The defense

[GoodBadUgly]

Some people will find any excuse to complain. If we had a perfect game people would be complaining about logos and uniforms.

Which looked MARVELOUS, by the way...

 

[dieterbrock]

Which looked MARVELOUS, by the way...

I may be the biggest detractor of the new unis, but even I have to agree with that

 

[Faceplant]

Given that we have a new DC and some new faces, I'd say it was fine overall. Sure, the long dink-and-dunk drives are frustrating to watch but, in the end, the Rams gave up 14 points and allowed 322 total yards and 4.7 yards per play. Those are very good numbers.

This right here. I swear reading this thread you almost think the Rams LOST by 20.....

 

[Kupped]

Kinda re-stating what I said before but with a little more context..

Robinson only played 33% of the snaps. Tells me he was limited and I'm going to not read too much into his performance. I expect it to get better.

When Bobby Brown's thumb is all better, I expect him to move past Jonah Williams on the active list. Rams can get very big on some run plays with SJD, Brown and Robinson on the front.

Tackling should get better.

I'm trying not to be too much of a homer and trying to keep expectations tempered.. but Justin Hollins seems to be balling. PFF grade of 90.. plenty of tackles.. 2 sacks, sure Donald creates the situation, but you gotta be able to take advantage.
All from a UDFA wire pickup. He certainly looked better than Ebukam, imo.

 

[BonifayRam]

A'Shawn is not Brockers.

He is not even close....my concerns in my post before the game on Robinson now have increased much higher. This DL'er brings no contribution to this DL playing any of the 3 positions. The Rams have made a bad decision here with A'Shawn Robinson.

I am just hoping that his minor knee event might have caused that smelly rotten egg laid on the field last night.

I prefer SJD just start @ Brocker's post & coach Henderson put Jonah Williams in the rotation instead. NT Gaines got the most snaps overall in this Bears game since he was drafted. Gaines is better than Robinson.

 

[BonifayRam]

This right here. I swear reading this thread you almost think the Rams LOST by 20.....

That's because you were listening to Chris Collinsworth last night. I keep looking @ the score as Chris ran on and on.......... all he wanted to talk about was the Bears & it's obvious he has something for the Bears running back.

I still think Chris believes the Bears won the game.

 

[WestCoastRam]

i expect our run-D to be rusty. Lack of tackling in preseason/camp. New Dlineman learning gap-and-a-half. I was happy with our 3rd/4th down defenses. Not sure I could ask for much more in 1st game of season.

I would have a problem if our game plan remains static for other teams though.

 

[Psycho_X]

He is not even close....my concerns in my post before the game on Robinson now have increased much higher. This DL'er brings no contribution to this DL playing any of the 3 positions. The Rams have made a bad decision here with A'Shawn Robinson.

I am just hoping that his minor knee event might have caused that smelly rotten egg laid on the field last night.

I prefer SJD just start @ Brocker's post & coach Henderson put Jonah Williams in the rotation instead. NT Gaines got the most snaps overall in this Bears game since he was drafted. Gaines is better than Robinson.

Yeah I'm hoping the knee is part of the issue there and why he didn't play all that much. But I've also got high hopes for Bobby Brown to start sharing that responsibility on the line. I'm looking for Brown and Rochelle to be steady contributors by mid season.

 

[BonifayRam]

Yeah I'm hoping the knee is part of the issue there and why he didn't play all that much. But I've also got high hopes for Bobby Brown to start sharing that responsibility on the line. I'm looking for Brown and Rochelle to be steady contributors by mid season.

Me Too! Outside CB Robert Rochell made one of the best plays of the game in pass defense after he took over the starting corner post for Long. He is far more talented than David Long! I would look for Rochell to push Long off the field. I hope it's soon.

DC Morris knows that CB Ramsey must remain in the Star position to make those impact plays. David Long is the weakest of his DB's on the field. How many pass completions were made last night with Long as the responsible defender? A lot!

 

[den-the-coach]

DC Morris knows that CB Ramsey must remain in the Star position to make those impact plays. David Long is the weakest of his DB's on the field. How many pass completions were made last night with Long as the defender? A lot!

Long made a few plays, but it's obvious to everyone Rochel excels in press coverage, whereas Long gives the receiver room to make the catches. I'd like to see more pressure, brought Rapp once on a blitz and Peters was able to come off inside and stop Rapp, but IMO, that could lead to future QB sacks and is one thing Rapp excels at.

 

[Psycho_X]

Long made a few plays, but it's obvious to everyone Rochel excels in press coverage, whereas Long gives the receiver room to make the catches. I'd like to see more pressure, brought Rapp once on a blitz and Peters was able to come off inside and stop Rapp, but IMO, that could lead to future QB sacks and is one thing Rapp excels at.

