Well, that was a humbling experience...

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Almost every game the Rams play is the other teams super bowl. It's how other teams measure themselves. And it doesn't get any better than knocking off the best team in the league... when you can. But I would consider the game yesterday a tough, satisfying win against a great opponent, rather than a humbling experience.
 
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Merlin said:
I suspect the Packers' staff found some tells in the Rams' offense for down and distance. And again I think McVay is going to figure it out and he'll need to.

Their LBs were all over certain tendencies in the run game. Like flying at the snap IMO vice just reacting. Not every play of course, but more than seemed appropriate.
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Didn't help that McVay had the Rams running between the guards far too often as opposed to using misdirection and running left which has been money this season.

that said, both of their OLBs, Martinez and Matthews balled out. They were everywhere.
 
Mackeyser said:
The only good ref that game was the lady linesman. Her ball spots were fantastic and she corrected bad spots by other officials a number of times. Best spot officiating I've seen in a long time, at least when it comes to ball placement and that counts for both teams.
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We need more female refs. Remember, we're always right.

:P ;)
 
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Here's why I don't feel bad, or humbled:

1. The Packers had a bye, with plenty of time to watch film and gameplan. Teams coming off a bye have an advantage.

2. The Rams took the Packer's best punches in the mouth, shook it off and stood strong.

3. The Packers DBs were holding the Rams receivers on some plays, and though this slowed the Rams down in the 1st half they shook it off and continued working to get open for some big plays.

4. The Packer OL was blatantly holding (hands to the face on Donald) again on a few big plays from Rodgers. Sometimes teams have to hold us to give themselves time, and once in a while they will get caught.

5. Goff was taking a beating but stood tall and made some key throws late in the game. He is credited with a 4th quarter comeback despite the fierce Packers' rush getting to him.

6. We were still without arguably our best corner, and our best posession receiver. And yet because of our depth at the positions still managed to make some plays. 2 TDs from our 4th WR... are you kidding me? Who started Reynolds on Fantasy? Nobody thought...

7. The Packers were at full health returning key players who were out for the last few games. They aren't allowed any excuses for that or the bye.

8. Sure Montgomery made a mistake, but so did Troy Hill on that chuck whiff, Peters on a few plays, and the D-lineman who tried leaping over their O-lineman creating a huge gap in the space he left allowing the long TD run. (Play your gaps!)

9. We could've been up, even won 36-27 (Legatron extra point is more of a sure thing than a Rodgers comeback) but Gurley took a knee to 100% preserve the win. I know coulda-shoulda, but we controlled this decision.

10. The Packers were basically playing a home game. I know this is a sore spot with some of us but it can pump up the away team, make it hard for the home team to hear signals, and even have a negative effect overall.

11. The Rams still scored about 30 points (close) despite a poor quarter and 1/2 in the 1st half.

So with all of these factors and the Rams still winning... I am ecstatic! Let other fans and talking heads make excuses... we're the ones with the W. If we had lost everyone would be feeling sorry for us and asking what happened (again who cares!)
 
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The Packers ran a creative D that confused Goff and maybe McVay.
The ran some 2 DL sets which was interesting to see.
This allowed all sorts of blitz/coverage disguises and delayed blitzes.
They shut down the Rams O for long stretches....and the Rams scores 29 points....oh, how times have changed.
The real key....and I give Goff tons of credit for this....is the Rams didn't turn the ball over.
Goff was confused at times but if it wasn't there he didn't force things.
I was impressed with this win.
 
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Mackeyser said:
Didn't help that McVay had the Rams running between the guards far too often as opposed to using misdirection and running left which has been money this season.

that said, both of their OLBs, Martinez and Matthews balled out. They were everywhere.
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Martinez disappeared after the dline holding call on the Packers
 
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This game as much as any demonstrated the Impact of coaching and scheming in the game of Football. Yes individual battles must be won, but the blitz schemes (gaps being hit and timing of delay etc) were carefully orchestrated by Green bay with great success.

But NFL Football is 4 Quarters and a good coach has time to adjust and counter unexpected schemes. That is what we saw, I believe. Mcvay (and also Phillips to an extent) with countermeasures for the win.
 
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This is the NFL. There is talent and potential on every team, and a lot of brilliant coaches and coordinators. The Packers came off a bye and had two weeks to prepare! C'mon, we can't honestly believe that teams can't study film and develop a gameplan? No scheme is perfect...the NFL is a cat and mouse sport.

They had us on our toes but we adjusted. Wade has to tighten up those big plays every now and then. We were a lot better on third down than the Packers. Teams can't consistently drive against. Fix that and we'll be fine.
 
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RamsOfCastamere said:
This is the NFL. There is talent and potential on every team, and a lot of brilliant coaches and coordinators. The Packers came off a bye and had two weeks to prepare! C'mon, we can't honestly believe that teams can't study film and develop a gameplan? No scheme is perfect...the NFL is a cat and mouse sport.
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Studying film is how coaches find tells. It can be all manner of things, like how a certain lineman leans or sets his feet on run plays. Belichick has been making a killing doing that for years.

Just something I suspect, not like there's reason to act like it's a big deal as it happens all the damn time at this level.
 
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The last two games we’ve handed off to Gurley for our first two plays. The 9’ers and Packers defensed them well. I’m expecting play action right off the bat against the Saints.
 
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Jacobarch said:
As McVay said in his presser the Packers did some things that they haven't seen before. Given they had a bye week to prep for the Rams they were able to make adjustments tailored to give our offense problems. It took a good quarter and a half to make our adjustments on both Offense and Defense. But it still gave us issues at the end of the day. I really hope our coaching staff and players find it humbling that we almost lost that game due to us being a little unprepared and a little flat coming out of the hole. I know the coaching staff is one of the best in the league so they wont be caught with their pants down again but it was a real eye opener.

I think teams will try to emulate what the pack did, Jam our WR's at the line and load up the box in the A-gap and give plenty of different looks. I think McVay has a little bit of a problem getting away from the run at times. It's not like it wasn't working against their Defense when we did run. It was just inconsistent at best and obvious when we were running. Again, hats off to the Packers coaching staff for bringing their A game. It's something we're going to have to get used to. Everyones gunning to bring down the best team in the league.

Cheers.
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Y'all got to pick a complaint seriously. It's either Mcvay doesn't run enough or he runs to much which one is it?
 
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Just to expand on Classic Ram's excellent post:
1) Because of rest/health, our OL was slow and getting beat early. The pack wanted this game and was well rested and healthy. Once the the game slowed and settled, the trenches became more even-- that includes defense.
2) because of the 2 week planning, they did a great job of showing a dime package but playing the run.
3) I actually think the Rams were victimized by kinda phoning it in. Why always running right when we have (and stats will back this) the best guard/tackle run blocking combo on the LEFT side? Where were all of the motions and shifts? Way too many formations out of the huddle that were supposed to be disguised (normally).
Don't believe me? Just rewatch the runs left after a shift or motion.

Game MVP? Duh...Johnny Hekker. Even though the Rams didn't do anything after the fake punt, we loosened up and played Ram football. More importantly, our opponent lost the comfort zone they had because they thought THEY were running the show.

Hey, champions win on a bad day.
To go all the way, you will have a few lucky breaks.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
So...we're going all the way!

...and this is coming from a guy who lost a lotta $$ because Gurley slid.
 
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norcalramfan said:
The last two games we’ve handed off to Gurley for our first two plays. The 9’ers and Packers defensed them well. I’m expecting play action right off the bat against the Saints.
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The reason why I like the Rams running the first few downs, even if it's predictable and doesn't net much, is because it lets our OL start the game hitting people

Madden said as much and did this for years. Of course he had 3 HOFs in shell, upshaw, and otto; but Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan is nothing to sneeze at. I like the idea of them throwing the first punch.
 
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fanotodd said:
The reason why I like the Rams running the first few downs, even if it's predictable and doesn't net much, is because it lets our OL start the game hitting people

Madden said as much and did this for years. Of course he had 3 HOFs in shell, upshaw, and otto; but Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan is nothing to sneeze at. I like the idea of them throwing the first punch.
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Not a bad idea. We got away with it against the 9er’s. Don’t like falling behind to talented QB’s like Rodgers and Brees though. Think you have to make TD’s early and often against them.
 
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