My view from the game...
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First it was an experience like none other to see Rams football back in Los Angeles.
I saw Rosey Grier and was able to talk to him for a minute. He use to live above me in Fox Hills many years ago.
I shed a tear talking to him about Lamar, Merlin and Deacon not being there to witness this event. Deacon was very grateful to ST Louis for the way they treated him, but he always wanted the Rams to come home.
On to the game.
Can anyone name one area where the Rams were dominant in this game? The Rams were once again flat and didn't come out ready to play and focused on their assignments. Lane integrity was awful on the opening kickoff and the Rams paid for it.
STUDS
The RB's - Brown, Reynolds, Green and the Swiss Army knife Benny Cunningham all ran hard and acquitted themselves quite well. Rams are in good shape in the backfield. I love Benny but the tackling on his TD run by the Cowboys was atrocious.
Tim Barnes - Watch his movement and the way he operates in space. He's not a phone booth center, where he's gonna sit there and maul you in a tight quarter, but there are very few centers that can move as he does. He's perfect for the Rams misdirection, traps and zone blocking schemes. .
Tyler Higbee - The guy looks like a player. Big target with good athleticism and hands. I haven't seen him blocking on an end or LB, but in the pass game he's gonna be a force.
Nelson Spruce - I'm giving this kid STUD status because of his moxy and nice hands. He appears to have fly paper for hands, and bailed out Mannion nicely on a poorly thrown ball in the seam. But I need to see more of him going up against better corners, not guys that will be selling insurance in a couple of weeks. I need to see if he can create separation, for I didn't notice anything in Spruce's movements that jumped out at me.
Matt Longacre - It was Longacre that made the 4th down stop in the middle, not Easley. I wanted to give him credit for making a play. He was active
DUDS
~The first team defense was flat out slow, flat footed and soft.
~ Tru Johnson - Prescott came out the gate throwing right at Tru, and he never stood up. Soft coverage and he got beat a couple of times in a row on simple routes.
~ Coty Sensabaugh had tight coverage on Dez on a couple of passes and still got beat by a superior athlete. That's an issue for a corner because you're gonna go up against some very talented and athletic receivers in the NFL and you gotta be able to win. He was beat by others as well.
~ Lamarcus Joyner - Beat badly on a double move by who, T. Whizzle??
~ Aaron Donald - Got blown off the ball a couple of times and ran past another. Bad foul on the PAT. He was uninspiring in this game, in front of some greats from Rams past.
~ Quinton Coples - Fisher gave him plenty of playing time to see something. I'm sure Fisher is still looking.
~ D. Easley - Same for Easley. He didn't make a play until late in the game going up against 3rd stringers. Really uninspiring play by him.
~ TJMcD - Loafing and out of position on the opening KO. First game back in the great Coliseum, show some pride!!
~ Tavon Austin - Maybe I was to hard on Groh for comparing TA to Welker and Edleman. He does look like Welker, with the drops. They both have very inconsistent hands, just ask Gisele. Didn't Tavon lead the Rams in drops his rookie year? Ugh
~ Case Keenum - He didn't throw a ball that traveled more than 5 yards in the air. We might have a new check down king here.
~ Sean Mannion - He was essentially playing pitch and catch in the backyard out there and only threw one pass with any degree of difficulty. The out pattern he threw to Spruce on the far side on 4th down was his only NFL throw IMO. I don't like his mechanics, wasn't thrilled with his accuracy, and he showed me nothing to think that he should make the team. Looks like the same guy to me.
~ Jeff Fisher - We get all of these camp reports about Goff running with the 1's in 2 minute drill, and what happens in the game? Perfect opportunity for Goff and the Rams to run the drill and they botch it!! Fisher is just not a good game manager, PERIOD!
HONORABLE MENTION
~ Jared Goff - His performance was good and bad, but the bad has more to do with his inexperience than anything. I am encouraged by what I saw from him. He stood tall in the pocket and made some nice throws with zip on the ball. However I do need to point out a few mistake HE made that are being attributed to the o-line.
