Raiders at Rams - Preseason Game 2

[MachS]

5) Wide receiver Tutu Atwell stands tough.

It was a busy night for Atwell, who caught 8 of 13 targets for 46 yards and returned a punt. He got banged up a couple of times and had to get his ankle taped amid all that activity, but said afterward that he was fine and had "no injuries."

Yea 13 targets for 8 catches and special teams duty in his 2nd game ever as a professional. This comes after missing 10 days of training camp and was sitting in a hotel room by himself isolated with covid. That couldn't have been easy mentally. But hes come out and flashed. Strong hands, runs good routes. Consistently gets separation. Taken big hits and remained tough and finished games.

I wanted Humphrey/ Meinerz or a different IOL with our 2nd rounder, thats no secret. But all things considered I'm not mad at what Tutu has shown at all through two games. And he's only going to get better. Plus with Jacob Harris, Rochelle, Ernest Jones, Bobby Brown, and Garrett this draft can turn out to be fucking amazing for us.

 

[Corbin]

Five takeaways from Rams' 17-16 preseason loss to Raiders

Plays made by the Rams' young defensive players, highlight the top observations from Saturday night's preseason game against the Raiders at SoFi Stadium.

www.therams.com

Five takeaways from Rams' 17-16 preseason loss to Raiders​

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – While the Rams fell to the Raiders 17-16 Saturday night at SoFi Stadium, the playmaking displayed by the Rams' young defensive players, extensive playing time for quarterback Bryce Perkins and running back Jake Funk, and kicker Matt Gay's multi-faceted role were among the notable observations.

Here are five takeaways from the contest:

1) Young players on defense step up.

Defensive backs J.R. Reed and Brontae Harris each came up with interceptions; Reed's led to the Rams' first points of the game. Outside linebacker Chris Garrett also had a memorable sequence in the second quarter where he registered a 6-yard tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass break up – all on the same series.

2) An extensive look at Bryce Perkins.

Perkins got the start at quarterback and played the entire game, finishing 26 of 39 for 208 yards with two touchdowns against one interception, also rushing nine times for 41 yards. He led the Rams on three scoring drives, the third and final one in epic fashion with a six-yard scramble on fourth-and-five to keep the drive alive and end it with a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Harris.

While the ensuing 2-point attempt was unsuccessful, Perkins' overall performance was an admirable and gutsy one.

3) Jake Funk gets the start at running back.

After Xavier Jones started at running back in the preseason opener, it was Funk's turn to do so in Week 2. He rushed for a team-high 56 yards on seven attempts. He also looked agile and explosive, breaking off runs of 12, 14 and 19 yards during Saturday's game.

4) Double-duty for kicker Matt Gay

With punters Corey Bojorquez and Johnny Hekker placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the day, Gay stepped up as the Rams' emergency punter, handling those duties in addition to kickoffs and field goals.

Gay averaged 42 yards per punt on four punts and had touchbacks on three of his four kickoffs. He made 1 of 2 field goal attempts; the second – a 43-yard attempt – was blocked, though by that point in the game he was probably exhausted.

5) Wide receiver Tutu Atwell stands tough.

It was a busy night for Atwell, who caught 8 of 13 targets for 46 yards and returned a punt. He got banged up a couple of times and had to get his ankle taped amid all that activity, but said afterward that he was fine and had "no injuries."

Man Tutu going to be hard to keep on the field. As with the midget at QB for the Dead Birds I foresee a short banged up future for the little guy.

 

[jrry32]

Why did they audible him so close to the line of scrimmage? It was a pretty obvious call to just blitz on the opposite side of the line where it was impossible for him to reach the free rusher. I can't say that's his fault, the schematics just looked strange on those plays imo

Usually, you move the HB there if you think the blitz is coming through the A or B gap. But Funk didn't seem to be keying on the right guy. Either that or the rest of the OL was screwing up the protection. (Or both.)

Either ways, on both plays, there was a free rusher coming whom Funk could have blocked. In both cases, he keyed in on somebody else, resulting in the other guys coming through unblocked.

 

[FrantikRam]

A lot of bright spots tonight. Garrett looks like a game wrecker. Perkins looks to me like a guy who could be pushing Wolford for #2 sooner rather than later. I'd like to see Perks with the #1's.

Atwell showed toughness but my arrow is pointing down on this kid. Game plan tonite was to force feed him touches. I wish that deep ball INT hadn't been under thrown. I still wasn't impressed with his game though. I think some of the other WR's buried on the depth chart showed out better than Tutu.

Arrow pointing down? Opposite for me. Pointing up.

Perkins seems to lose his accuracy past 15 yards - but both deeper attempts to Atwell that were under thrown - he had his guy beat.

Caught the ball consistently.

Got nicked but came back in for a PRESEASON game.

Not sure what the kid has to do.

The short throws were likely because of Perkins arm strength, but with all our starters in, as with the tunnel screen, these short throws for Atwell will be open. Good to have him practicing them.

 

[EasyE]

I get your point, and its well taken. But there are as many busts of world class speed guys as there are the little Edelman and Welker types. Tutu will serve a role. We need to stretch that feild and I expect him to run a bunch of jet sweeps etc. But the sad part to me is some of these peripheral guys that didn't get drafted high may be gems, but we will probably never know. If Tutu ends of the next Tavon Austin or Donnie Avery and one of these guys end up a Colt Beasley that would be a shame.

