Rams’ defense braces for playmaking Panthers backfield

[CGI_Ram]

Rams’ defense braces for playmaking Panthers backfield

Rams’ defense braces for playmaking Panthers backfield

A quarterback who can make plays with his legs is nothing new in today’s NFL. Neither is a running back capable of catching passes out of the backfield or while lined up out wide.

What is rare, however, is an NFL team that has both.

The Carolina Panthers are one of those teams, which means starting QB Cam Newton and RB Christian McCaffrey will have complete attention of the Rams' front seven on Sunday.

“Just playmakers,” Los Angeles DT Aaron Donald said of the duo.

Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Panthers in 2011, Newton has tallied 58 rushing touchdowns – most by a quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. His total touchdowns (240) and total yards (33,277) rank third by an NFL quarterback through his first eight seasons.

As a rookie, Newton’s 4,051 passing yards set a then-NFL record previously held by Peyton Manning. He also became the first rookie in NFL history to eclipse 400 passing yards in his first career start.

“Cam (Newton) has been the MVP of the league,” Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “He says he feels like a rookie now, which is kind of scary because he had some great years – even his rookie year was a heck of a year.”

McCaffrey, meanwhile, set the set Panthers single-season records for most receptions (107) and scrimmage yards (1,965) by any player last season. He also set single-season records for most receiving yards (867), receiving touchdowns (6), and receiving first downs (41) by a running back.

This was all accomplished in just his second NFL season.

“(McCaffrey) did a lot of things outside of the backfield,” Donald said. “They’re always trying to find ways to get him the ball.”

Phillips has faced Newton once before, as the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos when they defeated the Panthers 24-10 to capture Super Bowl 50 in 2015.

The 2019 Panthers are a different team and this is a different time, so it’s tough to take anything away from that contest four years ago, according to Phillips. However, it’s fair to say their backfield looks different, and Phillips is well aware of the tests both Newton and McCaffrey will present.

“It will be a big challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” Phillips said.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Can the Rams defense contain the Carolina Panthers?

Can the Rams defense contain the Carolina Panthers?

There’s so much to discuss about the opener at Carolina and the season ahead, we’re going to break this into two parts.

Later this week, some perspective on Sean McVay and what’s ahead for the offense.
But first, let’s dive into defense and special teams.

Can this Defense Dominate?

The Rams 2018 defense was clutch; it was opportunistic; quite frankly, it was championship-worthy. After all, the defense delivered an NFC title and its best performance of the year came in the Super Bowl.

Relative to expectations, however, it’s also fair to say the defense underachieved.
The 2018 Rams were average statistically. And that was despite an historic season from the two-time reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

What if they delivered on their promise now? What if – in conjunction with one of the top scoring offenses in football – the Rams defense imposed its collective will on the opposition?

Aaron Donald believes they can.

“Hundred percent,” he told me recently. “I feel like we’re in a position to be even better.”

Face of the Franchise Tag

For that to be the case, you get the sense Dante Fowler and Marcus Peters have to have extension-worthy seasons. Both are former first-round talents, entering their fifth seasons, playing positions that command massive contracts, and the Rams traded draft capital to acquire their services.

It would be a wonderful financial dilemma for L.A. to contend with in 2020, if Fowler and Peters are each coming off career years as they approach the open market. There’s reason to think that could happen.

Peters improved dramatically as 2018 wore on, as he did not allow a score after that first trip to New Orleans in Week 9, and per PFF, didn’t even surrender a deep completion in the second half of last season.

Once Fowler settled into Los Angeles, he made some of the biggest plays of the Super Bowl run, including a thunderous tackle of Ezekiel Elliott and the overtime hit on Drew Brees.

Wanted: Veteran Help

Sunday will be our first look at a revamped Rams defense, featuring two players with a dozen Pro Bowl honors between them. Yet the teams that knew them best, didn’t want them anymore.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Sean McVay saw Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews in person last season (Weddle for two joint sessions with the Ravens; Matthews in Week 8 with the Packers). He and L.A. didwant these veterans, believing strongly that there’s something left in their tanks – and a wealth of knowledge between their ears – that can benefit the 2019 Rams.

Last Hurrah?

The Rams can only hope that Weddle and Matthews have the impact that Andrew Whitworth and Aqib Talib have had.

I know this is supposed to be a defensive piece, but allow me to lump Whitworth in with Weddle, Matthews, and Talib here, only for the purposes of this brief observation.

Isn’t it remarkable how what was, until very recently, the youngest roster in the NFL suddenly got a bit long in the tooth?

Four starters 33 years or older. That’s like… Sean McVay old.

Wishing them all a healthy and fulfilling season, one that cements their legacy, particularly if it proves to be their last.

(Meantime, there are 10 rookies on the roster, including three undrafted college free agents.)

Safety in Numbers

There are few things I’m more intrigued by than the Week One snap counts at safety.
The Rams opted to keep five of them on the initial 53-man roster, and four should feature prominently in the defensive game plan against Carolina: Weddle, John Johnson, Marqui Christian, and Taylor Rapp.

“We’ve got guys that can play in the box; guys that can play in the deep part of the field; guys that can cover man-to-man,” safeties coach Ejiro Evero told me during training camp. “It really just gives you a lot of flexibility as a defense in terms of disguising and giving different looks to the offense that can keep them off balance.”

Imagine what Donald might do with that moment of hesitation while an opposing quarterback sorts through the confusion.

“That’s exactly right,” Evero continued. “And that’s all we’re trying to do: just buy him a split more second.”

When middle linebacker Micah Kiser was injured in the preseason, the importance of the Rams depth, intelligence, and versatility at safety was amplified. Sure, they’ll still need a thumping linebacker on run downs and in short-yardage situations. But I suspect more often than not, Wade Phillips and his defensive staff will opt to leverage their safeties against Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey, and the Panthers.

