson Bennett entered the game and the Rams' offense came alive. But on multiple plays, Bennett threw the ball into the hands of a defensive back. The only reason that the offensive drive did not end on any of the three such plays is that the defensive back dropped the ball.
That allowed the Rams to put up a pair of touchdowns. Unfortunately, the offensive output was just too little too late. , In so many ways, this game was all LA Chargers.
III: Rams OL Logan Bruss and QB Brett Rypien were not quite ready to start in preseason Game 1
Well, not so much for RT Logan Bruss, who gave up a quarterback sack in the Rams' first series. But like many players in this one, he settled down and the offense seemed to settle in for a long drive in the second quarter.
But some of that falls on the quarterback as well. Whether it was his pace or what he was seeing or not seeing in coverage, Rypien was very ineffective. While he is a veteran NFL quarterback, he does not look like a quarterback who is fighting for a roster spot on this team.
There is always a bit of rust in any preseason opener. But you have to hope that is the only reason for these early struggles. I'm not convinced that the Rams starting offensive line is truly 'set,' and I will be quite curious to see how the Rams address the group for the other two preseason games.
II: Rams punt coverage already surrendered a touchdown
For the Rams, the moment of truth had finally arrived. The LA Rams fans were about to witness the full Rams special teams roster. The Rams debuted the preseason with placekicker Tanner Brown, punter Ethan Evans, and return specialist Ronnie Rivers.
If you wanted to see exactly what all of the fuss over rookie punter Ethan Evans was about, you had your chance. In the first half, Evans delivered three punts for 148 yards, including one that downed inside the Chargers' 20-yard line, and one that was boomed for 61 yards. It was heartbreaking to witness Ethan Evans' 61-yard punt be converted into an 81-yard punt return touchdown.
But if you need to end this one on a positive note, Ethan Evans punted one 63 yards into the end zone as the second half started. And if you were not aware, Ethan Evans kicked off in this one too.
I: LA Rams penalties really hurt team
While the Rams' defense only surrendered 13 points in the first half, the team shot itself in the foot far too often. In fact, penalties seemed to hurt the Rams on both sides of the football. With 100 yards of offense in the first half, the Rams' penalties took away 58 yards of field position in that first half.
That's not exactly the way the Rams hoped Game 1 would turn out. But it shouldn't come as a complete surprise. With 10 minutes remaining in this game, the Rams were penalized nine times for 111 yards.
The Rams young team is a bit of a mixed bag. There were clearly some outstanding players. But keep in mind that the Rams rotated a lot of players into the game, so continuity in this game resembled the lack of continuity that plagued the entire Rams roster one year ago.
A fourth down and one yard to go resulted in a fase start by Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson, pushing the Rams back. The subsequent field goal attempt was no good.
And in the fourth quarter, Timarcus Davis ran through a wide receiver on an overthrown pass, giving the Charges a new set of downs and a chance to score again.
8:48 minutes remaining Q4
Chargers 27
Rams 17
The LA Rams have some positive takeaways for this one, and clearly some things to work on. But, in theory, this was a learning experience, and as bad as it should get for the Rams team
Trending: LA Rams enter the preseason with a depth chart and many...
The LA Rams are not a polished team just yet, and may need to put a couple of games in the rear view mirror. There are some promising developments in this game. Clearly the Rams punt coverage needs some work. The Rams run defense will need to stiffen up as well. But overall, the Rams did not fall apart. And it's clear that backup rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett has some fight in him, and he brings that out in the Rams offense as well.
Chin up Rams fans. Preseason games are just dress rehearsals.
#HelmetHornsMatter
“Well, the color is good, I like the metallic blue,” Youngblood recently said while laughing, via NFL Journal. “The horn is terrible. It looks like a ‘C.’ When I first saw it on the logo I honestly thought it was a Charger logo.
“Now when I see it on the helmet, it just isn’t a ram horn. There is no distinct curl like a mature ram horn. I don’t know how the Rams could get that wrong. That is your symbol and it has been for what? Seventy years or more? Longer than I have been alive? It’s just not us, it’s not the Rams.”---Mr. Ram Jack Youngblood
| Subject | Author | Views | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ramsdude | 107 | August 13, 2023 11:16AM |
