SO many things to now question about my Rams...

[Rams43]

Last September I thought I had a rock solid handle on this team and these coaches. But now? I scarcely know where to start while listing my questions.

Sean McVay. Who is this imposter representing himself as my genius HC? Where have the deep throws gone? The imaginative game plans? The attacking of that weeks opponents’ weakness rather than their strengths (Miami)? Using RB’s as a receiving weapon? Having his team ‘up’ for a weak opponent instead of losing to inferior teams? Dialing back his QB to the point that opponents only have to defend half the field?

Coach Kromer. Just when I thought he was the top OL guru in the league he has his OL get abused in our last 2 games. And with disastrous results, I might add.

Coach Bonamego. WTH did McVay see in this guy last offseason? Worst coaching hire of McVay’s career and it’s not even close. At least the ‘solution’ here is an easy one this offseason.

Coach Staley. These last 2 losses have tarnished a brilliant rookie season for the rookie DC. A rising DC star, no question, but still... A better D effort in those last 2 games and Rams are 11-4 today.

OL. Is this a SB potential caliber OL, or what? I’m no longer sure, tbh. Our top pick now just might be for a C. Gulp...

TE. What happened to the blocking? What happened to the TE targeting as receiving threats? Both have made opposing D’s jobs easier. Heck, maybe go back to using Everett as a danged FB?

WR. What happened to our annual possible 3 WR’s each exceeding a thousand yards? Lately, they’ve been looking like afterthoughts. I miss those exciting ‘17 and ‘18 versions of our WR corps.

RB. Anyone else find it strange that both Akers and Hendy can’t seem to stay healthy? What’s up with that? Each of them with 2 injuries that have prevented their play in multiple games this year alone? Really? I had thought that injured RB problems would be gone with Gurley’s departure. Sigh...

I’m gonna leave the D alone for now on my worry list. They’ve played very well in the first 13 games and are hardly among our top 10 list of concerns. Hopefully, Rams can work around inevitable FA losses this offseason.

In short, my estimation of this Ram team and coaches has taken some big hits. A team that as recently as mid-November I considered a top NFC SB contender now seems to be floundering in multiple areas, mostly on the O side of the ball. Not a good feeling, that’s for darned sure.

 

[Jacobarch]

Well on defense, the offense has put them in some really bad positions. Before seattle put up any points on us the offense was turning the ball over. I mean there's only so many 3 and outs or turnovers your defense can handle. I don't think it's tarnished his name or defense one bit. Think about it this way. If our offense was half way decent, not turning the ball over and at least sustaining some drives. Even if you don't put points up, at least you're driving to the 40 or 50 yard line and pinning the opposing team deep in their territory. Which the Rams haven't even been able to muster that. Which is pathetic.

No deep balls. That's easy I can tell you why. First off no speedy wrs, take Reynolds for example. Prob the best wr we have on the roster currently to go deep. But the guy can't figure out how to use his big frame and body to block out DBs. And that'll never change. He's just an average #3 WR.
Oline, defenses have figured out that our center is the guy they can bully. You can't exactly step up in the pocket and throw it deep if a DT is in your face. Lastly, confidence in Goff. There have been some deep throws there for goff. He's straight up misreading them. Take the jets game on the 4th down. Woods is coming wide open and be throws to a covered everett. There's been other mis reads too during games but this was the last one I remember.

Our banged up RBs is because they're young. Watch the way they run. They don't protect themselves when they are in traffic. They run upright and that isn't gonna work in the NFL. A lot of rookie rbs makes this mistake the first year or two of their careers. Hendo is in his 3rd year but up until this point he's never really started.

 

[Jacobarch]

Furthermore on Goff I've listened to some interesting things about him lately from ex coaches and players. After breaking down film he's missing a lot of open targets. He's basically locking onto his first read and not progressing thru is wrs tes rbs

 

[RentonRamsFan]

Furthermore on Goff I've listened to some interesting things about him lately from ex coaches and players. After breaking down film he's missing a lot of open targets. He's basically locking onto his first read and not progressing thru is wrs tes rbs

I think Goff can make progressions - see this post I made about it after the last Cardinals game where I linked some good examples. Not saying he is always going through the proper progressions or making the correct read, but just wanted to point out he can do it. However, there was another analysis that I had read about Goff's tendency to hesitate, and also problem with middle of the field coverages - it's a pretty good read also:

Film room: Exploiting Jared Goff’s hesitation will again be key for the Patriots

Exploit the Hesitation 2.0.

www.patspulpit.com

 

[dieterbrock]

Well on defense, the offense has put them in some really bad positions. Before seattle put up any points on us the offense was turning the ball over.

