What have I learned about this team.

[HighDesertRam]

That Lake is very important to this defense. Ever since he got hurt, this defense has been shit. We need to resign him as soon as possible. We also need him back for the playoff if we want to go anywhere. We also need Witherspoon back too, does anyone know why he's not playing?

Next year's draft, we need to get a WR and CB in the first round. We need to get help for Puka. He's the best WR in the NFL, but the way he plays, he could become another Cooper Kupp. Have a few good years but always hurt after that. We need a another good WR to some of the pressure off of him.

 

[AZRams]

Lake apparently is the straw that stirs the drink on that defense. You correctly note that since he went on IR they have been total dog .

 

[Coliseum Ram]

That Lake is very important to this defense. Ever since he got hurt, this defense has been shit. We need to resign him as soon as possible. We also need him back for the playoff if we want to go anywhere. We also need Witherspoon back too, does anyone know why he's not playing?

Next year's draft, we need to get a WR and CB in the first round. We need to get help for Puka. He's the best WR in the NFL, but the way he plays, he could become another Cooper Kupp. Have a few good years but always hurt after that. We need a another good WR to some of the pressure off of him.

Starting to think Atlanta's teenish pick should go for WR.

 

[DzRams]

I agree. I knew Lake was important, but didn't realize his impact was this big. He's a critical piece and a must resign.

Witherspoon is a JAG. He's no better than anyone else we have back there.

 

[PhillyRam]

Starting to think Atlanta's teenish pick should go for WR.

Yeah, Nacua is the only explosive player on offense and he is not burner either. He is the only guy that can make a special play or an explosive play. Ferguson is capable in regards to the TE position, but they need speed and explosiveness at WR & RB.

Williams had a number of runs that got him into the 2nd level, and he is just a guy that might get you a 20 yard run at most. Other backs take those runs to the house or at least another 20-30 yards or more.

 

[kmramsfan]

Yeah, Nacua is the only explosive player on offense and he is not burner either. He is the only guy that can make a special play or an explosive play. Ferguson is capable in regards to the TE position, but they need speed and explosiveness at WR & RB.

Williams had a number of runs that got him into the 2nd level, and he is just a guy that might get you a 20 yard run at most. Other backs take those runs to the house or at least another 20-30 yards or more.

I think that a healthy Corum may have taken one of KW's long runs to the house.
He has that extra wiggle and burst to do it.

 

[HitStick]

I think that a healthy Corum may have taken one of KW's long runs to the house.
He has that extra wiggle and burst to do it.

Jeremiyah Love would

 

[Mojo Ram]

I have learned(or known for a couple yrs)….

This offense can’t score TD’s between the 20’s unless it’s a pass. We need an elite RB. I’ll keep banging the table.

Quinton Lake is apparently very important in getting the secondary lined up right.

Xavier Smith is our best depth WR because he’s a football player.

I’m not sure if Ferguson will produce once defenses start paying attention and covering him.

McVay and his teams are at their best when the chips are down and there is adversity.
His teams look like they’re sleepwalking once the success piles up.

 

[InfiniteRam]

Yeah, Nacua is the only explosive player on offense and he is not burner either. He is the only guy that can make a special play or an explosive play. Ferguson is capable in regards to the TE position, but they need speed and explosiveness at WR & RB.

Williams had a number of runs that got him into the 2nd level, and he is just a guy that might get you a 20 yard run at most. Other backs take those runs to the house or at least another 20-30 yards or more

Other backs aren't getting 20-30 yards more on KW's second level runs last night. Deep safety was in position on all of those. Dude averages 7.1 YPC and still, somehow, there has to be negativity regarding him.

 

[Merlin]

I agree. I knew Lake was important, but didn't realize his impact was this big. He's a critical piece and a must resign.

Witherspoon is a JAG. He's no better than anyone else we have back there.

I've said at least 10x here that Spoon is a guy who can smother good matchups consistently, but those good matchups are your pedestrian wideouts who don't bring real juice or elusiveness in the pattern. He's a seasoned corner, that experience is nice. But he is not gonna handle the top draw.

This is the problem with our corners. We have a bunch of CB2/3 types and lack the stud back there. And it is why the moment Lake went out and the slot role suddenly was not locked down, that it caused a chain reaction of uncertainty among these dudes. When we face a team that has a real threat at WR, even a more mediocre team like Carolina, gameplanning is a nightmare.

Before the season we knew damn well this secondary wasn't good enough. Well guess what. They're not good enough. Our corners fuckin suck. And without Lake out there the rest of these guys are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Even 1.5 seconds after the snap.

Lake was the leader. The dude breathing assurance and confidence into the other ten. If nothing else, this stretch of games tells us how important it is the Rams get his deal done.

Going forward, and as it pertains to getting this defense playing how they were earlier this season... We must have Lake back and healthy. Obviously. And from there, one of these corners is going to need to step up, at the least. And on top of that the rush must improve. Been saying this, they are not getting pressures at the same clip. Way too many QBs makin ham sammiches in the backfield.

