Some 'other' observations re Saints game

[kurtfaulk]

That hit on Kamara was brutal.

It wasn't really a hit. Kamara ran into him. Then bounced off him like he was a brick wall.

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[Ramlock]

I was OK with the aggression on the fake FG...Rams have the best special teams in the league.

As McVay said, there was a look that they liked and went for it.

 

[tempests]

I've seen several say Donald had a "QUIET GAME" against the Saints. Asinine ...

He had FOUR QB HITS, 3 additional pressures, and 2 TFL in the run game.

By his standards.

He was averaging two sacks a game for the last month.

 

[bomebadeeda]

I didn't like the play calls after the fumble recovery. Seemed we were trying to push it to the end zone instead of taking what was there. It seemed like a pattern all day. Sometimes 5 yards is a good play. And 3 x 5 is a first down and then some. I like McVay, don't get me wrong. I think he'll see the pattern when he looks at the film. He'll see what he did and how they played for it and adjust. And once they have to adjust.....everything works.

 

[1maGoh]

They (Joyner, JJ, Littleton, Barron et al ) can not stick their noses in there against a 300 lb pulling guard and do anything to stop him--watch the Ravens and you see it constantly...safeties and LBers are stickin' people. We aren't them, I know, but still we are too slight too much of the time. By the way, Archulleta did do that at 200 lbs, or whatever he was.....we have no one like that

Archuleta also blew out his entire upper body doing that crap and was useless for a while because of it. And I say this as one giant fan of Archuleta. The Human Cannonball was one of my favorite players as a kid. I loved that guy. But being 200 pounds and taking on 300+pound guys and winning destroyed that man's body.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Archuleta also blew out his entire upper body doing that crap and was useless for a while because of it. And I say this as one giant fan of Archuleta. The Human Cannonball was one of my favorite players as a kid. I loved that guy. But being 200 pounds and taking on 300+pound guys and winning destroyed that man's body.

not before snyder made him a rich man. haha, that guy.

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[dang]

At the beginning of the season, I doubt there were many in this forum that truly thought the Rams would be 9-0 to start the season and none that truly thought the Rams would go undefeated in the regular season. With that said, the Rams D had a terrible first half and gave up one terrible play in the 2nd half (the 4th quarter 3rd down TD pass). Other than one interception and inability to convert the turnover into points Goff and the Offense had a great game. To come back from a 35-14 deficit and tie the game is a phenomenal testament to how far this team has come. That would not have happened last year. Is there room for improvement? On defense - absolutely - Joyner, Peters, Hill, Barron need to step it up; Fowler, Oko and Talib will help improve. On offense just stay healthy and keep on keeping on.

 

[Prime Time]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/06/nfl-rams-saints-week-9-grades-report-card/

Rams Week 9 report card
By: Cameron DaSilva

Quarterback
Regardless of who you want to pin the loss on, don’t let it be Jared Goff. even though the Rams didn’t win, Goff had one of his best games in the NFL. He completed 28 of 40 passes for 391 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, going toe-to-toe with Drew Brees all game long.

He made eye-popping throws and good decisions with the football, consistently fitting passes into tight windows. Even his interception was more of a great play by the linebacker than a poor throw. He missed his target by mere inches, which would’ve made for a 15-20-yard gain to Robert Woods.


View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1059876342299348992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1059876342299348992&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F06%2Fnfl-rams-saints-week-9-grades-report-card%2F

Grade: A-

Running back
Put simply, Todd Gurley didn’t have a great game, and it’s not necessarily his fault. The Saints said afterward that they keyed on stopping him, knowing they couldn’t take away all of the Rams’ weapons. He mustered just 79 yards on 19 touches, including 11 yards on six receptions. The Rams tried to get him going in a variety of ways, but it was to no avail.

He was good in pass protection, however, as was Malcolm Brown. The backup also made a spectacular play to score a touchdown down the left sideline, tiptoeing into the end zone. It wasn’t a terrible game by the running backs, just not one we’re used to seeing. That’s what happens when you face the league’s No. 1 run defense.

Grade: C+

Wide receiver
Brandin Cooks played well against his former team, catching six of eight targets for 114 yards and one touchdown. Cooper Kupp added five catches and 89 yards, scoring a long touchdown on a crossing route. Robert Woods only caught five of the nine passes that came his way, but he had 71 yards receiving and made several nice grabs.

They were the only three receivers to catch a pass and really the only three wide receivers to play meaningful snaps, but they performed as they often do.

Grade: A-

Tight end
Don’t look now, but this was one of the best games Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee have had together. They combined for five catches and 88 yards on nine targets, including plays of 20 and 33 yards. Higbee was also solid in pass protection, allowing no sacks and very little pressure when asked to block. He did have a bad drop on a great throw, though.


View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1059533179546226688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1059533179546226688&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F06%2Fnfl-rams-saints-week-9-grades-report-card%2F

Grade: B

Offensive line
Anytime a quarterback goes an entire game without being sacked, the offensive line likely played well. That was the case on Sunday as Goff was hit just five times and hardly faced any pressure in the pocket. Rob Havenstein handled Cameron Jordan and with the exception of one bull rush by Sheldon Rankins, Rodger Saffold held up well, too.

