Yet another excellent “random thoughts” post by Wildflecken...

Here’s Wildflecken...

1.) Very good sign both Ebukam and JFM had great showings against Raiders. Further Rams defense had the showing they did without Mark Barron. In order for this defense to take the steps needed to go from near top of the league good and transition into a great defense that can lead a team to the Super Bowl despite production from the offense, Ebukam taking huge steps in season two, JFM developing immediately was a must.

2.) Speaking of Barron, have to manage those Achilles injuries with kid gloves. Remember what happened to Sherman in 17. Rams will need Barron come November/December and the playoff run. Being overly cautious with Barron is the right call.

3.) Goff's mechanics were horrific in the first half. Great sign he was able to have the second half showing he did. Rams offense still needs timing work, love the number of shots they did take, going to both Cooks and Woods. Even when unsuccessful does wonders softening the d for Gurley.

Not many offenses has two starting wideouts who can get behind double coverage.

4.) I had a post during the preseason the importance of McVay getting his stable of running backs behind Gurley some work early in the season and keeping Gurley fresh for November/December. Last season the offense went far too unbalanced to the pass when not calling Gurley's number.

Rams have impressive depth behind Gurley and this offense is much more effective when it does not abandon the running attack. No reason despite our impressive stable of wideouts and receiving options this offense should not approach 55% running plays called weekly.

5.) Look for the TE's to play a huge role next week against AZ.

6.) Cooper Clutch. Need I say more?

7.) Many pointed out after the Raiders victory the Rams being maybe the most effective team in league regarding in game adjustments. Well these folks are correct and the topic itself deserves a thread of its own to discuss.

While the coaching staff on both sides of the ball deserve huge credit for this, the fact the Rams are able to do this goes much deeper and credit goes to the entire organization from top down. It all begins with obtaining the talent desired by your coaches on both sides of the ball and finding them talents who transcend an individual scheme. Developing the players on your roster in the skills required to be successful in multiple schemes, packages, and formations.

The Rams coaching staff are excellent at coaching the individual skills required to be successful in multiple looks and formations on both sides of the ball. The front office has given both sides of the ball a sufficient base of players whose talents make them desirable to any coaching staff in the league, no matter the scheme or design that coach desires to run on game day. Players that will be successful despite the scheme they are asked to play in.

Much has been made of the age difference between McVay and Wade. What makes them such a successful combo despite being groomed in differing era's with differing approaches and beliefs? They may coach on different sides of the football, but they share a common approach and vision for their squads. Neither limits the potential of their units by using only one scheme.

Wade may be known for his base 3-4 defense, but his packages include traditional 4-3 alignments. Much like McVay on offense, he tailors his sub packages to fit the strengths of the talents on his roster for the upcoming season. He stays true to his one gap approach and belief, no matter the sub package installed, but he incorporates the best alignments of both the 3-4 and 4-3 into his annual design.

McVay has done the same offensively. His offensive game plan cannot be coined by the use of any one of the traditional phrases. Rather McVay has incorporated components of the West Coast, Air Coryell, Erhardt Perkins etc into his final design each season to find the most explosive plays that fit his talents strengths.
Neither believe in limiting the potential of their players by limiting their playbooks to any one individual system or scheme.

8.) And finally it is time for game balls. The first has to go to John Johnson. If not for his timely first half interception this game could of gotten out of reach in the first half. A true momentum changing play.

The second goes to Todd Gurley, the largest contributor to the second half resurgence offensively.

The last game ball is divided amongst Michael Brockers, JFM and Ekubam. With both Donald and Suh being in a dogfight all night long with the best the Raiders roster has to offer in their three interior lineman, these three talents exposed the Raiders tackles and generated pressure all night long. They also did an amazing job when asked to drop into the flats in coverage.

GO RAMS!!!


p.s. Don't let the week one performance of the Cardinals fool you. That roster has some serious talent on it. They are incorporating new schemes on both sides of the ball.

It may take them a few weeks but in the end I expect them to be our largest challenger for the division. Hopefully we are catching them at a great time, while they still are perfecting the finer points of their schemes.

There is a reason all 7 new HC's lost their first contest in week one. And week one performances can be all too deceiving. But more on the Cardinals later in a different thread