Game one feels

[Pupped]

Both teams seemed a little tight.

I think we all would've felt quite a bit better with a 21-9.. or even 21-16 final score. Not punching that last one is was a major bummer. Hopefully they do better with that.

It was an underwhelming day for the Rams pass rush. Not bad at all.. but not what we all were probably hoping for. Looking for more out of them moving forward.

The safeties... hmmm.... Kinchen and Curl just looked slow to me today. Let's hope it's just a blip... and, yes, I know neither are exceptional athletes.

One thing that really made me happy was the two turnovers the Rams forced. They made plays on the ball.. it was awesome. Both plays were exceptional.. Durant's pick and Landman's punch. I'm hoping for a lot more forced turnovers this season.

Xavier Smith showing up in the passing game makes me sooooooo freaking happy. He really looks like a guy who has made a significant step up this year. And he looks solid returning kicks.

Whittington looked fantastic today. Fantastic. The WR group is insane.

One of the biggest and most understandable sources of concern were both starting tackles. I'm feeling pretty good about them after that game. Anderson got big Rob once.. but those are two elite edges and they DID NOT wreak havoc.

Blake Corum is so much more explosive than Kyren. Sorry. I want to see more of him.

Davis Allen looks like he's taken a nice year-three step. At least in the passing game.

ILBs not a problem.

The defense really feels like a UNIT. It feels like it's more than just the sum of its parts.. Shula and staff are doing some cooking.

Witherspoon looks like some of the hype I've heard about him after a full offseason may be justified. He's not gonna be a shut down.. but he was moving really well.

Houston is considered a strong playoff contender and their defense is supposed to be excellent. I just think if the Rams had played a little cleaner.. this would've been an easy win.

Davante looks good.. but he and Stafford are obviously still building a rapport.

And.. finally... PUKA NACUA IS A GODDAMN SUPERSTAR!!!!! Jeez.. this guy.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Verse’s impact wasn’t felt much, but he was getting a lot of attention too. I think their rookie tackle might be a big find for Houston. BY had a game for sure—very instinctual.

Disappointed in Limmer. He was really whiffing and let DL run right at Stafford.

I think Davis Allen is an excellent reciever with really sticky hands, but struggles a lot trying to block.

 

[Jorgeh0605]

I think it was a fine 1st game. It just feels different when you compare it to that Bills game. But I think old rams teams lose games like yesterday's, so it was great to see resilience and fighting for the victory. We don't need to start hot, we need to end hot. 1-0 baby.

 

[JonRam99]

Great analysis! love that we can now truly say, "ILB is not a problem". It was arguably our biggest problem last year, and in game 1 we see the difference it makes when we invest a little bit in these positions.

 

[Faceplant]

OP summed up my feelings pretty well, haha. A lot to like about this defense and the possibilities for the offense. What I do NOT like, are all of the screens and lateral plays..... And the murder balls across the middle. Puka and Davante took some really vicious shots today

 

[majrleaged]

Both teams seemed a little tight.

I think we all would've felt quite a bit better with a 21-9.. or even 21-16 final score. Not punching that last one is was a major bummer. Hopefully they do better with that.

It was an underwhelming day for the Rams pass rush. Not bad at all.. but not what we all were probably hoping for. Looking for more out of them moving forward.

The safeties... hmmm.... Kinchen and Curl just looked slow to me today. Let's hope it's just a blip... and, yes, I know neither are exceptional athletes.

One thing that really made me happy was the two turnovers the Rams forced. They made plays on the ball.. it was awesome. Both plays were exceptional.. Durant's pick and Landman's punch. I'm hoping for a lot more forced turnovers this season.

Xavier Smith showing up in the passing game makes me sooooooo freaking happy. He really looks like a guy who has made a significant step up this year. And he looks solid returning kicks.

Whittington looked fantastic today. Fantastic. The WR group is insane.

One of the biggest and most understandable sources of concern were both starting tackles. I'm feeling pretty good about them after that game. Anderson got big Rob once.. but those are two elite edges and they DID NOT wreak havoc.

Blake Corum is so much more explosive than Kyren. Sorry. I want to see more of him.

Davis Allen looks like he's taken a nice year-three step. At least in the passing game.

ILBs not a problem.

The defense really feels like a UNIT. It feels like it's more than just the sum of its parts.. Shula and staff are doing some cooking.

Witherspoon looks like some of the hype I've heard about him after a full offseason may be justified. He's not gonna be a shut down.. but he was moving really well.

Houston is considered a strong playoff contender and their defense is supposed to be excellent. I just think if the Rams had played a little cleaner.. this would've been an easy win.

Davante looks good.. but he and Stafford are obviously still building a rapport.

And.. finally... PUKA NACUA IS A GODDAMN SUPERSTAR!!!!! Jeez.. this guy.

Im pretty happy with how the entire team played. My only concern is the Oline. We need way more from them.

 

[JonRam99]

Im pretty happy with how the entire team played. My only concern is the Oline. We need way more from them.

You're right, but I think some of our inactives will get called up & shine out. We're somewhat deep at OG w/ some in-house options.

 

[majrleaged]

Oh and the Safeties played well. Curl was all over the box and kinchen had a great INT ruined by a cheap flag on the conductor

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

You're right, but I think some of our inactives will get called up & shine out. We're somewhat deep at OG w/ some in-house options.

