McVay vs Gruden ...

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Rams' McVay to face former boss Gruden, Redskins

BERNIE WILSON (AP Sports Writer)
The Associated PressSeptember 14, 2017

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald tries to fire up the crowd during the team's NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. One week after Aaron Donald ended his four-month contract holdout, the All-Pro defensive lineman probably will go straight into the Los Angeles Rams starting lineup, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)

Come Sunday afternoon, McVay will try to beat his old boss and continue the Rams' bold start to the season.

McVay, 31, worked for the Redskins for seven seasons, including the last three as offensive coordinator under Gruden, before being hired by the Rams as the youngest head coach in modern league history.

''Well, honestly I didn't think he'd get one this quick,'' Gruden said with a laugh. ''He's pretty young, but we had some success on offense and he did great things with (Kirk) Cousins. ... There's a lot to like about Sean once you get to know him. I just didn't know that people would give him that opportunity at such a young age, but once they started giving him interviews, I figured that he would get one of them, because like I said, he has all of those traits to be a good head coach.''

Naturally, the big focus Sunday will be McVay's familiarity with the Redskins, particularly with Cousins. While Cousins became a full-time NFL starter and set and broke the franchise record for passing yards under McVay, he had a rough start to 2017 in a 30-17 loss to Philadelphia.


''Coach Gruden taught me a lot of stuff, so I know he's mixed it up,'' McVay said. ''I've got a lot of respect for him. He's taught me a large portion of things that I know and things that we do here, so we've got some familiarity with each other. But, I can't say enough about how much I respect him and what he's done for my coaching career.''

The mutual admiration will pause for some three hours Sunday.

Some things to watch for when the Rams (1-0) host the Redskins (0-1).

DONALD'S BACK: The three-time Pro Bowler wasn't at the Coliseum last Sunday after ending his four-month holdout. He'll start against the Redskins, although it's not sure how much he'll play. He's playing for $1.8 million this season after failing to reach agreement on a contract that likely would have made him the highest-paid defensive player in football. Donald said he learned ''pretty much everything'' he needs to know about defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' new 3-4 scheme during his brief time in the offseason program before he began his holdout in May.

UNBALANCED REDSKINS: Considering McVay ran Washington's offense the past three years, it's imperative for Gruden to strike a run-pass balance that was lacking in the loss to Philadelphia. The Redskins ran on just 17 of 61 offensive snaps, so little that Robert Kelley couldn't find any kind of rhythm and the Eagles could focus on stopping the passing game. That won't work against a Rams defense that tormented the Colts last week, including returning two interceptions for touchdowns and getting a safety.

COUSINS IN FOCUS: While Washington's offensive line struggling in the opener contributed to Cousins' two fumbles and there were some drops, his interception and a few errant passes are squarely on his shoulders. Cousins sees his and the offense's problems as correctable, and Gruden doesn't sound worried. ''We just have to keep trying to work with him and hopefully drill him in practice and get him better,'' Gruden said.

GOFF'S GROWTH: Goff passed for a career-high 306 yards and a touchdown in his first victory as an NFL starter. The best stat? ''No turnovers,'' McVay said. ''That's an outstanding stat to have as a quarterback and then I think he did a great job of distributing the ball. When you see four of your top guys all have over 50 yards receiving, that's a credit to him and the decision making.'' Overall, Goff completed passes to eight receivers.

THIRD DOWN AND OUT: The Redskins' third-down defense was worst in the NFL last season and allowed Philadelphia to convert on 8 of 14 opportunities last week. Gruden considers the pass rush, or lack of an effective one, an issue along with not wrapping up the quarterback. ''When plays are there, we just need to make them,'' cornerback Josh Norman said. ''When we have the quarterback wrapped up, we've got to bring him down. When we have our hands on the ball, we've got to bring that down as well.''

https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-mcvay-face-former-boss-gruden-redskins-234845484--nfl.html


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Rams coach Sean McVay hopes to replicate Kirk Cousins magic with new pupil Jared Goff
Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY SportsPublished 7:47 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2017 | Updated 8:18 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2017

When Andrew Whitworth made the cross-country free agent move last spring to join the Los Angeles Rams, the veteran left tackle had a hunch that he'd joined an offense poised to go places with its new hotshot coach, Sean McVay.

