How did the Rams suddenly become underdogs?

[I like Rams]

Goff got back on track when we went no huddle. One thing ive noticed since the bye is our lack of urgency when we finally get going. No huddle seems to work in Goffs favor when he starts getting hot.

 

[leoram]

This talk of placing the blame on Goff pisses me off. The same thing happened to Warner and yet nobody has learned the lesson.

Offenses must adapt and change to thrive. In ‘99, the GSOT was shut down by the Bucs in the NFC Championship game. Had Lovie not blitzed uncharacteristically, Proehl never saves the season. Over the years, Martz’s system was handled by the predictability of how to create turnovers by jumping pre-conceived hot routes. Martz simply refused to audible. He stacked yards and losses right next to each other. Warner was the fall guy and the term Bulgerized was all Martz and a diminishing OLine.

After the KC game, every relevant DC could see the way to attack McVay’s scheme. It begins by keeping a base defense to stop the run, not getting caught up in misdirection, and defend the explosives deeper because play action is inevitable. Goff reads high to low and if the OLine doesn’t hold up perfectly, turnovers will come.

But McVay and Kromer have begun the adjustments and Goff is being retrained on the fly. Yes, the base plays remain and McVay still calls many things that worked in the first half of the season. They can’t completely revamp the entire offense. Goff is being asked to read defenses differently at times and that alone changes his focus and confidence.

This isn’t to say Goff doesn’t miss throws. We’ve all seen him miss what looks like what was automatic earlier this year. But these misses are magnified now because of the overall reduction in production.

Yes, it’s fair to say Goff has struggled and not as productive. I get the fretting and hand-wringing. His game is developing and defenses are getting smarter as to how to defend this offense. These things were always inevitable. Anyone watch Brees and Brady these last few weeks? Pimpin ain’t easy.

But to suggest Warner was ever washed up as though he forgot how to be an MVP is a joke I never found funny. And to think that Goff is an average QB who only had a good run is asinine at best. His ability to stay the course when things were falling apart is exactly the reason his arc will continue to improve over time and he should have a long, successful career. Just remember, my friends, he doesn’t play on an island. All 11 have to perform and the defense has something to say about it too.

 

[Big Game]

I love the fact we are the underdog now, gives our team even more to fight for. Seems they really embrace that role.

I do find it funny we lose 3 games this year, which we could have easily won all three if not for mistakes and now nobody wants to pick us to even win a playoff game or beat the Saints. How quickly they forget we shut that offense down in the second half of that game and tied it up down 21.

Right now its win 3 games to get the trophy and i like our chances.

 

[Big Game]

The only thing that really bothers about the Bears and Eagles games is/are: the Oline.
Ya, Goff was off,and other stuff happened, but if the line can't play at a B+ level, then we will not beat teh Bears or Eagles in the playoffs....I suspect they can, and so we can beat both teams I believe.

If GOff plays like he did weeks 3-11, then we WILL BEAT the Saints. At this point, I don't see that happening.

Do you really want to put all that on Goff or the fact that play calling made us throw it like 40 times and not run. When teams where playing cover 2 and dropping the LB's back making Goff have to throw in tight windows with 8 or 9 in coverage. i get it he did not look good in those games but playing calling and the lack of the run game played a huge part in that.

right now with the addition of CJ Anderson i hope McVay realizes that when we run and have the jet sweep we can run anything we want.

 

[LesBaker]

I think Goff just went through a bad stretch.

Yes and it was made worse by bad OL play.

That has me worried more than the defense going into the playoffs. We already know the Rams can outscore a team on a day when the defense is bad but the OL is having a good or excellent day. We've seen it a few times this season. If the OL isn't playing well the offense struggles and the Rams usually lose. We've seen that a few times this season too.

 

[Rambitious1]

The media doesn't believe in Goff and the D doesn't play D like everyone thinks it should. They will have to be shown in the playoffs the error to their ways.

Goff didn't play well those three games, no doubt, and I would have liked to see him handle that kind of pressure with less.... how to put it, stupid, wild ass results, but I think he didn't just go bad. The line went bad as a result of a change in play calling due to Gurley's and Browns injury and the reluctance to show some new wrinkles before the playoffs. Maybe even McVay was testing his team. Risky. Looks like it has been fixed and we will see some more new wrinkles going forward.
The issue with the D is still up in the air although we see some signs it might be rounding into shape. We saw some blitzing and there were Barron sightings. Woo Hoo. Also Talib being back has made a difference. There is also the timely play that the D seems to come up with when it has to.

So, while I am worried about the D, I still think we can beat any team we play. This will just make the odds better.

This.

 

[snackdaddy]

The so called "experts" on TV like to push certain narratives. The Rams were the trendy team early on. They struggled a few games now its someone else. Those people have nothing to lose by picking whoever is trendy at the moment. If you want to know what the real "experts" think look at the odds. Those people have plenty to gain or lose. I have a feeling we will be favored against whoever we play in round 2.

 

[SteveBrown]

Do you really want to put all that on Goff or the fact that play calling made us throw it like 40 times
t.

I put it all on the O line, with Goff in 2nd place---meaning yes, the pay calling destroyed any chance he had.

 

[Farr Be It]

Yes and it was made worse by bad OL play.

That has me worried more than the defense going into the playoffs. We already know the Rams can outscore a team on a day when the defense is bad but the OL is having a good or excellent day. We've seen it a few times this season. If the OL isn't playing well the offense struggles and the Rams usually lose. We've seen that a few times this season too.

I bet we see a bit of mass-protect formations, and blocking schemes that involve 2 tight ends, or 2 backs.

