Rams D soft on opening drives, then adjusts. Why?

[AvengerRam]

Just from casual observation and memory, it seemed to me that the Rams have been giving up a disproportionate amount of their points on the opposing team’s opening drives.

Turns out, I’m right.

The Rams, on average, give up 1.89 points per drive, and allow scores on 38.1% of drives.

On opponents’ opening drives, they give up 3.74 points per drive, allowing points on 63.6% of drives.

So, it would seem that the Rams’ defense has, on average, started slow and been more effective after the initial possession.

Anyone have a reason why this would be?

And, is this good or bad defensive coaching (game planning – bad/in-game adjustments – good?).

Thoughts?

 

[Ellard80]

My only thought is that after the first drive our coaches have a better sense of the other teams gameplan.

That and/or we are starting off with more basica, vanilla defenses while collecting data on how the other offense is going to operate.

 

[FaulkSF]

First 15 plays are usually scripted. They target our weaknesses and we adjust. I would hope we play close to the line of scrimmage with 1 high safety for most of the game. Dare DTR to air it out

 

[RhodyRams]

man
talk about feeding the OnD troll

 

[Psycho_X]

I'd wager that's a league wide probability. Maybe not as bad as ours but I'd bet opening drives have a higher percentage to be scoring drives compared to rest of the game for most teams.

 

[Jacobarch]

I'd wager that's a league wide probability. Maybe not as bad as ours but I'd bet opening drives have a higher percentage to be scoring drives compared to rest of the game for most teams.

Id be interested in seeing some stats on this.

 

[rdlkgliders]

So we can see what they are trying to do then address how to best contain the opposing offense as well as going against scripted plays that are likely more successful as a whole. Like Raheem or not he is extremely flexible and knows how to use the personnel he has. This means sometimes a player is sacrificed and put into a position they may not be best suited for but are most helpful to the team in. Yep before the naysayers molest Morris he makes mistakes but is a very good DC IMO

 

[badnews]

Just from casual observation and memory, it seemed to me that the Rams have been giving up a disproportionate amount of their points on the opposing team’s opening drives.

Turns out, I’m right.

The Rams, on average, give up 1.89 points per drive, and allow scores on 38.1% of drives.

On opponents’ opening drives, they give up 3.74 points per drive, allowing points on 63.6% of drives.

So, it would seem that the Rams’ defense has, on average, started slow and been more effective after the initial possession.

Anyone have a reason why this would be?

And, is this good or bad defensive coaching (game planning – bad/in-game adjustments – good?).

Thoughts?

I'm guessing it's mostly about the scripted plays by the opposing offense being designed to be successful vs our defensive tendencies...
and also at least a little to do with having so many young and relatively inexperienced players on D who are still thinking through their assignments while adjusting from the reps they've practiced during the week to the actual speed of real opponents on Sundays...

I realize that's kind of a "Captain Obvious" answer and you understand all of that and so you are probably asking for a better or at least different explanation... and there might be. But I think when considering how little actual nfl game experience this Defense really has overall, and how much less time current players are getting to practice live reps compared to 10 years ago... it makes sense that each game could come with a more steep adjustment curve early and that it would show up in the stats.

I bet if this same D comes back next season, we would see some small but consistent improvement on opening drive points allowed because of experience alone... but without knowing how we fare compared to league average, or how the league as a whole has trended on opening drives over the last several seasons, it's all just vague speculation on my part, as per usz..

 

[tomas]

First 15 plays are usually scripted. They target our weaknesses and we adjust. I would hope we play close to the line of scrimmage with 1 high safety for most of the game. Dare DTR to air it out

I think statue Joe Flaco will play DTR is in concussion protocol.

 

[den-the-coach]

I consulted with @OldSchool about this and both of us determined that DC Raheem Morris wants to piss off everyone who questions his ability as a coordinator. So he allows the team to score early and then when everyone gets their panties in an uproar, then shuts the opposing offense down.

Raheem is having fun with all the Brandon Staley Lovers out there. Raheem wants to remind everyone, could you imagine what he could be doing with this defense if he had Khalil Delshon Mack and Joey Bosa before Bosa went on IR?

 

[nighttrain]

Just from casual observation and memory, it seemed to me that the Rams have been giving up a disproportionate amount of their points on the opposing team’s opening drives.

Turns out, I’m right.

The Rams, on average, give up 1.89 points per drive, and allow scores on 38.1% of drives.

On opponents’ opening drives, they give up 3.74 points per drive, allowing points on 63.6% of drives.

So, it would seem that the Rams’ defense has, on average, started slow and been more effective after the initial possession.

Anyone have a reason why this would be?

And, is this good or bad defensive coaching (game planning – bad/in-game adjustments – good?).

Thoughts?

lots better than not adjusting!
train

 

[OldSchool]

How much do the Rams score on their opening drives compared to the rest?

How much does the NFL average on opening drives and how does it compare?

Give us more info if you want to make a case otherwise these numbers you list don't have much to back them up for us to call them good or bad. I do find it interesting though that this is a thread instead of end of the half end of the game numbers

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

I mean, I don't HATE Morris, but I would certainly dislike him a lot less if he didn't spot the opposing team 7 points on every opening drive. . . . After that he seems to be doing alright for the most part.

 

[Ellard80]

How much do the Rams score on their opening drives compared to the rest?

How much does the NFL average on opening drives and how does it compare?

Give us more info if you want to make a case otherwise these numbers you list don't have much to back them up for us to call them good or bad. I do find it interesting though that this is a thread instead of end of the half end of the game numbers

I think the Rams are the 3rd best team in the NFL at scoring on opening drives. I remember seeing that stat brought up in multiple broadcasts.

