Rams vs Panthers analysis

[Merlin]

Wanted to start a thread for posting stills and whatnot from game one, as I look through some of the coaching view courtesy of my kid's NFL account (muhahaha). Will start with a look at our young safety on third and long, which demonstrates how he can (and will IMO) improve as we go forward. This is a 3rd and 20 at the 35 yard line, 11:09 second quarter. Cam is missile locked on--wait for it--McCaffrey, who manages to get into space for the easy under completion due to the down/distance. Experience thing here and hope he learns from it as Kamara is just as deadly.

Rapp drops into midfield:

Rapp doesn't diagnose it quickly enough:

 

[Merlin]

Rams are up 10-0 here. 2nd and 10 at the 42 yard line, 1:56 remaining in the second quarter. Panthers are sitting on the routes, with defenders in position for quick stops if Goff completes the pass. His choices are Woods (risky) if he throws with anticipation as he passes center field, Kupp underneath, or Gurley on the checkdown. He could put it up down the left sideline to Everett, but at the decision point Everett was covered well. He chooses Kupp.

Looks like this play is designed for him to have a checkdown/easy eye read of sorts with Kupp in the event he doesn't like the look with Woods and/or gets quick pressure. Which he does off the right edge. So not faulting him for this choice but wonder what would have happened if he chooses Gurley. Probably a chance for a big play there for TG.

As I watch the defensive backfield hanging on Goff's eyes (this isn't the only example) it makes me think at some point when Jared gets to that expert level of looking off receivers things will open up for him.

 

[Merlin]

2nd down and 5 at the 30 yard line, 14:50 left first quarter. AD is lined up 3T on the left side, run action is right at him. Fowler flies in off the edge on the rush and thanks to a crackdown block runs himself out of the play. RT neutralizes Littleton, who makes the right read but at that point AD is out of the play which frees up the tackle to make the key block on the edge.

Pre-snap:

AD pinches to the inside:

Fowler pursues out of play, Littleton blocked by RT:

Big hole:

 

[Merlin]

4th and 15 for the Panthers following a strong defensive series for the Rams at 9:54 remaining in the second quarter. Gnats is back receiving the punt. Blocking the gunner on the right side are Christian and Hill.

Gunner comes free & Gnats elects to catch it at the 4 yard line:

Excellent positioning by the gunner:

Poor field position:

 

[Merlin]

One cool thing in this game is the way Fowler worked off of AD. Here's the sack on 1st and 10 at the 25 yard line, the first play in what was a successful field goal drive for the Panthers.

Cam locked in on the route at the top of the screen (covered by JJ):

Pre-snap:

AD draws the attention:

Fowler beats McCaffrey for the sack:

 

[Merlin]

Field goal drive to end the half, the Panthers need a bit more yardage to be in range. 2nd and 4 at the Rams' 43, 15 seconds on the clock.

Pre-snap:

Rams in man coverage, Peters outside leverage on DJ Moore with Christian over the top:

Christian is late:

 

[Merlin]

Here's Gurley's first big run of the second half. 14:04 left third quarter, 1st and 10 on the 36. Key blocks on this play are those of Center and RG. Allen picks things up here, after a first half in which he struggled on some of the series. Blythe gets a bit of an assist (from the defender) but does his job sealing the defender so Gurley can do Gurley.

Pre-snap:

Allen gets position on NT, and makes Kuechly choose:

Kuechly chooses poorly, huge hole:

 

[Merlin]

12:27 3rd Quarter. Rams have ball 3rd and 8 from the Panthers' 9 yard line. I think to this point there were a couple plays where I felt Goff could have been more aggressive, but this is the first play in the game where he flat misses an open option for what would have been a sure TD.

Pre-snap:

Goff lookin right but the left side has better options (Everett back of endzone and Gurley at the 6):

Goff throws it away due to pressure, Everett alone in corner of endzone:

 

[Legatron4]

12:27 3rd Quarter. Rams have ball 3rd and 8 from the Panthers' 9 yard line. I think to this point there were a couple plays where I felt Goff could have been more aggressive, but this is the first play in the game where he flat misses an open option for what would have been a sure TD.

Pre-snap:
View attachment 30232

Goff lookin right but the left side has better options (Everett back of endzone and Gurley at the 6):
View attachment 30233

Goff throws it away due to pressure, Everett alone in corner of endzone:
View attachment 30234

Everett didn’t come open until the last second. Goff would have had to throw a prayer rolling to his right and throwing to his left. But Goff was definitely missing open targets. He needs to be the NFC championship Goff if we want to beat the Saints.

 

[FaulkSF]

Here's Gurley's first big run of the second half. 14:04 left third quarter, 1st and 10 on the 36. Key blocks on this play are those of Center and RG. Allen picks things up here, after a first half in which he struggled on some of the series. Blythe gets a bit of an assist (from the defender) but does his job sealing the defender so Gurley can do Gurley.

Pre-snap:
View attachment 30229

Allen gets position on NT, and makes Kuechly choose:
View attachment 30230

Kuechly chooses poorly, huge hole:
View attachment 30231

Wouldn't say Kuechly chose poorly. But Kupp will deliver a block if he hits that gap too. Extremely well executed play by the Rams.