Well, that isnt true. The Rams turn over occurred when leading 6-3

I mean there's only so many 3 and outs or turnovers your defense can handle.

Seattle had 2 3-outs in 1st half, as did the Rams.
At the time of the ungodly interception, the Rams had an overwhelming time of possession advantage, some 17 minutes of TOP compared to Seattle's 9 minutes and change. For the game, the Rams controlled the clock, had more yardage & 1st downs.
In no way does this mean the offense played "better" than the defense, we all know that isnt true. But for sure you cant blame the offense for wearing out the defense by leaving them on the field all day. Just not remotely true

On a separate but similar concept, when did they alter the rule for the HC to communicate with the QB?
Seemed like Goff had been given a bad rap, that McVay was reading the D and telling him what to call. But I think they altered the rule so they couldnt do that any more? Does that change corelate to when the offense began to struggle?

 

[Soul Surfer]

It starts and begins with McVay.

Some of his play-calling and game plan of attack and adjustments seem weak.

He gave away that win to the Jets.

Hopefully, those last two plays he called were the low point of his career.

 

[dieterbrock]

No matter how its sliced or diced, when grading the coaches from top to bottom, there are only 2 coaches on the staff with indisputable grades:
Staley: A
Bonamego: F
I think the rest are clearly up for debate

 

[Faceplant]

Always enjoy you posts @Rams43 and this one is pretty spot on for me as usual. The offense is literally bipolar. They look like world beaters one week, and old beaters the next. Inconsistency is not a hallmark of good franchises. It needs fixed.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Furthermore on Goff I've listened to some interesting things about him lately from ex coaches and players. After breaking down film he's missing a lot of open targets. He's basically locking onto his first read and not progressing thru is wrs tes rbs

Seems like his first read is always Copper Kupp.

They use to say the TE is always open, but I've noticed that the backs have been open quite a bit, too.

 

[RamDino]

Lots of great questions and another solid post 43. Thank you for summing it up for me -lol. Lots of issues with this offense. I know everyone wants to blame Goff, or McVay, or Blythe, etc. But there is plenty of blame to go around. After Gurley got hurt, I thought Goff would rise to the occasion and make this his team, but that has not happened. The Rams have no leader on offense, and they will never be consistent until they have someone that can make everyone around them play better. I also believe a better center would make things easier for Goff in pass protection. Even though Blythe might be a decent run blocker, he still gets run over too easily in pass protection. And the center position is probably the easiest for the Rams to upgrade. Again, JMHO.

 

[Tano]

If you read my post on Goff's passes in Seattle, all but 3 went to the only receiver open in the first half. The 3 he didn't - well you could say they weren't his primary target and they would have been difficult throws to complete. However, I have seen him complete them in 2018. I think he had more confidence in his OL that year so I think he is trying to be more careful with the ball this year. And then he does some inexplicable turnovers that go WTH Goff - you have been cautious all day with the ball and then you do/throw ...... that?

 

[Jacobarch]

Lots of great questions and another solid post 43. Thank you for summing it up for me -lol. Lots of issues with this offense. I know everyone wants to blame Goff, or McVay, or Blythe, etc. But there is plenty of blame to go around. After Gurley got hurt, I thought Goff would rise to the occasion and make this his team, but that has not happened. The Rams have no leader on offense, and they will never be consistent until they have someone that can make everyone around them play better. I also believe a better center would make things easier for Goff in pass protection. Even though Blythe might be a decent run blocker, he still gets run over too easily in pass protection. And the center position is probably the easiest for the Rams to upgrade. Again, JMHO.

Pretty sure that leader is Big Whit

 

[Rambitious1]

Last September I thought I had a rock solid handle on this team and these coaches. But now? I scarcely know where to start while listing my questions.

Sean McVay. Who is this imposter representing himself as my genius HC? Where have the deep throws gone? The imaginative game plans? The attacking of that weeks opponents’ weakness rather than their strengths (Miami)? Using RB’s as a receiving weapon? Having his team ‘up’ for a weak opponent instead of losing to inferior teams? Dialing back his QB to the point that opponents only have to defend half the field?

