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Rams defense seeking fast start, consistency in 2015
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...se-seeking-fast-start-and-consistency-in-2015
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Heading toward the 2015 season, the St. Louis Rams defense is in the enviable position of retaining the scheme, the coaches and almost all of the players from last year. That's a good thing for a group that brings with it the type of lofty expectations of a unit some believe will be enough to break the team's decade-long streak of postseason absences.
While that continuity is a welcome addition in this offseason, especially at defensive coordinator where Gregg Williams becomes the first to hold the position two consecutive years since Jeff Fisher arrived as head coach in 2012, there are a couple of areas where the Rams are hoping to get different results than a year ago. Namely, getting off to a fast start and finding more consistency from week to week.
To a man, Rams defenders are confident that their group can be the type to lead a postseason return, but they know that it can't happen if they don't perform to their capabilities every Sunday.
"I think right now we can be that unit," linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "Now, do we continue to evolve to become that dominant unit? We’ve shown flashes, but how do we do it more consistently? So until we do it for a consistent season, I’m not going to make any predictions or guarantees or any of that. We have the talent as players, it’s just when do we put it all together?"
For starters, the Rams must figure out a way to hit the ground running. Last year, there was a long feeling-out period that took place between Williams and his new charges. Williams took some time to understand how best to deploy his talent, and his talent took some time to learn how to operate under Williams. The results were underwhelming at best.
Through the first eight games of 2014, the Rams ranked 23rd in sacks, 27th in points allowed per game and 29th in run defense. Their vaunted defensive line, a unit some thought could set a league record for sacks actually set a record for sack futility, with just one in the first five games.
Things finally began to click over the final eight games, as the Rams were tied for fourth in sacks with 26, fifth in average points allowed at 16.8 and fourth in run defense at 84.4 yards per game allowed.
With those numbers in mind, Williams has put an emphasis on hitting the ground running.
"It’s just about starting fast," safety Rodney McLeod said. "Gregg has been preaching that since we got back. It’s always the first thing that we see every time we open up a meeting. I think we take that approach and start fast out here in practice and it’s going to translate over into these first four to five games. We’ve got a tough little schedule but if we start fast, come out the gates running and winning, the sky is the limit for this team."
Even if the Rams do find a way to start fast, to truly become the dominant group they believe they can be, they're going to have to become more consistent. For every shutout they've pitched against the likes of Oakland and Washington, they've had a bad habit of giving it right back with efforts like the 514 yards allowed in a loss against the New York Giants.
The up-and-down performances have yielded totals right in the middle of the league since Fisher arrived. Under Fisher, the Rams rank 14th in the NFL in yards allowed (346.4), 17th in yards per play (5.43), 15th in run defense (110.23) and 19th in pass defense (236.19).
"I felt like last year we were capable of doing it but we just weren’t consistent enough," defensive end Chris Long said. "I think with some of the additions we’ve made and with some continuity here and there, there’s no reason why we can’t – if the offense isn’t doing what we expect them to do every week which is be dominant because I think we are capable of doing that on the offensive side of the ball – but if they have an off day we can carry the load."
To get there, the Rams will have to eliminate the big plays they had a knack for giving up in 2014. More often than not, those came as a result of a miscommunication or blown coverage on the back end. On pass attempts of 30 yards or longer, the Rams gave up just seven completions, which was tied for 12th in the NFL. But those plays often turned into bigger gains that went for touchdowns which is why the Rams gave up 29.71 yards per attempt on such passes, worst in the NFL. Five of those went for touchdowns.
"We always say, ‘Don’t be a repeat offender, don’t make the same mistake over and over,’" Laurinaitis said. "Prove that you can learn from it and move on. ... So I think early on we have always started slow. I don’t know why that is but I think this year we have an opportunity to really start camp faster."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...se-seeking-fast-start-and-consistency-in-2015
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Heading toward the 2015 season, the St. Louis Rams defense is in the enviable position of retaining the scheme, the coaches and almost all of the players from last year. That's a good thing for a group that brings with it the type of lofty expectations of a unit some believe will be enough to break the team's decade-long streak of postseason absences.
While that continuity is a welcome addition in this offseason, especially at defensive coordinator where Gregg Williams becomes the first to hold the position two consecutive years since Jeff Fisher arrived as head coach in 2012, there are a couple of areas where the Rams are hoping to get different results than a year ago. Namely, getting off to a fast start and finding more consistency from week to week.
To a man, Rams defenders are confident that their group can be the type to lead a postseason return, but they know that it can't happen if they don't perform to their capabilities every Sunday.
"I think right now we can be that unit," linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "Now, do we continue to evolve to become that dominant unit? We’ve shown flashes, but how do we do it more consistently? So until we do it for a consistent season, I’m not going to make any predictions or guarantees or any of that. We have the talent as players, it’s just when do we put it all together?"
For starters, the Rams must figure out a way to hit the ground running. Last year, there was a long feeling-out period that took place between Williams and his new charges. Williams took some time to understand how best to deploy his talent, and his talent took some time to learn how to operate under Williams. The results were underwhelming at best.
Through the first eight games of 2014, the Rams ranked 23rd in sacks, 27th in points allowed per game and 29th in run defense. Their vaunted defensive line, a unit some thought could set a league record for sacks actually set a record for sack futility, with just one in the first five games.
Things finally began to click over the final eight games, as the Rams were tied for fourth in sacks with 26, fifth in average points allowed at 16.8 and fourth in run defense at 84.4 yards per game allowed.
With those numbers in mind, Williams has put an emphasis on hitting the ground running.
"It’s just about starting fast," safety Rodney McLeod said. "Gregg has been preaching that since we got back. It’s always the first thing that we see every time we open up a meeting. I think we take that approach and start fast out here in practice and it’s going to translate over into these first four to five games. We’ve got a tough little schedule but if we start fast, come out the gates running and winning, the sky is the limit for this team."
Even if the Rams do find a way to start fast, to truly become the dominant group they believe they can be, they're going to have to become more consistent. For every shutout they've pitched against the likes of Oakland and Washington, they've had a bad habit of giving it right back with efforts like the 514 yards allowed in a loss against the New York Giants.
The up-and-down performances have yielded totals right in the middle of the league since Fisher arrived. Under Fisher, the Rams rank 14th in the NFL in yards allowed (346.4), 17th in yards per play (5.43), 15th in run defense (110.23) and 19th in pass defense (236.19).
"I felt like last year we were capable of doing it but we just weren’t consistent enough," defensive end Chris Long said. "I think with some of the additions we’ve made and with some continuity here and there, there’s no reason why we can’t – if the offense isn’t doing what we expect them to do every week which is be dominant because I think we are capable of doing that on the offensive side of the ball – but if they have an off day we can carry the load."
To get there, the Rams will have to eliminate the big plays they had a knack for giving up in 2014. More often than not, those came as a result of a miscommunication or blown coverage on the back end. On pass attempts of 30 yards or longer, the Rams gave up just seven completions, which was tied for 12th in the NFL. But those plays often turned into bigger gains that went for touchdowns which is why the Rams gave up 29.71 yards per attempt on such passes, worst in the NFL. Five of those went for touchdowns.
"We always say, ‘Don’t be a repeat offender, don’t make the same mistake over and over,’" Laurinaitis said. "Prove that you can learn from it and move on. ... So I think early on we have always started slow. I don’t know why that is but I think this year we have an opportunity to really start camp faster."