I don't know if we're deep if Limmer is the first man up and plays like that.

 

[Allen2McVay]

You're right, but I think some of our inactives will get called up & shine out. We're somewhat deep at OG w/ some in-house options.

Well it's just Dedich and Limmer for interior depth. They are both center/guards, and Limmer was active over Dedich yesterday, suggesting he is ahead of Dedich.

The other three reserve OL are all OTs (Humphries, McClendon and Quessenberry). Although, Quessenberry may have some experience inside.

 

[JonRam99]

quick question -- I've been seeing Josiah's name mentioned in some x-posts & elsewhere, what kind of game did he have? He's not on the stat sheet. Pressures??

 

[Faceplant]

quick question -- I've been seeing Josiah's name mentioned in some x-posts & elsewhere, what kind of game did he have? He's not on the stat sheet. Pressures??

He had a tipped pass on their final drive, but I didn't see much of him otherwise...

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

This is year 3 for Avila. I'm hoping he becomes a dog this year in the run game after two years of strength training, however I didn't see it week one. I hope he progresses throughout the season.

 

[OntarioRam]

1-0 is huge, as is finally starting a season with a win! The Texans are one of the better rosters we will face. Getting a W here is big, vs. that strong of a pass rush with our LT not even playing a snap all off-season due to blood clots.

Stafford looked amazing. The back shows no signs of trouble. Some absolute dimes. And amazing decision making all day long.

McVay called a good game, except the QB sneak attempt, which I thought was egregiously stupid considering: the Rams have several capable short yardage RBs, your QB is aging and injury prone with a recent back injury, you are playing a physical and dirty opposing defence, and it is quarter 2 of a week 1 game vs. an AFC opponent while you get the ball to start the 2nd half at home. Why even risk it? Hopefully that just means McVay and Stafford alike have 0 concerns about #9's back. But jesus...

I've said it multiple times. Whittington is ready to break out. I think he can be a very good WR2, if one of Puka or Adams ever goes down. Love everything I see from him. We need to find a way to retain him long-term. He might want to go where he can get more of an opportunity if we are not careful.

7.5/10 performance for the defensive line. They pressured Stroud tons. But all told, when you include the in-game injuries, the Texans' o-line had almost 0 starters left. So I would have expected a dominating performance, not just a "good" one. Verse appears to be getting the AD99 treatment now. Double teamed constantly, and sometimes triple teamed. I thought Byron Young flashed the most. Likely a result of all the attention Verse was drawing.

Adams looks like he will bring the offense to a new level once he gets acclimated.

We are bit too Puka reliant. If we want him to last, we need to spread it out. 1 game in and he is already taking a beating again.

Yet another game where Kyren Williams saw way too much of the football. Very good RB. I like him. But Corum, yet again, looked just as capable in limited work. We need a better mix at RB. Also why even draft these RBs with decently high picks, if we don't ever use them?

Refs were awful and almost screwed us.

Hopefully, Docton is okay. Definitely worrying to see both he and Avila dinged up already. The offensive line is already very thin. Hav is old an injury prone. Alaric has blood clot issues. Not good if 2 of your only lineman with clean health pick up injuries in week 1.

Parkinson is one of the worst Ram signings I can remember. He adds nothing. His fumble almost cost us the game. He is not a good receiving or blocking option. Hopefully Ferguson comes along soon and can be an every down player. The TE room depends on it. Higbee is aging, makes decent $$$, is injury prone, and though solid is not spectacular. The Rams tend to move on 1 year early vs. 1 year late. I could see the Rams wanting to move on from both Parkinson AND Higbee after this season. We might see big changes at TE soon.

Landman is an absolute beat. And I am not just talking about the peanut punch to save the game! He was very noticeable out there all game long. A much needed addition to the LB corps. Incredible signing by all early accounts. Same for Poona Ford, who was clogging up everything. Run defence looking much improved. The front office was intentional about it after Barkley torched us.

Fiske with maybe the best, most athletic fumble recovery I have seen from a DT.

The Rams hold yet another team to under 10 pts. That is 5 out of the past 7 games! 5 out of the past 6 games, if you exclude the late season battle with Seattle last year when we rested our starters in preparation for the playoffs. That is video-game stuff! It defies NFL reality, regardless of who you play. And none of the opponents have been slouches. Minnesota, San Fran, Houston, Arizona. Those are all teams that can bring it. Loving this defence.

Forbes starting over DWII is an encouraging sign, as this defensive coaching staff clearly knows their stuff, and DWII is no slouch, so if Forbes is getting the nod, he must be showing well in practice. Forbes was very highly regarded coming out of college. If he lives up to the draft hype, we are getting a high-level starter, at the age of 24, off waivers. That is how you stay at the top of the NFL! Even if he is just an average starter, or even a quality first man off the bench, that is still great for a waiver pickup.

 

[majrleaged]

McVay called a good game, except the QB sneak attempt, which I thought was egregiously stupid

I was dumbfounded by the call. Just like last year when he called an option at the goal line against the whiners and got his ribs broken. You would think our genius play caller would stop the fucking insanity.

 

[0311rams]

no field goal opportunities and the vaunted offensive points increase adjustment promised by McVay resulted in 14 points and the win. but still. 14? the offense doesn't look any better than it did last year so far. same ol, same ol.