Something Special

We have to be intentional not to take the Rams special teams for granted; I know I’m guilty of it at times.

And this may feel like an odd moment to express any kind of concern about the kicking game, given that Greg Zuerlein hit the longest game-winner in playoff history earlier this calendar year.

But he also missed from 48 in the Super Bowl, and I’m sensitive to the fact that since his All-Pro 2017, he’s missed seven of the team’s last 18 regular season games due to injury.
Additionally, after going 18-of-19 on kicks beyond 40 yards in 2017, Zuerlein was just 8-of-12 from that distance in 2018.

There’s comfort in knowing that Zuerlein and the Rams were so confident about his health they allowed him to fly to Hawaii and back, not to mention attempt field goals of 56 and 58 yards (both missed) this preseason.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: Nothing against Sam Ficken and Cairo Santos, but it would be a welcome relief to have Greg the Leg dialed in for 16-plus games this season. As if to drive that point home, the Panthers put their kicker, Graham Gano on injured reserve last week.

The Forgotten Man

I’ve been keeping score this off-season while reading, watching, and listening to coverage of the team.

I think Michael Brockers has been completely forgotten.

Not by his teammates. Not by his coaches. And certainly not by his front office, which chose not to repurpose his eight-figure salary cap hit. But externally, Brockers has been the least-mentioned starter on defense – and perhaps the entire team – for the past seven months.

One sack and four tackles-for-loss made for an underwhelming 2018, as Brockers often was tasked with holding the front side of a leaky Rams rush defense. His PFF grade declined significantly from 2016 and 2017 levels.

That being said, I wanted to finish with some ink for the first pick of the Les Snead era, who has quietly done the dirty work for seven years in Horns, averaging more than 15 appearances per season along the way.

Here’s one prediction for Brockers to have a 2019 worth talking about.

 

[BonifayRam]

I would just assign rookie Taylor Rapp on RB Christian McCaffrey & Rams will win.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I guess somehow it escaped me that Zuerlein's accuracy has dipped...wasn't aware of that at all.

 

[nighttrain]

Can the Rams defense contain the Carolina Panthers?

That being said, I wanted to finish with some ink for the first pick of the Les Snead era, who has quietly done the dirty work for seven years in Horns, averaging more than 15 appearances per season along the way.

Here’s one prediction for Brockers to have a 2019 worth talking about.

Michael Seth Brockers is an American football defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He played college football at LSU. He was considered to be one of the best defensive tackle prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft, where he was drafted by the Rams in the first round. Wikipedia

Born: December 21, 1990 (age 28 years), Houston, TX

Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 305 lbs
40 yard dash time: 5.36 seconds
not eve close to being finished in NFL

 

[oldnotdead]

Rapp is not a man to man defender. He is your classic zone safety, best used when he can play off and read the play. As good as Rapp is he doesn't have the speed or agility to match up with McCaffrey. In fact they don't have a CB with that kind of speed and rare agility on the team.

The key to beating Carolina is forcing Cam to play in the pocket. Even now he will struggle with accuracy in the pocket under pressure. He still struggles to read defenses especially if his obvious early reads are taken away. Get quick pressure something both Fowler and AD can do. Cam will then get frustrated and begin to force throws. When you see that you have beaten him.

The most telling stat on Brockers is his 40 time. It's why he's struggled playing outside, he simply doesn't have the speed to do it. Brockers is a situational 3T and that's all. He's not a good run defender and teams will run right at him. He's not finished perhaps but he's not worth what they are paying him either.

The handwriting was on the wall when he was often standing on the sidelines on passing downs last year

 

[BonifayRam]

Rapp is not a man to man defender. He is your classic zone safety, best used when he can play off and read the play. As good as Rapp is he doesn't have the speed or agility to match up with McCaffrey. In fact they don't have a CB with that kind of speed and rare agility on the team.

The key to beating Carolina is forcing Cam to play in the pocket. Even now he will struggle with accuracy in the pocket under pressure. He still struggles to read defenses especially if his obvious early reads are taken away. Get quick pressure something both Fowler and AD can do. Cam will then get frustrated and begin to force throws. When you see that you have beaten him.

The most telling stat on Brockers is his 40 time. It's why he's struggled playing outside, he simply doesn't have the speed to do it. Brockers is a situational 3T and that's all. He's not a good run defender and teams will run right at him. He's not finished perhaps but he's not worth what they are paying him either.

The handwriting was on the wall when he was often standing on the sidelines on passing downs last year

If Rapp in on Christian McCaffrey, he may catch the ball, but he will NOT go far, but instead he will go down fast.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Rapp is not a man to man defender. He is your classic zone safety, best used when he can play off and read the play. As good as Rapp is he doesn't have the speed or agility to match up with McCaffrey. In fact they don't have a CB with that kind of speed and rare agility on the team.

The key to beating Carolina is forcing Cam to play in the pocket. Even now he will struggle with accuracy in the pocket under pressure. He still struggles to read defenses especially if his obvious early reads are taken away. Get quick pressure something both Fowler and AD can do. Cam will then get frustrated and begin to force throws. When you see that you have beaten him.

The most telling stat on Brockers is his 40 time. It's why he's struggled playing outside, he simply doesn't have the speed to do it. Brockers is a situational 3T and that's all. He's not a good run defender and teams will run right at him. He's not finished perhaps but he's not worth what they are paying him either.

The handwriting was on the wall when he was often standing on the sidelines on passing downs last year

i don't think he's saying to play him man to man like a cb, just shadow him and if the ball goes his way go in for the kill.

.