My take after the first three games, which I will add were all wins.

[Ramstien]

The coaches don't seem to have the offense ready to play at the start of these games, they start slow and look sloppy. They may want to go back to the days when the first 15 plays were scripted. The defense has played very good and the new additions have really added something. If not for the defense they would at best be 1&2, at this point. Special teams have been okay but Natson needs to be replaced.

 

[bubbaramfan]

A lot of comments about not using Gurley as much as last couple years. Its not just about his knee, its due more to the new OL. McVay knows through prep during the week to upcoming games the OL is not up to the task of setting up screens or runs up the middle. They can't hold blocks that long. Also the way teams are setting up their defense like the Patriots did.

Rams offense is only as good as the OL, and right now the OL is mediocre and a work in progress. I paid a lot of attention to the play of Demby. He sucks, plays without passion and looks lost most of the time. Anyone else notice how he was always looking for someone to tell him who to block? was the last guy on the line to get set? His false start on the 1/2 yd line late in the game could have cost the Rams the game.

If Demby is the best reserve OL off the bench the Rams offense and Gurley will be limited in what plays they can execute. Especially screen passes to RB's out of the backfield.

 

[ProGen]

You've hit on the most prominent observation that many of us have had since the tail end of last season - The offense is just not right. Either we have been "figured out", or there have been regressions across the board.

We may be 3-0, but whichever way you slice it, we are off to a slow start.

It's hard to nail down exactly why the offensive is having such issues, but from my sofa, it looks like all major aspects are malfunctioning: Coaching, QB play, and the O-Line.

McVay is making some odd play calling decisions; the end of game calls were not ideal.

We have now not scored a TD in the first half, in 2 of our games. This offense is not right. We are out of rhythm, and opposing teams have a much better read on us.

The O-Line has definitely regressed from last year. Both run, and pass blocking. Do we need to consider a trade for a lineman?

The run game is stagnant. Has Gurley has lost something physically, or mentally; or perhaps both? Our offense ticks due to the run game. If we can't get Gurley going soon, we are gonna struggle. Time to get other runners involved?

Goff is still making errant throws, and is prone to hanging on to the ball too long at times.
He has to start games better. His stats over the last 10 or so games are telling.

However, I am constantly reminded of the many years when we could only dream of being 3-0 WHILST playing subpar football. This is an opportunity to start cooking on gas if we can get back on track. If we are winning when we are not playing well, the sky is the limit if we can see improvements across the offense.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Three new O-linemen. Look no further.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

3-0! But something ain’t right. First off, I agree our O-line needs help.
But something bigger is afoot. We just don’t look sharp. Is it because we lost our very good assistant coaches last year? Goff is errant more than I remember from last year. Gurley looks flat out depressed at times. I think we will rebound, though. Hey a win is a win.

LA is full of distractions. Pretty ladies, glitz and glam. Wildfires and mudslides. Crazy traffic and mass shootings. Pro ball is about dedication, self-discipline and focus. I’m all fine with making money while they can, but with all the crazy distractions plus the tv ads I see our guys in, it’s a wonder where their focus truly lies.

 

[UKram]

Some of the offensive problems can be attributed to our new interior lineup for sure BUT

I’m laying some at the door of mr TG3 as well .. whatever Is wrong with him needs to be addressed .. he simply isn’t who he has been since we drafted him .. he is playing like this is the fisher offense .. I see no fire or grit from the guy .. I don’t know wether it’s physical or mental or what but the dude isn’t the same player .. he doesn’t seem to care

I mean he wasn’t ever exactly all bubbles and rainbows in interviews before but now he looks like a 5 year old that just had his favourite toy taken away (and honestly I don’t care if he marshawned his pressers )

What I do care about is his attitude on the field between the numbers and when like last night he lines up outside and gets called into the backfield and he moseys over head down like he just heard his being traded to the dolphins that’s what annoys me

Please McVay and coaches please work out what’s happening with IMO the best back in the game and do it soon

 

[FrantikRam]

Let me start by saying I root for Goff every week and want to be wrong - I promise I do. There were clear cut examples of bad play calling last night for the Browns - the inexplicable draw on 4th down, not running the ball when they had goal to go at the end of the game and Chubb had been their best player all game.

McVay had none of that last night, and let's be honest - he usually doesn't have much of that. Sure, we threw the ball a lot - but their ENTIRE secondary was out - we should have been throwing a lot.

Having said all that, this is what I think is going on:

Last year the adjustments to slow this offense down were to basically force us into third downs by taking away our deep passing game and giving up 3-5 yards on the ground (or in the case of the Bears, playing our deep passing game while giving up 0 yards on the ground). How do you combat this? Perfect a short passing game. It's pretty clear to me that this was the major adjustment, because you see Kupp catching a TON of passes within 5-7 yards of the line of scrimmage, which is a big difference than how we utilized him last year. I also think this was the obvious solution to our OL getting weaker - short passes should equal quick passes.