 

[RamFan503]

We also need Witherspoon back too, does anyone know why he's not playing?

He played yesterday.

But I agree that Lake is very important to this defense. Word is that he will be back for the playoffs. Sure hope so.

Now let's not turn this into another vent thread about the defense.

 

[gogoat1]

Starting to think Atlanta's teenish pick should go for WR.

CB.
We are much stronger at WR than CB.
If the right OT is there, take him.
It sure seems like you can find very good Wrs and RBs in the mid rounds.
But those 6'7" 330 pound men with long arms and ballerina feet don't last. If you can draft one, get him.

 

[snackdaddy]

It sure would seem Lake makes a difference. He's missed 6 games so far. The first without him was fine. But against a hobbled Mayfield who didn't play in the second half might be a bit misleading. After that game they were giving up 10 more points per game compared to earlier with him. We definitely missed his presence and leadership.

 

[PhillyRam]

Other backs aren't getting 20-30 yards more on KW's second level runs last night. Deep safety was in position on all of those. Dude averages 7.1 YPC and still, somehow, there has to be negativity regarding him.

He's a nice back in a great system. Just saying to be an elite team, or to take the next step, a game breaking RB would help accompolish that. The Eagles of last season don't win a SB with Kyren Williams. Barkley took them to another level.

 

[Merlin]

CB.
We are much stronger at WR than CB.
If the right OT is there, take him.
It sure seems like you can find very good Wrs and RBs in the mid rounds.
But those 6'7" 330 pound men with long arms and ballerina feet don't last. If you can draft one, get him.

Yeah it's tough to project right now.

The problem is the WR group at the top has a cluster of big X types who are probably going to run well. I expect we'll have a WR on the board with size and speed with Atlanta's pick. Corner is a bit different. There's some dudes I think are perfect fits for everything we need back there, like Chris Johnson of SDSU, but I don't know he slots super high. Not like I have a stacked board and system, in other words. And I don't really trust any draft site this early. Those corners will probably change a ton based on 40 times as it's a deep group with a lot of options.

Given that Atlanta's pick is trending to middle of round 1 now, I might be inclined to just take Johnson or the best corner on the board who is a fit. But I have a feeling WR will be the BPA in the same way OTs often are, from that supply/demand perspective. The big boys with skills go high and wideout has become a big money position, maybe even a cornerstone position in terms of modern importance.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Other backs aren't getting 20-30 yards more on KW's second level runs last night. Deep safety was in position on all of those. Dude averages 7.1 YPC and still, somehow, there has to be negativity regarding him.

A Safety being in position is what I’m referencing. It’s when he gets that one-on-one after getting to the second level. All of our backs very rarely if ever can make that last guy or last two defenders miss. Every Single Game this happens.
I haven’t looked at the yards after contact. I feel like he’s good getting a couple in a phone booth when nothing is there. When the OL blows open a huge lane he gets 8-10.

Same with our TE’s, return men and our WR’s….in terms of Yards after catch.

Puka gets his YAC. 3rd in the league.
The next guy is Colby friggin Parkinson somewhere around 80th.

All of our skill positions as a whole are good but slow and lacking. Love Kyren. Want more. Need more IMO.


KY is a good back. No one is saying he isn’t. It’s not negativity. It’s objective and a middle ground evaluation. He has obvious strengths and some obvious weaknesses.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I think that a healthy Corum may have taken one of KW's long runs to the house.
He has that extra wiggle and burst to do it.

Maybe. Corum has looked more explosive this season for sure. I still see a tandem of backs that are basically close to identical in terms of ability. More of the same with Rivers.

 

[kmramsfan]

Maybe. Corum has looked more explosive this season for sure. I still see a tandem of backs that are basically close to identical in terms of ability. More of the same with Rivers.

KW had 2 fairly long runs, both getting to the second level, with 1 man to beat.
Corum has displayed that quick cut and burst of speed to make the defender miss, whereas KW didn't quite have it and was tackled. That's all that I was saying.

 

[Flatlyner]

Starting to think Atlanta's teenish pick should go for WR.

I think I agree with that. Evidence was last night. They were clearly doubling Puka and Staff's only other option was KW. With Adams out, we are thin at playmakers for certain. Jordyn Tyson would look good in Horns. Also, the big rumor about McVay tying to sell the farm to grab Tet would suggest this is a big chance.

Not sure about that...but in a season, there's a time for all backups to play for the very reason we saw yesterday with Humphries. Personally, on the Puka's TD, I DON'T THINK it was holding. I think the guy was savvy enough to go down making it look like holding,

Oh, you mean unlike Tutu who just accepted that he had DPI done to him and lived with it, rather then throwing hands in the air and getting refs to throw that flag. Sorry to say it, but, bye bye Tutu.

 

[ottoman89]

Lake apparently is the straw that stirs the drink on that defense. You correctly note that since he went on IR they have been total dog .

100%. DBs look unorganized, unprepared and out of place.

It's quite evident he's by far our best DB and the captain of the Defense.

He needs a contract extension badly.

We easily absorbed the Akhello loss, but Lake has been devastating.