Monday Wrap-Up: Correcting the Offensive Issues/Simmons

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RamBill

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Monday Wrap-Up: Correcting the Offensive Issues

View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-Correcting-the-Offensive-Issues/5c53c316-0f5f-4826-940a-318f45202e0a


Myles Simmons Rams Insider @MylesASimmons

The Rams have received outstanding production from running back Todd Gurley over their last three games, but the rest of the offense has not fared quite so well.

That said, St. Louis has won two of those three games -- including Sunday’s 24-6 victory over Cleveland -- and it’s always easier to correct things after a win than a loss. Head coach Jeff Fisher said that was part of his message to the team as it went through the film on Monday.

“We’re going to continue to work on it. Players understand,” Fisher said. “We took advantage of the film study and review time to move forward in preparation for the 49ers. So that’s been kind of the theme today is, let’s get things corrected, and get better, and go play San Francisco.”

As Fisher has talked about before this season, he said in his Monday press conference the Rams’ two most significant offensive issues are getting more first downs and converting third-down opportunities. On Sunday, they netted 16 first downs but were just 1-of-9 in third-down efficiency.

That’s why the onus falls on the entire unit to improve production.

“We need to do better across the board offensively,” Fisher said. “Getting open, creating opportunities for [receivers] to get open, and then making the throws.”

That’s especially because Fisher said teams have already started placing more men in the box to try to defend Gurley.

“Arizona did it. Green Bay did it. And so did Cleveland,” Fisher said. “We’ve got to do more with [Gurley’s] teammates around him. We’ve got to get more production out of the other players and get the ball down the field. Take advantage of that and that’s what we’re working on.”

GOING NO HUDDLE

The offense did get going after halftime, particularly when the team elected to speed up the tempo. The Rams do not utilize much of their no-huddle offense, but did so effectively in the second half on Sunday.

“We sped the tempo up just a little bit in the second half and that helped us a little bit,” Fisher said. “Nick was good with that. That doesn’t mean we’re going to do it this week, but it was a good adjustment as far as most of the third quarter was concerned.”

Foles said after the game he’s comfortable going no huddle, as he has a long history with it from high school, to college, to the pros. And Fisher said the quarterback made good adjustments with it throughout the third quarter.

“He got together with the offense and said, ‘These are the things we’re going to do. Let’s go do it.’ He did it,” Fisher said of Foles. “So, yeah, it’s good. I mean, we work on it. It’s a two-minute offense. We work on in it in practice.”

AUSTIN’S BLOCKING

Wide receiver Tavon Austin was one of the players instrumental in getting the offense in a rhythm, though not necessarily the way one would assume. He has been productive throughout the year, and continued that trend Sunday even though he like was not 100 percent, according to Fisher. The wideout had been listed as questionable due to a hamstring injury.

“That’s a sign of a real pro, the way he handled himself,” Fisher said.

Austin still took an end around for 21 yards, and made four receptions for 43 yards to lead the team. But it was his run blocking that really stood out. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, Austin hit some blocks on Gurley runs that probably made him feel much larger to Cleveland defenders -- particularly on the running back’s 48-yard run and 16-yard touchdown.

“I think it’s a message to our receivers that they need to learn how to block like Tavon,” Fisher said. “Tavon’s a good blocker.”

FLIPPING THE GUARDS

With Garrett Reynolds inserted into the starting lineup with Rodger Saffold on injured reserve, rookie Jamon Brown flipped back over from left to right guard for Sunday’s contest. Fisher said he thought the switch worked out well for the most part for both Reynolds and Brown.

“JB’s problems that he had were more of the matchup against the defensive talent level versus the fact that he had moved from left to right, so he’ll be fine,” Fisher said, complimenting Browns’ defensive lineman Randy Starks.

The head coach added much of the reason for the switch was the communication factor between Reynolds and left tackle Greg Robinson.

“Greg’s a long ways away from things out there at left tackle, so it’s good to have Garrett in there communicating with him,” Fisher said.
 

CGI_Ram

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Austin's block was nice.

I haven't listened to the audio, but encouraging to hear Fisher put pressure on the O. The current passing offense isn't good enough, as everyone clearly sees. Cigs better figure it out as the D is playoff ready.
 

Merlin

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“Arizona did it. Green Bay did it. And so did Cleveland,” Fisher said. “We’ve got to do more with [Gurley’s] teammates around him. We’ve got to get more production out of the other players and get the ball down the field. Take advantage of that and that’s what we’re working on.”

Music to my ears. More slants plz. They hit quick and Foles has the balls to make the throw even when it's contested.
 

SierraRam

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“JB’s problems that he had were more of the matchup against the defensive talent level versus the fact that he had moved from left to right, so he’ll be fine,” Fisher said, complimenting Browns’ defensive lineman Randy Starks.

Good point! Starks played very well. Everything we ran to the right in the first half got blown up by that guy. The whiners don't have anyone on their DL close to him talent wise...
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Starks was a guy that I suggested the Rams sign last year for the DT rotation. He has always been a force. Miami let him walk when they signed Suh. Of course they signed Fairley instead. Edge: Starks so far.

BTW I see Carrington back in Buffalo an showing up on highlights. He was not good with the Rams. How does tht work?
 

RamBill

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
Rams notebook: Team should've been penalized on Gurley TD run
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_1e9ef99d-02de-5b66-acfc-b0e52163644f.html

Truth be told, Todd Gurley’s first NFL touchdown probably should not have occurred.

“Should’ve been delay of game,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher explained Monday during his news conference at Rams Park.

