- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Turning point: Odell Beckham Jr. hits a big one
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14883/turning-point-beckham-hits-a-big-one
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A look back at the turning point of the St. Louis Rams' 37-27 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday:
The situation: After falling behind 27-13 midway through the third quarter, the Rams' offense responded with one of its best drives of the season, going 90 yards on 10 plays with quarterback Shaun Hill finding tight end Lance Kendricks for a 23-yard touchdown to trim the Giants' lead to 27-20 with a little less than two minutes to go in the third quarter. With momentum shifted, the Giants started the ensuing drive at their own 20 and failed to gain a yard on either of the first two plays. However, the second play was a pass from quarterback Eli Manning intended for receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines nearly picked it off, but was unable to haul it in. Worse, he collided squarely with safety T.J. McDonald's knee and had to be taken off the field on a cart with a concussion and lacerated lip. Fellow rookie Lamarcus Joyner, who hadn't played in five weeks, replaced Gaines. That set up a third-and-10 from the 20 with 55 seconds to go and the Giants leading 27-20. A quick three-and-out and the Rams could have been in business.
The play: The Giants lined up with Beckham in the slot to Manning's right and fellow receiver Rueben Randle flanking him out wide. Manning was in the shotgun with a back to his left and another receiver split left, leaving the five offensive linemen and a tight end in to protect. The Rams were in their adjusted nickel package with three down linemen, two linebackers, three cornerbacks and three safeties (including hybrid Mark Barron). Joyner lined up over Beckham, but played about 5 yards off with fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson doing the same on outside receiver Randle. Barron was in the middle of the field, but not much deeper than either cornerback. Just before the snap, Barron bailed out of the run box to drop to about 14 yards deep to provide help over the top. At the snap, Beckham and Randle ran an inside-out pattern with Randle coming underneath in the flat and Beckham taking off vertically to the outside. Joyner takes a step in Beckham's direction but quickly turns his attention to Randle coming over the middle. Johnson also stays with Randle rather than switching to Beckham. Meanwhile, the Rams sent the three linemen, linebacker James Laurinaitis and safety Rodney McLeod after Manning. Without McLeod on the back end, it forced Barron and McDonald to handle the back half of the field. The rush generated some pressure as end Robert Quinn got close to Manning just before he delivered the ball. Just before Manning let it fly, Beckham put a quick double move on Barron, in what was already an unfair matchup, to create the separation.
Manning hit Beckham in stride with nobody within 10 yards of him and Beckham, and he coasted into the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown.
The fallout: Make no mistake, Beckham is a great player and he might have made this play anyway, but this was a classic Rams coverage bust. Nobody would say which of the two cornerbacks was supposed to stay with Beckham, but clearly the design of the defense wasn't to allow Beckham to be one on one with Barron. It would stand to reason that Joyner, who had just entered the game, might have been at fault here, but Johnson wasn't exactly Deion Sanders in his prime in this game either. Either way, this one resulted in a 34-20 Giants lead that they would not relinquish as the Rams dropped to 6-9 on the season.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14883/turning-point-beckham-hits-a-big-one
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A look back at the turning point of the St. Louis Rams' 37-27 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday:
The situation: After falling behind 27-13 midway through the third quarter, the Rams' offense responded with one of its best drives of the season, going 90 yards on 10 plays with quarterback Shaun Hill finding tight end Lance Kendricks for a 23-yard touchdown to trim the Giants' lead to 27-20 with a little less than two minutes to go in the third quarter. With momentum shifted, the Giants started the ensuing drive at their own 20 and failed to gain a yard on either of the first two plays. However, the second play was a pass from quarterback Eli Manning intended for receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines nearly picked it off, but was unable to haul it in. Worse, he collided squarely with safety T.J. McDonald's knee and had to be taken off the field on a cart with a concussion and lacerated lip. Fellow rookie Lamarcus Joyner, who hadn't played in five weeks, replaced Gaines. That set up a third-and-10 from the 20 with 55 seconds to go and the Giants leading 27-20. A quick three-and-out and the Rams could have been in business.
The play: The Giants lined up with Beckham in the slot to Manning's right and fellow receiver Rueben Randle flanking him out wide. Manning was in the shotgun with a back to his left and another receiver split left, leaving the five offensive linemen and a tight end in to protect. The Rams were in their adjusted nickel package with three down linemen, two linebackers, three cornerbacks and three safeties (including hybrid Mark Barron). Joyner lined up over Beckham, but played about 5 yards off with fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson doing the same on outside receiver Randle. Barron was in the middle of the field, but not much deeper than either cornerback. Just before the snap, Barron bailed out of the run box to drop to about 14 yards deep to provide help over the top. At the snap, Beckham and Randle ran an inside-out pattern with Randle coming underneath in the flat and Beckham taking off vertically to the outside. Joyner takes a step in Beckham's direction but quickly turns his attention to Randle coming over the middle. Johnson also stays with Randle rather than switching to Beckham. Meanwhile, the Rams sent the three linemen, linebacker James Laurinaitis and safety Rodney McLeod after Manning. Without McLeod on the back end, it forced Barron and McDonald to handle the back half of the field. The rush generated some pressure as end Robert Quinn got close to Manning just before he delivered the ball. Just before Manning let it fly, Beckham put a quick double move on Barron, in what was already an unfair matchup, to create the separation.
Manning hit Beckham in stride with nobody within 10 yards of him and Beckham, and he coasted into the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown.
The fallout: Make no mistake, Beckham is a great player and he might have made this play anyway, but this was a classic Rams coverage bust. Nobody would say which of the two cornerbacks was supposed to stay with Beckham, but clearly the design of the defense wasn't to allow Beckham to be one on one with Barron. It would stand to reason that Joyner, who had just entered the game, might have been at fault here, but Johnson wasn't exactly Deion Sanders in his prime in this game either. Either way, this one resulted in a 34-20 Giants lead that they would not relinquish as the Rams dropped to 6-9 on the season.
