The defense

[Merlin]

He didn't he ended up doing a good job overall. I was hoping someone had heard the reason why Sam Shields was replaced by Troy Hill. I posted that it was my opinion that Hill is a much better tackler than Shields. Have any ideal why Wade would insert Troy OldSchool?

Shields is weak in run support, and undisciplined at times where he wants to jump routes to the detriment of the scheme. Hill is Hill, inconsistent as F overall, dude lacks Shields' ball skills really only better vs the run.

I think Wade is trying to use each for situations where they are best served. Shields in obvious passing situations. Hill otherwise. But I'd have to go back and watch to ensure what I think I saw was what I actually saw.

 

[jrry32]

I know all about Wade's scheme Jrry. Not gonna go back and forth about it. Never said a 2 gap NT. Just a big dude who is hard to move is badly needed.

Suh has grown on me a bit. But I wasn't in favor of his signing at the time, and our need is still there at nose. Cheers man.

Since he inherited Jamal Williams in San Diego (who was a freakishly athletic guy), Wade really hasn't used a guy like that. He used Jay Ratliff in Dallas, Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell in Houston, Sylvester Williams in Denver, and Ethan Westbrooks and Ndamukong Suh here. I think Suh is the prototype for what Wade wants in a NT. We do need a NT because I don't see Suh with this team in 2019, but I will be surprised if the NT we bring in is a big guy. But as I said, there are occasional big guys who have the requisite athleticism to play in the scheme. However, even then, being hard to move isn't really their feature because they're going to be asked to attack.

 

[NJRamsFan]

Watching the Seattle game I was just as baffled as all of you were in regards to our defense. How could a team with such starpower on the D line get tossed around and gashed over and over with what looked to be the same exact run play?

While I’m still asking myself that question I realized something, at least we have “closers”. And what I mean by that is those guys around the league that seem to always come up big when the lights are brightest. Making a game clinching sack, forcing a fumble, getting an INT, when all hope seems lost these guys continuously show out when it means the most. We don’t just have one either we have 4 of them on the same team. AD, Suh, Talib, and Peters are all guys notorious for making big time plays in big time moments. When our D looked like they couldn’t stop the Nick Foles rams all day vs Seattle all of a sudden Suh flashes with 2 sacks in big moments(one was negated) Marcus Peters had an awful game but all of a sudden game on the line he has a huge pass break up. We’ve all seen Donald do it a ton noteably that Thursday night shootout vs the 9ers when he had the Walk off sack. It’s nice to know we have true stars who will step up when we need it most even if our D is playing poorly still a big asset.

Just trying to be positive ‍

 

[jrry32]

Shields is weak in run support, and undisciplined at times where he wants to jump routes to the detriment of the scheme. Hill is Hill, inconsistent as F overall, dude lacks Shields' ball skills really only better vs the run.

I think Wade is trying to use each for situations where they are best served. Shields in obvious passing situations. Hill otherwise. But I'd have to go back and watch to ensure what I think I saw was what I actually saw.

Yea, Hill played on running downs with Shields entering on passing downs. It was because of Shields' issues as a perimeter run defender.

 

[bomebadeeda]

I see the back and forth and I understand the why. We all feel like we can see the obvious. But we can't. Comparing one team on a schedule with another makes for interesting debate, but it's really not that deep. Matchups happen where one guy (or group of guys) has a better day against an opponent and it becomes so clear to some that an epiphany has been revealed. But the mud isn't always that clear. Take the new media darlings The Browns (yes, some regard them as the same butt end of a joke....but I think years of drafting first finally caught up w/ them.....).
Some sports radio pundits were discussing the Chiefs today and whether or not their defense would hold up. Especially this coming weekend against New England, And one of them quipped that neither the Chiefs....or the Patriots have the Browns defense but if either did, they would easily be the favorite for the Super Bowl.......so to bring a conclusion to this story, one only hast to ask...... The same Browns that allowed the Raiders to score 42 during regulation. It's not that easy to compare apples to oranges.......but counting W's is nice. That is all.

 

[Rams43]

Every week, this week included there will be four or five posts about our defense and how it needs to be fixed by you. Right now there are 2 on the front page of the Rams/NFL section. There will be another half dozen or more by other members about the very same topics. There will be at least 10 if not more posts worrying about our defense, this for a defense that is currently 6th in scoring defense only 2 PPG behind the Jags. I provided some very simple and extremely telling stats that should shed some light on the fact that offense is up in this years NFL.

If the numbers aren't enough you only have to look at the way the game is being officiated and the messages coming from the league and it's officials.They want offense. They're officiating the game to boost offense. These things are going to happen because they think, and history has shown this to be true, viewership and ratings go up with an increase in scoring!

I'm not saying don't post things that would be foolish and hypocritical of me. But every week whether it was a good or bad performance by our defense this forum turns into several days of the same thing. Random posts about how bad our defense is. In spite of the fact that overall the numbers tell a different tale.



Yes he quoted me you don't need to point it out to me I get this nice alert about it

Yes our defense didn't play well yesterday. I think I've said this several times now and I'm guessing this will be the last time I bother to point it out. Anybody who thought yesterday was going to be a cakewalk and was a sure fired blow out for the Rams in waiting hasn't watched football for that long. These kind of games happen. Last year the Rams had a serious problem in run defense. This year it's been hit or miss. After yesterday teams might try to exploit it like happened yesterday. It was Barron's first game of the year and I seem to remember people bragging about his run defense grading in the off season when I thought he could possibly be a cap casualty. It might take a couple games for him to get up to speed and the other LB's to get used to working with him. JJ has been less effective in supporting the run and this is Littleton's first year starting. We might have a few more games this year where good teams gash us a bit in the run game. Might want to prepare for it. I trust in Wade and his staff to work to alleviate this. Then again I also saw that when the game was on the line and we needed things to happen defensively they had a total of 48 yards in the 4th quarter. That shows me something but it must not register to other people.

