The problem with our defense lies with our safeties

[Ellard80]

so far the defense has been a weakness but many of us figured it would regress... certainly in the beginning.

we will see how things unfold though - its still early.

 

[OnceARam]

JJ was hurt a lot last year and our D never suffered without him.

The problem is scheme.

 

[OnceARam]

It can be both scheme and players at the same time. No need to be so binary about this.

mod edit: removed political comment

But seriously, it is both. 22 and 24 can't compete at this level. With the exception of 24 possibly having a LOS dime roll possibly. Let's see what Rochell has. Let's also get Reed, Burgess or Juju in there. Reed look excellent in preseason. What is there to lose?

But the scheme is clearly soft zone at time leaving dudes running untouched wide open for easy completions. That part is infuriating. We should be an agressive punishing defense with this talent. Crowd WR's and bump them at the LOS. Man up. QB's will start taking sacks and throwing into traffic because the WR doesn't have time to get into the route.

And please, stop the Star nonsense. This stupid analytics driven idea is killing us. We are becoming so smart we are stupid. I heard Jourdan parroting it and about puked. When there is no top WR's it can be used in a limited fashion. Otherwise use Ramsey to shut down one side of the field 1 on 1 and play the numbers game. Suddenly you have an extra man to cover the other guys. Like we did last year when we were the top D.

“Soft zone star nonsense” is the best description of this defense that I’ve heard.

 

[Merlin]

Morris was a friend hire by McVay. The exact type of hire young head coaches make, to get guys in-house they trust, but who are maybe not the best guy for the specific job.

He came in here to run the Fangio defense but has no experience running the Fangio defense. That is on the head coach. That is McVay having faith in his friend to pick it up on the fly and deliver a defense that can get the job done. This is where we're at, in that early curve of him figuring out the scheme and getting the feel for how to call it. Our only hope is that he can settle in to a style that works with the talent he's got.

Been saying this all offseason and I don't like being right about it btw. Would have preferred the defense kicking ass right out the gate. But the signs were there. Morris' history is what it is. He is what he is.

 

[Merlin]

Also re: personnel he needs to solve safety. Rapp is not a fucking two high safety. He's not. He's a good player, a smart player, but he doesn't have those instincts. He's a classic SS who is at his best in the box.

Scott is similar to him too in that way. Now maybe one of the two can settle in if the Rams just endure their fuckups, who knows. But I would prefer Morris look a little deeper on his depth chart and see that he's got better options for playing the scheme he is calling.

Safety has to get solved. CB they didn't fuck around with, and I applaud that quick move to Rochell. So hopefully going forward our top three corners will get better and better but now it's time to unfuck the safety spot opposite Fuller.

 

[OnceARam]

Also re: personnel he needs to solve safety. Rapp is not a fucking two high safety. He's not. He's a good player, a smart player, but he doesn't have those instincts. He's a classic SS who is at his best in the box.

Scott is similar to him too in that way. Now maybe one of the two can settle in if the Rams just endure their fuckups, who knows. But I would prefer Morris look a little deeper on his depth chart and see that he's got better options for playing the scheme he is calling.

Safety has to get solved. CB they didn't fuck around with, and I applaud that quick move to Rochell. So hopefully going forward our top three corners will get better and better but now it's time to unfuck the safety spot opposite Fuller.

Or adjust the scheme to our personal.

Or try and hire a Fangio desciple midstream.

 

[Merlin]

Or adjust the scheme to our personal.

Or try and hire a Fangio desciple midstream.

We have the personnel to run quarters. Fuller was fantastic last season. Williams is a plus corner. Ramsey is a future Hall of Famer. Rochell is a big and quick kid who's going to settle in nicely. That final safety spot simply has to execute the scheme and follow his reads.

If things progress to where Morris is fired we're probably up shit creek tbh. I don't know if the Rams defense can overcome that, might have to chalk that up as a lesson to our young HC and try again next offseason.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

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.

I think JJ and Fuller played both. It kept teams guessing. In the end Fuller doesn’t have free safety speed.

Agreed on Rapp. That must have been one crap drafting Les’s mind for him to trade back so many times and use a Second round pick on Rapp. He’s got a very limited role.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

We have the personnel to run quarters. Fuller was fantastic last season. Williams is a plus corner. Ramsey is a future Hall of Famer. Rochell is a big and quick kid who's going to settle in nicely. That final safety spot simply has to execute the scheme and follow his reads.

If things progress to where Morris is fired we're probably up shit creek tbh. I don't know if the Rams defense can overcome that, might have to chalk that up as a lesson to our young HC and try again next offseason.

I think Fantastic is too strong of a word to describe Fuller’s play last year. He was fantastic for such a late round pick, but I don’t see All-Pro in his future.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Any teams out there with too many good free safeties and not enough strong safeties?