Coach Kromer. Just when I thought he was the top OL guru in the league he has his OL get abused in our last 2 games. And with disastrous results, I might add.

Coach Bonamego. WTH did McVay see in this guy last offseason? Worst coaching hire of McVay’s career and it’s not even close. At least the ‘solution’ here is an easy one this offseason.

Coach Staley. These last 2 losses have tarnished a brilliant rookie season for the rookie DC. A rising DC star, no question, but still... A better D effort in those last 2 games and Rams are 11-4 today.

OL. Is this a SB potential caliber OL, or what? I’m no longer sure, tbh. Our top pick now just might be for a C. Gulp...

TE. What happened to the blocking? What happened to the TE targeting as receiving threats? Both have made opposing D’s jobs easier. Heck, maybe go back to using Everett as a danged FB?

WR. What happened to our annual possible 3 WR’s each exceeding a thousand yards? Lately, they’ve been looking like afterthoughts. I miss those exciting ‘17 and ‘18 versions of our WR corps.

RB. Anyone else find it strange that both Akers and Hendy can’t seem to stay healthy? What’s up with that? Each of them with 2 injuries that have prevented their play in multiple games this year alone? Really? I had thought that injured RB problems would be gone with Gurley’s departure. Sigh...

I’m gonna leave the D alone for now on my worry list. They’ve played very well in the first 13 games and are hardly among our top 10 list of concerns. Hopefully, Rams can work around inevitable FA losses this offseason.

In short, my estimation of this Ram team and coaches has taken some big hits. A team that as recently as mid-November I considered a top NFC SB contender now seems to be floundering in multiple areas, mostly on the O side of the ball. Not a good feeling, that’s for darned sure.

Honestly I had most of these questions before the season began. That’s why I had predicted the Rams would Wind up being 8-8 or 9-7. Honestly I believe tomorrow the Rams will Finish the season 9-7, just like I thought they probably would.

No offense, but to be honest I’ve never really gotten the talk about the Rams being an NFC favorite/Super Bowl contender this year.

One week the Rams look like a world beater the next week they look like a second tier college team. I admit most of that is on offense and special teams. But that’s what young teams do they are very inconsistent- one week down the next up and the Rams are a very young team.

I have always thought the Rams year would either be 2021 or 2022. I still feel that way even now.

 

[CGI_Ram]

One week the Rams look like a world beater the next week they look like a second tier college team. I admit most of that is on offense and special teams. But that’s what young teams do they are very inconsistent- one week down the next up and the Rams are a very young team.

I have always thought the Rams year would either be 2021 or 2022. I still feel that way even now.

I have always sort of dismissed the age element, but the mental maturity appears equally important as the physical youth and health.

This article, while a few years old, shows the average age of the youngest SB winner to be 26.4yrs. Not sure if recent winners have been younger.

But 6 years ago the youngest roster was 26.4.

Are Seahawks, second-youngest team in Super Bowl history, on verge of dynasty?

Pete Carroll (right) inherited the fifth-youngest Super Bowl team, and he's built the second-youngest. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) When it comes to

www.si.com

The 2020 Rams... are 25.1yrs.

L.A. Rams select youthful, but mature players for initial, 53-man roster

Average age of roster is 24.6 years old, one of youngest in NFL

www.si.com

 

[Rambitious1]

I have always sort of dismissed the age element, but the mental maturity appears equally important as the physical youth and health.

This article, while a few years old, shows the average age of the youngest SB winner to be 26.4yrs. Not sure if recent winners have been younger.

But 6 years ago the youngest roster was 26.4.

Are Seahawks, second-youngest team in Super Bowl history, on verge of dynasty?

Pete Carroll (right) inherited the fifth-youngest Super Bowl team, and he's built the second-youngest. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) When it comes to

www.si.com

The 2020 Rams... are 25.1yrs.

L.A. Rams select youthful, but mature players for initial, 53-man roster

Average age of roster is 24.6 years old, one of youngest in NFL

www.si.com

I really feel our best days are ahead of us.

 

[Rambitious1]

I’m not sure why McVay doesn’t just bite the bullet put another offensive lineman in there for extra run blocking and pass protection.