Rams are the only NFL team heading into Week 4 that has yet to allow a 20+ (air) yard completion

[A.J. Hicks]

Bruce Arians is all about the vertical passing game. I'd imagine there will be one completed on us this week.

20 yards is an insane mark. Makes me wonder how many the struggling Jared Goff has completed of 20 plus yards? (He certainly has missed on throws but he's made some beauties as well)

This statistic validates me personally in my excitement for Eric Weddle joining the squad. I love watching the guy play. Anyone else noticing him running in from his secondary position to adjust defensive lineman?

 

[Steve808]

If we still had Joyner instead of Weddle, we would be leading the league in 20+ yard catches.

 

[Merlin]

This statistic validates me personally in my excitement for Eric Weddle joining the squad. I love watching the guy play. Anyone else noticing him running in from his secondary position to adjust defensive lineman?

Definitely. His impact on the comms is profound, and something I didn't anticipate when we signed him. I've always liked his game, but didn't realize the full extent of his addition back there. In that first game the difference when he went out was noticeable so here's hoping he stays healthy because if he does this defense is going to make some noise this season.

 

[Merlin]

Bruce Arians is all about the vertical passing game. I'd imagine there will be one completed on us this week.

I'm really looking forward to an offense that is willing to roll the dice on some downfield throws. Our pass rushers should feast.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Should we bench AD too?

 

[Rams43]

Rather than naming Weddle because the author felt he had to name Someone, perhaps he should have inserted “None”, instead?

 

[BonifayRam]

1 Player Every NFL Team Must Bench Immediately
By Maurice Moton

Los Angeles Rams: S Eric Weddle
View attachment 30906
: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2854966-1-player-every-nfl-team-must-bench-immediately#slide18

Eric Weddle isn't a liability in the Los Angeles Rams secondary, but he isn't the same ball hawk who logged 10 interceptions with the Baltimore Ravens across the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The 34-year-old adds a veteran presence to a battle-tested group and comes up with stops in the open field.

But Weddle's understudy, rookie second-rounder Taylor Rapp, can become so much more with a bigger role.

The Washington product filled in for Weddle (concussion) in the season opener and recorded seven tackles, three of which were solo. From there, he's continued to showcase his talent and capture the coaching staff's attention.

"In the blink of an eye, Rapp went from a package player to essentially a starter, and while the Rams knew they would need to rely on him, they suddenly needed to lean into Rapp much heavier than originally planned," Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic wrote.

Rapp has played 62.69 percent of defensive snaps through three contests, but he's fourth on the team in total tackles (16) with two pass deflections. The Rams don't need to tie Weddle to the sideline for a majority of games, but no one could blame them for decreasing his snaps in favor of a young talent on the rise.

Back-to-back: Weddle earns second consecutive NFL Way to Play award

Back-to-back: Weddle earns second consecutive NFL Way to Play award

Rams safety Eric Weddle recognized by league for proper playing technique

www.therams.com

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – In recognition of showcasing proper playing technique to make impactful plays, Rams safety Eric Weddle received the NFL's Way to Play award for the second straight week. He is the first back-to-back winner in the award's history.

"It's awesome to be the first back-to-back (recipient), to be recognized," Weddle said. "(To make) big plays that help my team, that's what I like. I was able to make some plays for the guys to either get off the field or make a turnover."

Weddle takes home the Week 3 honor after posting six total tackles in Los Angeles' 20-13 win at Cleveland on Sunday Night Football, including a game-changing stop late in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 17-13 with 9:19 remaining, the Browns went for it on 4th and 9 from the Rams 40-yard line and tried a draw play with RB Nick Chubb to get the conversion. Chubb made it two yards after the handoff before getting wrapped up by Weddle, a stop which resulted in a turnover on downs and three points for the Rams to extend their lead to seven.

Selected by a distinguished panel of Legends, the NFL Way to Play award recognizes current players at both the pro and high school level who exhibit excellent playing technique each week of NFL regular season.

Nominees for the award are chosen by NFL Football Operations and Officiating departments. Video of those plays are then sent to an expert panel consisting of Merril Hoge, Ronnie Lott, Willie McGinest, Orlando Pace and Michael Robinson.

"Congrats to Eric Weddle for winning the NFL Way to Play two weeks in a row!” Pace said. “Well deserved my man! Let’s go Rams Nation."

The initiative rewards each recipient with a $2,500 equipment grant through USA Football to be awarded to the local youth or high school football program of the player's choice. Weddle announced via Twitter on Thursday that one of the grants will go to Poway High School, while the other will go to Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner – two programs that he shares a personal connection with.

"Poway High School is where my kids are going to go to high school," Weddle said. "Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner, that's where my son is playing Pop Warner and my daughter is cheerleading for them.

"I help them out, give back to the city that's home for me. It will be good."

 

[OldSchool]

And then there's our former FS.


View: https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1177611262856966144?s=20

 

[CGI_Ram]

And then there's our former FS.


View: https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1177611262856966144?s=20

Joyner was a good player, but I expected a little more London Fletcher than we got.

Wish him well, because if I recall he’s a good guy.