* On the INT, the Cowboys showed that blitz look two plays in a row. The first one the faked the blitz, the second one they came on. That's the type of games defenses run especially on rookie qb's. That was on Jared, he should have been aware of it, and he held the ball to long. It was a delayed blitz, and the rusher came from well off the line.
* On the second sack that Goff took, it was indecision on his part that contributed to the sack. Sure he got immediate pressure, but in his face and he had his release valve Reynolds right in his sight line that he hesitated to...oops to late. Things move faster in the NFL, so I hope that was a lesson learned for young Goff. Hopefully he is a quick study, because he has a lot to learn.
But overall I thought he was quite accurate and appeared to be pretty steady in the pocket. I didn't see any of the frenetic movement that I saw from his college tape. He showed good promise, and I am hopeful for the kid.
~ Ian Seau - Some good pressure, a sack and a missed sack. The missed sack was obviously glaring. Thus far after one PS game, Seau looks just like another rookie from last season who didn't make the team. Lots of pressure, sack, pushed back in the run game. Let's see if Seau makes the team.
Final Thoughts
This game reminded me of the Dallas game at home in 2013 season where the Rams were paying tribute to Rams legends. The Rams come out with a totally uninspiring performance and get their asses handed to them in front of the Rams greats. Fast forward its a HUGE day for Rams fans as well as football fans in general, playing in front of a record crowd and the Rams starters come out and lay an egg. HTH does that continue to happen?
I know some will poo poo it and pass it off as the first preseason game. Its more than that, its a trend, its a disturbing pattern with Jeff Fisher teams. . This team is still not good enough to turn it on and off when ever they want to. This crap really bothers me.
Before the game Snead was interviewed right in front of me and said..."If Case Keenum had been our qb the last 4 seasons we would have made the playoffs two of those 4 seasons" I just about fell out of my seat. He needs to go when Fisher does, this dude is dillusional.
I'm looking for a better effort in all phases moving forward.
Best,
Laram
I saw Rosey Grier and was able to talk to him for a minute. He use to live above me in Fox Hills many years ago.
I shed a tear talking to him about Lamar, Merlin and Deacon not being there to witness this event. Deacon was very grateful to ST Louis for the way they treated him, but he always wanted the Rams to come home.
On to the game.
Can anyone name one area where the Rams were dominant in this game? The Rams were once again flat and didn't come out ready to play and focused on their assignments. Lane integrity was awful on the opening kickoff and the Rams paid for it.
STUDS
The RB's - Brown, Reynolds, Green and the Swiss Army knife Benny Cunningham all ran hard and acquitted themselves quite well. Rams are in good shape in the backfield. I love Benny but the tackling on his TD run by the Cowboys was atrocious.
Tim Barnes - Watch his movement and the way he operates in space. He's not a phone booth center, where he's gonna sit there and maul you in a tight quarter, but there are very few centers that can move as he does. He's perfect for the Rams misdirection, traps and zone blocking schemes. .
Tyler Higbee - The guy looks like a player. Big target with good athleticism and hands. I haven't seen him blocking on an end or LB, but in the pass game he's gonna be a force.
Nelson Spruce - I'm giving this kid STUD status because of his moxy and nice hands. He appears to have fly paper for hands, and bailed out Mannion nicely on a poorly thrown ball in the seam. But I need to see more of him going up against better corners, not guys that will be selling insurance in a couple of weeks. I need to see if he can create separation, for I didn't notice anything in Spruce's movements that jumped out at me.
Matt Longacre - It was Longacre that made the 4th down stop in the middle, not Easley. I wanted to give him credit for making a play. He was active
DUDS
~The first team defense was flat out slow, flat footed and soft.
~ Tru Johnson - Prescott came out the gate throwing right at Tru, and he never stood up. Soft coverage and he got beat a couple of times in a row on simple routes.