Then Whitworth talked to Washington's Kirk Cousins. That conversation was something of a clincher.

Cousins’ stock had soared from fourth-round pick to the first quarterback in NFL history to play under the franchise tag in consecutive seasons, an ascent which had McVay’s fingerprints are all over it.

“You could just tell on Kirk’s face, the fact that Sean was gone, how upset he seemed,” Whitworth told USA TODAY Sports during training camp. “That let me know everything I needed to know about Sean. Kirk was that upset about losing a guy.

“To me, that set off some lights.”

Cousins chuckled when Whitworth’s testimony was relayed, recalling that chat with Whitworth at the players union's annual meetings in Phoenix.

"I think the world of Sean and would give a ringing endorsement to anyone who asks,” Cousins said.


McVay, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history at 31, must again prove his worth as a quarterback guru with Jared Goff. The Rams mortgaged a bundle in trading up to draft the young passer No. 1 overall last year, only to see the Cal product flounder inside the NFL's worst offense.

It’s striking that Cousins heads into Sunday's matchup against the Rams coming off a sour, three-turnover performance during a Washington loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that marked his first game without McVay, who was busy overseeing the best performance of Goff's young career (72.4% completion rate, 306 passing yards and touchdown without a turnover) in a 46-9 romp over the Indianapolis Colts.


There are many variables that dictate whether a young quarterback will succeed. In Goff's case, the Rams have significantly upgraded his supporting cast. Whitworth, after 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, signed a three-year, $33.75 million deal to anchor the O-line. Los Angeles signed smooth wideout Robert Woods, a Southern Cal product, then traded for his former Buffalo Bills teammate, Sammy Watkins, a dynamic playmaker when healthy. The draft netted an intriguing slot receiver in the third round, Cooper Kupp, who became Division I's all-time leading receiver at Eastern Washington. Even the defense should be better now that coordinator Wade Phillips is calling the shots.

But it's now up to Goff and McVay, inextricably joined at the hip, to live up to the expectations that landed them in L.A. The Rams hired McVay, who sprung a surprise during his interview process and asked to visit with Goff (he just so happened to be working out in Southern California away from team headquarters) largely because of his work with Cousins in three years as Washington's coordinator.

“We want to become a precise offense,” McVay told USA TODAY Sports during training camp. “All of these plays are designed to come out in a special timing and rhythm. The great ones have the ability to progress within the pocket and then also know how to extend the play if the pass rush allows.”

In addition to poise, McVay said Goff needed to hone his drop-back concepts as he continues the transition of playing under center. Another key: “Reading with his feet,” McVay said.

Play-calling will help, as McVay's system is stocked with rhythmic play-action passes. So far, so good.

Last season, with Rob Boras running the offense under then-coach Jeff Fisher, an uncomfortable Goff hardly looked like the top player in the draft. In seven games, he completed just 54.6% of his passes, with 5-to-7 TD-to-INT ratio factoring into an abysmal 63.6 passer rating.

It certainly helped Goff that Phillips' defense produced two pick-sixes Sunday, allowing him to play from ahead. The Rams largely managed to stay out of third-and-long situations that add pressure, and Goff sprayed the ball to eight targets. McVay did a splendid job of keeping the Colts off balance with his assortment of calls, including jet sweeps, play fakes and bootlegs amid a heavy load of formations.

“You’ve got to have a guy that can handle calling all those plays and formations,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said, “but then you have to execute it, and Jared did a good job.”

Cousins knows what that’s like.

“He’s not just spinning a Rolodex and picking a play out at random,” Cousins said of McVay. “There’s an intention and a mastery of football that enables him to design those plays.”

All of which fuels quite the intriguing subplot for Sunday.

 

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Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams
2018 Short-term deal: $8 million
2018 Breakout deal: $38 million

Traded to the Rams after the Bills declined his fifth-year option, Watkins could compete with Alec Ogletree for Los Angeles' franchise tag this offseason. The book on the former fourth overall pick is that he's effective but can't stay healthy, so if he misses time because of injuries in 2017, he could be forced to take a one-year deal in the $8 million range to try to rebuild his value.

