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Failure to hold the edge cost Rams defense big-time
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_354d1baf-489d-584b-8af2-695af2f3169d.html
Whether it was running plays, or to a lesser extent the passing game, defensively the Rams lost Sunday’s game to Minnesota on the perimeter. The inability to hold the edge cost the Rams time and time again in a 34-6 loss, especially while the game was close.
“We’ve gotta do a better job up front setting the edges,” coach Jeff Fisher said during his Monday media session. “We had people running behind blocks, not crossing over (in front of them). On a couple of plays we had poor angles out of the secondary.
“We also had an alignment error on the long touchdown run (by Cordarrelle Patterson). So we’re going to have to continue to work at that, and we’ll get that fixed. Gregg (Williams) is very much aware of it, and not happy right now, so we’ll get it fixed.”
In this copycat league, you can rest assured every opponent on the Rams’ schedule will test them on the edge until the Rams show they have indeed gotten it fixed — starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday in Raymond James Stadium.
Patterson, the second-year wide receiver, got the Rams twice on the perimeter on “jet” sweeps — once on each of the Minnesota field goal drives in the opening 16 minutes of play. On the jet sweep, the wide receiver goes in motion towards the quarterback, and gets the handoff as he’s passing the QB. In essence it gives him a running start towards the edge.
On the first field goal drive, a 12-yard run around right end by Patterson got Minnesota out of a game-opening field-position hole, taking the Vikings from their 17 to the 29.
On the play, the Rams had both safeties playing at least 12 yards off the line of scrimmage. Defensive end Chris Long and cornerback E.J. Gaines, who was playing next to Long just off the line of scrimmage, both got taken out on blocks by Minnesota tight ends.
Patterson cut upfield between Long and Gaines through a hole created by the blockers. Linebacker Alec Olgletree, who had lined up on that side, was late to get to the ball.
On the second field goal drive, Patterson got the Vikings within field goal range on a 23-yard jet sweep, again around right end. It was the first play after the missed Greg Zuerlein 50-yard field goal, with Minnesota starting at its 40.
Both Rams safeties were deep again, this time at least 14 yards off the line of scrimmage. Gaines came off his receiver, who was flanked wide right, to force the play inside.
William Hayes, in at defensive end at the time, was unblocked but got caught inside. That left it up to the linebacker on that side — this time it was Jo-Lonn Dunbar. But Dunbar missed a tackle that would’ve stopped Patterson for a one-yard gain.
The backbreaker of course, was Patterson’s long touchdown run late in the third quarter, which stretched a 13-3 Minnesota lead to 20-3.
“I don’t care whether it’s a running back or a wide receiver, you don’t permit ‘em to run 80 yards on a crack toss for a touchdown,” Fisher said. “He’s an outstanding athlete, but we were not — to say the least — very efficient on that particular play.”
Actually, it was “only” 67 yards, but you get the point. Patterson lined up wide right on the play, but then shifted to the backfield behind fullback Matt Asiata in an I-formation. After what had transpired earlier on the two jet screens by Patterson, the Rams must have at least suspected he might get the ball here.
Didn’t matter. The Vikings blocked the play just like it was drawn up on the greaseboard. There were two tight ends on that side, and end Hayes was taken out by one of them after the toss to Patterson.
Pulling guard Brandon Fusco took care of T.J. McDonald, who was stationed wide on the line of scrimmage almost as if he were a cornerback. Fullback Asiata got Gaines, who was stationed a few yards behind the line of scrimmage like a safety. And linebacker Alec Ogletree, who had lined up on that side, couldn’t get off his block.
So once again, the Rams were outflanked on the edge in textbook fashion. It was almost like that old clip of Vince Lombardi at the chalkboard from NFL Films: A seal here, a block there. ...
Patterson was 15 yards down field before a Rams defender got a hand on him — Dunbar and safety Rodney McLeod missed tackles, and it was off to the races for Patterson who cut back towards the middle for the score.
Obviously, if you can’t get off blocks, it’s hard to play winning football on defense. Plain and simple.
Those three Patterson plays alone accounted for 102 yards — or 30 percent of the Vikings’ offensive output on 56 plays. The Vikings also outflanked the Rams on three screen passes to either a running back, wide receiver, or tight end that amounted to 46 additional yards.
