In two of our losses, the Phily and Seattle games, we had big leads but were unable to maintain them. What do you think is the problem - the defense going into prevent mode, the offense getting too conservative, or a combination of both? I thought once Darnold got hot the other night, Shula should have pressured him more. We all know what Sam does under pressure. Unfortunately, our front four wasn't getting there enough on their own. I felt once we got up 16, we went into the old "bend but don't break" mode (not that we haven't been in it most of the season) and let Seattle drive down the field without getting much pressure on Darnold. McVay really needs to address this. No team as good as the Rams should be blowing big leads like they have this season. Also, we need a new special teams coach but we all know that.
Holding big leads
- Thread starter Ramfan72
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it's hard to figure out exactly what the problem is. Can't be the Defense being tired, we had almost 15 mins more time of possession, and the Offense ran 88 plays. Seemed like we held the ball all game. McVay used to call a great game with the lead but his style has changed with Stafford somewhat. First series after the Turner int. we run twice against a hawk defense selling out against the run, then attempt a shotgun pass that's incomplete. Run run pass punt maybe not a good play sequence in that situation. With Goff/McVay we never blew even a 3 point second half lead mostly because of careful play calling. I think typically McVay would start with a hard run fake outside then boot the other way for an easy completion in the flat on one of the first couple of plays to use the defense's aggressiveness against them to use an example. I'm pretty sure Stafford has the option to get to that when he breaks the huddle. They need to figure that out.
On defense they are young and maybe don't know how to consistently close out a team. We used to have a mostly veteran Defense. Could be another problem as to why we can't hold a lead.
Special teams? Oi vey.
It's not prevent mode. In fact, it seems like the opposite. The defense, all of the sudden, starts giving up massive big plays downfield. If they had gone into a prevent then maybe more time would've been chewed off the clock.
I think the defensive line gets tired and the pocket becomes cleaner. As a result the QB gains confidence and takes shots on our poor secondary.
I think the defensive line gets tired and the pocket becomes cleaner. As a result the QB gains confidence and takes shots on our poor secondary.
I didn't mind mcvay's play calling after the interception because the first run picked up good yards. If the second run picks up anything, then it's 3rd and short.
Just using an example because we used to be really good at 4 min offense and running out the clock. We don't seem to do that anymore. Best way to run out the clock is to not get into 3rd down.
If we hit our FG we win both Philly and Seattle games.
2. Punt the ball out of bounds.
3. Mix in a blitz here and there. A sack likely wins the game or worse case the QB starts rushing throws.
4. Your WRs need to catch the damn ball. Parkinson’s drop etc.
5. Throw the ball in 4th down rather than punting in some short yard to gain situations. This is called a big balls jugular shot. Own it.
2. Punt the ball out of bounds.
3. Mix in a blitz here and there. A sack likely wins the game or worse case the QB starts rushing throws.
4. Your WRs need to catch the damn ball. Parkinson’s drop etc.
5. Throw the ball in 4th down rather than punting in some short yard to gain situations. This is called a big balls jugular shot. Own it.
Kickoffs to the end zone all night to avoid Shaheed and then punt a low short punt right to him in the critical point in the game. Evans should be a little more consistent at this point in his career. The Rams coverage units under the current special teams coach have always been terrible. They don’t have to cover kickoffs because they kick the ball deep and with the way the offense has played they don’t punt often but if they actually have to cover a kick it’s not a good thing. That’s on coaching if McVay doesn’t make a change in the offseason he’s going to continue to pay for it. Blackburn needs to go
While all these things may be true the specials teams issues have been the direct cause of at least 2 of the Rams 4 losses. Clean it up before it causes the Rams to suffer a loss in the playoffs.
Conciliator
UDFA
Here's a wild one!! Stafford is our holy grail...
Preserve his sacredness and rest him comfortably on the pine with our large lead (maybe even a separate throne),
Send in Jimmy g-string (we pay him after all) and run the offense hard and balls to the wall. (More.Corum blasting hard, and Jimmy is good enough to hit our plethora of tight ends and wr's on short and medium crossing patterns.
I’m at the point where I want to see McVay run up the score. Or maybe, just have the mindset that the game is 0-0. We saw very clearly how a game can change on a dime.
We’d chew more clock simply by staying aggressive.
We’d chew more clock simply by staying aggressive.
It is a mindset play to win and don't play passive, just because you have the lead late don't let up and take your foot off the gas. I don't think we ever saw this type of passive play with the lead in the "Greatest Show on Turf Days".
McVay said in his presser the punt was a low short kick and wasn't where they wanted it. So seems like as great a punt as Evans had at the end of the first Seahawks game, he simply shit the bed on this kick.
The Rams are no good at it offensively. I feel like I’ve posted this in half a dozen threads during the course of the season.
Scrap the current sit on the lead playbook. Rewrite it to include some plays that got you the lead. Run these possessions like you’re going for a FG at the very least.
Scrap the current sit on the lead playbook. Rewrite it to include some plays that got you the lead. Run these possessions like you’re going for a FG at the very least.
I like Rams
Hall of Fame
We deff went into prevent D after the Kobie interception. My guess is McVay felt the momentum shift much like all of us did after the punt return for a td and wanted to stop any explosive plays. Problem is we broke instead of bend. Getting to Darnold is what gave us success against their offense. You give Darnold time and he's good enough to finish the job.
Special teams had 2 bobbles on returns, a bad punt that then got returned for a td, a missed fg and a holding call on a great return that Xavier gave us.
Both deserve equal blame, imo, but one is easily fixable while unfortunately the other should have been fixed earlier in the season.
Special teams had 2 bobbles on returns, a bad punt that then got returned for a td, a missed fg and a holding call on a great return that Xavier gave us.
Both deserve equal blame, imo, but one is easily fixable while unfortunately the other should have been fixed earlier in the season.
True. This kinda leads to my suspicion about Mcvay that I've had for years. He badly needs a home run hitting running back. But just to hit home runs, but to turn 3 yards into 8.
DeaconJones
Rookie
I think we play soft on D with the lead. That's just my eye test, don't know if stats or play-by-play analysis supports that. Soft = safe except when it isn't.
On O, I would like to see a little more aggression. McVay seems very conservative inside his 30 or whatever. Understandable, but when your running game is not kicking ass, stay with what is working. I'm thinking 4th quarter with those 3-and-outs. Especially when almost the entire Seattle secondary decided to quit early (injuries).
My personal philosophy is stay aggressive until your lead is greater than the greatest blown-lead in league history. Currently that's 32 points.
On O, I would like to see a little more aggression. McVay seems very conservative inside his 30 or whatever. Understandable, but when your running game is not kicking ass, stay with what is working. I'm thinking 4th quarter with those 3-and-outs. Especially when almost the entire Seattle secondary decided to quit early (injuries).
My personal philosophy is stay aggressive until your lead is greater than the greatest blown-lead in league history. Currently that's 32 points.
If special teams were below average, we would have clinched. They're historically bad.
our defense is good stopping the run and playing it cat and mouse
But when the other team just decides to sit back and wing it we are warm butter
Inconsistent pass rush and jag defensive backs
In defense of the rams...lots of teams in nfl struggle at holding leads...for similar reasons
But when the other team just decides to sit back and wing it we are warm butter
Inconsistent pass rush and jag defensive backs
In defense of the rams...lots of teams in nfl struggle at holding leads...for similar reasons