Holding a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter, the Rams moved quickly from their own 12 for the touchdown. Two plays after a 20-yard pass from Nick Foles to Tavon Austin, the Browns’ Pierre Desir, the Francis Howell Central High and Lindenwood University product, was called for pass interference against Kenny Britt. That resulted in a 26-yard gain.

On the next play, Britt beat Desir and held the ball on a big hit at the goal line by Jordan Poyer. The 41-yard pass play set up a first-and-goal from the Cleveland 1.

“There was some confusion as to whether or not we got in the end zone,’’ Fisher recalled. “They ruled it down inside the 1, the clock was running. ... We sent our goal-line grouping out there on the field, but we got them out there a little late.

“As I looked up, the play clock was running out. I tried to call timeout with two seconds left and they didn’t see me. The actual play clock did go to zero and stayed at zero. But the ball was handed off and we scored.’’

Gurley took the ball untouched around left end for his first NFL TD.

“Should’ve been a delay of game,’’ Fisher said. “What happened on the play was the back judge, come to find out they only had 10 guys on defense. The back judge’s responsibility is to count the defensive players to make sure there’s 11. If not, he has to signal. He did not ... it’s one of those things that happen.

“It technically should’ve been delay of game. That’s why I was trying to call timeout. It ended up working out good for us.’’

In his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, Gurley finished with 128 yards on 19 carries and closed out the scoring in the Rams’ 24-6 win with a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

BARRON’S 19 TACKLES LEAD DEFENSE

Safety-turned-linebacker Mark Barron was credited with 19 tackles, including 16 solos, according to the coach’s review of the game film Monday. It’s the most tackles by a Ram since London Fletcher had 21 against San Francisco in 2001. Barron also forced a pair of fumbles and had a quarterback hit in the contest.

Finishing with eight tackles apiece were James Laurinaitis, Trumaine Johnson and T.J. McDonald. Lamarcus Joyner chipped in with seven.

The Rams’ pass-rush stats: four sacks, nine quarterback hits and 13 quarterback pressures.

William Hayes sacked Josh McCown twice and forced fumbles on both sacks. Aaron Donald and Ethan Westbrooks had the other sacks. It was the first NFL sack for Westbrooks, a second-year pro who saw extended action with Chris Long out.

Rodney McLeod scooped up a fumble after a hit by Janoris Jenkins and returned it 20 yards for the game’s first touchdown Sunday. Nick Fairley, Eugene Sims and Akeem Ayers had the other Rams’ fumble recoveries.

Barron, Laurinaitis, McLeod, McDonald and Jenkins were on the field for all 75 defensive snaps for the Rams. On offense, Foles, Garrett Reynolds, Greg Robinson, Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown and Tim Barnes took part in all 53.

Some other participation numbers of interest:

• Gurley took 36 (68 percent) of the snaps at running back, with Benny Cunningham on for 17 (32 percent).

• At receiver, Stedman Bailey led the way with 39 snaps (74 percent), followed by Tavon Austin’s 34 (64 percent), Kenny Britt’s 33 (62 percent) and Brian Quick’s 26 (26 percent).

• With Lance Kendricks injured, Jared Cook was on the field for 49 plays (92 percent) at tight end. Cory Harkey played 19 snaps (36 percent) on offense while Justice Cunningham made his Rams debut with 11 (21 percent) offensive snaps. Harkey also took part in 14 snaps on special teams.

• After missing some practice time during the week with a sore knee, two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn was on the field for 28 (37 percent) snaps Sunday.

THROWBACKS

The Rams will wear their throwback uniforms Sunday when they host San Francisco and on Dec. 6 at home against Arizona.

In those games, the team will wear the royal blue and yellow uniforms they last wore regularly during the 1999 Super Bowl championship season. The Rams began wearing the throwbacks in 2009 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the NFL title.

This will mark the first time for the throwbacks against the Cardinals, but they have worn them twice in previous games against the 49ers — in last season’s 31-17 loss and in 2012, when the Rams won 16-13 in overtime.

The team also announced a two-game ticket package available for remaining games at the Edward Jones Dome. Fans can save up to 50 percent on Rams vs. Bears tickets when also purchasing tickets for either the San Francisco, Arizona, Detroit or Tampa Bay home games.

Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com/rams or by calling 314-RAMS-TIX, extension 1.

RAM-BLINGS

General manager Les Snead and his wife, Kara, hosted the 13th annual Taste of the NFL-St. Louis Monday evening to benefit the St. Louis Area Foodbank.The event gives patrons a chance to sample specialty foods, bid on unique items in a silent auction and meet Rams players, cheerleaders and mascot Rampage. Since its inception in 2003, the event has helped raise more than $900,000.

• Safety Christian Bryant, a second-year pro drafted by the Rams in the seventh round in 2014, cleared waivers Monday.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Wow what a debauchery of officiating. The Rams scored their TD after the play clock expired and the Browns had 10 men on the field at the same time. TD Rams!
 

12intheBox

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“Greg’s a long ways away from things out there at left tackle, so it’s good to have Garrett in there communicating with him,” Fisher said.


- as opposed to our rookie at right tackle who is much closer?
 

Stel

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With a running game as good as ours', it is difficult to understand why we can't develop a play action and quick short pass passing game. Defenses have got to focus on Gurley first. The passing game that plays off of that should work but it doesn't seem to.
 

DCH

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“We sped the tempo up just a little bit in the second half and that helped us a little bit,” Fisher said. “Nick was good with that. That doesn’t mean we’re going to do it this week, but it was a good adjustment as far as most of the third quarter was concerned.”
Anyone else just sick to death of hearing this? It seems like ever since Fisher became our HC, several times a year you get the "Well, we went to the no-huddle and rammed the ball down their throats, but we're not going to keep doing it, because reasons."