Never ever? That's amazing.
My comment is actually referring to the fact that Stafford has been overthrowing his targets lately, especially early in the game.
Rams PFF grades vs. Raiders
- Thread starter methomas50
- Start date
-
To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.
My comment is actually referring to the fact that Stafford has been overthrowing his targets lately, especially early in the game.
If they start giving TuTu single coverage on deep routes too much, he will get the ball. I want to see him on shallow/mid crossers like the route he ran to beat Indy. If McVay can get most of the flow to one side and hit TuTu on a shallow crosser going the other way he can run past everyone.
At least try it
IMO, the PFF grades for the ILBs are misleading. When Nate Landman starts, he typically plays almost all of the defensive snaps. If you look at his snap counts, he's usually 90 to 99% of the snaps. Same percentage in the 2025 season.
Against the Raiders, we didn't use LBs on passing downs. Lake became the pseudo-LB. Speights played 59% of the snaps. Speights has been a "subpackage" guy in 2026. This was only the 2nd game this season that Speights has played at least 50% of the snaps.
IMO trying to make Speights the "full-time" LB isn't a great idea. He needs to be kept clean and used like a WILL instead of having to take on as many blockers and he should be used as a run defender so that he doesn't get exposed in coverage. The Raiders posed no threat to this vulnerability, because they are so poor at running the ball. It was a favorable matchup for the Rams. If we go small by using many DBs and take all the LBs off the field, we are now exposed if the opponent runs the ball. Speights does fine if we use him in a limited way that caters to his strengths, but I don't think that he's a versatile or complete LB who is suited for a true 3-down role.
In an ideal world, the Rams would upgrade both of the ILB starting positions but with such limited salary cap and draft capital available, we have to be realistic about the expected results. We are basically following the strategy the Colts did back when they had Peyton Manning. They spent so much money at the premium positions that they had to go cheap at LB.
Against the Raiders, we didn't use LBs on passing downs. Lake became the pseudo-LB. Speights played 59% of the snaps. Speights has been a "subpackage" guy in 2026. This was only the 2nd game this season that Speights has played at least 50% of the snaps.
IMO trying to make Speights the "full-time" LB isn't a great idea. He needs to be kept clean and used like a WILL instead of having to take on as many blockers and he should be used as a run defender so that he doesn't get exposed in coverage. The Raiders posed no threat to this vulnerability, because they are so poor at running the ball. It was a favorable matchup for the Rams. If we go small by using many DBs and take all the LBs off the field, we are now exposed if the opponent runs the ball. Speights does fine if we use him in a limited way that caters to his strengths, but I don't think that he's a versatile or complete LB who is suited for a true 3-down role.
In an ideal world, the Rams would upgrade both of the ILB starting positions but with such limited salary cap and draft capital available, we have to be realistic about the expected results. We are basically following the strategy the Colts did back when they had Peyton Manning. They spent so much money at the premium positions that they had to go cheap at LB.
When was the last time they had a pro bowl caliber ILB? They don't seem to prioritize that position. Or the special teams.
You have to figure in who they were playing against. the raiders can't run on anybody.
Last year they paid him ten million. Mostly to be a decoy. This year they traded to get him back. To be a decoy.
Agreed. I've posted in other threads that the Raiders aren't as good as their 3-0 start. I wasn't getting overly excited about the guys filling in. It's good they did well and got more experience. You always have to factor in the opponents. So far the Rams wins are against teams with injuries. Giants lose the starting QB, Eagles multiplayer loses and the lower level Raiders.
Below is a link supposedly how they grade a player like Tutu Atwell. He had only 5 run blocking plays and 20 routes. It would be interesting to see the effect of the routes have on the rest of the play.
Tutu is in a hard spot knowing he isn't going to get targets, but has to run routes anyway. These are deeper routes. I don't how much I trust the PFF guys viewing the all 22. Most likely that Stafford has already thrown the ball by the time Tutu is making a move or cut. Baseline is 60 so Mumpfield was consider average even though he caught a pass and had two target. Mumpfield was acknowledged for good his run blocking game.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Sunday vs. Raiders
| Metric | Konata Mumpfield | Tutu Atwell |
|---|---|---|
| PFF Grade | 61.7 | 50.0 |
| Offensive Snaps | 31 snaps | 25 snaps |
| Targets | 2 targets | 0 targets |
| Receptions | 1 catch | 0 catches |
| Yards | 15 yards | 0 yards |
Multi question AI link with more information.
His entire career has been the weirdest thing I've ever seen with the Rams.
I have wondered if that $10 million contract wasn't a reward for being jerked around so much.
But it's like they can't stop jerking him around and Stafford can't stop ignoring him. Just weird
BonifayRam
Legend
I can agree with part of the following statement "PFF grades for the ILBs are misleading". I have personally argued and continue to this very day to take issue with them. Is there anything else?? ??
However, once you have dealt with and have long experience with these PFF grades, you normally resist giving the wrong impression or causing me to believe something that isn’t true.
You're on target on your point about the amount of snaps NL has taken with this defense this season; it's a very high number. This season NL has had 2 lurking injuries since game 1. (Shoulder and thumb). The shoulder continues to appear on practice reports later in October. In addition, Wrist was listed a few weeks back. The Cards game was the first game that NL fell off the Rams injury list. However, that did not last very long cuz for the hit to the head; thus, he entered concussion protocol and was ruled out for Week 7. NL is again listed on the injury list as questionable.
My above post & suggestion that I believed the far healthier Omar Speights needs to see the field more than NL would surely make this defense trend in the right direction. It sounds like the proper decision at this time in an attempt to get Nate Landman fully healthy for the playoff drive later.
Just to clarify, I am not suggesting that ISLB'er NL needs to be replaced permanently in the lineup, nor cut nor benched..... simply inject the fresher ILB'er Omar Speights as the primary ISLB'er taking the most snaps with this defense for a period of time in a big effort to get NL to return back to full health & on-field performance close to his pre-November 24, 2025.
Landman is not highly paid. He signed for an average of $7 mil per season. They can easily move on if they want.
That’s true. But they outplayed (& should have won - if not for fluky circumstances) both the Broncos and Bills. While missing key players due to injuries in both.
So while the wins don’t look so great; the losses don’t look so bad.
So maybe give Speights or Quintin Lake the Green Dot and rotate Landman and Dolac?
If Dolac isn't ready for full time, maybe he can split time with Landman?
That might help Landman heal up a little bit through less use.
Just an idea.
If Dolac isn't ready for full time, maybe he can split time with Landman?
That might help Landman heal up a little bit through less use.
Just an idea.
Who would you choose to be on the field for all the D snaps. Curl, Lake or Landman? I think Landman has become a detriment on some down and distances. Our safeties on the other hand seem to fit better. I hate to pile on to the how well the D played against such a shitty team, but Curl with the green dot might have had something to do with it.
Remember the difference when Reader had the Dot. Then he got hurt. Weather the improvement is physical ability or mental or competition, this should be something to watch closely.
Remember the difference when Reader had the Dot. Then he got hurt. Weather the improvement is physical ability or mental or competition, this should be something to watch closely.
You don’t want landman on passing downs. 1) he can’t cover tight ends or running backs. 2) he can’t spy, an athletic quarterback in breaks from the pocket. 3) he simply gets lost in space. His forte is filling a hole that’s in front of him and peanut punching an RB who’s in a scrum.
pvtdragon39
Pro Bowler
LARAMSinFeb.
Legend
So he's basically Reeder with a peanut punch?
