shula...

[Flint]

Dude hasn't been given the tools to get the job done. Throw in a couple of good cbs and a good lb and see if that helps.

This is how the Rams chose to allocate their resources under the cap. The defensive line was supposed to protect the secondary, that’s how it was designed to work. But lately they haven’t been getting it done. It almost worked, they put together the best offense in the league. They were lacking in talent, and they needed to make up the difference in execution. But that’s where the mistakes happened, you can get by with less talent if everyone is in the right place at the right time which didn’t happen.
But you can’t help but wonder if they could’ve found some better players for the $10 million they paid Tutu to not play.

 

[Merlin]

The difference. Flores isn't as predictable and keeps QBs uncomfortable.

Flores has a lot more experience and seasoning not only calling a defense, but also he had a HC gig for a while too. He also happens to be one of the best DCs in this league, in my estimation at least. Might be a psycho with his staff, but he translates to the players.

Shula seems well balanced on the personality side, but he's in that learning curve as a young caller. So comparing him to vet DCs isn't really meaningful nor does it offer any real insight on the issue.

If I had to guess where Shula's knowledge is weakest it would be the secondary. He only had one season with our secondary, and it was our catastrophic title hangover season. DCs in the NFL all call the same shit. Now some like MacDonald are next level and develop streamlined reads and the like to find ways to get an edge, but overall it's about timing on your calls and to what extent you have the instincts to be in the right shit for the right situation. And also to what extent your players are prepared and mentally ready for what the other teams cook up for them.

That latter part is hard to evaluate when your corners are terrible. How do we know if he's any good at mentally preparing these boys when they have zero chance of executing some of the standard calls the DC is going to need to call. Williams in man coverage on Smith for example, with no safety help is a BBQ platter every snap.

It’s weird to see Shula get passes that Raheem Morris never seemed to get despite leading a Super Bowl defense but…I digress.

That's a stupid take. Sounds like you're looking for a reason to go protest and stir up shit. Get the fuck out of here with that shit.

There's a small group that don't like the way Shula called it. Just like there was a small group who didn't like how Morris called it.

 

[Merlin]

It’s not the scheme or coach. It’s the players. The Rams secondary and iMLBs are one of the weakest in the NFL talent wise. It’s amazing the defense played as well as they did the whole season. It’s should have been constant 38-41 games. But defense won (or let us in) games throughout the year.

Agreed. Rams finished 10th in the league in scoring. Which, with that back seven, is a goddamn miracle.

 

[WestCoastRam]

The Rams defense has a lot of Robins, but no Batman's.

That's... that's a great line.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Flores has a lot more experience and seasoning not only calling a defense, but also he had a HC gig for a while too. He also happens to be one of the best DCs in this league, in my estimation at least. Might be a psycho with his staff, but he translates to the players.

Shula seems well balanced on the personality side, but he's in that learning curve as a young caller. So comparing him to vet DCs isn't really meaningful nor does it offer any real insight on the issue.

Flores was just one example as a counter to the Seattle example.

My guess is that we both have no experience as a defensive coordinator.

But if I can see how other teams are having success vs. opposing offenses shouldn't Shula be able to do the same?

 

[PukaStan12]

Flores has a lot more experience and seasoning not only calling a defense, but also he had a HC gig for a while too. He also happens to be one of the best DCs in this league, in my estimation at least. Might be a psycho with his staff, but he translates to the players.

Shula seems well balanced on the personality side, but he's in that learning curve as a young caller. So comparing him to vet DCs isn't really meaningful nor does it offer any real insight on the issue.

If I had to guess where Shula's knowledge is weakest it would be the secondary. He only had one season with our secondary, and it was our catastrophic title hangover season. DCs in the NFL all call the same shit. Now some like MacDonald are next level and develop streamlined reads and the like to find ways to get an edge, but overall it's about timing on your calls and to what extent you have the instincts to be in the right shit for the right situation. And also to what extent your players are prepared and mentally ready for what the other teams cook up for them.

That latter part is hard to evaluate when your corners are terrible. How do we know if he's any good at mentally preparing these boys when they have zero chance of executing some of the standard calls the DC is going to need to call. Williams in man coverage on Smith for example, with no safety help is a BBQ platter every snap.


That's a stupid take. Sounds like you're looking for a reason to go protest and stir up shit. Get the fuck out of here with that shit.

There's a small group that don't like the way Shula called it. Just like there was a small group who didn't like how Morris called it.

Look you can disagree all you want that’s fine but I remember clearly seeing many Rams fans lambast Raheem Morris every step of the way, meanwhile his defenses never had late season collapses the way this year’s Rams did.

And what exactly do you mean “looking for a reason to go protest and stir up shit”? I gave an honest opinion about what I seen from large segments of the fan base, so I have no idea where you are going with this.

