- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Turning point: Shaun Hill intercepted at goal line
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ing-point-shaun-hill-intercepted-at-goal-line
SAN DIEGO -- A look back at the turning point play in the St. Louis Rams' 27-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon:
The situation: Yes, we discussed this play already in our postgame column but with a little more time to digest it, quarterback Shaun Hill's interception at the goal line had plenty of interesting elements to it that make it worth revisiting. With 1:03 to go, the Rams had a second-and-goal at San Diego's 4 while trailing 27-24. The previous play was a 2-yard carry by running back Benny Cunningham. Two plays earlier, receiver Kenny Britt had made a terrific 27-yard catch to put the Rams in position to win the game. This one was in question all the way until this play, which makes it the easy choice for this week's turning point.
The play: The Rams lined up with receivers Britt and Chris Givens bunched to the left of the line of scrimmage with Cunningham and fullback Cory Harkey in the backfield. Tight end Lance Kendricks was attached to the right side of the line of scrimmage. Before the snap, Hill sent Cunningham in motion to the left, where he would join the bunch formation with Britt and Givens. San Diego followed Cunningham and, with no threat of a run play, safety Marcus Gilchrist stayed at home on the right side with his only movement based on his assignment (in this case Kendricks).
At the snap, the Rams attacked with a drive concept that had Britt running a jerk route underneath and Givens running a deep (such as it was) in to the back part of the end zone. Cunningham was supposed to follow Britt underneath in what is known as a follow concept, essentially following Britt. Hill's read provided a high-low option with Givens the first look (high) and Britt next (low). Hill quickly looked off Givens but had Britt in man coverage against San Diego cornerback Shareece Wright. Wright grabbed Britt early in the route but got away with it.
Meanwhile, Gilchrist stayed at home on the other side of the formation because Kendricks stayed in to block. Hill shifted his focus to Britt right away but never saw Gilchrist as he attempted to fit it in to Britt. Gilchrist came up with the interception to seal the game and hand the Rams another loss.
The replays show that Hill had a mostly clean pocket and had he waited another beat, he would have had Cunningham wide open on the follow concept.
The fallout: There's really no other way to put it than it cost the Rams the game. A touchdown there likely would have won it but if nothing else, the interception ensured that San Diego would win. An interception was the one thing the Rams couldn't have happen in that situation and yet it's exactly the one thing that did.
I don't have any problems with the Rams throwing the ball there. In fact, the aggressive approach is welcome. But the play call itself wasn't ideal. The Rams simply aren't consistent enough executing the offense to remove all threat of the run before the play even begins. Sending Cunningham in motion and out for a pass would actually have worked had Hill seen him come open but either way, the Rams let San Diego know in advance that a pass was coming. Similar to the team's 2013 loss at home to Seattle, the Rams couldn't finish a late drive in part because they telegraphed their intentions before the snap.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ing-point-shaun-hill-intercepted-at-goal-line
SAN DIEGO -- A look back at the turning point play in the St. Louis Rams' 27-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon:
The situation: Yes, we discussed this play already in our postgame column but with a little more time to digest it, quarterback Shaun Hill's interception at the goal line had plenty of interesting elements to it that make it worth revisiting. With 1:03 to go, the Rams had a second-and-goal at San Diego's 4 while trailing 27-24. The previous play was a 2-yard carry by running back Benny Cunningham. Two plays earlier, receiver Kenny Britt had made a terrific 27-yard catch to put the Rams in position to win the game. This one was in question all the way until this play, which makes it the easy choice for this week's turning point.
The play: The Rams lined up with receivers Britt and Chris Givens bunched to the left of the line of scrimmage with Cunningham and fullback Cory Harkey in the backfield. Tight end Lance Kendricks was attached to the right side of the line of scrimmage. Before the snap, Hill sent Cunningham in motion to the left, where he would join the bunch formation with Britt and Givens. San Diego followed Cunningham and, with no threat of a run play, safety Marcus Gilchrist stayed at home on the right side with his only movement based on his assignment (in this case Kendricks).
At the snap, the Rams attacked with a drive concept that had Britt running a jerk route underneath and Givens running a deep (such as it was) in to the back part of the end zone. Cunningham was supposed to follow Britt underneath in what is known as a follow concept, essentially following Britt. Hill's read provided a high-low option with Givens the first look (high) and Britt next (low). Hill quickly looked off Givens but had Britt in man coverage against San Diego cornerback Shareece Wright. Wright grabbed Britt early in the route but got away with it.
Meanwhile, Gilchrist stayed at home on the other side of the formation because Kendricks stayed in to block. Hill shifted his focus to Britt right away but never saw Gilchrist as he attempted to fit it in to Britt. Gilchrist came up with the interception to seal the game and hand the Rams another loss.
The replays show that Hill had a mostly clean pocket and had he waited another beat, he would have had Cunningham wide open on the follow concept.
The fallout: There's really no other way to put it than it cost the Rams the game. A touchdown there likely would have won it but if nothing else, the interception ensured that San Diego would win. An interception was the one thing the Rams couldn't have happen in that situation and yet it's exactly the one thing that did.
I don't have any problems with the Rams throwing the ball there. In fact, the aggressive approach is welcome. But the play call itself wasn't ideal. The Rams simply aren't consistent enough executing the offense to remove all threat of the run before the play even begins. Sending Cunningham in motion and out for a pass would actually have worked had Hill seen him come open but either way, the Rams let San Diego know in advance that a pass was coming. Similar to the team's 2013 loss at home to Seattle, the Rams couldn't finish a late drive in part because they telegraphed their intentions before the snap.