But Goff is struggling with this, and teams are essentially getting us into 3rd downs and then challenging Goff to beat them. That, IMO, is why the offense seems to struggle so much in the first half - because Goff hasn't been able to. On top of that, in three games I believe we've really only taken one or two deep shots. At the same time, we're also getting new personnel groupings in the game, and it's clear that Todd is no longer Todd. So what you're dealing with is:

(slight) shift in offensive philosophy + new personnel groupings in game action + Gurley being a shell of himself

It's kind of amazing that we're 3-0 to be honest, especially when you factor that two of our five long trips are out of the way already. Our opponents are now 4-2 when not playing the Rams - so we've played some decent teams.

I believe Goff will settle in and pick this up; Allen and Boom will continue to get better; and Malcolm Brown needs to get as many carries as Todd, if not more. This offense probably won't average 30 points per game this year, but I'm okay with that - because offenses that average that many points almost never win Super Bowls.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Browns whole backfield was out, 5 backups in the backfield and Rams squeak it out on the last play of the game?

Rams should have hung 30+ on them.

 

[99Balloons]

I noticed that Goff had the play-clock down to 1 second most of the time. The plays have to be in quickly and the OL has to set up quick and have the opposing defense confused.

Mc Vay can help out Goff with calling in the plays in advance and let Goff change the play call if need be.

That 1st down to Reynolds was called back because of Mc Vay's untimely time out is maddening.

The play design needs to have a 2 seconds quick strike to it. When the the Browns had Mayfield with that 2 seconds quick strike, they were moving the chains.

 

[LesBaker]

Browns whole backfield was out, 5 backups in the backfield and Rams squeak it out on the last play of the game?

Rams should have hung 30+ on them.

The Browns might be better than you think though.

 

[Da-Rock]

I also thought that with the ENTIRE secondary out for the Browns that the Rams would drop a quick 21pts on them in the 1st half, but as others have pointed out, the Rams are discombobulated as of right now.

Having said that, the Browns were UP for this game. This was their "BIG" game, one to gauge their abilities. They were at home on Sunday Night football, the underdog and critical injuries everywhere!

Passion and drive can make a team play great and that is what their secondary did.

 

[Merlin]

Rams offense is only as good as the OL, and right now the OL is mediocre and a work in progress. I paid a lot of attention to the play of Demby. He sucks, plays without passion and looks lost most of the time. Anyone else notice how he was always looking for someone to tell him who to block? was the last guy on the line to get set? His false start on the 1/2 yd line late in the game could have cost the Rams the game.

I remain as angry about Demby's play as anyone. But I don't think passion is part of the problem. He's just a marginal talent and it's affecting not only him but also a lot of different aspects of the offense. Thankfully we have Blythe coming back soon. And if not, then I genuinely hope Kromer (who gives these guys more rope to fail than we do which I admit is a good thing) has come to the realization that he's got a bad investment on his hands.

What really baffles me is the apparent lack of trust in Edwards. Maybe they don't want to mix him in at OG, which some here have suggested. Or maybe they just don't like his handle or lack thereof with the playbook. Not sure what it is, since he seemed to be our best depth OL consistently through preseason. But I suppose that should come clear here at some point.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I think one of the sacks of Goff was basically a free rusher with Allen turning to his left and demby turning to his right and no one picking up the rusher. I'm gonna say that's probably on Demby.

 

[Da-Rock]

I remain as angry about Demby's play as anyone. But I don't think passion is part of the problem. He's just a marginal talent and it's affecting not only him but also a lot of different aspects of the offense. Thankfully we have Blythe coming back soon. And if not, then I genuinely hope Kromer (who gives these guys more rope to fail than we do which I admit is a good thing) has come to the realization that he's got a bad investment on his hands.

What really baffles me is the apparent lack of trust in Edwards. Maybe they don't want to mix him in at OG, which some here have suggested. Or maybe they just don't like his handle or lack thereof with the playbook. Not sure what it is, since he seemed to be our best depth OL consistently through preseason. But I suppose that should come clear here at some point.

I did read that it seemed Kromer wanted to save Edwards for any possible Tackle injury. Either way we do not have OLine depth like last year and we have an Oline that is not performing like last years. If we fear it now, what happens next year when we lose #77 to retirement?

 

[Merlin]

I did read that it seemed Kromer wanted to save Edwards for any possible Tackle injury. Either way we do not have OLine depth like last year and we have an Oline that is not performing like last years. If we fear it now, what happens next year when we lose #77 to retirement?

