The problem with our defense lies with our safeties

[TheTackle]

Is the scheme really that bad, as it doesn't look too different? The DL and LBs have looked impressive barring one or two gap issues. So where is the problem?

I have been far more disappointed with our safety play than corner backs. Fuller has been OK Rapp below average. I have seen a number of plays where the defensive call was great but they have arrived too late or not taken a good angle. Fuller is doing OK considering he has so much responsibility but Rapp just doesn’t make enough plays for my taste

I really liked him when we picked him and he had a strong rookie season so maybe he can round back into form during the bye week

Scott looks ready and perhaps deserves to start but is more of a free safety type and so they would need to change the playbook to accommodate him alongside Fuller

The CBs have had a tough job in weeks 1 to 5 playing against some elite WR threes. I don’t think Hall would have faired much better. Williams is not as sharp as we would like and is playing too far off, but that is correctable. He continues to play with good technique. Even Ramsey hasn’t looked as good in terms of shutting his assignment down but, like I said, I don’t think we can discount the lack of dynamic safety play.

There have been plays where the commentator rightly said the CB was expecting help but it got there too late, but I have seen plenty of instances where a safety is too late or just plumb misses their opportunity even when in the right place

 

[simonblaze]

I think both safeties have been playing poorly IMO. We have so much depth and talent at the position, it's frustrating. I think if Juju Hughes were to take over for Rapp and Burgess takes over for Nick Scott, it'd make day and night difference in our coverage.

 

[Ram Ts]

Nail on head

 

[OntarioRam]

Agreed. The safety help is always way too late, if it arrives at all.

I am not sure if it is a scheme issue or an execution/personnel issue, as I don't have access to the coaches film. The replays on TV usually just focus on the ball/WR/CB, as opposed to a zoomed out vantage point.

Fuller looked great last year, and as a rookie no less, so that would suggest scheme, but apparently he is making a lot of the defensive calls now, and who knows how is finding that transition.

Rapp is clearly a liability in coverage. That jumps off the screen. No need for a film break down to see that. Hopefully the coaching staff adjusts. Rapp can be useful in packages where he is near the line of scrimmage, but he needs to subbed out of his current role ASAP.

We have an "easier" schedule stretch upcoming. Hopefully the Rams can use it to fine tune things.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I think they're late because they're both a bit slow for this. You need at least one guy who can cover ground and angles rapidly.

 

[Kupped]

None of the safeties are doing much.
But there are more problems than just them. Williams got absolutely torched on a double move Thursday and was lucky the pass was overthrown.
Everyone on D is having bad plays.

 

[Memphis Ram]

While they are supposed to be interchangeable, it seems to me that Fuller played more FS last year while Johnson played SS. Now Fuller seems to be playing Johnson's role. He was better playing deep.

Rapp should simply play a nickel or dime LB type role.

 

[oldnotdead]

IMO the problem isn't the players, it's how they are used. Morris doesn't allow his DBs to read and anticipate. His scheme is to read and react making everyone play slow. This was the number 1 defense last year because Staley played to his player's strengths. Sure there were mistakes made, but that can be cleaned up with experience and coaching. Morris' ultra-conservative scheme is the problem. When he returned to the Staley style, this defense dominated the SeaHawks. When he backed off and played his bend not break he allowed a backup QB to almost beat the Rams. That was all the proof anyone would need to see that Morris must change or he must leave.

Again I go back to the OL as an example. For two years everyone said it was personnel. I kept saying it wasn't personnel but coaching. McVay changed to Carberry and this OL is playing at an elite level this year. This was the number 1 defense last year. Now they are middle of the pack and struggle to stop anyone. Again everyone is pointing fingers at the players. But again I say it's the coaching and scheme. Thursday was proof of that IMO. Morris' stupid passive scheme almost allowed a backup QB to beat the Rams. He stupidly, went passive when they were dominating Wilson with aggressive play. WTF!!! No wonder Morris got shit canned. What is it going to take? This is Kromer all over again. This defense was built to attack, not sit back and hope for an offensive mistake.

 

[jrry32]

The safeties aren't the ones giving up so much underneath. It's the scheme. And Rapp is being badly misused.

