I'm big on reading between the lines

[Laxbird]

The offense is rooted in the offensive line. I don't care what you have for skill position players whether its a great QB, RB or WR it won't matter if your line can't do anything. Injuries and lack of depth due to lack of priority by Snead/McVay have led us to where we are today.
Perhaps we can get a wild card if we patch the line with a couple free agent vets before the deadline but our cap limits us and next year is even worse.
Hopefully McVay/Sneed make the oline a priority for once next season and draft a few lineman.

 

[KJD_Ram]

Higbee is a problem as well. He is (has) playing hurt.The Grind has been too much. The Rams won the Super Bowl without him.

I think Higs got hurt early an an absolute cheap shot by that fucking dirtbag Ward...Higs was wrapped up and that asshole comes flying in and hits him right in the knees...Frisco can now go back to the mediocre team they are since they don't play us again in the regular season

 

[dieterbrock]

Cant run the ball or pass protect with an oline that is depleted and yet we cant even run a legit 2 TE set while the team on the other side is crushing us to the tune of 2,3 and even 4 TE sets
Maybe a dose of Occam's Razor would help?

 

[Allen2McVay]

Personally, I am a big Margins-guy. I like to read the Margins. You can tell a lot from the Margins. Margins!

Seriously, I see a lot of comments (numerous threads) about coaching and schemes, and the need for a RB.
So, I went back and copied a post I wrote last Wednesday. Just my opinion.

" ... I don’t see how much can be expected from the Offense with the quantity of O-Line injuries. The top-5 interior OL have all suffered injuries that are either season-ending or have/will cost more than five games. The icing on the cake is a torn Achilles for the LT.

That’s 6 of the projected top-8 offensive linemen. And the Rams’ O-Line was a big question mark at the start of camp. And it’s not even the mid-point of the season. That’s just too much to overcome.

... on one of the better NFL network shows, three “Experts” explained that much of Tampa and Tom Brady’s problems were directly tied to injuries on the O-Line, where the poor fucking Bucs were playing without their projected starting Center and starting LG. Poor fucking Tom Brady has to play with his #2 Center and #3 Guard.

The Rams have not had their #1 Center, their #2 Center, their #1, #2, #3, #4 Guards … and now their LT.
... THAT’S a lot of injuries ... that has a huge impact on both the running game and pass protection."

 

[OldSchool]

Cant run the ball or pass protect with an oline that is depleted and yet we cant even run a legit 2 TE set while the team on the other side is crushing us to the tune of 2,3 and even 4 TE sets
Maybe a dose of Occam's Razor would help?

Blanton was inactive too and wasn't on the injury report all week.

 

[Kupped]

Blanton was inactive too and wasn't on the injury report all week.

Blanton can't block to save his life.
That's one reason they finally used Hoecht in that role.. something I called for weeks ago.

 

[Merlin]

Yeah TE is part of the problem.

This team needs an offseason infusion of players who can block. Rams went cheap on the OL and it bit them. Boom I get it but right away that team friendly deal was felt in the dropoff and of course we don't know if he can do the job because availability. Bruss was unfortunate but your plan has to account for the rook needing time. A backup center at RG is not a plan that is oh shit we are into our depth now.

They can't draft the TE position for shit. That room is so ugly.

Bad roster will catch up with any coach. Even McVay.

So we have to get through this now with some grace. Which means go get a fucking RB. Balance the offense for this shit line. And then compete without squandering our 2nd round and 2024 1st round picks.

 

[OldSchool]

Blanton can't block to save his life.
That's one reason they finally used Hoecht in that role.. something I called for weeks ago.

Then he shouldn't even be on the roster. Let one of the two guys on the PS give it a shot. Our head coach who got his start as a TE coach has to be better at judging the positions talent than this. Point stand we have OL issues and we aren’t using the TE enough as help, Hoecht had two snaps. Preseason hero Carter still sitting on the PS even though his strength is supposedly blocking. We did good in the first have in pass protection and we’re better at run blocking than prior weeks though still not great.

 

[GoodBadUgly]

I think Higs got hurt early an an absolute cheap shot by that fucking dirtbag Ward...Higs was wrapped up and that asshole comes flying in and hits him right in the knees...Frisco can now go back to the mediocre team they are since they don't play us again in the regular season

Thank God someone else noticed that. I called it when it happened and couldn't see straight for a few minutes I was so livid.

