5 Thoughts After Miami (from an ex-baller)

[HitStick]

Facts. As much as I love McVay, after defenses caught up to his initial scheme, we haven't been able to score the same way since. Of course there are other factors involved like the salary cap and offensive line investments/mistakes, but still...

Disagree. I think the difference is we lost our explosive players and did not replace them.

We don’t have Cooks, or Watkins to stretch the field.

We don’t have Gurley.

We don’t have Odell.

We have a bunch of lunch pail players.

Puka and Kupp are great. We need a field stretcher with size so Stafford will actually target him.

No offense to Kyren, but he’s limited. I’d like to see Corum get more touches, but we could use some speed if Corum isn’t it at the RB position

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

the problem with 12 personell is our TE are shitty. It's putting worse players on the field, not to mention as a unit their blocking is below average.

Hunter Long is a very good blocker. So is Parkinson. They lack in receiving skills. McVay had the worst blocker of the three in at TE, in a game where the right tackle was predictably struggling.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Disagree. I think the difference is we lost our explosive players and did not replace them.

We don’t have Cooks, or Watkins to stretch the field.

We don’t have Gurley.

We don’t have Odell.

We have a bunch of lunch pail players.

Puka and Kupp are great. We need a field stretcher with size so Stafford will actually target him.

No offense to Kyren, but he’s limited. I’d like to see Corum get more touches, but we could use some speed if Corum isn’t it at the RB position

Corum ran a 4.52 iirc. Not exactly burner speed and he still is developing in this offense. The Rams Oline isn’t blowing gaping holes in defenses like Michigan did.

Otherwise I agree that they need a real burner with some size, or just a big receiver. I’m sure they agree since they tried to sign Mike Evans and trade for Courtland Sutton. They aren’t really fast but both are taller physical red zone threats.

 

[PARAM]

Disagree. I think the difference is we lost our explosive players and did not replace them.

We don’t have Cooks, or Watkins to stretch the field.

We don’t have Gurley.

We don’t have Odell.

We have a bunch of lunch pail players.

Puka and Kupp are great. We need a field stretcher with size so Stafford will actually target him.

No offense to Kyren, but he’s limited. I’d like to see Corum get more touches, but we could use some speed if Corum isn’t it at the RB position

That may be but I'm not sure McVay's offense is predicated on WR speed. He designs combinations of routes to get open receivers. The guys you mention had great combine numbers. We had Sammy in year 4. Cooks in year 5/6 and Odell in year 7, post ACL surgery. Sammy and Cooks still had some giddyup but I don't believe Odell was close to his 4.3 combine numbers. And does it really help McVay's style to have a burner? We had a 7.0 yds/rec average with Watkins, 7.5 and 6.9 with Cooks (the latter obviously affected by the OL injuries and Cooks' concussion problems), 7.3 with Odell. In fact 2021 pre-Odell we had 7.9 ypc and with Odell 7.5. Hell DRob is averaging 15.9 this year which matches the best year (2018/Cooks 15.9) of the 4 seasons those guys put up. Watkins 15.2, Cooks 15.9/13.9, Odell 11.3. I think it's all about the OL. Run blocking and protection.

2017: 7.0 rec / 4.3 rush
2018: 7.5 rec/ 4.9 rush
2019: 6.9 rec/ 3.7 rush
2020: 6.5 rec/ 4.3 rush
2021: 7.3 rec/ 4.0 rush
2022: 5.3 rec/ 4.0 rush
2023: 6.6 rec/ 4.3 rush
2024: 6.1 rec/ 3.8 rush

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Disagree. I think the difference is we lost our explosive players and did not replace them.

We don’t have Cooks, or Watkins to stretch the field.

We don’t have Gurley.

We don’t have Odell.

We have a bunch of lunch pail players.

Puka and Kupp are great. We need a field stretcher with size so Stafford will actually target him.

