PREGAME Super Bowl 56 - Rams vs Bengals

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BonifayRam

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Rams News: How the Rams defense and Bengals offense match up in the trenches​

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One week of previewing and comparing the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams with the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals is down and one more week to go. Jackson Krueger Sports on Youtube dropped a couple of interesting preview videos looking at the matchups between the Rams and Bengals ahead of Super Bowl 56.

One of Krueger’s videos highlights the biggest mismatch which is the Bengals offensive line vs the defensive front of the Rams. Aaron Donald has led one of the leagues best pass rushes in the national football league this season with Von Miller and Leonard Floyd helping to post over 50 sacks this season. Supporting the cause has also been interior lineman Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson.

Krueger points to each players individual PFF ranking and starts with Donald being at the top of the class ranked best at his position out of 119. Von Miller is the fourth best at his position out of 109. A’Shawn Robinson is ranked 14 of 119 and Leonard Floyd and Greg Gaines are ranked 31 of 109 and 32 of 119 respectively.

The Bengals offensive line responsible for protecting Joe Burrow against the Rams pass rush and creating space for runners has their center Trey Hopkins ranked 35 of 39, their better right guard Jackson Carmen 67 of 82 and right tackle Isaiah Prince 77 of 83. The left side of the line ranks better 25 of 82 and 26 of 83 for tackle Jonah Williams and guard Quinton Spain.

Both teams have earned their right to the big stage with weapons on both sides. It will be one interesting area to watch and see how this matchup in the trenches plays out.

 

BonifayRam

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Matthew Stafford excels against the Bengals’ two most popular coverages​

Cameron DaSilva Mon, February 7, 2022,


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The Bengals defense presents some legitimate challenges for the Rams offense, especially after seeing Cincinnati shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the second half of the AFC title game. They may not feature a star-studded group like the Rams do, but the Bengals have played well on defense.

What doesn’t bode well for them is the fact that Matthew Stafford has excelled against their two most popular coverages: Cover-3 and Cover-1.

The Bengals run Cover-3 and Cover-1 more than any other coverage. Cover-1 is man coverage underneath with a single-high safety in the middle of the field, while Cover-3 is zone coverage with three deep defenders and four underneath zones.

According to The Athletic, Stafford has the fifth-most EPA (estimated points added) per play (0.18) in the NFL against Cover-3 and averages 0.5 EPA per play against Cover-1, which is the highest of any quarterback.

The Bengals’ most popular coverage has been Cover-3. Stafford ranks fifth in EPA per play (0.18) against Cover-3. Cincinnati’s second most popular coverage has been Cover-1. Stafford has been the NFL’s best quarterback against Cover-1 (0.5 EPA per play). The difference between Stafford and the second-best QB against Cover-1 (which happens to be Burrow) is the same as the difference between Burrow and Jared Goff, who ranks 13th.
Against man coverage in general, Stafford has been outstanding this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he has a 93.6 grade against man coverage, which is the best of any quarterback.

View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1490097913741160448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1490097913741160448%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2022%2F02%2F07%2Frams-matthew-stafford-bengals-coverage-stats%2F


The Bengals don’t run a ton of man coverage, using it about 35% of the time, according to The Athletic, but Stafford should feast on those opportunities when he gets them on Sunday. He has the highest EPA per play in the NFL against man coverage this year, dominating against single-high coverages, in particular (0.29 EPA/play, best in NFL).

Part of what makes Stafford so good against man coverage is the help he gets from his receivers. Cooper Kupp is an outstanding route runner who seems to get open on every play. Odell Beckham Jr. has thrived with the Rams, too, drawing single coverage often while teams attempt to slow down Kupp. And then there’s Van Jefferson, who has been the Rams’ deep threat most of the season and typically lines up outside.
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The Bengals secondary is going to have a hard time slowing down the Rams offense in man coverage on Sunday, which is why they’re likely to disguise coverages pre-snap and use more zone – even though Stafford still ranks sixth in EPA per play against zone this season.
 

FaulkSF

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If I'm the Bengals I play a deep shell cover 2. Again, similar to how they played KC, and blanket Kupp. Heck they could even disguise 1 deep and 2 deep safeties with the shallow safety back pedaling at the snap into a deep position.

With that said, McVay and Stafford needs to take what is there. Run the ball and get those 5-6 yards. Throw to the check down for 5-8 yards. I'd do my best to give the defense as much rest as possible to fly around and contain their WRs, and have the DL tear through that shaky oline.
 

kurtfaulk

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They mentioned that a bunch during the Pro Bowl. Wonder if it’s a contract thing.

it's almost always been that way. the international broadcast gets it's own crew commenting on the game. i guess they tell this crew to explain the rules a little more during the game so new people watching can know what's going on.

.
 

