Five interesting stats from the 2019 season for the Los Angeles Rams

[dang]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

Run game was awful. Goff's turnovers were awful. 3rd down efficiency was awful. Improve 10% on each of these and Rams win another 2-3 games from this year.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

I'd be willing to bet the routes and receivers were covered and diagnosed far more effectively this season.

I only watched one game in person @AZ and we were able to do whatever we wanted that day....so not a good example of my theory. Lol.

 

[RamFan503]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

IMO, the running game was the biggest issue. McVay's offense relies heavily on play action. If you can't run the ball, there is little respect for play action.

Think about it. The D can wait a half second to see what develops. We all know they weren't getting blown off the line.

Goff had his issues but so did the entire offense. I really think that centered on O-line woes.

All three main RBs had virtually identically poor rushing stats. And do you recall a whole lot of negative yardage plays? To me, that says the defense was sitting back a bit knowing they wouldn't get gashed.

They were finally able to release Higbeast from being an additional lineman as the O-line played moderately better and he exploded. Coincidence?

 

[OldSchool]

Most centers become centers because they are a little small for the other spots.....but have good technique.
Like most bass players become bass players because the other guitar players around are better soloists.
It’s not glamorous but every great band has a great bass player.
The Rams need an upgrade at C.
Can they find one mid rounds (3rd) like the kid from Wisconsin? Then see if he can play at the NFL level or not?

Most all good centers in the league are in the 300-310 range there isn't a lot of beef at Center anywhere. In fact lets look at the Pro Bowl centers:

Rodney Hudson 6'2" 300 lbs
Mo Pouncy 6'4" 304 lbs
Travis Fredrick 6'4" 320 lbs
Jason Kelce 6'3" 282 lbs

This thought that we need a big beefy center doesn't really pan out when you look at the good centers in the NFL.

Look at the top rated centers in the 2020 draft.

Biadasz 6'3" 315 lbs
Humphrey 6'5" 310 lbs
Hansen 6'5" 302 lbs
Nick Harris (personal favorite) 6'1" 302 lbs
Cesar Ruiz 6'4" 317 lbs
Williams 6'2" 310 lbs

 

[fearsomefour]

Most all good centers in the league are in the 300-310 range there isn't a lot of beef at Center anywhere. In fact lets look at the Pro Bowl centers:

Rodney Hudson 6'2" 300 lbs
Mo Pouncy 6'4" 304 lbs
Travis Fredrick 6'4" 320 lbs
Jason Kelce 6'3" 282 lbs

This thought that we need a big beefy center doesn't really pan out when you look at the good centers in the NFL.

Look at the top rated centers in the 2020 draft.

Biadasz 6'3" 315 lbs
Humphrey 6'5" 310 lbs
Hansen 6'5" 302 lbs
Nick Harris (personal favorite) 6'1" 302 lbs
Cesar Ruiz 6'4" 317 lbs
Williams 6'2" 310 lbs

The difference between 320 and 305 matters a lot less than good technique and a good first step.
Also, they never update weights on player lists. No way Hudson is playing at that weight now for example.

 

[OldSchool]

The difference between 320 and 305 matters a lot less than good technique and a good first step.
Also, they never update weights on player lists. No way Hudson is playing at that weight now for example.

He's probably less, I remember conversations on video with Brockers and Donald where they both discussed players losing weight during the season from all the extra work. And you're right about the technique, my comment was simply about the nonstop comments that we need more beef at center. Which is completely false, we need a technician.

 

[fearsomefour]

He's probably less, I remember conversations on video with Brockers and Donald where they both discussed players losing weight during the season from all the extra work. And you're right about the technique, my comment was simply about the nonstop comments that we need more beef at center. Which is completely false, we need a technician.

Guys carry weight differently. Some always struggle. Some don’t.
Shawn Lee, the old Chargers DT, used to come into a deli I worked at in San Diego.
Dude had to put down insane amounts of food to maintain his 330 lb playing weight. He was always listed at 300 lbs. He was a short (6’ tall) DL who was a run stuffer. Carrying that was weight was required by the coaches. I felt bad for the guy. He looked uncomfortable finishing his food.....2 footlong subs, plus a 6 inch sub all with double everything, chips and a brownie all in one sitting. We were chatting once and he was laughing about how his listed weight never changed.
Anyway, you’re right. We need a technician more than a just a big guy. A bigger guy with bad technique can be worse off than a smaller guy.
It’s like when people get excited because a lineman is 6’ 7” or something....that height is a detriment as often or more often than an advantage.....hence all the OLB/DE that implement that low “shoulder dip” pass rush move....the really big guys usually have a hard time playing with enough “bend” to keep their balance trying to block that.
Any FA C you like at all?

 

[FrantikRam]

IMO, the running game was the biggest issue. McVay's offense relies heavily on play action. If you can't run the ball, there is little respect for play action.

Think about it. The D can wait a half second to see what develops. We all know they weren't getting blown off the line.

Goff had his issues but so did the entire offense. I really think that centered on O-line woes.

All three main RBs had virtually identically poor rushing stats. And do you recall a whole lot of negative yardage plays? To me, that says the defense was sitting back a bit knowing they wouldn't get gashed.

They were finally able to release Higbeast from being an additional lineman as the O-line played moderately better and he exploded. Coincidence?

I agree about the run game. And I'd guess that overall our run blocking was below average to bad and pass blocking above average.

