The defense

[1maGoh]

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

If you're taking about coming up big in big moments, I don't see how you don't include him. He has more blocked punts than Greg Robinson has games without a false start (I'm pretty sure that's an actual stat, I didn't look it up though).

I think Littleton has some an excellent job, not just at the end of the game when we need it most, but also throughout the game when it's not an emergency, holy crap, hair on fire, must-get-sack-now situation.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Mark Barron is a stud! Flying all around in the 4th quarter.

 

[Merlin]

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.

Attacking the LOS doesn't mean you have a free card to get washed a yard or two out of the play. You have to win your gap in his scheme, it's a one gap scheme. This group has been springin leaks all over, so it's not just the NT position. But we need help at the position.

 

[hotanez]

Attacking the LOS doesn't mean you have a free card to get washed a yard or two out of the play. You have to win your gap in his scheme, it's a one gap scheme. This group has been springin leaks all over, so it's not just the NT position. But we need help at the position.

definitely you have to win you gap, but unless your superman your going to lose battles sometimes. offensive coordinators aren't stupid, they will attack what they see as a weakness. This can be a defensive player or the scheme itself. My opinion is that Wade unleashes his Dline. They are in attack mode, it will leave them out of position sometimes. I don't see how to change that or fix that. change the scheme? Don't think Wade will be doing that.

 

[Mackeyser]

Peter's is playing undisciplined football. Nothing to do with an injury. Last week, all he had to do on Vikings 1st TD, was stay with his man deeper into the endzone and he picks it off. Insread he stops short and looks around while the ball goes over his head. This week, he is to busy looking at his teamates' assignments hoping to cherry pick an INT and letting his man score TDs.

Well, that’s not what McVay said.

He said on one play, Peters was playing it like they schemed it and got burnt on the extension by Wilson. The second was they got caught in the wrong defensive call.

Peters may have gambled a bit, but McVay was clear that the two big ones were on the coaches.

Also, the D has yet to find a rhythm as every unit has had injuries and disruptions to their continuity.

Pretty sure they get right the next two games.

 

[Mackeyser]

What people forget is that we've faced some BIG OLs.

The Raiders likely have the biggest interior OL in the league. Those are big, strong bodies.

DJ Fluker is a mammoth of a man and while he did all the OL tricks and thought he had a much better game than he really did, he legit pancaked Suh more than once.

We won't be facing OLs like this every week.

The Raiders OL is legit
The Chargers OL is legit
The Vikings OL is decent (they're not what they were last year)
The Seahawks OL is a legit run OL (their pass OL is pretty crappy)

So, yeah, the teams with big interior OLs will try to run on us and have some success as is the case with EVERY 3-4.

You stop that by having big interior LBs like Tedy Bruschi, but he'd be a tremendous liability in coverage. You can have smaller playmakers like Danny Trevathan when Denver's D was so amazing...but you risk an OL getting to the second level.

NO D is perfect or set up to obviate everything an offense can do.

Also, let's not forget that our O has had more time together and other than Cooks and Blythe taking over for Brown, no turnover from last year. Our D is almost half different, there've been injuries and they're still learning to play together. If we get to the time when Talib gets back and we're still doing this, THEN we'll have cause for concern.

In 2016, I saw even prior to the season that we had structural issues. You all KNOW if we had structural issues on D, I'd say so no matter how unpopular it was.

We just don't.

True, we aren't going to be the dominant D we'd hoped we'd be as this D comes together slower than we'd like, but I truly think short of major injury that our D will be the toughest D entering the playoffs. All the things I look to point to that.

I'd have to give credit to the Ravens, but they may not even make the playoffs...

We're gonna be fine when it matters. Until then, stock up on some Tums or Xanax or a good Scotch and relax. The O is the best O in the league to carry a D while they're working things out.

 

[ProGen]

It's clear what we suck at...

But what can be done about it this year?

Trade for an outside rusher?
Put Kiser in to help against the run?
Play with a 4-3 front more often?
Tell Marcus Peters to stop worrying about the big play?
Get Okoronkwo to up his stem cell therapy and get out there for the Niners/Packers game?

Clearly, a lot of this is scheme, and it's Wades job to adjust, but these defensive struggles will kill us if the O ever fails to put up 30+

 

[UKram]

Pass defense aside, we know not having Talib is a huge blow. But how are we going to stop the run? Two consecutive years of crappy run D, with an entire off-season and draft to address personell and or develop our younger players. What progress has been made?