 

[OldSchool]

I mean, I don't HATE Morris, but I would certainly dislike him a lot less if he didn't spot the opposing team 7 points on every opening drive. . . . After that he seems to be doing alright for the most part.

So going back thru the schedule lets list the games.

Week 1 Seattle had a FG on the first drive
Week 2 SF had a TD on the first drive
Week 3 Cincy didn't score until the first drive of the 2nd quarter
Week 4 Indy didn't score until 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter
Week 5 Philly scored a TD on the first drive
Week 6 AZ had a 55 yard FG on the first drive
Week 7 Pitt had a FG on their 3rd drive after a long missed Rams fg
Week 8 Cowboys scored a TD on the first drive
Week 9 Packers first TD was the 4th drive of the game their 2nd after the Rams fumbled giving them a TD on a 41 yard drive
Week 10 Seattle scored on the 2nd drive of the game their first an 88 yard drive
Week 11 AZ scored on their first drive the 2nd of the game after we scored a TD

So 5 of 11 drives, we give up a TD less than half the time on the first drive. As for our offense? We've scored a TD on 4 of 11 games.

There we have some actual information on this tragedy of our defense in the first quarter to match our offense.

 

[SteezyEndo]

Just from casual observation and memory, it seemed to me that the Rams have been giving up a disproportionate amount of their points on the opposing team’s opening drives.

Turns out, I’m right.

The Rams, on average, give up 1.89 points per drive, and allow scores on 38.1% of drives.

On opponents’ opening drives, they give up 3.74 points per drive, allowing points on 63.6% of drives.

So, it would seem that the Rams’ defense has, on average, started slow and been more effective after the initial possession.

Anyone have a reason why this would be?

And, is this good or bad defensive coaching (game planning – bad/in-game adjustments – good?).

Thoughts?

Atleast adjustments are being made. I don’t think its bad if its working. Now adjusting when things were going good could be suspect to why would you fix it if it isn’t broken. Maybe the thought process is they want the time to assess how the opposing team comes out the gates then adjust accordingly to try and put a stop to it throughout the entirety of the game. Its a marathon not a sprint…

 

[oldnotdead]

Personally I hope Raheem impresses the hell out of all the other NFL GMs. So much so they hire him. Vegas would be a good fit for him as would the Chargers.

I like Pleasant but there are others I would rather have as DC. If I could have my choice of DCs it would be John Pagano.

Raheem is who he is. He's an ultra conservative coach who would rather wait for the offense to make a mistake than force that mistake. This team deserves a DC that will make this defense a top ten unit. A defense no team wants to play. This defense will never be that kind of defense with Morris as DC. I make no apologies for wanting that for my beloved Rams and frankly don't understand those that good enough is good enough for them.

 

[Ellard80]

So going back thru the schedule lets list the games.

Week 1 Seattle had a FG on the first drive
Week 2 SF had a TD on the first drive
Week 3 Cincy didn't score until the first drive of the 2nd quarter
Week 4 Indy didn't score until 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter
Week 5 Philly scored a TD on the first drive
Week 6 AZ had a 55 yard FG on the first drive
Week 7 Pitt had a FG on their 3rd drive after a long missed Rams fg
Week 8 Cowboys scored a TD on the first drive
Week 9 Packers first TD was the 4th drive of the game their 2nd after the Rams fumbled giving them a TD on a 41 yard drive
Week 10 Seattle scored on the 2nd drive of the game their first an 88 yard drive
Week 11 AZ scored on their first drive the 2nd of the game after we scored a TD

So 5 of 11 drives, we give up a TD less than half the time on the first drive. As for our offense? We've scored a TD on 4 of 11 games.

There we have some actual information on this tragedy of our defense in the first quarter to match our offense.

I think the defense has been better than we could have expected without a doubt.

and the offense not as good as expected.

However - if you watch the games I'm sure you have seen them bring up the stat that we our like top 3 teams in the nfl in scoring on 1st drives.

 

[OldSchool]

I think the defense has been better than we could have expected without a doubt.

and the offense not as good as expected.

However - if you watch the games I'm sure you have seen them bring up the stat that we our like top 3 teams in the nfl in scoring on 1st drives.

Four TD's in the first drive of only 11 games is top 3? That's very impressive.

 

[AvengerRam]

So going back thru the schedule lets list the games.

Week 1 Seattle had a FG on the first drive
Week 2 SF had a TD on the first drive
Week 3 Cincy didn't score until the first drive of the 2nd quarter
Week 4 Indy didn't score until 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter
Week 5 Philly scored a TD on the first drive
Week 6 AZ had a 55 yard FG on the first drive
Week 7 Pitt had a FG on their 3rd drive after a long missed Rams fg
Week 8 Cowboys scored a TD on the first drive
Week 9 Packers first TD was the 4th drive of the game their 2nd after the Rams fumbled giving them a TD on a 41 yard drive
Week 10 Seattle scored on the 2nd drive of the game their first an 88 yard drive
Week 11 AZ scored on their first drive the 2nd of the game after we scored a TD

So 5 of 11 drives, we give up a TD less than half the time on the first drive. As for our offense? We've scored a TD on 4 of 11 games.

There we have some actual information on this tragedy of our defense in the first quarter to match our offense.

Thanks for your dismissive comments. They do not change the fact that our average points allowed figure is nearly double on the first drive as compared to all drives, and the frequency of allowing a score is likewise significantly higher.

That is “actual information.”

It might not matter to you, and it’s not a “tragedy” in anyone’s eyes. Just something to discuss. You know…because this is a discussion board.

Thanks for stopping by.