No offense to Kyren, but he’s limited. I’d like to see Corum get more touches, but we could use some speed if Corum isn’t it at the RB position

All of this falls within my salary cap comment. And with Odell, our offense wasn't explosive. Our defense kept games close until Kupp and Stafford put a drive together. We won the superbowl that year but we weren't scoring 28+ pts regularly.

 

[DzRams]

All of this falls within my salary cap comment. And with Odell, our offense wasn't explosive. Our defense kept games close until Kupp and Stafford put a drive together. We won the superbowl that year but we weren't scoring 28+ pts regularly.

In 2021, with Cooks in the first half of the season and then OBJ in the second half, the Rams were the sixth-highest-scoring offense, averaging 27 points per game.

Pretty sure they would have ran away with the SB if OBJ didn't go down.

 

[0311rams]

Stafford doesn't like under center apparently. And he doesn't like turning his back to the defense. I think it's part of the problem. And mcvay let's it happen because they're buds.
Love both staff and mcvay but friends or not they need to stop holding each other's jock straps and get to work or they're gonna be outta work. This is a business and stan didn't spend 3 billion dollars on a stadium to watch his team get handled by 2-6 teams.

I also thought Stafford is dictating slinging the ball 50 times a game. its like a video game for him to see if he can make that madden throw. hell with coach, hes to loud in my ear. cmon Stafford now the time to get it together.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

In 2021, with Cooks in the first half of the season and then OBJ in the second half, the Rams were the sixth-highest-scoring offense, averaging 27 points per game.

Pretty sure they would have ran away with the SB if OBJ didn't go down.

It was Woods not Kupp, and looking back we were on fire before Woods went down - from memory, I mostly remember the poor rushing, aside from the four games by Michel, and the stagnant offense against the Niners and Bengals.

But in comparison to 2017-2018, there was still a drop-off in offensive production. We were 1 & 2 in ppg those years.

 

[Ellard80]

Hunter Long is a very good blocker. So is Parkinson. They lack in receiving skills. McVay had the worst blocker of the three in at TE, in a game where the right tackle was predictably struggling.

Hunter long can block yes.... the other two not so much.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Hunter long can block yes.... the other two not so much.

Parked main was signed because he was a good blocking TE.

 

[fearsomefour]

IT was THIRD FREAKING DOWN !!

Why THE FREAK would you run Kyren on 3-1 if that was the case with 2 TIME OUTS with 1:11 left.

2 PLAYS later your kicking a FG on THIRD DOWN & 1 less TIME OUT !!

Really that’s the THOUGHT. Your talking 1 play for SIX SECONDS!!!

If you think Matthew Stafford was going to get sacked you have TIME OUT, but your going to Trust he will 60 plus yards for a TD with 34 seconds va KICKING a FG with 26 seconds?

Plus what happens if you DON’T MAKE 2 POINTS??? At least you know if you need a TD or FG to win it ??

REALLY- come on MAN- poor excuse & coaching!!

Same reason as stated before.
I agree with running the ball there.
You could also kick the FG the second you got into long FG range to preserve as much time as possible.
So, there are different options....the reality is the same, two scores, onside kick....

 

[fearsomefour]

Hunter long can block yes.... the other two not so much.

Parkinson is pretty solid blocker.

 

[So Ram]

Same reason as stated before.
I agree with running the ball there.
You could also kick the FG the second you got into long FG range to preserve as much time as possible.
So, there are different options....the reality is the same, two scores, onside kick....

WHAT ????

A TD from the 12 or from The Rams own 40 yard line ?6

MAKES NO SENSE!!! It could have been 2 TD’s you need the 2 points,so IT IS NOT 2 scores. 2 scores could be 2 FIELD GOALS !!

The Rams had FIVE(5) SCORES,just no TOUCHDOWNS! Please

 

[So Ram]

It’s like playing CHESS and calling CHECK !! You need Check MATE!

 

[fanotodd]

Jonah didn’t look ready. The game plan should have been altered.

