No OTAs, truncated camp, no preseason, injured early on in game 2. The kid- like any rookie RB- has a lot to learn and simply has not had much of a chance to do so. I would not try to do much with him other than hand him the ball several times per game.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
As far as incremental pieces to add in 2021 and beyond I would say 1 and 2 are Edge and LT as most critical. They have really good pieces in the secondary (and have shown good ability to develop DBs), with Donald, etc. But I think elite defenses are built and sustained on both really good pass coverage (DBs) and consistent pass rush. The Rams still need that. They'll go into 2021 with Lewis aby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Like you- if I am reading you right- the more I think about and examine this game the more I think it was deficiencies by McVay and OConnell and less so by Goff. Both had very bad days but I think coaching and poor game planning was more of the issue. Playing the 30th ranked run defense should have meant 35-40 rush attempts.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I won't be able to listen to the final 2/3 until later, but from what they've said so far: Basically if you had to pick one unit before the season that would be clear-cut top 5 and one that was struggling, which would you have picked (offense or defense)?.. Considering the installation of a brand new scheme and how it had to be phased in gradually (with no preseason) the first 4-5 games the dby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Longer one this week, closer to two hours. I'm not even 30 minutes in yet but already some good perspectives about both the offense and defense (and the reality vs. fiction regarding Goff).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
His YPC is down somewhat vs. his first three years with the Rams (11.8 vs. 13.5) and his targets are down a bit too (6.8 vs. 8.2) though his catch percentage (68.5%) is the highest of his Rams tenure. I think it is Higbee they need to get back into the flow of the passing game. He's only had 4+ receptions once this year (@PHIL). A productive TE is a QB's best friend.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Literally every player from every team takes advantage of the bye week by "stepping away from football" for 4-5 days during their Bye. They're away from their facilities. Physically and mentally it's a good thing. And who's to assume he's still not working out or studying film, etc.? Maybe his 'laid back' demeanor is too relaxed for some but there have never been any reports of theby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Show Rams as 7th seed in the NFC and 5th best odds to win the NFC. January trip to 2nd seed Tampa... Football Outsiders Playoff Odds Long way to go. Rams beat Seattle in two weeks they still have a shot at the 5th seed and even the division (would require sweeping Seattle). It's the most pivotal game they'll have played. Have to win home division games above all else.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah, its a tough pill to swallow. I would never have expected the Rams to be 7-1 at their bye but 6-2 was well within grasp. They did not lose to bad teams in SF and MIA but both are middle of the road teams and a good Rams team should have split those road games. We should be 6-2 so who some way right now....by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Looking at the playoff picture, right now the Rams are the 7th seed. This loss could end up being the difference between the 5th seed (where they'd have likely gone to- and been favored in- Philadelphia) and being that 7th seed and going to Green Bay.. Big difference... They have a tiebreaker over the Bears given the MNF win. They're also 5-1 in the conference which is a plus. The way I sby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Looked like he started dating Elaine from Seinfeld!by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The 11+ targets per game he had the final 5 games last year was never going to be sustainable. But he has 25 targets (3.6/game) this year and that certainly isn't enough. They absolutely have to figure that out. Higbee should be a 60-catch guy in this offense.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
They have played 16 halves of football now. Three disastrous ones (first halves vs. BUF, SF and now MIA). They've been outscored 70-19 in those three. In the other 13? Outscored opponents 174-82.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Caveat I would add is while they played some bad teams early on, in 4 of their first 5 games they played good to very good defensive front sevens. And they've played good to very good front sevens in each of the past 3 games, too. Games 1-5: 71.7% completions, 8 TD, 3 INT, 108.8 QB Rating, 9.0 YPA, 7 sacks Games 6-8: 58.3% completions, 5 TD, 3 INT, 78.3 QB Rating, 5.9 YPA, 3 sacksby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Seattle will be on their 2nd straight road game (@BUF this week). Rams coming off their bye. Seattle is a bottom 8 pass defense. If the passing offense can't get their act together in that game then things could get bleak.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Flores and DC Boyer were both on that staff in New England that confused the sh#& out of both McVay and Goff in the Super Bowl. As were three of their defensive starters (Van Noy, Roberts, and Rowe).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Points/game: 1st (defense only, not including defensive and ST scores) By quarter/Half: 1st half: 26th 2nd half: 1st 1st quarter: 9th 2nd quarter: 29th 3rd quarter: 2nd 4th quarter: 1stby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
5 of remaining 8 at home. Only one more trip out of the Pacific time zone. So theres that... If Buffalo can beat Seattle next week in Buffalo then the game vs the Seahawks in two weeks is for 1st place. Rams need to win 4 of 5 NFC West games to have a chance to win the division- and maybe for the playoffs period. Everything they want is still in front of them, but they sure made it unnecesby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree with that. Maybe not the breakout game vs SEA thing- we will see- but the Brown vs Akers dynamic. I like all 3 backs as they are all capable of good things, but they will clearly do what they can to integrate Akers more the next 8 games. And his carries will come at the expense of Brown, not Henderson.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Thats how I look at it too. 2/3 of the team was really bad in the first half. Goff was very bad in the 1st half- as was McVay- and it was too little too late in the 2nd half. But I do give him a pass on that sack fumble for the TD. Unless the play call was literally supposed to be two steps and a slant or something he had zero chance. That is where McVay comes in. Group loss today. A team canby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The one that came to mind for me was the 2003 game vs Ravens in STL- the one game I ever attended in STL- where the Rams had like 120 yards offense and won 33-22. The Ravens, of course, turned the ball over 7 times.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Agree. The play calling was not great. But issue today is they were running the ball pretty well and still the passing game could not get out of its own way... The first INT to the DT was horrendous. The 2nd INT was not a lot better. Rowe flat dropped a pick six late and another pass could have been intercepted. Was this just a perfect storm of tipped passes and missed blocks and bad throws anby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Passing offense, specifically. Rams ran the ball well today. Just an atrocious and inexcusable outing by their passing offense.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I'm not dealing a 5th rounder or higher for anyone unless they are under contract through 2021. Keep in mind, right now the Rams do not have a 4th or 5th. They have a 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th. 3rd and 4th round comp. picks coming but you cannot trade those until official.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I understand that perspective. I suppose I think that- if we're talking about ILB specifically- we're really talking about run defense overall. And the hope has to be that Robinson is the addition coming to help there. With good interior DL play I'm fine with Kiser and Young there. If the team tackles the way they did Monday Night vs. the Bears their run defense will be much better overall. Pby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
All 5 are more valuable on this team in 2020 than for some late round pick next April. Plus 2-3 of these will end up netting the Rams 2022 comp picks- and possibly even in higher rounds than via trade.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Sort of agree. He's a nice role player that should help them be more consistently good vs. the run. Probably 20-25 snaps/game.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I'm basically not in favor of trading for anyone they wouldn't have under contract for another full season. Like with Fowler at least they had him for 1.5 years. I'd only consider someone under contract through 2021. Kerrigan has been very good but is older and an UFA.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Jack makes $9.5M, $10.5M and $11.25M the next three years.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
2 (54th) 3 (85th) 3 (101st) - comp., projected 4 (135th) - comp., projected 6 (182nd) 7 (213th) Sources: Tankathon.com and OverTheCap.comby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com