Ramsey was brought on a blitz from slot as well but was a quick pass like most of the game so didn't matter. But was good to see some creative blitzing like that. It'll be important against the teams that don't play the quick game like the Bears did until the end.

 

[LARams_1963]

I get the bend but don’t break mentality but they had some real long drives. Need to get them off the field. Last year they didn’t allow 1 hundred yard rusher. Game one and they did. Hopefully not a trend. Like many have said there was bound to be some growing pains adjusting to Morris’s scheme like it did with Staleys

 

[BonifayRam]

Long made a few plays, but it's obvious to everyone Rochel excels in press coverage, whereas Long gives the receiver room to make the catches. I'd like to see more pressure, brought Rapp once on a blitz and Peters was able to come off inside and stop Rapp, but IMO, that could lead to future QB sacks and is one thing Rapp excels at.

Yes, Rapp does have the talent to sneak into the opponent's backfield to get pressure but overall Rapp does very little for me as a starter. IT might be due to all the rust too.

I would prefer to see Strong Safety 2nd yr Ram JR Reed work into that Rapp role myself. Reed always delivers the hit with the tackle & much far more instinctive.

Rapp has been very tenitive in making hits & we have already discussed his below-average pass coverage skills. IMO it's only a matter of time till DC Morris makes that call.

 

[den-the-coach]

Rapp has been very tenitive in making hits & we have already discussed his below-average pass coverage skills. IMO it's only a matter of time till DC Morris makes that call.

I concur on Rapp's ability, however, Morris has really talked Rapp up that could coach's speak, but I would like to see a few others get a chance and I like what Reed brings to the table.

 

[oldnotdead]

Morris was moving people around, and since the ones didn't play in pre-season it's going to take him a couple of games to find his combinations. I don't put a whole lot of concern regarding snap counts. Robinson was played all over the front, not just at 1T. SJD had a lot of snaps but once again his limitations were evident. There were some runs where the RB ran right by him simply because he lost focus and his role and drifted out of his gap, and as usual, he couldn't disengage. I think the snap counts will vary from game to game upon how Morris is going to play his bend not break defense.

Gaines played 1T, 3T, and even 5T as did SJD. Robinson played more snaps at 3T and 5T than 1T. SJD missed more tackles and tackle opportunities than he made. RBs were running right by him as he wasn't stout in his gap assignments and couldn't get off the block. When he did highlight was of him getting run through by the RB. Interior OL have gap assignments and SJD either gets blown out of his gap or he loses control of his gap by drifting out of it. He still struggles to get off blocks. Both, Morris and Staley, expect their DL to gap control against the run. Many of those interior runs were right through SJD's gap. He's big and strong but his technique sucks.

Collingsworth was correct, both Staley and now Morris invite the run because they feel they can control it while limiting explosive pass plays. They feel they can't totally lock both down so they chose to lock down the pass over the run. That could be a big problem playing both the Niners and Hawks who have a strong run attack.

As long as the offense can continue to force the opposition to play from behind, Morris and Staley's approach can work. The problem is when the game remains close and clock control is important, can Morris' defense get 3 and outs and get off the field quickly? That is the inherent weakness of Staley's and now Morris' approach and why I personally don't like it. I know what and why they are doing it but I'm simply happier with a more aggressive defensive approach.

I want a DC who is not going to control the game but dominate it. Morris simply didn't do it. The Colt's strength is their defense who's approach is to keep the game close and win with a methodical offense behind a good OL. I watched Reich while he was in SD and it appears he hasn't really changed.

Don't be fooled by their loss to the Sea Hawks. That was simply Wilson doing his thing. The Colts are good enough to beat you if you get sloppy. The Colts are a better team than the Bears on both sides of the ball IMO. Wentz's play was nowhere near what he was a few years ago. He can still play but he's not an elite QB from what I can see.

The Rams should beat them, but they really can't afford to give them too much leash. It will be interesting to see if Morris tightens things up next week. The Rams should be 2-0 going into their game with the Bucs. Morris can't play his bend-not break style against the Bucs. To do so will be a recipe for a loss. To beat the Bucs the Ram D must dominate not simply control them. The Bucs are one of the few teams that can match the Rams in terms of offensive firepower and strength of the defense. IMO if the Rams beat the Bucs again they can run the table all the way to the Super Bowl. Right now Tampa looks like the only potential loss on the schedule.

 

[Jacobarch]

Do you think the Ram coaches and players feel that way? I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut they know they have to up their game. I'll tell you right now they will not beat Tampa Bay playing defense like they did last night. Other teams are going to study this tape and learn how to control the clock and beat the Rams.