On the flip side, if Jared Goff continues to look as good as he did on Sunday, Watkins might be in line for a breakout campaign. Watkins' 2015 season, in which he played 13 games, prorates out to a 74-catch, 1,289-yard, 11-touchdown season. If the former Clemson star stays healthy and manages to top those numbers, he would have something like 1.75 No. 1-caliber wideout seasons to his name before hitting free agency at 24.

Kenny Stills just racked up $25 million over the first three years of his new deal with the Dolphins by virtue of his youth and without a season anywhere near as impressive as Watkins' 2015, let alone whatever we're projecting he does in 2017. Rams general manager Les Snead gave Tavon Austin $28.8 million over the first three years of his contract despite no discernible production. In a market where a half-dozen wideouts could top $40 million over their first three years, it's hardly difficult to imagine Snead doubling down on his trade and giving Watkins a huge deal.

 

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Early returns on Jared Goff, Carson Wentz impress D.J. Swearinger
4:21 PM PT

• 
  
  John KeimESPN Staff Writer

ASHBURN, Va. -- The first debate centered on which quarterback should go first: Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. Now it'll be which one has the better career. That won't be settled for many years, but Washington Redskinssafety D.J. Swearinger is in good position to at least provide an early judgment.

Swearinger faced Goff while playing for the Arizona Cardinals last season and will see him again Sunday when the Redskins visit the Los Angeles Rams. And Swearinger went against Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagleslast week in the opener.

There's a distinct difference between the two quarterbacks.

Aaron Rodgers with his ability to get out of the pocket," Swearinger said. "Goff is more an in-the-pocket guy. He has a strong arm. Both these guys are great talents and are going to be great quarterbacks in this league."

Wentz hurt Washington last week with his scrambling ability -- he kept one play alive for 8.7 seconds before throwing a touchdown pass on the opening drive. Goff is coming off his best game as a pro, which also happened to be his first under new coach and former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay. In the Rams' 46-9 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Goff completed 21 of 29 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown.

"He didn't play a good defense, he played the Colts," Swearinger said. "But he did some great stuff. We have to switch up disguises, get pressure on him."

When Swearinger played against Goff last December, the quarterback completed 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions -- but he was sacked seven times. Last week, Goff was sacked once. Part of that decrease stemmed from getting rid of the ball fast.

"He's definitely more comfortable," Swearinger said. "Last year he wasn't so comfortable. He was getting hit a lot more."

Swearinger said he likes Goff's arm, but his comfort level is allowing him to see coverages better.

"He did a good job reading the defense [last week]," Swearinger said. "He's making his checks -- two-high [safety], one-high -- getting his line in the right position when he sees a blitz and running screens into the blitz. He did some great stuff.

"We have a nice challenge. I can't wait to play him."

Goff said his comfort level stems from just having gone through a season and also playing for McVay. And some of that improvement can be traced to watching Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

"We watch their film all the time, just installing offense over the offseason and seeing what they do," Goff said. "There are times where [McVay] will be like, 'Kirk liked it this way. Kirk liked it that way.' By no means does that dictate what we do, but it's good stuff to know for sure considering the success he had."

Swearinger likes the weapons around Goff, from receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods to Tavon Austin.

"They have a nice core," Swearinger said. "We've got to disguise, got to get pressure on him. If we disguise and get pressure on him, make him uncomfortable, he'll throw us the ball."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ts-fantasy-surprises-nfc-east-race-flops-more

 

[Prime Time]

 

[Loyal]

This is the next step in the Rams Offense development. The Skins are better than the Colts, but we should handle them..especially at home.
Rams 27
Skins 13

 

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Updated odds, over/under for Redskins-Rams in Week 2

By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago

For the second week in a row, the Los Angeles Rams are viewed as the favorites by Las Vegas. In Week 1, the Rams were 4-point favorites over the Colts, which they covered easily, dominating Indianapolis by a score of 46-9.

This week, it’s a similar story against the 0-1 Redskins. Los Angeles began the week as 2.5-point favorites over Washington, but that line has since moved further in favor of the Rams. According to Vegas Insider, Sean McVay’s squad is currently a 3-point favorite over his old team, the Redskins.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As for the total points line, that’s a bit higher than it was in Week 1. The over/under is set at 46 points, which is the fourth-highest total in the NFL this week. That’s a bit surprising, considering how good the Rams’ defense is, and how uncertain Jared Goff’s ability is – despite his impressive Week 1 performance.

