Buffalo was much more a one read then off schedule and improvise offense with Taylor, which is actually better for Watkins but still won't get him the consistent numbers that the great ones get. As I mentioned below, they tried to force it to him there because he was supposed to be the go to guy, but it didn't work that well either. Part of that is because of his injuries and part of that was beby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Correlation is not causation. The fact that Watkins gets fewer throws his way than the others, or others WR's (Garcon and Jackson) in the same system when McVay was in Washington, despite being the #1 WR, is more likely due to Watkins himself than "where he falls in the progression." McVay's scheme threw a lot to the TE in DC too, when Reed was healthy. But in LA the TE didn'tby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
That is the reason. Again, in full context, this explains why he's better in LA with Goff and McVay and why Watkins isn't really that good........anywhere. If you don't see it in there, I don't know how else to present it. Quote"As for what I said about Robert Woods when they signed him, I said he'd be exactly the kind of receiver Goff needed. Somebody he could depend on to be whereby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
First off, I'm not as concerned about "momentum" as I am changing the focus from winning to not winning a game, which is different than enjoying an actual bye week. This analysis doesn't touch on statistical data for teams that tank games heading into the playoffs vs. those that don't. Secondly, comparing regular season home team winning percentage to playoff home team winning perceby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
I said nothing of the sort that the QB and system have no bearing on a player. What I said is when a player fails to meet expectations across multiple QB's and systems, especially once he gets into a WR friendly system with a good QB where everybody is producing except him, THAT has great bearing on an evaluation. I explained exactly why I think Woods has succeed now with McVay and Goff andby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
I've seen some of those threads about how he's the victim of Goff (theoretically open but Goff just refuses to throw it to him) but haven't had the time or desire to respond much to it because I think it's just more of the obligatory excuse you get for any player that's not producing the way you hoped. Just another variation on the Buffalo excuses. Goff is somehow holding him back, yet a rookieby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Otherwise you run the risk of the Tavon Austin "10 TD's" fallacy that attempted to justify his extension. Watkins got those 8 TD's primarily because McVay schemed a couple specific goal line plays for him that were repetitively successful, which is something he could do for other less hyped and overrated players as well. Not unlike the way Austin scored 10 TD's one season. Itby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Occam's razor........he hopes to win but will accept a loss to avoid the risk of injuries. McVay is a tactician, but not the "plan to lose" type. I don't think there's any secret decoder ring involved here.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
The idea that had the Rams won the last couple years in St. Louis the league would have never allowed them to move to LA is a bogus premise as well. The league wanted the Rams in LA whether they won or lost in St. Louis. And the stadium issue in St. Louis was pretty cut and dry. They could not prevent the Rams from leaving and the Rams and league wanted them to leave for LA win or lose in Stby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
I know he'd rather win with his backups, but it's basically like a preseason game. Winning isn't the primary objective. It would be sweet to beat the 9ers with our scrubs. That would possibly be more fun than beating them with our starters. I guess we're going to find out if McVay can do that too.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
If they lose in the Wild Card round, he would get criticism either way. If he didn't "rest" the starters and they lose, it would be because they were tired and perhaps banged up. If he does sit the starters and they lose, it will be because they lost focus and continuity. I think the most important thing in that scenario is if he prevents Gurley from winning the rushing and/or Mby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteJYB The primary reason to rest them so they're fresh for the first game. Teams coming off of a first round bye are typically fresher, faster and more focused. Other players need the break to let their bodies heal. All of which can make a significant difference in performance. McVay is focused squarely on the first playoff game and is trying to maximize the team's chances of winning it byby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
