Rams vs Seahawks Stills

[Merlin]

Coach film is up already on NFL.com so that's one advantage to a Thursday game eh? Got some time today to play around so going to kick things off with some of the key down/distance snaps to see where plays were made and lost. So let's go to a situation of the game following two excellent snaps by our defense (the latter resulting in a holding call on Iupati who held Fowler on a near-sack)...

14:16 1st Quarter
Seattle on their 17
2nd and 18

Pre-snap Rams in their 2 down lineman look up front:

Pre-snap coverage, NRC moves with 82 who is in motion:

Protections at the snap:

Coverage at the snap things look good for the Rams, but NRC has 82 in the flat and Peters despite a 10 yard cushion is bailing out:

Protections at the drop (a beat later) are falling apart almost immediately, and Fowler flushes Wilson with an inside move:

Coverages at the drop we see Brown settle in the soft spot while Peters continues to bail out for no good reason (he finally stops 5 yards PAST the first down marker). Note all the other coverages are working like clockwork, the TE is covered, Weddle hands off his guy seamlessly to JJ in the middle, over/under on 14, etc:

Wilson bails from the pocket, AD keeps contain at the top, Clay pursuing from behind but we can see Brown is wide open:

Huge pickup for most of the yardage BUT not so fast as NRC makes a clutch strip of the wideout on the sideline:

Peters giveth and Peters taketh away:

 

[Merlin]

First play after the turnover, Rams have the ball in great field position and get Gurley going on a 9 yard run. Showing this play because it was almost a HUGE gainer. Just one guy not fully removing his assignment... Once again, like so many plays in previous weeks, the offense is SO CLOSE to blowing out a big play...

13:33 1st Quarter
Rams on opposing 33
1st and 10

Pre-snap look with blocking assignments:

At the snap Gurley's eyes are probably big as dinner plates:

At the handoff Higs has 90 off his feet and no threat to the play he is about to be washed out of it. Every block is made and Hav is going second level to get in 54's face:

As Gurley approaches the hole we see Boom lose his assignment. Wagner is outstanding and will take Hav's outside shoulder to force the play inside:

Gurley tries to take it left behind Cooks who has the DB but Boom's guy is going to shut 'er down from his side and prevent it:

9 yard gain. Imagine if Boom had executed his block, yeah, woulda been reaaaaal nice:

 

[Merlin]

Here's two plays later, following a run play in which Boom's blocking assignment blew up Gurley for a 5 yard loss. Rams still have a chance here though to convert a very doable down & distance but schematically the Seahawks do a great job here...

12:59 1st Quarter
Rams on opposing 24
3rd and 6

Pre-snap coverage, Goff knows they're in man underneath. The safety up top is holding his position until just before the snap, he has Gurley responsibility behind the 5 man rush:

Pre-snap protections:

Coverage at the snap shows a bad look for Jared. He's got guys manned up and a 5 man rush incoming, with a safety manned up on his outlet Gurley:

Protection at the snap shows Wagner stunting to the opposing B gap. Goff noted the inside leverage and stays on his first read (Everett):

Goff gets it out:

Excellent ball placement but Everett can't bring it in:

So close. He catches that ball we get a fresh set of downs and maybe we go up 7.

 

[Merlin]

Next Rams possession after a nice series by the defense we have a 2nd and 7 in pretty good field position, a 3-0 lead, a nervous Seattle crowd, and a chance to go up more and really shut them up. Previous play was a short run by Gurley. Nice play design here by McVay vs "the Fangio" with three routes that his QB can quickly sort in the event of pressure (obviously the first read is probably Everett due to the route combination).

Putting this one up to show a fine play by our young QB...

09:15 1st Quarter
Rams on their 34
2nd and 7

Pre-snap coverage:

Pre-snap protections:

Coverages at the drop show a nice job by Seattle. 33 has Everett in man and also has a nice outside leverage. Gurley engages Wagner who is coming full speed:

Protections at the drop show Gurley isn't gonna buy more than a second if that. Goff can't step up due to this, and Allen being driven back doesn't help although he does have control:

Goff makes the throw before his feet are set, with Wagner and Ford in his face:

Absolute DIME for 22 yards:

 

[Ramlock]

Thanks for these posts

 

[A.J. Hicks]

Great effort man! Truly appreciated!

 

[Merlin]

Next play, Shehawks in the Fangio again. McVay goes with the run...