 

[Jacobarch]

He can't play for them just put them in the right position.

View: https://x.com/i/status/2015799791725183360

That's an example of an execution problem not a defensive scheme problem.

Here's where I blame Shula,

Having BY on an Island covering Walker on 3rd and 9 when Young has a bum knee... Know your personnel and if they're injured they shouldn't out in coverage one on one with a running back that gives teams fits in open space. Beyond that BY shouldn't be covering Walker 1 on 1 period.
Not getting Landman off the field on obvious passing downs. Why is he on the field on 3rd and long? You're telling me there's no one on this defense that isn't better in zone or man coverage than Landman?
Not disguising coverages in a playoff game. It's playoff time, great teams ascend on Defense and the Rams did not. Shula's over simplification of cover 3 defense and cover 4 defense is what gets the rams into trouble. Teams can basically scheme on tendencies alone and that isn't gonna put our defense in a good position to succeed. I don't care who you have back there.

The rams suffered from the same deficiencies as Morris' defenses did, giving up big chunk plays, playing off coverage, and letting teams hang around. Only we didn't have AD or Ramsey on the field to make a play when needed. We have a bunch of solid guys but no superstars, and that's the difference if you want to run this type of defense.

 

[Merlin]

Look you can disagree all you want that’s fine but I remember clearly seeing many Rams fans lambast Raheem Morris every step of the way, meanwhile his defenses never had late season collapses the way this year’s Rams did.

And what exactly do you mean “looking for a reason to go protest and stir up shit”? I gave an honest opinion about what I seen from large segments of the fan base, so I have no idea where you are going with this.

People been bitching about Shula all season. I'd say it's a carbon copy of what happened with Morris, and when you consider why they play that way it relates directly to the talent they're give to cook with.

You have 55 messages on this board and you come in here like some fucking authority on posting trends, then I assume you're here to stir up shit.

 

[Merlin]

The rams suffered from the same deficiencies as Morris' defenses did, giving up big chunk plays, playing off coverage, and letting teams hang around. Only we didn't have AD or Ramsey on the field to make a play when needed. We have a bunch of solid guys but no superstars, and that's the difference if you want to run this type of defense.

I think we can say the defensive front didn't get home frequently enough to disrupt Darnold. But this was the problem with our defense this season. You cannot expect them to dominate every game. And as we discussed many times prior, the first game in the playoffs where the defensive front doesn't get home is probably the game we get eliminated. Because our secondary is a bag of dicks. And that is what happened.

So we can nuke Shula on situational shit all we want. But the fact is he fielded the 10th ranked defense with nothing on the back end in a very competitive league. Which means he is certainly on par as a young coordinator. He certainly deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with better talent at corner.

By the way sometimes a sub not happening is the player on the sideline had his head up his ass. Or there wasn't time to do it. Or the coach on the sideline running it had some miscommunication or misunderstanding. This type of shit happens in a game. It is still on the DC of course, but overall I feel about Shula exactly how I did with Morris: they had to make chicken salad out of some chicken shit.

Lastly I am no homer when it comes to any Rams coach. I would for example not hesitate to replace Shula with a better DC if one were to line up. Same goes with the offensive side. I don't think any of McVay's coaches are a cut above those of the other good orgs around the league. They're competitive, which is what matters. But I don't think LaFleur is as good as Johnson, nor do I think Shula is as good as Hafley or some other up and comer DCs for example. Shula may end up being an elite defensive mind, but he's not there yet.

 

[PukaStan12]

People been bitching about Shula all season. I'd say it's a carbon copy of what happened with Morris, and when you consider why they play that way it relates directly to the talent they're give to cook with.

You have 55 messages on this board and you come in here like some fucking authority on posting trends, then I assume you're here to stir up shit.

Who cares how long I’ve been here? Do you run the boards? You sound like a child. I’m a fan of the team the same way you are so I follow our fandom. It’s bigger than just this board you damn baby. Stop crying & whining at me.

I also do not understand how you think our defense has a talent issue when there’s plenty of talent to go around. V8, BY, Kobie Turner, Fiske, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, Cobie Durant are all very talented. Yet the defense has underperformed since week 8. Shula needs to take accountability for that in the same way Raheem Morris had to. Instead poster like you would rather throw our players under the bus in a weird attempt to protect Shula. Stop running interference for him. If you don’t like that I’m saying that I don’t give a damn.

 

[Merlin]

Who cares how long I’ve been here? Do you run the boards? You sound like a child. I’m a fan of the team the same way you are so I follow our fandom. It’s bigger than just this board you damn baby. Stop crying & whining at me.

Ok troll.

 

[PukaStan12]

Ok troll.

You’re a child.

 

[DzRams]

100%
I think he let Wade do his own thing while he got comfortable in his HC role and when Wade left, he took complete control

I mean you know all of this was reported many times by Jourdan. The defensive scheme won't be changing unless McVay leaves or has a change of heart on the style he prefers.

 

[OldSchool]

That's an example of an execution problem not a defensive scheme problem.

Here's where I blame Shula,

Having BY on an Island covering Walker on 3rd and 9 when Young has a bum knee... Know your personnel and if they're injured they shouldn't out in coverage one on one with a running back that gives teams fits in open space. Beyond that BY shouldn't be covering Walker 1 on 1 period.
Not getting Landman off the field on obvious passing downs. Why is he on the field on 3rd and long? You're telling me there's no one on this defense that isn't better in zone or man coverage than Landman?
Not disguising coverages in a playoff game. It's playoff time, great teams ascend on Defense and the Rams did not. Shula's over simplification of cover 3 defense and cover 4 defense is what gets the rams into trouble. Teams can basically scheme on tendencies alone and that isn't gonna put our defense in a good position to succeed. I don't care who you have back there.

The rams suffered from the same deficiencies as Morris' defenses did, giving up big chunk plays, playing off coverage, and letting teams hang around. Only we didn't have AD or Ramsey on the field to make a play when needed. We have a bunch of solid guys but no superstars, and that's the difference if you want to run this type of defense.

Just a couple thoughts.

The edge guys in coverage isn't a Shula thing, it wasnt a Morris Staley or Phillips thing. It's a defense thing. We've seen Garret, TJ Watt, Vin Miller and Max Crosby did it. And while his Int vs us wasnt in coverage some of Aiden Hutchinsons 5 career ints weren't rushing the passer.

Landman wears the green dot unless he's hurt he'll be out there. Imo we need to upgrade Speights. But if we had some better CB maybe we can get some safeties covering them.

Lastly I agree we suffer from not having the goat AD and not having Ramsey. Do you recall us ever getting a coverage sack this year.

 

[Merlin]

I mean you know all of this was reported many times by Jourdan. The defensive scheme won't be changing unless McVay leaves or has a change of heart on the style he prefers.

I have a feeling the way the Rams play has more to do with the fact they have not had shutdown corners, than it does some overarching philosophy by McVay. McVay embraces that concept of "make them snap it again," however if and when we see an uptick in corner quality that may change.

It's sort of like 11 personnel. Everyone was like "McVay loves 11 period" but once that TE room got to the point where they were competitive with the third wideout option (TE group vs Tutu and the boys) we saw an uptick in 12 and even 13 sets.

So I think it's moreso that McVay is practical and his philosophies support being shaped around his personnel.

This upcoming offseason it is going to be impossible not to reload the corner room. Because Spoon, Durant, and McCreary are free agents, and Williams is almost surely a cut. There is simply no way around it. Do you think they will wait until mid to late rounds and draft a couple undersized flyweights who don't match up well in this division? Zero chance of that. So if they actually hit on some CB1 quality... Maybe we find out that Shula is more aggressive as a caller than we thought.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2015798348532294071

 

[OldSchool]

I have a feeling the way the Rams play has more to do with the fact they have not had shutdown corners, than it does some overarching philosophy by McVay. McVay embraces that concept of "make them snap it again," however if and when we see an uptick in corner quality that may change.

It's sort of like 11 personnel. Everyone was like "McVay loves 11 period" but once that TE room got to the point where they were competitive with the third wideout option (TE group vs Tutu and the boys) we saw an uptick in 12 and even 13 sets.

So I think it's moreso that McVay is practical and his philosophies support being shaped around his personnel.

This upcoming offseason it is going to be impossible not to reload the corner room. Because Spoon, Durant, and McCreary are free agents, and Williams is almost surely a cut. There is simply no way around it. Do you think they will wait until mid to late rounds and draft a couple undersized flyweights who don't match up well in this division? Zero chance of that. So if they actually hit on some CB1 quality... Maybe we find out that Shula is more aggressive as a caller than we thought.

I think in some ways the two are tied together, the scheme and the roster.

 

[Merlin]

I think in some ways the two are tied together, the scheme and the roster.

Remember this conversation. I think it's going to be interesting to track if they can hit on the corners they bring in.

 

[OldSchool]

Remember this conversation. I think it's going to be interesting to track if they can hit on the corners they bring in.

I would love nothing more than adding some CB who can play a different way than what we do. But remember as well, we've talked about this with every Rams DC under McVay.

 

[Merlin]

I would love nothing more than adding some CB who can play a different way than what we do. But remember as well, we've talked about this with every Rams DC under McVay.

Yes we have. But corner unfortunately has never been something we've had in high quality. Ramsey for a year or two before his speed started to fade, but he was hit and miss on an island with the grabbing and shit.

What happens if they hit on a CB1, and maybe end up with a couple guys who can handle a lot of matchups without help. I say the capability will drive philosophy change. But we'll see.