 

[FarNorth]

Back-to-back: Weddle earns second consecutive NFL Way to Play award

Back-to-back: Weddle earns second consecutive NFL Way to Play award

Rams safety Eric Weddle recognized by league for proper playing technique

www.therams.com

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – In recognition of showcasing proper playing technique to make impactful plays, Rams safety Eric Weddle received the NFL's Way to Play award for the second straight week. He is the first back-to-back winner in the award's history.

"It's awesome to be the first back-to-back (recipient), to be recognized," Weddle said. "(To make) big plays that help my team, that's what I like. I was able to make some plays for the guys to either get off the field or make a turnover."

Weddle takes home the Week 3 honor after posting six total tackles in Los Angeles' 20-13 win at Cleveland on Sunday Night Football, including a game-changing stop late in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 17-13 with 9:19 remaining, the Browns went for it on 4th and 9 from the Rams 40-yard line and tried a draw play with RB Nick Chubb to get the conversion. Chubb made it two yards after the handoff before getting wrapped up by Weddle, a stop which resulted in a turnover on downs and three points for the Rams to extend their lead to seven.

Selected by a distinguished panel of Legends, the NFL Way to Play award recognizes current players at both the pro and high school level who exhibit excellent playing technique each week of NFL regular season.

Nominees for the award are chosen by NFL Football Operations and Officiating departments. Video of those plays are then sent to an expert panel consisting of Merril Hoge, Ronnie Lott, Willie McGinest, Orlando Pace and Michael Robinson.

"Congrats to Eric Weddle for winning the NFL Way to Play two weeks in a row!” Pace said. “Well deserved my man! Let’s go Rams Nation."

The initiative rewards each recipient with a $2,500 equipment grant through USA Football to be awarded to the local youth or high school football program of the player's choice. Weddle announced via Twitter on Thursday that one of the grants will go to Poway High School, while the other will go to Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner – two programs that he shares a personal connection with.

"Poway High School is where my kids are going to go to high school," Weddle said. "Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner, that's where my son is playing Pop Warner and my daughter is cheerleading for them.

"I help them out, give back to the city that's home for me. It will be good."

Exactly what we've all seen, now recognized by some totally qualified observers. The opposite of the loony tunes article above.

To me Weddle's ability to call and adjust the sets is the biggest single factor in the D's improvement. Our biggest weakness last year was disorganization in coverages. Now we have cohesion and excellent positioning. It really is like having a great veteran qb for the D.

Of course we're much better in tackling and coverage too, not least by adding Weddle and Rapp and dumping Joyner. Now the coverage fully complements AD and the improved edge rush and vice versa.

It will be interesting see what happens if anyone is foolish enough to try to really attack down field instead of just defaulting to quick passes. (Looking at you Mr. Arrians... ) Seems like a recipe for sacks and interceptions to me.

This may not be a classic power defense but it sure seems like one built to succeed against playoff caliber passing offenses in the current NFL.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Joyner was a good player, but I expected a little more London Fletcher than we got.

Wish him well, because if I recall he’s a good guy.

Yeah, feel bad for him but looks like we definitely improved our roster.

 

[Akrasian]

Yeah, feel bad for him but looks like we definitely improved our roster.

And saved a bunch of cap space to boot.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Yeah, feel bad for him but looks like we definitely improved our roster.

Why do you feel bad for him? The rams paid him $11m last year and he played like he was in a daze the whole season, then almost single handedly ended the rams run in the conference championship when he allowed ginn to catch a ball that was begging to be intercepted or easily batted away.

Then the raiders decided to pay him $10m per season after that. He's lucky he was getting more than $1m per season. He's the luckiest person on the planet. I wish I could get paid that much to suck at what I do.

.

 

[fearsomefour]

1 Player Every NFL Team Must Bench Immediately
By Maurice Moton

Los Angeles Rams: S Eric Weddle
View attachment 30906
: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2854966-1-player-every-nfl-team-must-bench-immediately#slide18

Eric Weddle isn't a liability in the Los Angeles Rams secondary, but he isn't the same ball hawk who logged 10 interceptions with the Baltimore Ravens across the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The 34-year-old adds a veteran presence to a battle-tested group and comes up with stops in the open field.

But Weddle's understudy, rookie second-rounder Taylor Rapp, can become so much more with a bigger role.

The Washington product filled in for Weddle (concussion) in the season opener and recorded seven tackles, three of which were solo. From there, he's continued to showcase his talent and capture the coaching staff's attention.

"In the blink of an eye, Rapp went from a package player to essentially a starter, and while the Rams knew they would need to rely on him, they suddenly needed to lean into Rapp much heavier than originally planned," Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic wrote.

Rapp has played 62.69 percent of defensive snaps through three contests, but he's fourth on the team in total tackles (16) with two pass deflections. The Rams don't need to tie Weddle to the sideline for a majority of games, but no one could blame them for decreasing his snaps in favor of a young talent on the rise.

Fake news.

 

[Dagonet]

You had to jinx us.

 

[PhillyRam]

They made up for it today

 

[Ellard80]

Yeah that didn't age well.