08:27 1st Quarter
Rams on opposing 42
2nd and 8

Pre-snap I like this look vs that front, you have a TE on each side and the jet motion so they're gonna have to defend each edge. Blocking assignments added for this play and you can see Allen's got a tough reach assignment, so does Hav with his second level responsibility on Wagner:

At the handoff we see Allen's got his guy, Everett has kicked out the OLB, and there's a really nice seam for TG to hit. Hav has handed his guy to Higs and is moving second level for Wagner:

As TG nears the hole we see Blythe lose his man:

But Whit peels around nicely to wall off the inside:

DB forces Gurley to make a decision:

Gurley beats the DB with a hard cut to the sideline however Woods starts to come off his block to help at this moment:

Gurley has to beat Woods' man and does:

12 yard gain and first down:

Another play that was SOOOO close to being a huge gainer.

 

[Merlin]

Here's the defining play of the drive, a manageable down/distance that the Rams could have converted. This one's on Goff IMO, however it's hard to blame him as you watch the play unfold. Basically I feel like a little patience on his part would be a conversion but see what you think...

Situation (easier than typing it) and note the depressed Shehawks fans loooool:

Pre-snap the Shehawks know it's a pass, they show a double A gap threat and Rams are ready for it:

Protections at the snap look good. 50 has man responsibility on Brown so he's not coming. Wagner doesn't rush either:

Coverage at the snap:

Coverage at the drop shows Jared has two early options those being Everett on the crosser or Woods up top of the screen. Hard to tell but I think Everett was his first read and he came off quickly due to Wagner, and here he wants Woods but the ball should be in the air as Woods breaks.

Ball is in the air a bit late. My read here is Goff didn't trust his protections. But at this moment we can see Kupp striking corner endzone with position, and Everett underneath. One IMO is a likely TD, the other a first down:

Late throw allows DB to disrupt the ball, incomplete and Rams kick a FG:

 

[Merlin]

Here's another potential big play, where Weddle makes an almost-correct read but he's wrong and misses out on what IMO would have been a huge pick 6...

Situation:

Pre-snap Weddle is all over a short pass and ready to pounce:

At the snap you can see him reading Wilson's eyes and he assumes his underneath wideout is the target:

Ball in the air and he's breaking hard:

Whoops. Missed pick 6 and ESPN highlight:

 

[Merlin]

Here's a big play for the Seahawks where I attribute it to Christian playing deep middle. I mean this play demonstrates his complete lack of feel for that responsibility and results in a drive that goes deep into our territory and eventually a TD...

Situation:

Pre-snap coverage Talib has responsibility for Turner, Christian is single high:

Coverage at the snap we see the Rams zone it up:

Wilson doesn't read 17 since he thought Talib had him in man, but he does get open at the bottom of the screen. Talib is about to "hand the TE off" to Christian and peel back to the underneath route here.

As Wilson flushes we can see the coverage is garbage. 17 is open bottom screen. The TE is streaking deep while Christian ignores him. Backside of the play near the hashes deep is Metcalf who would be a risky throw but he's open too. Deep safety makes the wrong read:

Ball out and Christian breaks but too late:

Huge play for Seattle:

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I don’t understand what’s up with Peters. Last year in the playoffs he played very well. This year he’s back to making mistakes.

I’m beginning to think that signing him would be a mistake. He doesn’t fit the defense too well anyway. So they’ll either need to sign an experienced guy or draft one.

Talib looks to be slowing as well. They will have a big hole at corner. Long hasn’t been all that impressive so far. Two new corners could be a need if he doesn’t come around.

 

[Merlin]

This is the second play of the Rams' next possession that ended in a three 'n out. On the first play Goff took a shot at Cooks deep, the safety was in the way but it was a clean play. On this play McVay dials up another opportunity for Goff to go get a chunk of yards and it's there but Jared misses it. Once again McVay has drawn up an excellent opportunity and puts his players in a situation to succeed they just gotta execute...

Situation:

Pre-snap coverage:

Coverage at the drop Goff has Kupp about to break into some green:

Goff throws the ball on time as Kupp breaks:

Some contact that may have affected Kupp's positioning:

So close:

If it's complete I like Kupp's chances check out the green. Either way another missed explosive play:

 

[Merlin]

I don’t understand what’s up with Peters. Last year in the playoffs he played very well. This year he’s back to making mistakes.

I’m beginning to think that signing him would be a mistake. He doesn’t fit the defense too well anyway. So they’ll either need to sign an experienced guy or draft one.

Talib looks to be slowing as well. They will have a big hole at corner. Long hasn’t been all that impressive so far. Two new corners could be a need if he doesn’t come around.

I agree with you on him and have always felt we couldn't trust him with a big payday. And he's playing poorly. But we have probs right now with our zone coverage clearly. It's fugly. Didn't even review Tampa completely due to the short week and coach tape coming out so close to the next game but this zone BS is not a new thing.

