[
theramswire.usatoday.com] Jalen Ramsey frustrated by Rams offense not closing out games
Cameron DaSilva
November 6, 2022 6:41 pm PT
Rams vs. Buccaneers highlights Week 9
Frustration is starting to mount in the Rams’ locker room, and understandably so. After Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Buccaneers, the Rams dropped to 3-5 on the year and have one of the worst offenses in the NFL.
The defense has done its job, for the most part, but Sean McVay’s offense is lagging behind. And Jalen Ramsey, for one, is tired of the defense needing to close out games. In the locker room after the game, Ramsey expressed his frustration over the fact that the offense doesn’t have the mentality that it’ll put away the opponent by picking up a first down.
That’s all the Rams needed with less than two minutes left: one first down.
“We have so many games where the defense will get a stop and we’ll got to the sideline and they’ll be like, ‘Y’all stay locked in. Y’all stay locked in. Y’all gonna have to go back out there again.’ It shouldn’t be like that. We gotta have some dogs who are gonna be like, ‘We’re gonna close this (expletive) out,’” Ramsey said.
Steve Wyche of NFL Network, who was in the locker room and sensed the Rams’ dejected feelings, says Ramsey wasn’t the only one frustrated by the way the game ended. Ramsey told him he didn’t think the defense should’ve had to be on the field after stopping the Buccaneers on fourth down with 1:57 to play.
The offense went three-and-out and punted again, giving the ball right back to Tom Brady, who drove 60 yards in six plays to win the game for Tampa Bay.
Inability to get a first down and run out the clock was widespread. In fact, the inefficiency of the offense has reached a critical time with head coach Sean McVay said things will change, be it personnel, his play calling, scheme shifts.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) November 7, 2022
Starting center Brian Allen agreed. He knows the offense should’ve been able to close out the game, only needing one first down to put the Bucs away.
That was a somber locker room, but many #Rams players spoke and answered tough questions. Here's a quote from C Brian Allen: "They (defense) shouldn’t be on the field. We should finish that. We put them in that position. We gotta find a way to get a first down. … It’s on us."
— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) November 7, 2022
The Rams are a lost team right now with no real help or reinforcements on the way. It comes down to scheme, play calling and simply performing better on the field on game days. Because as McVay said, it hasn’t been good enough.