I'm also pretty sure the Rams style of defense is based upon the team they are playing. You also realize that a player like Reeder our MLB only played 26% of defensive snaps right? Which means we were in nickel and dime packages most of the time. Daring the Bears to run the ball. Against a heavy running team I doubt we play that style of D. It's not about scheming to beat the rams with clock control, it's about the Rams playing the type of D where they dictate what you're going to do. Until that changes our Defense will continue to dominate.

 

[Tano]

Morris was moving people around, and since the ones didn't play in pre-season it's going to take him a couple of games to find his combinations. I don't put a whole lot of concern regarding snap counts. Robinson was played all over the front, not just at 1T. SJD had a lot of snaps but once again his limitations were evident. There were some runs where the RB ran right by him simply because he lost focus and his role and drifted out of his gap, and as usual, he couldn't disengage. I think the snap counts will vary from game to game upon how Morris is going to play his bend not break defense.

Gaines played 1T, 3T, and even 5T as did SJD. Robinson played more snaps at 3T and 5T than 1T. SJD missed more tackles and tackle opportunities than he made. RBs were running right by him as he wasn't stout in his gap assignments and couldn't get off the block. When he did highlight was of him getting run through by the RB. Interior OL have gap assignments and SJD either gets blown out of his gap or he loses control of his gap by drifting out of it. He still struggles to get off blocks. Both, Morris and Staley, expect their DL to gap control against the run. Many of those interior runs were right through SJD's gap. He's big and strong but his technique sucks.

Collingsworth was correct, both Staley and now Morris invite the run because they feel they can control it while limiting explosive pass plays. They feel they can't totally lock both down so they chose to lock down the pass over the run. That could be a big problem playing both the Niners and Hawks who have a strong run attack.

As long as the offense can continue to force the opposition to play from behind, Morris and Staley's approach can work. The problem is when the game remains close and clock control is important, can Morris' defense get 3 and outs and get off the field quickly? That is the inherent weakness of Staley's and now Morris' approach and why I personally don't like it. I know what and why they are doing it but I'm simply happier with a more aggressive defensive approach.

I want a DC who is not going to control the game but dominate it. Morris simply didn't do it. The Colt's strength is their defense who's approach is to keep the game close and win with a methodical offense behind a good OL. I watched Reich while he was in SD and it appears he hasn't really changed.

Don't be fooled by their loss to the Sea Hawks. That was simply Wilson doing his thing. The Colts are good enough to beat you if you get sloppy. The Colts are a better team than the Bears on both sides of the ball IMO. Wentz's play was nowhere near what he was a few years ago. He can still play but he's not an elite QB from what I can see.

The Rams should beat them, but they really can't afford to give them too much leash. It will be interesting to see if Morris tightens things up next week. The Rams should be 2-0 going into their game with the Bucs. Morris can't play his bend-not break style against the Bucs. To do so will be a recipe for a loss. To beat the Bucs the Ram D must dominate not simply control them. The Bucs are one of the few teams that can match the Rams in terms of offensive firepower and strength of the defense. IMO if the Rams beat the Bucs again they can run the table all the way to the Super Bowl. Right now Tampa looks like the only potential loss on the schedule.

One thing that Wentz does that Dalton didn't do in this game is hold onto the ball longer than he should.

I can see Donald dominating if they don't line him up against Nelson (that guy is a beast).

 

[BriansRams]

Before the game even began I was upset that Bobby Brown wouldn't be with the 48 man eligibles. This guy occupies a lot of space.

 

[oldnotdead]

RE Rapp: Taylor is being played like an ILB, not a SS. Morris is using him as another Kenny Young in a coverage LB role. Morris is pulling Reeder and moving Rapp into the box in the same way he's moving Ramsey all over the place. Taylor proved last year he's got good anticipation in his pass reads. Morris is trying to take advantage of that by playing him as a LB, not a DB. I pointed out when the Ram's acquired Young that he's built like a SS with SS speed. With Young and Rapp, Morris feels they serve better as coverage LBs.

Remember, like Staley, Morris is prioritizing pass defense over run defense. Staley played Reeder over Young when he went to his single ILB set because Reeder has the size and speed to play the A gap runs better. Rapp is 6' and about 208 lbs. Reeder is 6'3" around 245 lbs. That's giving up a lot of bulk you need to take on the bulkier RBs.

BTW Colts RBs Taylor and Hines are legit 4.3 burners. Containing them by the front 7 will be imperative next week.

 

[Jacobarch]

I find it hilarious that people are already bitching our defense saying we are playing too soft and we need more 3 and outs. Lets add some logic to this thread.

1. Defense didn't play one live snap all pre season. Shaking off the rust is going to take a couple of weeks.
2. Slightly new scheme, Takes time to adjust
3. New players at Safety, Nickel CB, takes time to adjust to.
4. First game of the year with a new opposing QB, and having to prepare for two QB's.

And here I thought men were the more logical species.