Going forward it seems to me that while Talib is long in the tooth he's still a great fit for this scheme and that maximizes his ability. So I would think they find a way mutually to keep him around. The other CB position has to be solved and if they could hit on a good cover guy in the draft they'd be in good shape. And they might go get a FA too if Talib's deal is friendly.

 

[RamsFanCK]

Merlin, you are a wizard. Thanks for these

 

[Merlin]

Here's the third down play where we three 'n out on the next series in spite of a manageable down and distance. This one's on Goff who is late to his outlet pass...

Situation:

Pre-snap:

Pre-snap coverage shows man coverage with single high safety:

At the drop Goff still reading left:

Protections at the drop are good but Clowney is beating Blythe middle of screen:

As Goff flushes it looks like he's reading Cooks, but IMO at this point in the play the clock in his head should be telling him to use his outlet to Gurley who is wide open with room to run:

Holding the ball forces him to elude a defender on the edge and he sees Gurley now but it's too late:

By the time he throws to Gurley the space has disappeared. Gurley also failed to ensure he was at the first down marker. Then he drops the pass. Time to punt:

For the record and IMO of course Gurley's mistake cost the Rams a first down. Goff's failure to diagnose quickly enough led to lack of what would have been another explosive play. Nothing wrong with McVay's scheme here IMO.

 

[Merlin]

Here's the big TD pass to Metcalf. Since McVay absolved Peters of responsibility in the media I presume the fault lies elsewhere. Let's see...

Situation:

Rams in base, JJ is single high:

At the snap we're already in trouble. Talib whiffs hard and it sucks Johnson up. Weddle hesitates on the play action and Metcalf is blowin through easymode:

A beat later Wilson sees it:

Execution of opportunity sigh:

So who's fault was it? Probably Talib's fault in terms of if you had to pin it on one person. His failure made JJ disregard the more dangerous option. Weddle didn't exactly help either, although it's not like he's going to run with Metcalf, that kid would smoke him.

Edit: well looks like Weddle took it nice to see him own up. But still think it's stupid to have him on Metcalf if he goes deep.


View: https://twitter.com/TheRamsWire/status/1180452743728775170

 

[Merlin]

Gotta quit for a while will do more later. Thunderstorm making power fluctuate.

 

[Lunchbox]

Love these Merlin.

These stills really capture the importance of every man knowing his assignment and how one wrong choice can open opportunities for the opponent.

 

[Merlin]

Love these Merlin.

These stills really capture the importance of every man knowing his assignment and how one wrong choice can open opportunities for the opponent.

I agree it's why they say football is the ultimate team game. This has been going on with the Rams all season btw. One guy here one guy there. Often it's from the OL but not always, it's been the backs, the wideouts, etc. And yes it's something you'll see on every team's tape to a greater or lesser degree but what has made the Rams so good offensively is how in the past they have been extremely efficient (as McVay calls it) and limited that stuff while their star players took advantage of the opportunity.

I think this particular year and this team it was unwise to sit them in preseason. But I also think this team isn't done yet, that they still have a chance to run at a very high efficiency if that's the word to use for doing it right.

 

[Merlin]

This is the Gurley fumble that terminates a great drive in the second quarter which was a huge play for Seattle. Putting it up because I don't understand his hole selection. Generally TG has very good vision and decision making but IMO this is not an example of that and this run probably would have been more than 4 yards (not to mention a non-turnover) if he simply bounces it outside...

Situation:

Pre-snap:

At the snap we see a run play they used earlier in the game with some success and where they missed a big play opportunity. Higs will seal Clowney inside using his first step against him. Hav helps Blythe on 72 then goes 2nd level to block Wagner. Everett has 50:

At the handoff Wagner has diagnosed the run action and this time around he gets a good jump to try to beat Hav's block. Higs has his hands full this time with Clowney who fights against being washed out and pushes Higs back into the pocket a bit.

As Gurley approaches the LOS he has to bounce it a little early (vice keeping his shoulders square to the LOS to lock Wagner in) due to Clowney doing a good job pushing Higs into the pocket. Wagner has the outside shoulder with Hav so is about to bounce outside to track Gurley:

Wagner is something. Excellent job by him sliding outside here:

Here Gurley has a decision to make... Bounce it outside (CB who is being blocked) or see how many yards he can get through Wagner. Here's the endzone view:

Here's the wide view of his decision point. Hard to imagine all that sideline isn't better than going through Wagner:

Gurley cuts it up against Wagner's inside shoulder. End result 4 yard gain and fumble. I chalk this up to a "win" for a great player in Wagner but I think we easily get a first down if TG bounces that outside: