This is a different team the last three weeks

[Montanaramfan]

Ever since Gurley's injury and the emergence of CJ Anderson, this Rams team has went from a pass-first mentality to a run-first mentality. As you'll all remember, McVay had a habit of throwing too much on occasion and abandoning the run too early. There was only one time last night where I felt McVay drifted back into his old habits - the one series that we punted on. Late in the third, Dallas had just scored to make it 15-23 and we had moved the ball to their 47 yard line after Gurley ran for eight yards on first down. We had been piss-pounding them on the ground all night long but McVay chose to throw the ball twice. On second down, Goff missed Woods on a crosser and on third we had two penalties and ended up punting. I have no doubt had McVay kept the ball on the ground we would have picked up a first down and kept the ball moving. We've seen that kind of play-calling earlier this year but they way we had been pounding it down their throats last night should have left those play calls as no-brainers. Still, we survived.

Back to Anderson. He's has had three straight 100 yard games after signing with the team a week before his first start. That's crazy. Goff's slump has forced McVay to look at things differently and it's been to the team's benefit. If you look at the losses vs the Saints and the Eagles, Jared was hit multiple times and turned the ball over as it seemed we were passing on dang nearly every play. McVay has taken some of that pressure off of Jared by running the football more often. Whoever we see next week, whether it's the Saints of the Eagles, will see a different football team than the last time.

 

[den-the-coach]

The beauty of this is that all the so called self proclaimed experts missed it. Now I understand the Rams played against two not very good teams in Arizona & San Francisco, although for some reason everybody acts like the 49ers went 8-8....Anyway with the addition of Anderson, McVay started becoming more committed to the run.

Most Redskin fans, felt when he was OC, McVay abandoned the run too quickly and as Ram fans, we have seen that, but with success in the air. However, teams took those options away and without Kupp the passing options were not as prolific. Enter C.J. Anderson, who was used to running behind the zone blocking scheme in Denver and seemed the perfect fit for Aaron Kromer's running game.

Anderson pounds the rock in between the tackles and falls forward and alliviates Todd Gurley from taking those hits, which enables Gurley to break longer runs (35 yards touchdown) McVay has to trust the run more and keep pounding it in the red zone as this offensive line has proven, they love run blocking and are taking it to any defense.and Tyler HIgbee is thriving in this type of scheme.

Now all of the sudden many are saying this type of offense travels well and can win anywhere. C.J. Anderson, the gift that keeps on giving. Gurley said it at the press conference, it's a good thing I got hurt, made us go out and sign Anderson, but the Rams really owe the Oakland Raiders a bit of gratitude as the Panthers released Anderson because he asked for it and they obliged, but the Raiders released Anderson because they were getting thin on the offensive line and never gave him the football, thank God! Thank you Herr Gruden!

 

[Montanaramfan]

Gruden, the gift that keeps on giving;-) Am I the only one who would like to see us go double tight with Suh, Donald, and Anderson in an inverted wish-bone on the goal line? With those two big boys back there, the defense wouldn't know which way were were going. Run the iso with Anderson either way. I don't see how we don't get a yard or two.

 

[bubbaramfan]

What would this offense look like with Cooper Kupp in the mix?

 

[Flint]

Having success on early downs has been making me nervous, 2nd and short was starting to be a predictable deep shot and with Goff being scattershot these days a punt might be the result. It’s one thing when you’re scoring 30+ but playoffs are about taking advantage of possessions, CJ is perfect for those situations. He’s as big as TG but shorter, Gurley is a longer strider so if you can get to his legs you can stop him. CJ runs low and has nimble feet, just what you want in short yardage. And running into loaded boxes and winning is really how you take their soul.

 

[Ram77]

In

What would this offense look like with Cooper Kupp in the mix?

Unstoppable

 

[RamBall]

Didnt McVay say in an interview that we would see CJ and Gurley on the field together? Looks like he didnt need to put that tape out there this week so the saints wont know what to expect when they see it next week. The emergence of the run game came at just the right time, not sure if McVay uses MB as much as he has used CJ these last 3 games. But how can he not use CJ more with the production he has been getting?

 

[OnceARam]

Ever since Gurley's injury and the emergence of CJ Anderson, this Rams team has went from a pass-first mentality to a run-first mentality. As you'll all remember, McVay had a habit of throwing too much on occasion and abandoning the run too early. There was only one time last night where I felt McVay drifted back into his old habits - the one series that we punted on. Late in the third, Dallas had just scored to make it 15-23 and we had moved the ball to their 47 yard line after Gurley ran for eight yards on first down. We had been tick-pounding them on the ground all night long but McVay chose to throw the ball twice. On second down, Goff missed Woods on a crosser and on third we had two penalties and ended up punting. I have no doubt had McVay kept the ball on the ground we would have picked up a first down and kept the ball moving. We've seen that kind of play-calling earlier this year but they way we had been pounding it down their throats last night should have left those play calls as no-brainers. Still, we survived.

Back to Anderson. He's has had three straight 100 yard games after signing with the team a week before his first start. That's crazy. Goff's slump has forced McVay to look at things differently and it's been to the team's benefit. If you look at the losses vs the Saints and the Eagles, Jared was hit multiple times and turned the ball over as it seemed we were passing on dang nearly every play. McVay has taken some of that pressure off of Jared by running the football more often. Whoever we see next week, whether it's the Saints of the Eagles, will see a different football team than the last time.

Yes, and McVay is playing chess whereas everyone else is playing checkers.

We've been in the playoffs for a long time and we've been playing a lot of vanilla to get the team tuned up for the playoffs.

He's been tinkering. Same with our D. And now we are adaptable to whatever is needed to accomplish to win.