But I've had some beef with Gurley for a few years now - I don't think he has very good vision. There were several times where there was a nice hole but he didn't see it and ran into a pile.

Earlier in his career and in some situations under McVay, we've seen Gurley break off runs when the entire defense knows it's coming (late game situations). For me, that says something about Gurley: the defense can "take away" anyone's run game by overloading the box - except we've seen with Gurley in the past, Henry this year, other great running backs previously, that even if you know something is coming, you can't always stop it.

There are certainly times where the OL is an issue - there were certainly times this year: when Goff has less than 2 seconds, when Gurley gets hit before he can make a move in the backfield.

But at the same time, the defense can ALWAYS send more players toward the QB and RB than the offensive line can realistically block. So what happens in those situations? McVay can't predict every time that's going to happen, so we can't always blame him. Can't blame the OL either. IMO when those instances happen - and I think they happened A LOT this season - it's on Goff and Gurley to make something happen. If we rely/blame the OL and/or coaching for everything, there is zero point in paying a QB or RB. For me, you pay them to be able to make plays in imperfect situations.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Is this guy available?

Of course, we'd have to custom make him a helmet.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

It looked like to me like it was just Goff throwing the ball away a lot.

And we were tied with five other teams for second and no telling how many teams were in first place.

Overall, it looked pretty average.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Thought Blythe was at LG prior to moving to C. Might have been RG.

I dunno. I got my Botox for my migraines today and I'm a little out of it...

RG to C.

 

[OldSchool]

Any FA C you like at all?

Haven't looked too closely at them but a few names are intriguing. We've talked around here in the past about Spencer Long (our new OC knows him as well as our Coach IIRC). Matt Skura started in Baltimore before hurting his knee but will likely command top dollar for centers. Tedd Karras for the Pats was pretty average in all regards. Really we need to stay away from Seattles Joey Hunt

2024 NFL Free Agents Tracker

Tracking the status and signings of all 2024 NFL free agents.

www.spotrac.com

On this list there are a few names I like.

2020 NFL Draft Top Centers

Ruiz we've talked about here. Biadasz is great but don't see falling. Hanson, Harris, Williams and Pollard are all interesting.

 

[FrantikRam]

It looked like to me like it was just Goff throwing the ball away a lot.

And we were tied with five other teams for second and no telling how many teams were in first place.

Overall, it looked pretty average.

If five teams were tied for first, it would have said we were tied for sixth with five other teams.

Saying we're tied for 2nd means there was only one team better - but that's why I put "top 5" instead of 2nd.

It looked bad in a few games and excellent in most others. Overall I'd say it looked above average to me.

 

[RamFan503]

If five teams were tied for first, it would have said we were tied for sixth with five other teams.

Saying we're tied for 2nd means there was only one team better - but that's why I put "top 5" instead of 2nd.

It looked bad in a few games and excellent in most others. Overall I'd say it looked above average to me.

Except that you can't separate run blocking from pass blocking. No running game generally equals an ineffective passing attack. Not that I'm not saying that yards won't be racked up or completions made. But sustainable drives - except in rare situations - require a running game.

You like to point at Gurley and say he missed open holes. Frankly, I'd say that's BS. Did EVERY RB on our team miss open holes? When your top three average 3.8, 3.8, 3.7 you have a big issue with your running game. Every fan thinks their RB misses a hole when watching. Most of the time, those holes are only a perception of the fan watching and not what is actually happening on the field. Does it happen? Sure. Was it a major cause for an ineffective running game? Hardly. Is Gurley a step slower than he was? Quite possibly - maybe even likely. But every RB having virtually the same stats?

Other teams rarely had to send more defenders than the O-line could/should block. Instead, we kept a TE in to help block when they were only sending four. I don't remember teams overloading the line or sending an extra CB/S/LB on a blitz all that often. It sure seemed to work when they did it. But they really just didn't need to do it all that often.

There was very little downfield blocking going on like we saw last year. There was very little imposition of will going on. So you're not able to open holes for your run game, the D can get to your QB by rushing three or four, your TE has to stay in to block, and because your O-line gives your QB 2.8 seconds to throw (22nd in the league BTW), they are doing an above average job?

There is enough blame to go around. But ranking 22nd in time to throw

NGS | NFL Next Gen Stats

NFL’s Next Gen Stats captures real time location data, speed and acceleration for every player, every play on every inch of the field. Discover Next Gen Stats News, Charts, and Statistics.

nextgenstats.nfl.com

, and having the 27th ranked rushing offense http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?seasonType=REG&offensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-p=1&d-447263-s=RUSHING_AVERAGE_YARDS&tabSeq=2&season=2019&role=TM&Submit=Go&archive=false&conference=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=null&qualified=false ??? The majority of the blame seems to me to center on our O-line play.

QBs miss throws, throw INTs, and fumble the ball. They do it more when the only way to get down the field is if they take chances - stand in the pocket longer, throw into tight windows, etc.

I don't regard Goff as elite just yet and am not sure if he'll achieve that status. But '19 didn't give me any reason to pump him up or dump on him. It was simply a year when our offense was largely ineffective and I place most of that on the O-line.

 

[bubbaramfan]

When your Ol doesn't control the LOS, gets pushed back off the snap, your running game is going to suffer, I don't care who your RB is. Derrick Henry, Zeke Elliot, Chris McCaffrey, they would all struggle with an OL like the Rams fielded last season.