Grade: A

Defensive line
Only one player for the Rams hit Drew Brees on Sunday and that was, you guessed it, Aaron Donald. He hit Brees four times despite failing to record a sack, generating the majority of the little pressure the Rams put on the future Hall of Famer. Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers didn’t do much, either, as the Saints rushed for 141 yards.

Grade: C+

Inside linebacker
Mark Barron struggled in this one as he was beaten a few times in coverage, while also missing his share of tackles – a problem for seemingly every Rams defender Sunday. Cory Littleton was better, but even he was burned for a big play to Benjamin Watson after failing to keep up with him in coverage. His play on the goal line to stuff Zach Line was phenomenal, however, and saved a touchdown.


View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1059530797907107840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1059530797907107840&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F06%2Fnfl-rams-saints-week-9-grades-report-card%2F

Grade: C+

Outside linebacker
Dante Fowler Jr. made his Rams debut and while he wasn’t consistently generating pressure, he did have a tackle for loss and a batted pass at the line. Samson Ebukam forced a fumble and had two tackles, but his pass rushing wasn’t exactly effective. They were the two primary players at outside linebacker with Matt Longacre chipping in two tackles.

Grade: C+

Cornerback
This goes without question. The cornerbacks failed on Sunday and were the primary reason for the Rams’ loss. Marcus Peters owned up to it and said he has to play better after allowing a big day to Michael Thomas. Troy Hill wasn’t much better and Nickell Robey-Coleman was kept off the field for most of the game due to the Saints’ personnel groupings.

The cornerback position is a bit of a mess right now for Los Angeles and it has to improve until Aqib Talib comes back. Play like this against Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes won’t end well.

Grade: F

Safety
Lamarcus Joyner was second on the team with eight tackles and had a pass breakup, while John Johnson was tied for the lead with nine tackles. There was plenty to like about the way they played, but Joyner was beaten by Alvin Kamara for a touchdown and John Johnson missed at least one tackle.

Grade: B-

Special teams
There was the fake field goal (which appeared to get the first down), the missed 51-yarder and only one punt by Johnny Hekker. With so little room for error and very few special teams plays, the Rams struggled in this department.

Grade: C+

 

[gabriel18]

21 points in a 5 minute span was a killer . All day to pass for Brees can't happen if they meet again.

 

[Ramrocket]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/06/nfl-rams-saints-week-9-grades-report-card/

Safety
Lamarcus Joyner was second on the team with eight tackles and had a pass breakup, while John Johnson was tied for the lead with nine tackles. There was plenty to like about the way they played, but Joyner was beaten by Alvin Kamara for a touchdown and John Johnson missed at least one tackle.

Grade: B-

Sorry, don't agree. Tackle numbers don't indicate the poor level of play that emanated from Joyner in particular. I'm a big Joyner fan and advocated for him to be drafted by the Rams. He has been taking bad angles and failing to wrap up for weeks now and his support over the top for our under siege CB's is almost non-existent. Johnson disappointed me less so but even he hasn't been as dominant as he has in the past. Grade D- for me.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Sorry, don't agree. Tackle numbers don't indicate the poor level of play that emanated from Joyner in particular. I'm a big Joyner fan and advocated for him to be drafted by the Rams. He has been taking bad angles and failing to wrap up for weeks now and his support over the top for our under siege CB's is almost non-existent. Johnson disappointed me less so but even he has been as dominant as he has in the past. Grade D- for me.

too right. we want to see pass breakups and ints from joyner, not tackles. getting so many tackles means he was too late to the party.

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[kurtfaulk]

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i could watch that pass all day. perfect in so many ways. it's football porn.

i might need to go relieve myself.

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[hotanez]

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i could watch that pass all day. perfect in so many ways. it's football porn.

i might need to go relieve myself.

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Freaking Higbee

 

[poLARizing]

Freaking Higbee

That was a tight window and Aikman was impressed after that play. If we're seeing this accuracy now from Goff at year 2.5, man he should be Rodgeresque by age 25? Yes? LOL.

 

[hotanez]

That was a tight window and Aikman was impressed after that play. If we're seeing this accuracy now from Goff at year 2.5, man he should be Rodgeresque by age 25? Yes? LOL.

He's there already, its unfortunate that such a perfect pass is dropped. Higbee's hands are so inconsistent. At least Everett is looking good

 

[SteezyEndo]

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i could watch that pass all day. perfect in so many ways. it's football porn.

i might need to go relieve myself.

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Higbee had 1 good play! Which was not for a TD. He could of made that play above also and been good. Why the hell can he not be consistent and make catches that count. I’ve been vocal about his inconsistency and now its becoming old really fast.

 

[dang]

He's there already, its unfortunate that such a perfect pass is dropped. Higbee's hands are so inconsistent. At least Everett is looking good

Higbee's hands are way beyond inconsistent - they are incontinent. But he's an outstanding blocking TE.