Also, Noteboom and Allen getting some practical game experience was huge, in case either one of them may need to step in. Both for confidence and for the coaches to know they can rely on the pups.

 

[MTRamsFan]

As the saying goes, "The proof will be in the pudding." After the KC game, we were the talk of the town. Then the losses to both the Bears and the Eagles, showed how our offense was exposed against good defenses. We have a chance to change the minds of all the pundits by beating teams with quality defenses in the playoffs. I honestly think we will get another crack at the Bears in a couple weeks. If so, I'm sure the team will be playing with a chip on their shoulder, looking to prove the media, etc. wrong.

I also think McVay will have a few wrinkles up his sleeves teams won't be ready for. I also see great potential with the two-headed running attack of Gurley and Anderson. We might very well turn into a run-first offense during our playoff run. I honestly think the defense will turn it up a notch too. Wade is a pretty crafty guy and he will get his guys to respond. And finally, let's hope our special teams are indeed "special."

We have the guys to make a championship run, they just need to work together as a team. Let's do this! #WeNotMe

 

[Malibu]

despite 4 tds and 0 picks against the niners goff still missed wide open receivers too often and finished with 56 % completion rate . Not good for playoffs imo . Gotta be around 68 %-70 % completion . He had a clean pocket all day against the niners and put 56 % . The pocket is not gonna be THAT clean against the bears or eagles or any playoff team .... I am really concerned .

All good points. Teams are blitzing way more. The first 11 games game plan against us was to keep enough defensive backs in coverage to take away lanes, but what the better teams learned by blitzing and roughing up Goff will equal some bad plays that might lead to turn overs or bad throws which pulls down his comp. %.

To combat this we need more max protections on deep vertical routes that take 2.5 - 3. Or quick throws on slants, outs etc. Or screens to Gurley or the WRs. The #1 way to reduce the effective blitzes is to get 4-5 yards on runs. Play action is our strongest offensive play and it ONLY works if we can run the ball.

Key to beating any team we face is give Goff solid pockets to throw from, and run the ball so the play action will work. Don't forget up tempo instead of waiting to the last seconds to snap the ball. Gadget motions all day we seem to have gotten away from that let's get back to being the team that dictates the game.

 

[thirteen28]

Yes, rest of NFL, especially you playoff teams ... never mind the Rams, they don't stand a chance. They'll be an easy out for you when you play them, so just look ahead to the next week ...

 

[NoCoNite]

Probably bc the way Goff is playing. There are times he just looks completely lost and doesn’t trust his arm recently.

 

[Classic Rams]

Yeah I get it, the word has been out that there's a blueprint to slow the Rams' attack with rushing 4 and covering deep, allowing short passes only and yadda yadda yadda. It's what have you done lately in this league. I agree with others I'd rather not be hyped about as being unstoppable, I like flying under the radar better. They can hype us all they want as we're hoisting the trophy.

 

[Rmfnlt]

The only thing that really bothers about the Bears and Eagles games is/are: the Oline.
Ya, Goff was off,and other stuff happened, but if the line can't play at a B+ level, then we will not beat the Bears or Eagles in the playoffs....I suspect they can, and so we can beat both teams I believe.

If Goff plays like he did weeks 3-11, then we WILL BEAT the Saints. At this point, I don't see that happening.

I agree 100%.

The teams that pose the biggest threat are the ones that can bring consistent pressure on Goff. CHI did it and won. PHI did it and won.

It's always so simple... rattle the QB and you have a shot at wining. It's how NE lost in the SBs they lost. Brady was rattled.

I guess we'll see how it all plays out... but, pretty much any of the teams left will be able to apply consistent pressure on Goff. It's up to McVay to figure out how to turn that pressure from a liability to an asset.

 

[RamWoodie]

I call it what it is...and we need to do it too.

The Rams were stringing victories until they went against the Saints...a game that was 35-35 late in the 4th and Goff seemed to not handle the pressure well. Against the Bears...that was a terrible game for Goff against a tough defense and again he doesn't handle the pressure. McVay didn't fare as well as Goff either...BUT...I'm sure both learned something.

The above is just a flat fact folks! Tie in the Ram defense weakness against the run, and it's easy to understand why folks aren't picking the Rams.

However...this would be the 2nd time around should the Rams face either team again...so there's a chance to rewrite the story...and I think they will!

 

[SteveBrown]

However...this would be the 2nd time around should the Rams face either team again...so there's a chance to rewrite the story...and I think they will!

McVay is smart enough to rewrite the story against the Bears and Eagles....but, can he win the games, too. Can't wait.

 

[bwdenverram]

I think if we didn't play so poorly against the bears and a bit against the Eagles would of been a different story.
But as much as I love our team until we win a playoff game we have to prove otherwise.
The time is coming!

 

[RamWoodie]

McVay is smart enough to rewrite the story against the Bears and Eagles....but, can he win the games, too. Can't wait.

No doubt about that Steve...BUT...my question is this:

What is Wade Phillips gonna do f ok r the defense to be much better against the run?

Now that the season is over...tons if video exist on all teams for the year.
I hope the Rams can come up with a better defensive scheme.

They can't afford to take a half every game to figure it out!!!

 

[RamsSince1969]

I like being the underdog, it reminds me of 1999.

Goff is reminding us of 1999 too. Very impressive stats overall and he's only 24 years old. Regarding Goff's 12 fumbles, Warner had 9 fumbles in the 1999 season and 3 more in the playoffs. We can smile being the underdogs. Three games to go! Let's do this!