Holding big leads

[Mojo Ram]

It is an NFL issue. It is what the NFL wants. Close games late. All the rules, and the way the refs influence the games are designed to make the last 4 minutes exciting, Always. We have actually bucked the trend in a lot of games this year. We have had a lot of comfortable victories.

It is. It’s also a tv network thing to hold the casual viewers and a referee issue who have more power than ever to call or not call grey area penalties that can massage games in order to “keep it close.”

I happen to believe they’re all linked.

 

[Tano]

Play type after going up 30-14:

Run/run/pass (Puka had to break up an interception)
Pass/pass/pass
Run/pass/pass

Then we had a 7 play FG drive, 7 play drive to get to midfield, then the TD in OT

Since we moved the ball on the final three drives, and were mostly passing there too, we'll just focus on the three 3 and outs, all of which happened right after the Kobie Turner INT when we were up 30-14.

We called 6 pass plays and 3 run plays.

So this is not the game IMO to critique McVay for getting too conservative. If he called all pass plays, we'd be saying why didn't he run the ball more.

We just didn't execute for a few series and Seattle did - that is normal.

What is not normal is kicking a low line drive 40 yard punt to a dangerous returner.

It was the first drive that annoyed me.

Two runs up the middle that only gained a couple yards.

 

[Ellard80]

Its not just a Rams issue -

Pretty good video about this:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8By4b6cTVFU&t=35s

 

[XXXIVwin]

Interesting thread, and hard to pin down the problem.

One would think the problem was "McVay tries to milk the clock and run too often with the lead." But as others have noted, in the 3 drives after the Turner interception (all 3-and-outs), the Rams had only 3 runs and SIX pass attempts.

I also kinda forgot the lightning speed by which the score went from 30-14 to 30-30.

Seattle had a PR for a TD, then a 2-play drive for a TD that lasted only 39 seconds. So, during the time they had possession, the Hawks overcame a 16-point deficit while using less than ONE MINUTE on the play clock. Pretty amazing.

That was a freakishly bizarre game.

 

[Tumak61]

Interesting thread, and hard to pin down the problem.

One would think the problem was "McVay tries to milk the clock and run too often with the lead." But as others have noted, in the 3 drives after the Turner interception (all 3-and-outs), the Rams had only 3 runs and SIX pass attempts.

I also kinda forgot the lightning speed by which the score went from 30-14 to 30-30.

Seattle had a PR for a TD, then a 2-play drive for a TD that lasted only 39 seconds. So, during the time they had possession, the Hawks overcame a 16-point deficit while using less than ONE MINUTE on the play clock. Pretty amazing.

That was a freakishly bizarre game.

It happened so quick because we offered no resistance. Special teams didn't tackle the returner, and the Defense didn't tackle as well allowing quick TD's. That's a problem. McVay has mentioned playing "complete games" multiple times. It's playoff time now. Time to keep the foot on the gas. We'll see what that looks like Monday Night. We need to win. Big.

 

[Ramstien]

It is better to have these games toward the end of the regular season because it shows you wear you need to tighten up before the playoff run. You guys know my old saying; "you just got punched in the mouth now what are you going to do".

 

[OldSchool]

McVay said in this week's coaches show all three phases in multiple games needed to play a full 4 quarters. That didn't happen by the team this past week and in other games as well.

 

[TexasRam]

It’s worth noting that having a QB with legs is a plus when trying to run clock, get a few 1st downs and simply possess the ball late game with a lead.

After two straight unimaginative worthless runs and facing 3rd and 7, if Stafford drops back and it’s covered up, you’re staring at 4th and long PUNT every time. A QB with legs gives you a shot to convert and keep running more clock.

Not an excuse, just a reality.

When you have a running QB you don’t often get big leads vs top defenses in the first place.

 

[den-the-coach]

McVay said in this week's coaches show all three phases in multiple games needed to play a full 4 quarters. That didn't happen by the team this past week and in other games as well.

IMO, it seems they do go zone more often with big leads on defense plus rushing only 3 guys. I would never rush only 3, I feel that is a recipe for disaster. Hoping they change that philosophy as I don't mind dropping a guy in coverage, however, I would rush another player from the outside. Pressure can burst pipes and I would never stop doing that with a big lead.

 

[Mojo Ram]

When you have a running QB you don’t often get big leads vs top defenses in the first place.

I’ve always advocated that your backup QB should be an athletic scrambler, and someone who you can build sub packages for.

 

[OldSchool]

IMO, it seems they do go zone more often with big leads on defense plus rushing only 3 guys. I would never rush only 3, I feel that is a recipe for disaster. Hoping they change that philosophy as I don't mind dropping a guy in coverage, however, I would rush another player from the outside. Pressure can burst pipes and I would never stop doing that with a big lead.

They also have more 3 and outs on offense with a big lead. McVay needs to learn how to call an offense to preserve a lead.

I'm not so sure about that zone coverage I seem to see it all game

 

[IowaRam]

remember when McVay was like 42-0 when leading at the half

 

[El Chapo Jr]

remember when McVay was like 42-0 when leading at the half

I honestly hope that if we get anymore leads that the Rams keep their foot on the pedal BUT if they end up punting, PUNT IT OUT OF FUCKIN BOUNDS! Don't care that we changed ST coordinators, our ST coverage is just ass this year so I don't trust them.

 

[den-the-coach]

I'm not so sure about that zone coverage I seem to see it all game

You might be right about that, however, seems to be much softer with the bigger leads or maybe just seems that way, but the 3 man rush, has to stop. Still remember George Allen saying that over and over again when the Rams upset the Cowboys in that playoff game back in 1979. In fact, he added on the Cowboys last drive "You know the Rams won't be rushing just 3 guys." And they didn't.

 

[OldSchool]

You might be right about that, however, seems to be much softer with the bigger leads or maybe just seems that way, but the 3 man rush, has to stop. Still remember George Allen saying that over and over again when the Rams upset the Cowboys in that playoff game back in 1979. In fact, he added on the Cowboys last drive "You know the Rams won't be rushing just 3 guys." And they didn't.

This lead issue is something McVay and his DC have had for quite a few years now.

 

[DzRams]

Interesting thread, and hard to pin down the problem.

One would think the problem was "McVay tries to milk the clock and run too often with the lead." But as others have noted, in the 3 drives after the Turner interception (all 3-and-outs), the Rams had only 3 runs and SIX pass attempts.

I also kinda forgot the lightning speed by which the score went from 30-14 to 30-30.

Seattle had a PR for a TD, then a 2-play drive for a TD that lasted only 39 seconds. So, during the time they had possession, the Hawks overcame a 16-point deficit while using less than ONE MINUTE on the play clock. Pretty amazing.

That was a freakishly bizarre game.

I don't think the problem is that McVay tries to milk the clock by running. That's too narrow a description.

A better description is that he changes the play calling and gets more conservative. You can see the huge difference when we absolutely need to score or don't have a lead: they're aggressive. It's not even only about run to pass ratio. It might not be primarily about that.

It's about what type of run and what type of pass.