A few general thoughts after the Panthers game...

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Rams43

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Yeah, Goff was rusty, but that rust is gonna be gone quickly. Not worried at all.

This “new” RB tandem of Gurley/Brown looks to be both very effective AND sustainable through the playoffs. That’s beyond huge.

You just know that McVay is itching to get some snaps for Henderson, too.

I thought that the OL exceeded expectations for a first game together. I’m particularly impressed by how they kept improving throughout the game. That Ram 2nd half run game was devastating.

Higbee played well, but Everett needs to step it up. McVay’s TE strategy is a work in progress.

Reynolds in the 4 WR sets was underwhelming. McVay will probably keep tinkering with his 10 personnel groupings because he wants to have a sharp unit available for when needed against certain opposing D schemes, I guess. Stay tuned.

Fowler is off to a great start. Will he be a Ram next year? Looking good for him in horns after this debut, huh?

Littleton is a lock for Ram extension. Bank it. So versatile and a tremendous playmaker.

I want to see more pressure from Matthews outside. If he can’t provide it then they should reduce his snaps there and give Obo/Patrick/Ebu some opportunities. C’mon...

Brockers had a quiet game. What’s up with him?

SJD had a quiet game, too. What i’m Trying to say is what the heck is going on with our run D? Give Gaines a few snaps, Wade! Geez...

Our CB’s were a sorta mixed bag, kinda. Meaning, I saw missed tackles from both Talib and Peters. Heck, MP almost looked like he wanted to avoid contact. OTOH, Newton had his problems completing many passes. Brees, however, will be a whole different thing.

Our Safeties, as a group, are looking beastly. Too bad about Weddle’s injury, but he’ll be back for the Saints. JJ looking like a Pro Bowler and Rapp had a helluva first game.

Coach Fassel’s various ST units had a forgettable game, no doubt. But does anyone doubt that coach will make the proper corrections? Me neither.

My biggest takeaways:

Our O is gonna be better than in ‘18, and maybe by a significant amount. I expect really big things from this OL, for starters. Overall RB production, too. What the Rams did to a quality front 7 in the second half was very impressive.

D is still a work in progress on our front 7, I’m afraid. Interior DL (SJD) and Edge opposite Fowler were not really good enough in this first game. And a similar effort against the Saints will not be pretty to watch.

But I do have a ton of confidence in these coaches and fully expect a much less “rusty” game by the Rams. If that happens then the Rams will be tough to beat at home.
 

Soul Surfer

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.... but not sure on the Gaines comment you made, 43.

There's no way for us to personally know if a rookie is ready the way the coaches do.

Plus Brockers has never been a penetrator, just a guy who holds his part of the field and can cause 2 blockers to be tied up.
 

Soul Surfer

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The cornerbacks did look a little rough especially considering the low level of talent on the Carolina side with the wide receivers.

Without McCaffrey, who looks like an all-world player so far in his career, we would have totally dominated Carolina.
 

ArkyRamsFan

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IIRC Gaines wasn't even activated for this game. I agree with Rams43 though that needs to be corrected so he can play. I would like to see SJD and Gaines split snaps and then go with the hot hand.

~ArkyRamsFan~
 

FrantikRam

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Everett needs to step up?

I mean, he got called for holding I guess - but other than that, all he did was catch his only target - a horribly late pass from Goff that was tipped and yet somehow caught to convert a 3rd down by Everett.
 

FrantikRam

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Also, Sunday made a Littleton extension look less likely.

Because on Sunday he was as valuable as Wagner and Mosley, and his agent was watching. Should have extended him for $10 million per year prior to the season - now....yikes.
 

RamWoodie

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Kinda early to make real assessments for me...but what I see so far tells me it's definitely going to get better on O & D.

Let's see how sharp they are Sunday. Everyone knows the Saints want to make a statement after that NFC CHAMPION GAME.
 

Rams43

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8
IIRC Gaines wasn't even activated for this game. I agree with Rams43 though that needs to be corrected so he can play. I would like to see SJD and Gaines split snaps and then go with the hot hand.

~ArkyRamsFan~

Abbalootly, Arky.

Hell, I thought that that was the plan since draft day.
 

Ram65

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Higbee played well, but Everett needs to step it up. McVay’s TE strategy is a work in progress.

Higbee caught 4 out 5 targets with 1 TD. Everett was 1 for 1 with a first down.
Goff was off so it's hard to read much into anything week one. Everett was wide open in the End Zone when Goff was flushed to the opposite side. I think McVay planned to get Higbee the ball and did.


SJD had a quiet game, too. What i’m Trying to say is what the heck is going on with our run D? Give Gaines a few snaps, Wade! Geez...

A lot of calls for Gaines. The NT got limited snaps and probably will until maybe the Hags game. Hard to think Gaines would be a big difference when they didn't even activate him. SJD got washed out on plays and so did Brockers. If Wade goes with Gaines good for him but, I'm not expecting miracles this early in the season.​
 

shovelpass

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I mentioned this in a different thread but on 4 of the longer runs were from players not maintaining gap discipline, or the DTs shooting their gaps trying to get to the QB. Fix those 4 and his day looks very different.
 
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