Merlin

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If I'm the Bengals I play a deep shell cover 2.
Philosophically I agree with you, but the Bengals won't be able to fully sit back. They don't have the DL to do that and still be able to beat our OL. That's the beauty of this matchup for the Rams IMO.

But the Bengals know if they play Cover 1 and 3 Stafford is gonna destroy them. There's enough film of that to where the Bengals know it to be true. Only way you can succeed vs 9 with those looks is if you have the rush. Does Cincy have that rush? I don't think so even though our OL has been known to have the occasional shitty pass pro outing.

Either way I figure we see a ton of match quarters. Which is to say Cover 4 with pattern match underneath. I'd have a ton of Cover 6 mixed in too if I'm them. But it's not gonna matter tbh. I just don't think the Bengals have the defense to stop us. Their hope is sustained drives by their offense burning through clock and chilling Stafford and company and keeping the game close so they can steal it.
 

kurtfaulk

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it's a simple fact. if stafford plays well no team can beat the rams. there's just too much talent on the team and stafford is so clutch in the 4th qtr.

in 4 losses this season stafford was just off from the very first snap. the other one against the whiners in week 18 there may have been some shenanigans going on.

.
 

Merlin

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7 straight seasons with no first round pick. In that time they have been a playoff team in 4 of McVay's 5 seasons to include two Super Bowl appearances and maybe a win this time.

They just need to ice this game and hoist the Lombardi to cement their approach.
 

Steve808

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Watching NFL live. One of the talking heads says the Rams have the better offense, defense and special teams so he's picking the Bengals because Joe Burrow was a stud at LSU.

WTF?
 

FarNorth

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Rams News: How the Rams defense and Bengals offense match up in the trenches​

View attachment 51911


One week of previewing and comparing the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams with the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals is down and one more week to go. Jackson Krueger Sports on Youtube dropped a couple of interesting preview videos looking at the matchups between the Rams and Bengals ahead of Super Bowl 56.

One of Krueger’s videos highlights the biggest mismatch which is the Bengals offensive line vs the defensive front of the Rams. Aaron Donald has led one of the leagues best pass rushes in the national football league this season with Von Miller and Leonard Floyd helping to post over 50 sacks this season. Supporting the cause has also been interior lineman Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson.

Krueger points to each players individual PFF ranking and starts with Donald being at the top of the class ranked best at his position out of 119. Von Miller is the fourth best at his position out of 109. A’Shawn Robinson is ranked 14 of 119 and Leonard Floyd and Greg Gaines are ranked 31 of 109 and 32 of 119 respectively.

The Bengals offensive line responsible for protecting Joe Burrow against the Rams pass rush and creating space for runners has their center Trey Hopkins ranked 35 of 39, their better right guard Jackson Carmen 67 of 82 and right tackle Isaiah Prince 77 of 83. The left side of the line ranks better 25 of 82 and 26 of 83 for tackle Jonah Williams and guard Quinton Spain.

Both teams have earned their right to the big stage with weapons on both sides. It will be one interesting area to watch and see how this matchup in the trenches plays out.

Finally some common sense. The D-line is the Rams' biggest advantage, and (along with Ramsay) it is a critical one. They are going to crush the Bengals' oline and put enormous pressure on Burrow.
 

badnews

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Anyone good at making short highlight videos and feeling like doing one for my own amusement lol?

I'd love to see "Akers' Face Breakers" or "Cam Akers' Soul Takers" or whatever but something that is just a collection of Cam punishing defenders that get in his way.
(The music should be Bulls on Parade by RATM)

Then a follow up could be "Matt Stafford's Soul Takers", a collection of his clutch throws to pull out late wins. (Music: Man in the Box by AIC)%

Then of course could be Aaron Donald's Soul Takers..... etc... it could never end....
 

dieterbrock

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Ok, bye week over. Hope it starts to feel like the big game is coming up!
 

Merlin

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Anyone good at making short highlight videos and feeling like doing one for my own amusement lol?

I'd love to see "Akers' Face Breakers" or "Cam Akers' Soul Takers" or whatever but something that is just a collection of Cam punishing defenders that get in his way.
(The music should be Bulls on Parade by RATM)

Then a follow up could be "Matt Stafford's Soul Takers", a collection of his clutch throws to pull out late wins. (Music: Man in the Box by AIC)%

Then of course could be Aaron Donald's Soul Takers..... etc... it could never end....
I am convinced we're about to get the game of Akers' life. Since he's been back he has flashed but hasn't put it together. Couple games back in that Tampa matchup the fumbles killed the confidence that outing would have given him. Last game the 9ers have such great ILBs that they minimize RB impact.

Akers is an enormous mismatch for Cinci's ILBs. Plus Cam is a tough and driven competitor who is going to be ready to go. OL matchup looks good vs that DL. Stars are aligned for Cam Akers Super Bowl MVP. IMO.