There was a sharp contrast between those plays by the Vikings, who were able to get their blockers on the perimeter. And similar offensive plays by the Rams, who weren’t able to get their blockers out, or when they were, were unable to execute a block. The only exception was a screen pass to Zac Stacy in which the Rams had blockers in place, but Stacy dropped the pass.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_354d1baf-489d-584b-8af2-695af2f3169d.html
Whether it was running plays, or to a lesser extent the passing game, defensively the Rams lost Sunday’s game to Minnesota on the perimeter. The inability to hold the edge cost the Rams time and time again in a 34-6 loss, especially while the game was close.
“We’ve gotta do a better job up front setting the edges,” coach Jeff Fisher said during his Monday media session. “We had people running behind blocks, not crossing over (in front of them). On a couple of plays we had poor angles out of the secondary.
“We also had an alignment error on the long touchdown run (by Cordarrelle Patterson). So we’re going to have to continue to work at that, and we’ll get that fixed. Gregg (Williams) is very much aware of it, and not happy right now, so we’ll get it fixed.”
In this copycat league, you can rest assured every opponent on the Rams’ schedule will test them on the edge until the Rams show they have indeed gotten it fixed — starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday in Raymond James Stadium.
Patterson, the second-year wide receiver, got the Rams twice on the perimeter on “jet” sweeps — once on each of the Minnesota field goal drives in the opening 16 minutes of play. On the jet sweep, the wide receiver goes in motion towards the quarterback, and gets the handoff as he’s passing the QB. In essence it gives him a running start towards the edge.
On the first field goal drive, a 12-yard run around right end by Patterson got Minnesota out of a game-opening field-position hole, taking the Vikings from their 17 to the 29.
On the play, the Rams had both safeties playing at least 12 yards off the line of scrimmage. Defensive end Chris Long and cornerback E.J. Gaines, who was playing next to Long just off the line of scrimmage, both got taken out on blocks by Minnesota tight ends.
Patterson cut upfield between Long and Gaines through a hole created by the blockers. Linebacker Alec Olgletree, who had lined up on that side, was late to get to the ball.
On the second field goal drive, Patterson got the Vikings within field goal range on a 23-yard jet sweep, again around right end. It was the first play after the missed Greg Zuerlein 50-yard field goal, with Minnesota starting at its 40.
Both Rams safeties were deep again, this time at least 14 yards off the line of scrimmage. Gaines came off his receiver, who was flanked wide right, to force the play inside.
William Hayes, in at defensive end at the time, was unblocked but got caught inside. That left it up to the linebacker on that side — this time it was Jo-Lonn Dunbar. But Dunbar missed a tackle that would’ve stopped Patterson for a one-yard gain.
The backbreaker of course, was Patterson’s long touchdown run late in the third quarter, which stretched a 13-3 Minnesota lead to 20-3.
“I don’t care whether it’s a running back or a wide receiver, you don’t permit ‘em to run 80 yards on a crack toss for a touchdown,” Fisher said. “He’s an outstanding athlete, but we were not — to say the least — very efficient on that particular play.”
Actually, it was “only” 67 yards, but you get the point. Patterson lined up wide right on the play, but then shifted to the backfield behind fullback Matt Asiata in an I-formation. After what had transpired earlier on the two jet screens by Patterson, the Rams must have at least suspected he might get the ball here.
Didn’t matter. The Vikings blocked the play just like it was drawn up on the greaseboard. There were two tight ends on that side, and end Hayes was taken out by one of them after the toss to Patterson.
Pulling guard Brandon Fusco took care of T.J. McDonald, who was stationed wide on the line of scrimmage almost as if he were a cornerback. Fullback Asiata got Gaines, who was stationed a few yards behind the line of scrimmage like a safety. And linebacker Alec Ogletree, who had lined up on that side, couldn’t get off his block.
So once again, the Rams were outflanked on the edge in textbook fashion. It was almost like that old clip of Vince Lombardi at the chalkboard from NFL Films: A seal here, a block there. ...
Patterson was 15 yards down field before a Rams defender got a hand on him — Dunbar and safety Rodney McLeod missed tackles, and it was off to the races for Patterson who cut back towards the middle for the score.
Obviously, if you can’t get off blocks, it’s hard to play winning football on defense. Plain and simple.
Those three Patterson plays alone accounted for 102 yards — or 30 percent of the Vikings’ offensive output on 56 plays. The Vikings also outflanked the Rams on three screen passes to either a running back, wide receiver, or tight end that amounted to 46 additional yards.
There was a sharp contrast between those plays by the Vikings, who were able to get their blockers on the perimeter. And similar offensive plays by the Rams, who weren’t able to get their blockers out, or when they were, were unable to execute a block. The only exception was a screen pass to Zac Stacy in which the Rams had blockers in place, but Stacy dropped the pass.