Being at home certainly gives the Rams an advantage, even if the stadium isn’t as full as the team would like. Taking advantage of this favorable early-season schedule could get L.A. on track towards a possible winning campaign.

 

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Washington Redskins vs. Los Angeles Rams: Prediction, preview, pick to win

By The Sports Xchange | Sept. 14, 2017 at 2:15 PM

Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins look to bounce back against the Los Angeles Rams after a season-opening loss. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
| License Photo


WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-1) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-0)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. TV: FOX, Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager.



SERIES HISTORY: 36th regular-season meeting. Redskins lead series, 23-11-1. Washington won 24-10 in Week 2 of the 2015 season at FedEx Field. This is Washington's first visit to Los Angeles since Dec. 24, 1994. That was the Rams' last game in Southern California before the franchise relocated to St. Louis. They returned to Los Angeles last season. The teams have split four playoff games. They played a memorable playoff game in 1986 in which the Rams fumbled three times and star running back Eric Dickerson was run down by speedy Redskins CB Darrell Green on a 65-yard run.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Redskins must find more balance on offense. They couldn't run the ball against Philadelphia in Week 1 and that made it easier for the Eagles to attack with pressure and keep quarterback Kirk Cousinsfrom finding any rhythm. That task won't get any easier against a Rams front that might include star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who could play Sunday after ending his holdout last week.

In Week 1, Washington ran it 17 times and threw it 40. If the running backs aren't up to the challenge, then quick passes to Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder might get Cousins and his receivers into a rhythm early and serve as a proxy for the run game.

Washington knows all about what Rams coach Sean McVay, Washington's former offensive coordinator, likes to run on offense. This will be a chess match. The Redskins have more speed on the field this year with Zach Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2016, now at inside linebacker next to Mason Foster and D.J. Swearinger at safety. The defensive line, led by rookie Jonathan Allen, held up well in the run game against Philadelphia, which was held to 58 rushing yards.

In Week 1, the Rams looked efficient in the passing game as nine players caught passes from Jared Goff. They need to use that as a catalyst to get Todd Gurley and the running game going. Gurley was held to 40 rushing yards last week.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Rams RT Rob Havenstein vs. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan had his third career interception return for a touchdown against the Eagles on Sunday. But he and his teammates blew golden chances to sack Carson Wentz, who made them pay for missed tackles in the backfield. The same can't happen against Los Angeles' Jared Goff. Havenstein has the challenge of holding off the productive Kerrigan, who did half a half sack in Week 1.

--Redskins TE Jordan Reed vs. Rams LB Mark Barron. Barron is one of the most athletic defenders in the NFL and will be vitally important in slowing down Reed, who presents huge matchup problems with opposing linebackers and safeties in the Redskins' TE-heavy attack.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Rams DT Aaron Donald. The Pro Bowl lineman is expected to play after ending his holdout last week. Maybe the best defensive lineman in the NFL, Donald doesn't need much time to get ready. Donald leads all DTs with 28 sacks and 57 tackles for loss since entering the NFL in 2014. He has nine tackles and 1.5 sacks in two previous games against Washington. The interior of the Redskins' offensive line, especially Pro Bowl RG Brandon Scherff, will be tested.

FAST FACTS: Washington QB Kirk Cousins completed 85.2 percent of his passes for 203 yards and a TD in the last meeting. In his past 12 road games, he has 3,587 passing yards (298.9 per game), 22 TDs, six INTs and a 105.7 rating. ... WR Terrelle Pryor led Washington with six receptions and 66 yards in his team debut. ... Washington TE Jordan Reed caught six passes for 82 yards in the last meeting. Since 2015, he ranks second among NFL TEs with 17 TDs. He has three TDs in his past three road contests. ... The Rams' Sean McVay won his coaching debut last week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Rams' 46 points were the third-highest total in a coach's debut since 1933. McVay was Washington's offensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016. ... Rams QB Jared Goff completed 21 of 29 for a career-high 306 yards and a TD in Week 1.

PREDICTION: Goff seems to have adjusted to his new receivers more quickly than Cousins has, and the Rams' good defense could be boosted by Donald.