Maybe. It's very strange to me. Maybe they simply feel like focusing him in at OT is where his future is, but we have been operating under the assumption that Boom is our LT when Whit retires. And I suppose they could be planning on moving Hav inside next year and inserting Edwards at RT, but if that were the plan I don't see the issue in putting him in there at RG for now and letting him settle things down.

Between Boom & Edwards I feel like Boom's the guy for LT. But who knows. Sure would be nice to have the media ask about this stuff vice the millionth-and-one question about Gurley.

 

[Da-Rock]

I agree there

 

[Loyal]

The Browns might be better than you think though.

And...two games out of three were eastern Time Zone and last night's game was a Sunday Night game. Our other game as at home vs one of the best teams in the NFL. Winning on the raod before a hostile crowd is no easy thing, and most of you aren't mentioning that. Also, Demby needs firing and I'm not too happy with Kromer right now. It's a pretty sad thing that our great hope for the oline is for Neery to rescue us from Demby misery, How in the HAIL did we get into this fix?

 

[WestCoastRam]

Is Neary eligible to come back?

 

[thirteen28]

I will say this ... if our offense gets it together and our D continues playing the way it has, this team is going to be extremely difficult to beat.

 

[Jacobarch]

A couple of observations from last night...

Goff,
Everyone is throwing the book at Jared last night. Really he played a fine game. He was constantly dodging unblocked linemen avoiding the rush and completing passes. He made one really bad read at the end of the game. The other INT was on him but lets face it that DB made a great play and catch. Sometimes the opposing teams make plays as well. I think Goff will have a bounce back game this week at home but he definitely needs to show a little more maturity as a QB. I think he too is used to scoring an easy 30 every game and now that teams are taking away the deep passes on early downs they are making him be patient with the underneath throws. This is something him and McVay need to work on, and something they should have been working on in the offseason.

Gurely,
Ok, I might be in the minority on this but I think his knee is not the issue. I think it's a combination of things. First off, play calling! FFS can we throw him the ball in space like we used to? If teams are playing the ball deep now then it should in theory open up things underneath. I'm not seeing the same play designs that I saw a couple of seasons ago, it seems McVay has gotten completely away from that. Maybe that's due to how defenses are playing gurely now, but I'm not so sure that's that case. Also running the ball. Last night for example, we came out in the second half and ran very effectively between the tackles. Sean got completely away from that and started getting pass happy again. Shades of Martz. (We'll get back to McVay later)
I think Gurely's main problem is in his head. He looks disengaged, doesn't care and his head is not in the game. Maybe he's distracted by something? Maybe he's upset by his reduced roll? Everyone noticed this late last year, and it's carried over to this year. This is something the FO and Coaching staff has to fix because it will come back to bite them in the ass later on in the season.

Oline,
There were some serious growing pains last night with our young three in the middle. Lets start with Allen, he made multiple wrong reads when the Browns crowded the line. He let a couple of guys fly in untouched because he guessed wrong. On one of the plays he completely whiffed on a guy right in front of him. I scratched my head on that one. Good thing is he's young and you can see a ton of upside with him. He blocks well and doesn't get penalized. He'll be fine. Noteboom really has been pretty solid in his first three games. Is he perfect? No, but he does offer reliability and he doesn't miss his assignments often. One thing he does need to work on is his screen game.
Demby, well we all know he would be a work in progress, but lets be honest, he played OK last night. His false starts were killers but that is mental and hopefully something he can move past. Next week is a home game so that should help with those presnap penalties. He did miss a couple of assignments but that's to be expected for a guy who was only brought back because of an injury and suspension.
Good news is both of our tackles had a bounce back game last night against a very good Dline.

McVay,
As I stated on a couple of threads I think McVay is going thru some growing pains as an HC. He came into the league on fire, no one had any answers for his offense, and teams were blown out on the regular. But as you know things don't last forever in the NFL, eventually teams will figure you out and thats when you'll have to adjust. It's obvious it's a pride thing because he is making the same mistakes over and over. Not running the ball, putting Goff and our Defense in bad positions at the end of games, His play calling has been suspect and I think it's due to him losing all of his assistants over the last couple of years. I know that's a hard thing to prove but look at it this way, we haven't scored a touchdown in the first Quarter and I think only scored one TD total in the first half thru three games. That's a problem, agree or disagree we have to admit that needs to be fixed if we're going to have any chance of succeeding in the playoffs or even getting there.
Last night wasn't Seans finest performance, he challenged plays he shouldn't have, and didn't challenge plays he should have. I was literally yelling at the screen when he didn't challenge the PI on Hill in the endzone. If he challenges that play the Browns have to kick a fieldgoal and helps the Rams seal that game.

There are some glaring issues on Offense that needs to be addressed, McVay always states in his Pressers that he needs to take some of the blame when it comes to playcalling. Well McVay, show us.