Losing Az Hakim cost us big time.....wish TuTu could accomplish similar feats

 

[fearsomefour]

Bobby Evans is not playing well.

I’m disappointed by this.
He can be a force in the run game if he locks on but he just loses too offer pass blocking.

 

[fearsomefour]

Unbelievable. One of the worst quarters of Rams football I've seen in awhile. Good thing its pre-season.

It hasn’t been that long.
This is typical pre season sloppiness.

 

[fearsomefour]

I'd have to rewatch the play, but I agreed with Talib after initially getting pissed at Hopkins. If the guy commits outside, you wall him off and push him outside. Tutu has to cut inside.

Hopkins did his job on that play.
Tutu is doing what most fast guys do at every level.....look to take everything outside.
He’ll learn quick enough he can’t outrun everyone most of the time at this level. Better to cut it up and take your 4 yards.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

NFL game pass international with vpn. I stopped relying on other stuff for my streams. Got Siciliano and Talib calling the game.

Isn't the address on your credit card a giveaway? I've had game pass for two or three years. Now its not working on my tv. If I cancel it then get it again that does t tip them off?

If the dude can make plays on Sundays, you nurse him. We knew what we were getting when we drafted him. First round talent in terms of traits who will need to be handled with care due to the lower-body injuries.

I agree with Merlin. When a player has a degree off injury so bad that it keeps him from practicing all of camp and OTA's its time to cut bait. In general picking seriously injured players doesn't work out in the end, especially with a third round pick.

I'd write him off man. I like the room without him. Maybe some team will want to give up a late round pick for a lottery ticket that may come in someday.

I doubt any team would give up a pick. With his ability, if he doesn't workout on one team, how does he pan out for another?

A lot of people hating on Tutu for getting knicked up. He stayed in the game and took some big hits the last 2 weeks so you can't question his toughness. And like it or not, he gets separation on his routes. Better route runner than I thought. And he makes tough catches in traffic. A few catches the last couple weeks were contested and that is something that stood out in his college film. Small stature but strong hands. We need to evaluate him with Stafford and I suspect he will surprise some people. Of course I wish he added another 10lbs of muscle but he should gain weight throughout the season with a pro weight program and nutrition plan.

They just hate the size. Short and slight rarely works out in the NFL. Besides that they used a second round pick to get him. They could have had the Center of the future. Then their plan blows up with the line and they are right back in the same boat. I'd rather have the line fixed than a super fast receiver who is a higher injury risk than most others.

 

[fearsomefour]

Are you meaning Okoronkwo? Lewis is going into his second year. Unless the knee is so bad that he's done, they're not cutting him imo.
[/QUOTE)

Floyd, Oko, Hollins, Lawler, Lewis, Garrett.....it’s getting crowded.
I think Floyd, Hollins, Oko are locks.
Oko, Lawler and Lewis are very similar to me at this point.
A lot of potential and not much production, mostly because of injuries.
Garrett had a great game and was a stand out tonight but that doesn’t lock him up a spot. Problem is I think he would get pouched pretty quickly off of the practice squad.

 

[fearsomefour]

I don't think Gervais is going to make it

It’s tough when you get moved to an undersized ILB.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Now that we have all seen the mess that is Bobby Evans, who still believes the coach speak that Allen simply played his way onto the starting Oline with stellar effort?

I hope Allen's second shot goes much better than the first.

 

[fearsomefour]

Perkins is a little raw for my blood.

He’s still very raw I think but we can all see the potential.

 

[fearsomefour]

Going to call Perkins by his nickname Tardy. Dude's been late on at least three throws tonight.

That’s worked well for Goff so far in his career......too soon?

 

[fearsomefour]

Now that we have all seen the mess that is Bobby Evans, who still believes the coach speak that Allen simply played his way onto the starting Oline with stellar effort?

I hope Allen's second shot goes much better than the first.

Given Evans trouble pass blocking last year when I saw him starting last week I had the same thought.
That said, I am looking forward to see if Allen progressed.
I also expect him to be a whipping boy on the board if he is anything short of Tom Mack.

 

[fearsomefour]

Koski having a good night, was also wide open in the middle of the field on at that last failed 4th down attempt. Think hes a good PS guy.

Woods, Kupp, Jackson, Jefferson, Atwell.....Koski.

 

[nighttrain]

Given Evans trouble pass blocking last year when I saw him starting last week I had the same thought.
That said, I am looking forward to see if Allen progressed.
I also expect him to be a whipping boy on the board if he is anything short of Tom Mack.

if as good as Tom Mack Rams are in great shape, close would be good
train

 

[fearsomefour]

I don’t see how Atwell can make a now 17-game season. Sorry.

Well, he likely won’t be on the field a ton this year. Haha.

 

[fearsomefour]

The fade is statistically one of the least efficient red zone plays. O'Connell isn't ready for the big time.

It always surprises me how much it’s called down there.
Always a decent shot of a PI on a fade but outside of that it’s a low % play unless you have a complete physical mismatch.

 

[fearsomefour]

Perkins and Harris looked better than a lot of QB's and TE's I watched today. It'll be interesting if either one makes the team.

Harris is a lock I think.
Perkins may make it as a three or back on the PS.
One way or another I think he sticks.