~ Coty Sensabaugh had tight coverage on Dez on a couple of passes and still got beat by a superior athlete. That's an issue for a corner because you're gonna go up against some very talented and athletic receivers in the NFL and you gotta be able to win. He was beat by others as well.
~ Lamarcus Joyner - Beat badly on a double move by who, T. Whizzle??
~ Aaron Donald - Got blown off the ball a couple of times and ran past another. Bad foul on the PAT. He was uninspiring in this game, in front of some greats from Rams past.
~ Quinton Coples - Fisher gave him plenty of playing time to see something. I'm sure Fisher is still looking.
~ D. Easley - Same for Easley. He didn't make a play until late in the game going up against 3rd stringers. Really uninspiring play by him.
~ TJMcD - Loafing and out of position on the opening KO. First game back in the great Coliseum, show some pride!!
~ Tavon Austin - Maybe I was to hard on Groh for comparing TA to Welker and Edleman. He does look like Welker, with the drops. They both have very inconsistent hands, just ask Gisele. Didn't Tavon lead the Rams in drops his rookie year? Ugh
~ Case Keenum - He didn't throw a ball that traveled more than 5 yards in the air. We might have a new check down king here.
~ Sean Mannion - He was essentially playing pitch and catch in the backyard out there and only threw one pass with any degree of difficulty. The out pattern he threw to Spruce on the far side on 4th down was his only NFL throw IMO. I don't like his mechanics, wasn't thrilled with his accuracy, and he showed me nothing to think that he should make the team. Looks like the same guy to me.
~ Jeff Fisher - We get all of these camp reports about Goff running with the 1's in 2 minute drill, and what happens in the game? Perfect opportunity for Goff and the Rams to run the drill and they botch it!! Fisher is just not a good game manager, PERIOD!
HONORABLE MENTION
~ Jared Goff - His performance was good and bad, but the bad has more to do with his inexperience than anything. I am encouraged by what I saw from him. He stood tall in the pocket and made some nice throws with zip on the ball. However I do need to point out a few mistake HE made that are being attributed to the o-line.
* On the INT, the Cowboys showed that blitz look two plays in a row. The first one the faked the blitz, the second one they came on. That's the type of games defenses run especially on rookie qb's. That was on Jared, he should have been aware of it, and he held the ball to long. It was a delayed blitz, and the rusher came from well off the line.
* On the second sack that Goff took, it was indecision on his part that contributed to the sack. Sure he got immediate pressure, but in his face and he had his release valve Reynolds right in his sight line that he hesitated to...oops to late. Things move faster in the NFL, so I hope that was a lesson learned for young Goff. Hopefully he is a quick study, because he has a lot to learn.
But overall I thought he was quite accurate and appeared to be pretty steady in the pocket. I didn't see any of the frenetic movement that I saw from his college tape. He showed good promise, and I am hopeful for the kid.
~ Ian Seau - Some good pressure, a sack and a missed sack. The missed sack was obviously glaring. Thus far after one PS game, Seau looks just like another rookie from last season who didn't make the team. Lots of pressure, sack, pushed back in the run game. Let's see if Seau makes the team.
Final Thoughts
This game reminded me of the Dallas game at home in 2013 season where the Rams were paying tribute to Rams legends. The Rams come out with a totally uninspiring performance and get their asses handed to them in front of the Rams greats. Fast forward its a HUGE day for Rams fans as well as football fans in general, playing in front of a record crowd and the Rams starters come out and lay an egg. HTH does that continue to happen?
I know some will poo poo it and pass it off as the first preseason game. Its more than that, its a trend, its a disturbing pattern with Jeff Fisher teams. . This team is still not good enough to turn it on and off when ever they want to. This crap really bothers me.
Before the game Snead was interviewed right in front of me and said..."If Case Keenum had been our qb the last 4 seasons we would have made the playoffs two of those 4 seasons" I just about fell out of my seat. He needs to go when Fisher does, this dude is dillusional.
I'm looking for a better effort in all phases moving forward.
Best,
Laram