Adding insult to injury, AFTER we gave them the game, AFTER ARob gets called for a BS taunt when the other guy started it, AFTER a clean hit is called helmet-to-helmet when their WR moved into the helmet path, we get Kupp on the ground when he shouldn't even have been on the field, and a 9er with a cast comes over and throws not one, but TWO punches on Kupp while he's on the ground.

I was in disbelief and furious when guys started taking knees. In retrospect, the injury (hopefully not serious) was most likely caused by the tackle and not the sucker punches, but WTF? WTF? WTF?!!!

God I hate freaking 9ers.

 

[Tano]

Point stand we have OL issues and we aren’t using the TE enough as help, Hoecht had two snaps.

I am wondering if we are going to see more and more of Hoecht as the blocking TE

 

[Kupped]

Then he shouldn't even be on the roster. Let one of the two guys on the PS give it a shot. Our head coach who got his start as a TE coach has to be better at judging the positions talent than this. Point stand we have OL issues and we aren’t using the TE enough as help, Hoecht had two snaps. Preseason hero Carter still sitting on the PS even though his strength is supposedly blocking. We did good in the first have in pass protection and we’re better at run blocking than prior weeks though still not great.

Blanton is depth who can make an impact in passing game. There’s no learning curve there.
I’m more interested in a jumbo look with Hoecht than a 250 fullback.. that’s just my preference.

 

[AZRams]

Who's Cupp?

S. E. Cupp - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Riverumbbq]

Blanton can't block to save his life.
That's one reason they finally used Hoecht in that role.. something I called for weeks ago.

One offensive snap does not make Hoecht a TE, and yes, that's all he had according Pro-Football Reference.

 

[Kupped]

One offensive snap does not make Hoecht a TE, and yes, that's all he had according Pro-Football Reference.

Didn't say he is.
Said I prefer him in a jumbo set to a 250 fullback. Obviously, the staff is seeing what I saw when I suggested exactly this move.. weeks ago.
We'll see if they can turn it into something.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Didn't say he is.
Said I prefer him in a jumbo set to a 250 fullback. Obviously, the staff is seeing what I saw when I suggested exactly this move.. weeks ago.
We'll see if they can turn it into something.

Well, we'll disagree on this one. Nsekhe had 2 snaps in Jumbo mode as opposed to 1 for Hoecht. I couldn't really tell who was more effective with those, but for some reason our offense didn't stick with it.
Hoecht should be fighting for his life to stick on the 53 with Bobby Brown returning, and his season long total of 9 defensive snaps compared to Jonah Williams' 27 isn't really a promising show for either one of them while our aging Aaron Donald records 100% of the snaps during the 49'er game. Our Special Teams play has also been quite off this year, and while I can't attribute this failing to Hoecht necessarily, he is an integral member of that unit. Roger Carter was a known Special Teams beast coming out of college, so I'd absolutely move Hoecht back to the practice squad while bringing up Carter to play at FB/TE/ST for the remainder of this season, but that's just me. jmo.

 

[dieterbrock]

Roger Carter was a known Special Teams beast coming out of college, so I'd absolutely move Hoecht back to the practice squad while bringing up Carter to play at FB/TE/ST for the remainder of this season, but that's just me. jmo.

I'll never understand how the TE room is managed by the Rams

 

[Flatlyner]

If Blanton can't block a lick, why aren't we trying out Harris there. At minimum, he is a very real threat to receive the ball and make a big play.

 

[Riverumbbq]

If Blanton can't block a lick, why aren't we trying out Harris there. At minimum, he is a very real threat to receive the ball and make a big play.

I'd rather it be Roger Carter.

 

[fearsomefour]

I doubt we're looking to pay that price. My guess is Hunt. If somebody else swoops in on him. maybe David Montgomery or Antonio Gibson.

Hunts numbers aren't really better than Hendersons in recent years.
Van zero targets after coming back.
Hendo 4 carries.
I understand it takes time with no training camp. Van was on a snap count Im sure and Im sure he helped open some things up but he has to get involved this coming week.
I understand Henderson was sick but I don't see Rivers or Brown as real options at this point. Henderson needs to be the back getting reps, no committee backfield with the other guys.
The OL was better but still failed at times.
Evans has tunnel vision out there and never seems to pick up a stunt.
Allen was solid after being out for weeks.
Shelton can't get back quick enough.

 

[fearsomefour]

If Blanton can't block a lick, why aren't we trying out Harris there. At minimum, he is a very real threat to receive the ball and make a big play.

Id like to see Carter be brought up both to play as a blocking TE and to take some reps at FB as well.