What even is that supposed to be? Winning gives you seeding over other legitimate threats in the playoffs. In the post season, every team you face is a hated rival because every opponent you face can end your season. And playing at home as much as possible is always better than playing on the road. You and McVay have determined that the risks outweigh the rewards. Okay, that's fine. Iby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Nor have I forgotten that those kind's of "mantras" only work for so long if players are needlessly making such sacrifices. It needs to payoff. If it doesn't........ And by the way, it's generally easier to win a championship from higher than lower seeds. Hence the entire premise behind the seeding process. Losing on purpose and accepting lower seeding isn't consistent with a fby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Watkins hasn't added anything any decent NFL WR couldn't have added. The "decoy' narrative doesn't hold water upon closer inspection. Their top two receivers this year, Gurley and Kupp, aren't benefiting by Watkins theoretically "drawing the other team's #1 CB" because they're not going to draw that guy anyway. And if the argument is that Woods benefited from that this season, wby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteRampage2K- Quote9er8er Playoff seeding is on the line. It's just not meaningful enough in McVay's estimation. I'm not sure if Gurley would decide to play or not if McVay recommended he didn't but left the decision up to him. But that's the entire point. It may be wise to allow your superstar players to go for very meaningful individual goals if he wants to in a game that does still haby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Implications either exist or they don't. When they're there, as is demonstrably the case here, people may choose to interpret them objectively or subjectively according to their biases. You've merely made your choice and incorrectly claimed it's the only option.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Playoff seeding is on the line. It's just not meaningful enough in McVay's estimation. I'm not sure if Gurley would decide to play or not if McVay recommended he didn't but left the decision up to him. But that's the entire point. It may be wise to allow your superstar players to go for very meaningful individual goals if he wants to in a game that does still have some meaning to the team.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
There is risk here for McVay in that he's asking Gurley to sacrifice a LOT individually presumably for the good of the team. But that could blow up on him if the team doesn't perform well in the playoffs after the layoff for the starters. How is Gurley going to feel if the team loses after he sacrificed a rushing title and potential MVP title specifically to avoid that? There's no questiby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Not good to get it wrong and laugh at somebody else who didn't. Anyway, it's obvious that McVay doesn't view it the same way Belichick and Tomlin do. The question is, why not? They are playing their starters with only one thing to gain, and that's the chance to host the conference championship game rather than go on the road for it should they get there. That chance is also the only thingby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
He has the bye wrapped up. In fact, both the Steelers and Patriots have the bye locked up. But both plan to play their starters this week anyway because it could mean the difference between hosting vs. being on the road for the conference championship, which is also what could be at stake between being the 3rd and 4th seed.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
He'd be getting disagreement either way and there are "logical and pragmatic" arguments on both sides of the issue, so he didn't corner the market there by picking one of the sides. It's also arguably the more popular side to protect your starters rather than play under their current circumstances. Look at this board, including you, for example. The vast majority are all in favor ofby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
The problem began with trading away draft picks to move up and overdraft him. It continued with not only keeping him around after they clearly knew he was a mistake and doubling down on it with additional years of commitment. That would have been true even if his rate of pay didn't increase a dime with the extension. If TA was making $2M, he'd still be overpaid.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
But you just defer to McVay at this point because you don't criticize miracle workers.......too strenuously at least. He knows the state of the team better than anybody and he's obviously proven competent, so....... My personal view is I don't like taking the foot off the gas because I think you risk not finding it again. The idea of not playing to win is not something that I worry about. Iby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
One of my favorite and most terrifying memories was being there when the Rams beat them in the 2004 playoff game, the Rams last hurrah .......until now. There was nothing better than drowning in their frustration and tears. They are, easily, the largest collection of douche-bag fans in the NFL. Don't mind fans that will trash talk but Seattle fans want to throw down just because you're wearingby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
6 sacks allowed, maybe half of which were actually on him. Nobody has had a greater impact on their unit and team than Whitworth. Nobody.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Other than Gurley, I think he is the offensive MVP. He's made all the difference. Should have been in the Pro Bowl.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
Goff has been a near miracle this year. If he comes anywhere close to as far next year as he has this year, he's going to be great. You're talking about such a small sample size of late game "clutch" opportunities at the moment that there's no way to know how that's going to end up in the future. So much outside of a QB's control has to also go right in those situations for the QBby 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com
As great as McVay has been overall, his neglect of Gurley (who has been beastly this season) when he should really be putting the ball and game in his hands,has not been great.by 9er8er - RamsFootballFans.com