I would have started out running the ball. So maybe you find yourself looking at a 3rd and long. So what? They end up going 3 and out on their first drive? We’ve seen that plenty. If the 3rd down is short enough to run again and the Rams pick up the 1rst down…who knows how that drive turns out?
McVay should have had his maulers in the middle run blocking and firing into people right away.

All things considered, I cannot think of a more ridiculous call on their first play than that screen.

 

[fearsomefour]

WHAT ????

A TD from the 12 or from The Rams own 40 yard line ?6

MAKES NO SENSE!!! It could have been 2 TD’s you need the 2 points,so IT IS NOT 2 scores. 2 scores could be 2 FIELD GOALS !!

The Rams had FIVE(5) SCORES,just no TOUCHDOWNS! Please

Don't be daft.
11 points.
A TD, two point conversion and a FG to tie.
Would you feel better if they scored a TD and lost by 3or 5?
Its a pointless conversation....both approaches can make sense.
Also, caps don't help make your point.

 

[So Ram]

I would have started out running the ball. So maybe you find yourself looking at a 3rd and long. So what? They end up going 3 and out on their first drive? We’ve seen that plenty. If the 3rd down is short enough to run again and the Rams pick up the 1rst down…who knows how that drive turns out?
McVay should have had his maulers in the middle run blocking and firing into people right away.

All things considered, I cannot think of a more ridiculous call on their first play than that screen.

I LOVED Mcvay’s play call out of the half. I CALLED it.It works so well &
can open up the game.

It gave The Rams them momentum. Actually I’m WRONG!!!!
It was The THIRD play out of half.
KYREN ran for 9 YARDS,left side for 9.Then on 2-1 ran it for 3 yards.

Then I CALLED it.It was SO setup for a PLAY ACTION.Stafford got outside the tackle (LDE) which he found PUKA.

Kyren then goes for 8 yards.

3 runs & 1 p-A pass . Then WTF ? Rams call a Timeout at 2 & 2

run for first down. 1-10 at Miami’s
28. The BAD SNAP 2-23 from 41.
Why run ? 2 yards - short pass to Puka.
Field Goal range & false start.Would have made it 9- 10.

That put The Rams in catchup mode.Miami scores a TD 17-6.

 

[So Ram]

Don't be daft.
11 points.
A TD, two point conversion and a FG to tie.
Would you feel better if they scored a TD and lost by 3or 5?
Its a pointless conversation....both approaches can make sense.
Also, caps don't help make your point.

You’re saying your 12 yards out to score a TD ! — really ? You have 1 play in your pocket that takes SIX SECONDS!!

What don’t you GET ? I guess we should all go church on Sunday & wish for HALL MARY’S each game ?

It’s better than trying to score a TD from your own 40. It’s SUPER BASIC football.I get what your saying in concept of having to score 11.There just an easier way to get there & odds would tell you that.
Scoring a TD from the 12 vs the 40.You do still need to get 15-20 yards,but still enough time to spike it.

 

[fearsomefour]

You’re saying your 12 yards out to score a TD ! — really ? You have 1 play in your pocket that takes SIX SECONDS!!

What don’t you GET ? I guess we should all go church on Sunday & wish for HALL MARY’S each game ?

It’s better than trying to score a TD from your own 40. It’s SUPER BASIC football.I get what your saying in concept of having to score 11.There just an easier way to get there & odds would tell you that.
Scoring a TD from the 12 vs the 40.You do still need to get 15-20 yards,but still enough time to spike it.

You get what Im saying?
Good and thanks.

 

[fearsomefour]

Disagree. I think the difference is we lost our explosive players and did not replace them.

We don’t have Cooks, or Watkins to stretch the field.

We don’t have Gurley.

We don’t have Odell.

We have a bunch of lunch pail players.

Puka and Kupp are great. We need a field stretcher with size so Stafford will actually target him.

No offense to Kyren, but he’s limited. I’d like to see Corum get more touches, but we could use some speed if Corum isn’t it at the RB position

Corum looks like a less shifty version of Williams to me.
Stafford has been terrible with the deep ball.