Some thoughts on ‘the morning after’…

[Jacobarch]

I think next year we have to go "all in" again. Might be Stafford and Donald's last season. Let's go out with a bang.

I'm not sure if all in is even needed at this point. The rams have drafted so well the last couple of years they could get away with a splash signing or two and finish it off with the draft. One thing I'd like to see is more depth along both lines.

 

[dang]

I think the Rams defense started out very concerned with the Ravens running game and the Ravens plan was to pass because:

1. The Rams had been stopping the run against other teams.
2. They figured the young secondary would be indecisive.
3 They knew they’d be able to neutralize the pass rush once they realized that the refs would allow AD to be blatantly held on every single pass play.

Harbaugh’s little ‘in your face’ celebration at the end, was disgusting, because he knew the refs helped them win that game from start to finish.

Agreed on Harbaugh. He needs a nice ROD tag - I propose ‘Hairball’.

 

[dang]

I'm not sure if all in is even needed at this point. The rams have drafted so well the last couple of years they could get away with a splash signing or two and finish it off with the draft. One thing I'd like to see is more depth along both lines.

“Splash” is what happens when the turd hits the water. I don’t think the Rams need splash signings. On defense they need major improvement on edge pressure and discipline on pass coverage. On offense they need a starter at LT and solid depth across the board.

 

[RamWoodie]

In this case it was rare MOF look ... Rams usually in shell --- here Fuller in MOF, Johnson in slot, Spoon in press. I don't know if Johnson or FUller should have the 3rd vertical... Spoon had #1, Johnson took #2 ... Fuller? should Johnson have passed the #2 and taken #3? Or did Fuller misread and not get over to the #3?

I suspect something but don't know for sure.View attachment 62803

Well...I assume they're in zone because no one goes with the motion guy...but the reason It may be totally blown coverage because they don't even shift the zone to the motion guy. As I watched that play yesterday the first thing that came to me was "no one's shifting or moving to the motion guy".... At that point I knew it was gonna be bad.

Someone was asleep at the switch!

 

[JimY53]

Well...I assume they're in zone

Zone match. No one matched. It's zone with man principles.

 

[gabriel18]

Jackson had all day back there. Any type of pressure at all yesterday , and it’s a win.

 

[Kupped]

The Rams now have a top 10 offense. With a healthy Kyren all season.. easy to believe would’ve been top 5.

 

[gabriel18]

Trammel needs to be let go. You can’t have a guy that you can’t trust fielding punts. 2 drops in a row at the end of a game , and he’s had a fumble or two this year.
The last punt he dropped could’ve been returned 10 yards before contact. When I saw they put him back out there after the first muff , I had a feeling he’d cough it up again. Putt Kupp back there in crunch time and just fair catch it.
The kid has the yips now.

 

[FrantikRam]

On some of those Ravens TDs, Jackson just bought time. Need context for everything....there were many plays where the secondary covered well and far, far, far, far longer than any secondary should realistically be expected to do so. They got beat too - but if you replace Lamar Jackson with, well, Joe Flacco......we win fairly easily and the defense likely allows less than 20 again.

I don't think there needs to be blame for this one, because we went toe to toe with possibly the best team in the AFC, on the road them coming off a bye in bad weather.

The OP mentions the secondary, but not McVay/Stafford combining for a horrifically bad OT possession when the defense had forced a three and out.

I expect the defense to play mediocre for the most part.....our secondary combines to make peanuts in the NFL world. Conversely our coach, QB and Kupp are PAID - the NFL is a game of inches....and considering where we allocate our funds, the failed 2 point attempt plus the embarrassing OT possession are more the reasons we lost than anything the defense did or didn't do.

Having said that, this is the best I've ever felt about a loss. I have faith that McVay learns from these situations and I know Stafford is clutch. We are going to the playoffs this year

 

[OntarioRam]

Trammel needs to be let go. You can’t have a guy that you can’t trust fielding punts. 2 drops in a row at the end of a game , and he’s had a fumble or two this year.
The last punt he dropped could’ve been returned 10 yards before contact. When I saw they put him back out there after the first muff , I had a feeling he’d cough it up again. Putt Kupp back there in crunch time and just fair catch it.
The kid has the yips now.

I agree. Surely we must have better options? It's not like his return skills have been anything special to warrant the drops.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

The Baltimore Signal Jammers or the Purple Thugs?

Which one do you guys like?

 

[Merlin]

Trammel needs to be let go. You can’t have a guy that you can’t trust fielding punts. 2 drops in a row at the end of a game , and he’s had a fumble or two this year.
The last punt he dropped could’ve been returned 10 yards before contact. When I saw they put him back out there after the first muff , I had a feeling he’d cough it up again. Putt Kupp back there in crunch time and just fair catch it.
The kid has the yips now.

Returns are the last responsibility Kupp needs right now. Though I agree Trammel is on his way out this offseason if he makes it that far.

Frustrating, though, isn't it. That McVay can't ever draft or sign a fucking real returner. One with the ability to flip the field for us occasionally.

 

[oldnotdead]

If Morris isn't hired and I doubt he will be (his performance as a HC and DC are uninspiring) it will be time to promote him to consultant like they did with Kromer. They then can promote Pleasant to DC.

Two things stand out when I look at the situation. Raheem was brought in to build off of Staley's work and that hasn't happened. In fact the reverse has been true. He's had 3 years but it's been a steady decline. Kroenke can see how his bend don't break BS costs games. If Kroenke is unhappy and don't think he doesn't make his feelings known to Snead, then Morris will be gone. IMO the obvious scenario is....

1. Why would Pleasant return unless he was made certain promises?
2. Why was Jimmy Lake hired and given the "don't poach me" designation of assist HC? Lake is an assistant to Pleasant so why does a position coach need a veteran position coach assistant?

Promoting Pleasant while keeping Morris on the staff serves a few purposes. It avoids the Rooney Rule issue, Lake is then promoted to secondary coach.

Raheem isn't fired but after his fourth year his contract is deemed expired. It preserves his reputation for McVay's buddy. It also allows Raheem to shop himself during that 4th year potentially giving the Rams comp picks if hired in 2024 or 2025.

Well that is at least my hope because I don't see a DC who took a #1 defense and immediately tanked it into the bottom half of the league as viable HC material. IMO Brian Flores becomes a HC before Raheem.

 

[oldnotdead]

Frustrating, though, isn't it. That McVay can't ever draft or sign a fucking real returner. One with the ability to flip the field for us occasionally.

Xavier Smith has field flipping speed (4.44) and has returned kicks in college. Why they gave it to Trammell has been a head scratcher all season. Time to at least try Smith out. Trammell is slow for a returner (4.62) or even a WR at 5'10".

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Returns are the last responsibility Kupp needs right now. Though I agree Trammel is on his way out this offseason if he makes it that far.

Frustrating, though, isn't it. That McVay can't ever draft or sign a fucking real returner. One with the ability to flip the field for us occasionally.

They let Brandon Powell go. He was a pretty good returner.

 

[majrleaged]

I think he's very replaceable and they'll have money to do it, if they don't keep him.

Agreed. the rams need to upgrade both outside corners. The ones they have are to slow. Not much make up speed which is needed cause all corners get juked.

 

[majrleaged]

On some of those Ravens TDs, Jackson just bought time. Need context for everything....there were many plays where the secondary covered well and far, far, far, far longer than any secondary should realistically be expected to do so. They got beat too - but if you replace Lamar Jackson with, well, Joe Flacco......we win fairly easily and the defense likely allows less than 20 again.

I don't think there needs to be blame for this one, because we went toe to toe with possibly the best team in the AFC, on the road them coming off a bye in bad weather.

The OP mentions the secondary, but not McVay/Stafford combining for a horrifically bad OT possession when the defense had forced a three and out.

I expect the defense to play mediocre for the most part.....our secondary combines to make peanuts in the NFL world. Conversely our coach, QB and Kupp are PAID - the NFL is a game of inches....and considering where we allocate our funds, the failed 2 point attempt plus the embarrassing OT possession are more the reasons we lost than anything the defense did or didn't do.

Having said that, this is the best I've ever felt about a loss. I have faith that McVay learns from these situations and I know Stafford is clutch. We are going to the playoffs this year

Agree with this. Don't forget the opening drive. 9 runs to 1st and goal then right to a empty back field. It is as irritating to me as soft coverage play after play from morris. For being great coaches, they sure do have a couple of huge wholes.

 

[majrleaged]

Xavier Smith has field flipping speed (4.44) and has returned kicks in college. Why they gave it to Trammell has been a head scratcher all season. Time to at least try Smith out. Trammell is slow for a returner (4.62) or even a WR at 5'10".

they give him looks in preseason and he doesn't do squat. He dances around. At least Trammell gets the ball and goes.

 

[Ramstien]

He goes for one yard after he picks the ball up that he just dropped.

 

[oldnotdead]

Powell wasn't a burner but he had vision and good hands. Size isn't a factor when he's a returner. Sean and Les need to draft a WR or RB who can return kicks. If that is all he does, but does it well he can win games or at least not lose them.