OUR PICK: Rams, 24-20.

--Chris Cluff

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL...Prediction-preview-pick-to-win/5501505412792/

 

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• Redskins vs. Rams: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 2

By: Cameron DaSilva | September 14, 2017 10:39 am ET

After a dominant Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Rams will host the Washington Redskins at the Coliseum on Sunday. The Redskins are coming off of a disappointing loss to the Eagles, and will have a tough time avoiding an 0-2 start with the way Jared Goff’s squad is playing.

This game probably won’t come down to the quarterbacks, however. There are key matchups all over the field that will determine who comes away with a victory on Sunday.

Here are the three biggest battles to watch this weekend.


Rams Week 2 injury report: Four sit out Wednesday's practice
Sammy Watkins vs. Josh Norman

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Any time Norman is on the field, he makes the matchup on the outside must-watch. The Redskins are utilizing him as more of a lockdown corner who follows No. 1 receivers more often than he did in 2016, which means he’ll likely be lined up across from Watkins frequently on Sunday. Norman is one of the top corners in the game today, especially in zone coverage, so Jared Goff will have to be cognizant when targeting Watkins this week.

He didn’t face a defensive back with Norman’s skill set against the Colts, so this will be a far tougher test. Watkins will need to keep Norman on his toes by hauling in a deep pass or two when targetd downfield, keeping him honest defensively. If he can make that happen, the Rams will have success on offense. Either that, or Goff will have to go after Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller.


Aaron Donald vs. Brandon Scherff

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

This was a key matchup to watch two years ago when these two teams squared off. Scherff is one of the premier guards in the game today, and we all know how good Donald is. In 2015, Donald had five tackles, a half-sack, one quarterback hit and two tackles for loss. It wasn’t his best game ever, but he clearly had an impact on the way the Redskins’ offense operated.

Scherff struggled in Week 1 and was Pro Football Focus’ second-worst guard in the NFL against the Eagles, partly because of the fact that he was facing Fletcher Cox. His assignment won’t be any easier this week with Donald lining up across from him, so he’ll need to step up and perform at a much higher level. This matchup will be one that has a huge impact on which team comes away with a win in Week 2.


Ryan Kerrigan vs. Andrew Whitworth

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kerrigan returned an interception for a touchdown against the Eagles in Week 1, but his impact on this game will come as a pass rusher, as it typically is. He’ll be facing one of the top tackles in the NFL in Whitworth, who didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure against the Colts on Sunday. Kerrigan came away with a half-sack in Week 1, but he missed opportunities to bring down Carson Wentz a few other times. Goff isn’t as big or strong as Wentz, so that won’t be as big of an issue.

Whitworth is like a vacuum on the left side, swallowing any and all pass rushers he faces. He’ll need to keep that up against Kerrigan, which will be a tough task. The clean pocket L.A. gave Goff last week proves he’s a precision passer when defenders aren’t all over him.


http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...washington-redskins-week-2-matchups-to-watch/

 

[DaveFan'51]

Then Whitworth talked to Washington's Kirk Cousins. That conversation was something of a clincher.

“You could just tell on Kirk’s face, the fact that Sean was gone, how upset he seemed,” Whitworth told USA TODAY Sports during training camp. “That let me know everything I needed to know about Sean. Kirk was that upset about losing a guy.

This could be a very telling point in the up-coming game!

 

[Riverumbbq]

Rams Opponent Research: Breaking Down the Redskins
Andrew Ortenberg,Cover32 17 hours ago

Week two is upon us, and with the Redskins coming to town, today we’ll be taking a look at what the Rams can expect from Washington on both sides of the ball. The Redskins fell to the Eagles 30-17 last week, but the game was much closer than the final score indicates, with both teams trading scores most of the way. It was a five point game with less than two minutes left and the Redskins driving when Cousins was sacked and fumbled. The Eagles scooped that fumble and ran it in for the game-sealing touchdown.

Overall, it was a mediocre debut for the Redskins, but they’re certainly better than the Scott Tolzein-led Colts team the Rams beat last Sunday. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was inaccurate at times, overthrowing receivers on several deep balls. He failed to develop much of a rapport with prized free agent acquisition Terrelle Pryor, connecting on just six of 11 targets to his new number one receiver. They tried to get running back Robert Kelley going early, but he managed just 30 yards on ten carries.