 

[DVontel]

I have yet to see Lamar do well in the playoffs.

That's why I do not like Lamar.

Lamar is great in the regular season when most teams do not know how to play him but once he gets to the playoffs where he probably faces an above average defense, he sucks.

Same reason why I do not like Kyler. However, I think Kyler definitely has a better arm than Lamar so I could be wrong about him. We will see. I just can't get over Kyler's height. I should probably stop stereotyping short people in the NFL since I didn't like the Rams taking Tutu in the second round.

That’s because you didn’t watch the playoff game against Tennessee last season, lol.

Did you like Stafford before he became a Ram?

 

[Kupped]

Morris was a friend hire by McVay. The exact type of hire young head coaches make, to get guys in-house they trust, but who are maybe not the best guy for the specific job.

He came in here to run the Fangio defense but has no experience running the Fangio defense. That is on the head coach. That is McVay having faith in his friend to pick it up on the fly and deliver a defense that can get the job done. This is where we're at, in that early curve of him figuring out the scheme and getting the feel for how to call it. Our only hope is that he can settle in to a style that works with the talent he's got.

Been saying this all offseason and I don't like being right about it btw. Would have preferred the defense kicking ass right out the gate. But the signs were there. Morris' history is what it is. He is what he is.

I'm not ready to go all-in on this take, but I do think it's got its merits.

The thing is that, overall, McVay has a fantastic hiring track record for assistants, imo.

Also.. McVay is part of the solution when it comes to that scheme, imo. He owns it as much as Morris does.

I don't know which assistant coach or DC out there would've been a better fit, but would love to hear some specific names that could've been pursued.

 

[Mojo Ram]

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

.

Murray has more than just one legit target now. A 5th grader could defend them last year...as long as the 5th grader had Ramsey and a pass rush.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I have yet to see Lamar do well in the playoffs.

That's why I do not like Lamar.

Lamar is great in the regular season when most teams do not know how to play him but once he gets to the playoffs where he probably faces an above average defense, he sucks.

Same reason why I do not like Kyler. However, I think Kyler definitely has a better arm than Lamar so I could be wrong about him. We will see. I just can't get over Kyler's height. I should probably stop stereotyping short people in the NFL since I didn't like the Rams taking Tutu in the second round.

Murray is a better "QB" than Jackson and it's not really close IMO.
In terms of running, the difference is that Lamar is more durable.

 

[Tano]

That’s because you didn’t watch the playoff game against Tennessee last season, lol.

Did you like Stafford before he became a Ram?

Once I reviewed his games last year, I did.

However, I also felt Stafford had some limitations but overall I felt he is a better player than Goff and I was one of the biggest Goff supporters in this forum.

I watched Lamar in the other games and he sucked.

I missed the Tennessee game.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Murray has more than just one legit target now. A 5th grader could defend them last year...as long as the 5th grader had Ramsey and a pass rush.

Yep. Many of us scoffed at the addition of AJ Green. It seems he’s been rejuvenated and we were wrong.

Oddly enough I think he would have been rejuvenated if he had stayed in Cincinnati also, considering how well they are playing.


I’m not wishing injury on anyone. But maybe by the next time that the Rams play the Cards we start to see old and tired AJ and the banged up Murray that we usually get late in the year.

Giving up 37 is almost embarrassing.

 

[Tano]

Murray is a better "QB" than Jackson and it's not really close IMO.
In terms of running, the difference is that Lamar is more durable.

And that is why I am against Murray. I feel he is just another solid hit away from being hampered again.

Maybe he makes it thru the season but I just don't see it.

 

[Ram Ts]

The Browns don’t seem to be doing very well against the pass this season with JJ. Yesterday in particular there were some really bad missed assignments and blown coverage. No idea how JJ factored into that - just saying though….

 

[Kupped]

And that is why I am against Murray. I feel he is just another solid hit away from being hampered again.

Maybe he makes it thru the season but I just don't see it.

That's the only question on Murray, imo... can he last 17?
The Rams need to throw the kitchen sink at hitting him hard and often, early, the next time they play.

He's already a little dinged up.

 

[Tano]

Yep. Many of us scoffed at the addition of AJ Green. It seems he’s be rejuvenated and we were wrong.

Oddly enough I think he would have been rejuvenated if he had stayed in Cincinnati also, considering how well they are playing.


I’m not wishing injury on anyone. But maybe by the next time that the Rams play the Cards we start to see old and tired AJ and the banged up Murray that we usually get late in the year.

Giving up 37 is almost embarrassing.

I would have liked us to play Murray the same way we played Wilson by having our CBs closer to the line of scrimmage.

However, Wilson did have a couple running lanes in our game which he did not take that I think Murray would have torn us apart if he had them.