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Ellard80

Ellard80

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We are going to have to get inventive to score points on offense - but a silver lining is that the way we were doing things wasn't working all that well. So maybe this will force us to think outside the box.

The defense is going to have to be dominant and it can be. No bend but not break - just break the other team.

Just hang in there until the reinforcements arrive.
 
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Ellard80 said:
We are going to have to get inventive to score points on offense - but a silver lining is that the way we were doing things wasn't working all that well. So maybe this will force us to think outside the box.

The defense is going to have to be dominant and it can be. No bend but not break - just break the other team.

Just hang in there until the reinforcements arrive.
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We can win Sunday. The Green Bay game after is the BIIIIIG one. Bye came at a good time.
 
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Ellard80 said:
We are going to have to get inventive to score points on offense - but a silver lining is that the way we were doing things wasn't working all that well. So maybe this will force us to think outside the box.

The defense is going to have to be dominant and it can be. No bend but not break - just break the other team.

Just hang in there until the reinforcements arrive.
Click to expand...
This is an extreme test for McVay.

On one hand, he's got a defense that can take over a game. So what's the best way to accentuate that ability? Run the ball? Fans have been screaming for him to run the ball more. All the talk is about 13P and how it affords the Rams the choice of running it, throwing it to the TEs or shifting into 11P and running that part of the playbook vs base D. Not having Ferguson the WR in a TE body inhibits that to a degree. But he also has Klare, who is supposed to be almost as physically gifted as Ferguson. So without his top 2 WRs, he's got to figure out something right?

Like I said, an extreme test for McVay.
 
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Big test for Stafford - while he's scanning the sideline or booth for Puka, he'll probably have to complete some passes to others.

...unless the Rams go full Tampa Bay style.
 
I think the Rams will adjust and will figure out how to move the ball.

We have certainly seen teams win with a running game and a defense and we have that. And I think Stafford will find some targets out there.
 
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Well, in early 2024, when Coop and Puka went down, the "solution" was to focus on Tutu, Park, and J-Whitt with a side of Demarcus Robinson.

So, in a burst of creativity, I can see them using Kyren to pick up the passing game production that Demarcus provided back then, but sticking with the focus on Tutu/Park/J-Whitt.

Unrealistic Creativity:
0-4 personnel
0-5 personnel (sign more TEs!)
Kyren with an expanded route tree.
 
InfiniteRam said:
How about putting Kyren and Corum in the backfield, at the same time ...
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I have advocated this for weeks on other threads. Put Kyren in the slot - let a LB or safety try and cover him. McVay needs to be clever and imaginative. Run 13P with Atwell. Run screens to the backs, which he rarely does. Shitcan WR screens and dive plays with a third string TE. Lean on the defense. Play field position (as best you can with this ST group). There's zero shame winning 13-10.
 
Could see some 23 personnel with Williams and Corum on the field together. Who has the second most receptions behind Nacua? It's actually Williams which surprised me.
 
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I must admit I was kinda hoping that former QB, but current TE Dan Villari would make the team and the Rams would have a wildcat package with him. But, it would probably upset Stafford so..............
 
One key is to adjust plays to what your WRs do best. McVay is forced to get creative but can he? Hopefully Fergie is back. That TE room should be pretty healthy after the bye.
 
RamWoodie said:
One key is to adjust plays to what your WRs do best. McVay is forced to get creative but can he? Hopefully Fergie is back. That TE room should be pretty healthy after the bye.
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Can he? See the invention of 13 package from last year.
 
A lot of 13 personnel. Tell Tutu to run deep on every play. Stafford takes a peek to see if he's got his man beat. Then throw to a TE or RB. Well, maybe not to Corum.
 
Honestly, for as Puka dependent as we are when he plays....we scored 28 and 26 without him earlier in the season. Davante went off.

Without Davante, it'll be a struggle, but for this week? Shouldn't matter. One week at a time.

The real concern to me is that McVay's decision making seems to be getting worse and worse and worse. Stafford's play has been inconsistent. THOSE are the real issues.

We were up 3 with the ball and driving against the Broncos when Stafford threw a horrible pick 6. The officials played a role later, yes....but Stafford's pick 6 flipped that game from a possession standpoint.

Against the Bills, McVay went conservative against a team starting UFL caliber CBs with BOTH Puka and Davante healthy, playing for a long FG in overtime when our FG unit had given every indication that wasn't going to go well.

Against the Cardinals, we try to score a TD early and leave the Cardinals too much time instead of running the ball and making sure they wouldn't have time, when all game long they got into FG range over and over.

And now against the Commodes, with two good running backs, we run a jet sweep with Puka when his body had already been destroyed time and again thanks to the 19 targets he had gotten. The irony here is, if you want the element of surprise, put Whittington in and hand it to him....a jet sweep to Puka when we had already run one wasn't a surprise.

That is three games that are two most important pieces have lost us because of their poor performance/decision making. Losing Puka after losing Davante will likely lead to more losses.

I want McVay to coach the Rams for a long time, but this is his worst season as a head coach IMO.
 
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Coliseum Ram said:
We can win Sunday. The Green Bay game after is the BIIIIIG one. Bye came at a good time.
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Yes. Beating GB puts us even for a playoff spot, although as a wolf hunting the herd, right now I've got my eyes focusing more on the animal starting to develop a big limp - the Vikings.

Also, that bye is very strange this year. We only get 10 days off for the weird Wednesday game, then a Thursday game, then a Sunday game. So, instead of a normal bye with a 7-day break, it is split up over three weeks, with 3 days, one day, 3 days extra. Not so bad in the end but I would be happier if all games were just on Sunday.
 
For the first time in a looong time, I am thinking in terms of the defense carrying this team, not the offense. AD, MG, McDuffie et al might need to save our bacon in one or more games to get us into the playoffs. If they can take the pressure off of the offense, then we can stay balanced and patient, and get good enough results.

We might not be seeing any blowout wins coming out way, but close wins still count!
 
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