As for this week’s game against the Rams, after taking a second look at the film, here’s what Los Angeles can expect this Sunday:

Offense
Sean Mcvay, the Rams new head coach, spent the previous six seasons in Washington. He first took over as tight ends coach and more recently as served as offensive coordinator. It adds another interesting storyline to this weekend’s matchup, and McVay is certainly familiar with Redskins head coach Jay Gruden’s offensive philosophy and what we wants to do on that side of the ball. He should be able to provide some tips about Gruden’s tendencies to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Intimate knowledge of the opponent’s scheme is always valuable.

The Redskins, like lots of NFL teams, run their own version of the West Coast offense. Gruden’s scheme in particular is known as being very quarterback friendly, emphasizing quick throws over the middle. In last Sunday’s game against the Eagles, it was rare to see Cousins hold the ball in his hands for more than a couple seconds and when he did, it usually didn’t go well. Even on deep balls it’s a standard three step drop and quick release from Cousins nearly every time, so jamming receivers at the line and playing tight-press coverage will be crucial to slowing down the Redskins passing attack.

The Redskins like to mix in those quick throws with a dose of power running led by workhorse back Rob Kelley. Kelley is a prototypical power-back, a north-south style runner who seeks out contact and loves to lower his shoulder. To contain him, the Rams front seven will have to out-physical him and make sure to finish tackles.

The Rams linebackers should be busy all day as Gruden and Cousins love to throw the ball over the middle. Cousins’ most consistent target the past few years has been tight end Jordan Reed who, when healthy, is a force to reckon with. Watch for lots of quick reads over the middle to Reed on Sunday. The Rams linebacker’s ability to cover him over the middle will certainly be one of the keys to the game.

While Phillips’ defense looked great against the Colts in the opener, they’ll face a much stiffer challenge in Cousins and the Redskins this week. If they can force Cousins to scan the field longer and make him throw outside the numbers where he’s less comfortable, it should be another good day for Trumaine Johnson and co.

Defense
The Redskins defense will be replacing their coordinator this year as well. Many people around the league are expecting a down season for the whole unit. After former coordinator Joe Barry was let go at the end of last season, Washington opted to promote from within and tapped linebackers coach Greg Manusky to run their defense.

Manusky, a former coordinator for the 49ers, Chargers, and Colts, made it clear from the moment he took over that he planned to be much more aggressive on defense than his predecessor Barry. Manusky stayed true to his promise against Philadelphia, blitzing extensively. Of quarterback Carson Wentz’s 45 dropbacks in week one, Manusky sent five or six pass rushers on 23 (51 percent) of them.

Likely to be facing many blitzes and heavy pressure this week, it will be up to quarterback Jared Goff to get the ball out of his hands quickly and find the gaps in the coverage that the blitzes present. Goff and McVay did a good job of this against the Colts and if Goff is able to keep his progressions moving quickly, he has a good chance to torch a shaky Redskins pass defense like Wentz did last week.

The Redskins hired former 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula, well respected as defensive line coach, to be their defensive line coach this offseason. The run defense went on to show well against Philadelphia. They managed to limit running back LeGarrette Blount to just 46 yards on 14 carries. While the Redskins secondary is below average, their front seven, bolstered by the acquisition of 2017 first-round pick Jonathan Allen, is still formidable and may pose a problem for running back Todd Gurley. Gurley averaged barely two yards per carry against the Colts despite the Indianapolis only stacking the box (having eight defenders near the line of scrimmage) on two of his 19 carries.

If Gurley can get things going early in the first quarter, it’ll force Washington to stack the box and open things up for Goff in the passing game. Overall, it seems clear that the Redskins defense is worse than last year. Their heavy, blitz-oriented defense should be a good matchup for McVay’s quick release scheme.

Andrew Ortenberg is a Staff Writer for cover32.com/rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/rams-opponent-research-breaking-down-003935434.html

 

[DaveFan'51]

Ryan Kerrigan vs. Andrew Whitworth

This^, I think, will be the Big Key match-up! If Whit handles Kerrigan well, Goff will have a huge day! JMHO!