2023 Defense through 12 Games vs 2022 first 12 games

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JimY53

Pro Bowler
Joined
Nov 20, 2023
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1,451
Name
JY53
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #81
People can agree to disagree on level of culpability. I think everyone agrees
Rams defense failed on final drive and the Rams offense did, too.

But there are things that can be illustrated by images
One of them is presnap alignments. Below are all
snaps of the game

In 2022 Bucs game Rams played this way
times with at least one CB in press—
1st Q = 3 (1 in LRZ) of 15
2nd Q = 3 of 24
3rd Q = 1 (but it was press bail, the same as off or cloud) in 10
4th Q = 5 (2 in LRZ) of 32

snaps with at least one CB in press (Cov6/8 looks)
1st H = 6 of 39
2nd H = 6 of 42

Debating how the Rams should have played last 2 drives or 4th Q or whatever segment of game is a reasonable debate.
But there is not a debate of how often that off-coverage was shown -- it's countable.

I think what happened is not so much a change in playing style, there wasn't.
but a failure to execute said style.

Not much difference between 1st H and 2nd H or Q 1-3 vs Q 4
Take a look:
1st Q TB.jpg
2nd Q.jpg
3rd Q.jpg
4th Q.jpg


Note there are 81 stills and there were 79 official plays. 2 were "no plays"
I didn't search to find the two ... but that is why there is a 2-play difference
in plays versus the still images.

I think results of offense are always factored into defensive calls/philosophy.
Just food for thought.

Again, people who didn't like the style--fine.
People who prematurely call for firing or that Morris is someone incompetent
or scared or stupid ... well, that's something other than fine, IMO.
 

Steve808

Pro Bowler
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Nov 27, 2017
Messages
1,857
Name
Steve
Last year the offense was one of worst in NFL. This year they can at least score points. Puka stepped in for gimpy Kupp, Stafford
mostly healthy. Offensive line is pretty good, RB is pretty good.

Defense was not perfect last year. It had bad games and cost wins but had good games. Offense affects the defense and there are times when the offense needed a first down to seal a win but would go 3 and out. Defense carries heavy burden last year.

The questions I posed were what are the results?
And are the differences do great that one year a few people wanted Morris fired and this year they
don't.

Mitigating factors such as a young group and a bad offensive aside. The Morris hate has been and always
was over the top and unreasonable and with a few people it was personal.

edited to correct a couple of typos

A good offense that can score makes a world of difference. Anyone recall the season after the Rams won SB 34? Our defense sucked and gave up a ton of yards and points but the Rams still started the season 6-0 and if Az-Hakim didn't fumble that punt away in the last 2 minutes of that playoff game against the Saints, the Rams still had a chance at the NFCCG and Superbowl that season. The Rams gave up 471 points in a 16 game season and went 10-6 and was probably the last team anyone wanted to meet in the playoffs that season.