 

[Malibu]

It iies with Morris. We got McVay and we soared, we got Staley and we were #1, so far Carberry looks great.

There is no way we should have regressed this much. It is Morris.

 

[wolfdogg]

Last year we didn't give up a 100 yard rusher. 2 weeks ago the cards rolled for over 220. We couldn't stop them up the middle and we couldn't contain.

Our secondary played off, soft and defensive. We gave up multiple 3rd and forevers. All of which got wade fired. So why have we reverted back to that when last year our defense was number one by playing agreessive defense.

It's clearly a scheme issue and one that will kill us in the playoffs. We will face the most aggressive offenses in the post season and the SB and a defensive defense that keeps bending won't cut it.

 

[Kupped]

What are the odds that the people attacking Morris for the scheme now were complaining about the scheme when the Rams lost in the playoffs?

 

[snackdaddy]

Sometimes it seems like a scheme issue. Sometimes its execution issues. I'm disappointed in Rapp so far. I'm also disappointed in how open receivers are underneath. Too many times its just pitch and catch. It puts a lot of pressure on defenders not to miss tackles. And they do miss some.

To be fair though, in their 4 wins they haven't given a lot of points. Its been 14/17/24/17. I'm not counting the punt block TD in Indy. 18 points per game for those 4 isn't bad in today's NFL.

The Cardinals did a number on them. But they've been doing it to everyone else too. Kyler Murray is reminding me of Lamar Jackson a couple years ago taking the league by storm. But it seems like teams have started to figure out Jackson. I don't see Murry sustaining that long term.

The defense clearly is not near as good as last year's defense. But they don't have to be. The offense should be much better this year. If the defense can be serviceable and not let games like the AZ game happen, they should win a lot of games. In the meantime they can work on getting better for the playoffs.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Agree with those who question Morris.

But let's not forget we lost a premier safety in John Johnson, who's getting paid over 11M per year by the Browns.

Put it another way-- how would JJ do as the starting safety under Morris? Having JJ back there instead of Rapp would make Morris seem a lot better...

 

[kurtfaulk]

But it seems like teams have started to figure out Jackson.

the rams had figured out murray since he entered the league. don't know wtf happened last week.

.

 

[Kupped]

the rams had figured out murray since he entered the league. don't know wtf happened last week.

.

He was injured both times they played last year and Murray is in his third year.
D wasn’t good AND Murray was very good.

 

[wolfdogg]

What are the odds that the people attacking Morris for the scheme now were complaining about the scheme when the Rams lost in the playoffs?

I was too busy complaining about Goff.

I just think it's crazy that we go from the most dominant defense we've had since the fearsome foursome to a "serviceable" one in a year. I don't actually agree with the serviceable part but I see the corners playing off too much, I see too many soft zones and I see too much bending.

Yeah, the cards have done a number on everyone they've played this year, oh wait, what's that, they beat up on the titans, the vikings, and jagz defenses? And the jagz gave up less points? None of that sounds right to me, especially with the 4 best players from last year returning, young dbs stepping up and an improved lb group.

One particularly baffling play call was when the cards had the ball on the 2 and looked to punch it in. The rams line up 2 dt and 2 lbers with several linebackers 2 yards deep in the gaps
That play had rushing td up the middle written all over it. I sat there calling it like I was Romo. Line up 6 including Gaines, and Robinson, get some push. 7 olinemen vs 4 dline including linebackers is a huge mismatch.

At least the play calling looked better in Seattle so I'm optimistic moving forward that adjustments will be made when necessary.

 

[bluecoconuts]

I was too busy complaining about Goff.

Goff played great in the packers game though?



In terms of the defence there's also been some execution issues on the part of the players. DBs not named Jalen biting on playaction and double moves, probably a factor of youth.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

With rapp playing deep safety it means every cb on the field is on an island with no help deep.

.

 

[CGI_Ram]

We‘ve played some good passing offenses, but our defense doesn’t feel changed enough (personnel-wise) for some of what we are seeing.

For the year, we are top 13 in ppg… which isn’t garbage…

But its hard to ignore the early season swap with the Chargers in defensive ranking. That must raise eyebrows with McVay. Are we getting our best play out of this unit?

2020

2021