Trust in Wade.

My OP was short and simple, OldSchool. Check it out to refresh your memory if you like.

Sorry if it struck a nerve, man.

I love the Rams and Wade just as much as you do. But since when is it not okay to point out the obvious?

Namely, that recent D performance has fallen far short of expectations. Expectations that were raised by dramatic player acquisitions and one humongous extension?

I’m not saying that the sky is falling. I still have full confidence in Wade. Just pointing out some areas that need to be addressed. Allowing 31 points per game is unsustainable.

The End

 

[OldSchool]

I'll just drop this tidbit from Jake here.


View: https://twitter.com/downtownrams/status/1049444891233783808?s=21

 

[pmil66]

Rams defense has only allowed 6 fourth quarter points in 5 games and has not surrendered a fourth quarter lead.

 

[OldSchool]

Namely, that recent D performance has fallen far short of expectations. Expectations that were raised by dramatic player acquisitions and one humongous extension?

Fan and pundit expectations haven't been met so the Rams defense is a failure so far. Granted defenses across the league haven't met those expectations but lets ignore those facts. End it all you want my brother

 

[hotanez]

Since he inherited Jamal Williams in San Diego (who was a freakishly athletic guy), Wade really hasn't used a guy like that. He used Jay Ratliff in Dallas, Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell in Houston, Sylvester Williams in Denver, and Ethan Westbrooks and Ndamukong Suh here. I think Suh is the prototype for what Wade wants in a NT. We do need a NT because I don't see Suh with this team in 2019, but I will be surprised if the NT we bring in is a big guy. But as I said, there are occasional big guys who have the requisite athleticism to play in the scheme. However, even then, being hard to move isn't really their feature because they're going to be asked to attack.

I have to agree with Jrry on this one. The Dline doesn't occupy blockers, they attack the line of scrimmage and penetrate. When the RB takes his time and finds a hole it's a big gain. Its feast or famine, no in between.

 

[hotanez]

I'll just drop this tidbit from Jake here.


View: https://twitter.com/downtownrams/status/1049444891233783808?s=21

I will say that if the game counts ,not preseason, Hill brings it. Its amazing that he can just flip a switch and play great. only bad thing he did in that game was the penalty early on. In preseason games and special teams he sucks though

 

[dang]

It appears to be a personnel issue that Wade will have to try to overcome. it’s no surprise that the secondary has taken a big step back when Talib went out and as Peters struggles through his injury. Wade needs to find someone that can apply some Edge pressure and someone to help toughen up the the middle against the run. Perhaps Kiser come into the middle so Littleton or Barron can go outside?

 

[Rams43]

I'll just drop this tidbit from Jake here.


View: https://twitter.com/downtownrams/status/1049444891233783808?s=21

Two things.

What does that say about Peters’ play?

And, maybe that’s why Wade started Hill over Shields?

 

[Soul Surfer]

After that stupid personal foul by Troy Hill, he stepped it up and I saw him make a couple of big plays.

 

[dang]

0 pts allowed in the 4th quarter!! Peters gave up 2 long TD passes via blow coverage. As Peters get back to full strength and Talib returns this should allow the Defense to greatly improve.

 

[Rabid Ram]

Watching the Seattle game I was just as baffled as all of you were in regards to our defense. How could a team with such starpower on the D line get tossed around and gashed over and over with what looked to be the same exact run play?

While I’m still asking myself that question I realized something, at least we have “closers”. And what I mean by that is those guys around the league that seem to always come up big when the lights are brightest. Making a game clinching sack, forcing a fumble, getting an INT, when all hope seems lost these guys continuously show out when it means the most. We don’t just have one either we have 4 of them on the same team. AD, Suh, Talib, and Peters are all guys notorious for making big time plays in big time moments. When our D looked like they couldn’t stop the Nick Foles rams all day vs Seattle all of a sudden Suh flashes with 2 sacks in big moments(one was negated) Marcus Peters had an awful game but all of a sudden game on the line he has a huge pass break up. We’ve all seen Donald do it a ton noteably that Thursday night shootout vs the 9ers when he had the Walk off sack. It’s nice to know we have true stars who will step up when we need it most even if our D is playing poorly still a big asset.

Just trying to be positive ‍

With direct impact on Seattle's last 2 downs hiw could you forget Littleton

 

[fearsomefour]

With direct impact on Seattle's last 2 downs hiw could you forget Littleton

.....and yet another blocked punt.
Dude is the king of the NFL blocked punt.
Two this year.
Four in two years.
Special teams stud.

 

[NJRamsFan]

With direct impact on Seattle's last 2 downs hiw could you forget Littleton

I’m not talking just about a single game, that’s why I included Talib and referenced Donald’s game from last season. I don’t think Littleton is in the same league as these players

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

A lot of the focus is on Peters but our RUSH D is the biggest weakness on this team! We had to stack the box which allowed Seattle to set up the play-action pass. I have more faith in Peters bouncing back than our lbs stuffing the middle.

 

[kurtfaulk]

After that stupid personal foul by Troy Hill, he stepped it up and I saw him make a couple of big plays.

Personal foul for the rams, legit tackle for the seafucks.

.