DJ Fluker came out after the game and said they kicked our ass up front (which they did), and that our players while talented up front, don't want to stop the run. If this is the case or how other teams are perceiving us, then I put that on Wade.

yeah they kicked our ass up front ......but who won ?

 

[Mojo Ram]

Too early. Let’s wait until we’re 8-0 to panic.

 

[jt13]

The defense played pretty well yesterday. They gave up 65 yards rushing in the first half and a scoreless 4th quarter. Peters getting burned for the TD's was the biggest problem. He may be a step slow with the injury but will improve with some more help from the safeties. The refs made the game closer than expected but the Rams won anyway.

 

[JonRam99]

The defense played pretty well yesterday. They gave up 65 yards rushing in the first half and a scoreless 4th quarter. Peters getting burned for the TD's was the biggest problem. He may be a step slow with the injury but will improve with some more help from the safeties. The refs made the game closer than expected but the Rams won anyway.

I will say that one of the TD's against Peters, he was motioning that the wide receiver stepped out of the back of the end zone, which he did. That TD should not have counted against him. At least I'm pretty sure I saw that was Peters...

 

[jrry32]

The defense will round into form. We had some ugly games early on last year too.

 

[Boston Ram]

I think week after week the defense will improve. My biggest concern is the outside pass rush. For a 3-4 to work, you need that and if we can generate that everything else will take care of itself.

If no outside pass rush can be found, look for us to play more zone.

I think the defense will find itself, but I also understand why people would question it. The defense has not been good so far. Good news is we are 5-0 and have time to find a solution.

 

[fearsomefour]

The defense will round into form. We had some ugly games early on last year too.

It will be interesting to see.
The LB play has been very underwhelming.
It was nice to see Barron back on the field and Littleton was active, not always effective, but active.
Samson and Longacre have been MIA this season although Longacre did nab a sack vs Seattle tbat was taken away on a D hold.
The Rams have to get contributions from their OLBs. If no one can step and be a force coming off the corner tbe LB group as a whole need to tackle better. They were terrible in Seattle. The DL is going to eat blockers, the LB have to tackle.

 

[fearsomefour]

I think week after week the defense will improve. My biggest concern is the outside pass rush. For a 3-4 to work, you need that and if we can generate that everything else will take care of itself.

If no outside pass rush can be found, look for us to play more zone.

I think the defense will find itself, but I also understand why people would question it. The defense has not been good so far. Good news is we are 5-0 and have time to find a solution.

You are probably right about playing more zone, which is not good. The D was built to run a lot of man.

 

[Sleepy1711]

The defense will round into form. We had some ugly games early on last year too.

Agreed, I think I've seen this quite a bit with them, the defense needs time to get. The offense looks great because All the starters had a year in the system. The defense needs a little time.

 

[Boston Ram]

You are probably right about playing more zone, which is not good. The D was built to run a lot of man.

I agree, but worst case is they go this route. Come December, I will look at red zone stats. If we give up yards and make teams kick FGs we will be fine. With our offense we will be fine in that scenario.

 

[fearsomefour]

The defense played pretty well yesterday. They gave up 65 yards rushing in the first half and a scoreless 4th quarter. Peters getting burned for the TD's was the biggest problem. He may be a step slow with the injury but will improve with some more help from the safeties. The refs made the game closer than expected but the Rams won anyway.

65 yards in a half is not good.
The tackling was bad.
Peters trying to jump routes (maybe because he isn't 100%?) made the score worse than it should have been. Expect more deep shots vs Peters in the coming weeks.
But, the scoreless 4th Quarter is huge.
Great teams find ways to win games. In the past Rams teams would find ways to lose.
But, playing a great...:yes great....QB in a very hostile road game while losing players and losing the turn over battle....that was a great ugly win.

 

[Ramstien]

I hate to see them play zone. I would rather see the other team score on one big play and then our offense is back on the field then to go all the way down the field in small chunks and score while eating up the clock. This zone defense is like being pecked to death by 100 chickens.

 

[Andrewjm]

I actually think our run defense has been a little better this year. Remember last year, there was a stretch where it felt like every game we’d give up a long run for a touchdown. This season, some teams have gashed us here and there, but not nearly as bad as last season. At least so far. But I think we’ll improve on defense as the season goes along.