It was very obvious that the offensive game plan in the passing game was the pick on Lake all game and for the most part and easy target for them. So my question is this do we need to find a better nickel corner?
Q. Lake coverage skills
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Lake is a safety. He'll get beat by good WRs in one on one matchups. They're using him in the slot for run defense. McDuffie is easily our best slot CB. The question is if we have an outside CB we can have step in on obvious passing downs if McDuffie slides inside.
hopefully we can find one via trade because i don’t think watson is that guy and i know forbes isn’t lol
Never been a fan of playing Lake in the slot, though he does well with certain matchups. Shanny did a great job anticipating the Rams gameplan, isolating what they wanted, and eating us up like he always does. But I think the typical Rams philosophy of BBD factors in to that result overall. We always seem to want SF to throw it underneath, and then they end up in third and short and we can't get them off the field.
Bigger annoyance was the run defense for me. But either way I was disgusted all around by the Rams performance. Even the special teams sucked ass per usual.
Bigger annoyance was the run defense for me. But either way I was disgusted all around by the Rams performance. Even the special teams sucked ass per usual.
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What adjustments would you do? Slide #22 to cover the slot, use Lake on #23 and who is the other boundary CB, is it Wallace?
Watson is definitely an outside CB. But if we slide McDuffie inside, we still need another outside CB. We could give Forbes another shot, but I agree he likely isn't the solution.
Which DB in the NFL can cover Mike Evans in the slot? He pushes off making it close to impossible to cover him on short pass.
I thought he did just fine.
In the game thread I didn't know what you guys were watching...I think there was one comment regarding him on one play that he wasn't even involved in.
In the game thread I didn't know what you guys were watching...I think there was one comment regarding him on one play that he wasn't even involved in.
Lake allowed 7 completions out of 10 targets for 54 yards, with a whopping ADOT of 3.7 yards. How is he supposed to prevent these completions playing in zone?
That's who Evans is. Dude is always open, even when a DB's all over him. It's why he's gonna be in the hall.
BonifayRam
Legend
I brought this out before gameday on Lake. When i made a point to be watching Lake in this game.
His late season 2025 coverage when he returned was awful. Lake played a part in the secondary mess.
I was surprised that he got such a large 3 year, $38 million including close to $26 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $12.7 million contract.
Only one game but my concern with Lake is now in high gear. The Rams other 2 third year safeties Kinchens & McCollough should have played much better. Our newly added veteran CB Jaylen Watson who took all 65 defensive snaps is another big cost 3 year, $51 million / $34 million guaranteed contract did not look like he earned his $$$.
His late season 2025 coverage when he returned was awful. Lake played a part in the secondary mess.
I was surprised that he got such a large 3 year, $38 million including close to $26 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $12.7 million contract.
Only one game but my concern with Lake is now in high gear. The Rams other 2 third year safeties Kinchens & McCollough should have played much better. Our newly added veteran CB Jaylen Watson who took all 65 defensive snaps is another big cost 3 year, $51 million / $34 million guaranteed contract did not look like he earned his $$$.
I blame the scheme, when the other team is throwing quick short passes and your DBs are 20 yards off the line, there will be problems.
If they get a big play once in a while, it's better than them having 15 play drives that burn half a quarter and score anyway. Maybe, you can get a stop or turnover.
Lake is one of the most overated players on the team.
However, I will say its not all his fault - he is playing a position that requires CB quickness and he is a safety.
However, I will say its not all his fault - he is playing a position that requires CB quickness and he is a safety.
The way the whiners dinked and dunked for a good portion of the game I'm not sure how we can put the blame on Lake. Looks like PFF feels the same.....
Defense:
Defense:
- CB Trent McDuffie: 83.4
- DB Quentin Lake: 78.8
- OLB Josaiah Stewart: 75.9
- DT Kobie Turner: 75.3
- S Kam Curl: 70.8
- DE Myles Garrett: 69.4
- CB Jaylen Watson: 64.9
- LB Nate Landman: 50.2
- DT Ty Hamilton: 48.4
- NT Poona Ford: 43.1
- S Kamren Kinchens: 41.0
- DL Tyler Davis: 35.9
RamsOfCastamere
I drink things, and know nothing
I liked Lake, but Shanahan made surge ended up with Evans and not Watson. Lake had a pick and had a few pbus, including a nice diving one on CMC
BonifayRam
Legend
CB Forbes never saw a snap, CB Josh Wallace got in on 7 snaps & has zero stats on paper thus we know that 3rd yr Wallace appears to be Shula's 3rd CB. CB's McDuffie & Watson got 100% of the defensive snaps each with 4 tackles no other stats.
Pure Safeties Kinchens got 52 of the 65 snaps involved in 7 tacks, McCollough got 39 snaps involved in 5 tacks, Curl injured in 3rd quarter got 30 snaps involved in 3 tacks. Star DB position Lake got 100% 65 snaps involved in 10 tacks 1 int.
The above lineup pretty much goes as we here in ROD thought. Curl going down cause more snaps with our 4th safety but McCollough is an experienced 3rd yr pro for us. 4th CB Forbes not seeing action was a little surprising. I have seen enough of Forbes myself so I agree jrry32 that a legit outside corner needs to be developed at a greater pace.
One reason why you all saw me rambling & babbling constantly on before cuts about going heavy @ CB in the MR53 & PS-16. due to my concerns of Lake being able to be that coverage STAR that Shula is in love with.
I am intrigued with CB 6-1/ 190lbs UDFA rookie Nyzier Fourqurean, hoping we see him active over Forbes by mid season as our 4th corner.
This very short post speaks VOLUMES on what I see!
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SteezyEndo
The Immaculate Exception
Not Lakes fault for not playing his true position. Like someone said above its the scheme.
I'd use Lake as an ILB. Pair him with Speights on early downs. When they want to go one backer just leave Lake on the field. He's strong in the box as a run defender, and would cover and drop better than any ILB out there. Not the best run filler, but none of our ILBs are either.
Landman returned to depth level play the moment they paid him. If they'd rather pair him with Lake so be it. But Lake would be the guy who never leaves the field, right there in the middle for this season. Then sort that shit after the season where you decide how to optimize roles and who to bring in.
Landman returned to depth level play the moment they paid him. If they'd rather pair him with Lake so be it. But Lake would be the guy who never leaves the field, right there in the middle for this season. Then sort that shit after the season where you decide how to optimize roles and who to bring in.
BonifayRam
Legend
Snead/ McVay/ Shula made the decision to utilize a starting safety as the STAR on this roster in the secondary like last season in playing primarily zone defense.
It's a very big mystery why DC Shula came out in 2026 running his 2025 mostly failed zone defenses after the Ram Org. went heavy & paying BIG $$$ for cover man corners.
Shula's defensive roster is in far better condition @ safety than corners...
Kam Curl
Quentin Lake
Kamren Kinchens
Jaylen McCollough
Tanner Ingle
Nick Anderson
IMO DB Josh Wallace skills is far more deep/free safety type than outside corner.