What went wrong for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019?

[OldSchool]

If they can re-sign him.

Actually they have him this year whether they resign him or not.

 

[RhodyRams]

Lol pff
As for what went wrong just link them our hundreds of vent threads.

hundreds? I only remember 7 from this season

 

[Riverumbbq]

hundreds? I only remember 7 from this season

7 Official. The 100's I suspect more refer to how many threads devolve into a kinda venting format. I blame it on pineapple pizza.

 

[OldSchool]

hundreds? I only remember 7 from this season

And every week there were another 10 or more threads started and sometimes merged though not always with the vent threads on individuals who wanted their own vent thread.

 

[Juice]

Writers use statistics as a way of making their case. The problem is that they can twist them to look like a story worth reading, but in the end you know what they did. Skip Bayless is a true pro at this, and it's makes for a difficult listen.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Matthews started off well then became too undisciplined when the sacks piled up. After the injury a non factor.

Weddle was great early but ran out of puff in a hurry.

Gaines looked ok when given a chance.

.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I think Matthews and Weddell worked out pretty well and Gaines?
Don't ever count on a rookie.

 

[Mackeyser]

Their analysis of Ramsey (including Ramsey vs. Peters) is ridiculous because it's done in a complete vacuum and further highlights some of PFF's well-known flaws. One need only look at the dramatic increase in our sack #'s after Ramsey was added to the D.

Also, Ramsey is a #1 man cover corner. Peters is a #2 off cover/zone corner. Different animals.

It's almost like trying to compare a 4-3 DE and a 3-4 DE. Kinda the same, but lots different, too.

Also, Peters went BACK to doing what he was familiar with while Ramsey had much more to learn.

And bravo on pointing out the sacks. That's right on.

 

[Loyal]

Also, Ramsey is a #1 man cover corner. Peters is a #2 off cover/zone corner. Different animals.

It's almost like trying to compare a 4-3 DE and a 3-4 DE. Kinda the same, but lots different, too.

Also, Peters went BACK to doing what he was familiar with while Ramsey had much more to learn.

And bravo on pointing out the sacks. That's right on.

All that I know, is that I felt Marcus Peters was a player that every defense was waiting to exploit. Ramsey is a predator. We are better with Ramsey and without Peters...

 

[Mackeyser]

It's good to have a bigger picture conversation on the subject, I think.

Yes, the offensive line wasn't good enough - we can talk about that all day - let's move past it for this.

Goff was not good under pressure - sure, we can blame the OL for that, but all QBs deal with pressure at some point - the defense can always send more than we have to block if they want to. I don't know how they are getting their numbers, but it does jive with the "eye test" - Goff often threw the ball away, threw inaccurately to a WR, or threw an INT when facing pressure - yes, the OL needs to improve, but so does Goff. Part of paying a QB that money is that you end up losing pro bowl caliber guards like Rodger Saffold, so there has to be some improvement to cover up the roster holes.

different pressure is different. Goff had tons of internal pressure which means no stepping up in the pocket. Pressure from the ends can be avoided by stepping up in the pocket...if there is a pocket to step up into...

This is why PFF is okay for the broadest of strokes, but it's just not gonna cut it to try to make a complex diagnosis based on their data. It doesn't parse apples to apples and it lacks critical context.

 

[oldnotdead]

Anyone who follows the team knows what happened. Brand new o-line center and LG and two scrubs in Blythe and Havenstein on the right side. But once they began to let the new guys play they began to settle down. Poor o-line coaching was clearly evident. They have the talent to be a good o-line but they simply need better coaching and time to gel as a unit.

Their run game was a simplistic carryover from 2018 and when they needed to adjust, Kromer simply couldn't get the job done. He tried to implement gap blocking on the fly, but both the RB's and young guys clearly looked confused and simply didn't play as a cohesive offensive unit (o-line and RBs)

With a new offseason to coach up the o-line unit I think they will be much better. It was clear the new guys overall pass blocked better than the original o-line they started with. As I've been saying IMO it's not the young players as much as a failure by Kromer, Dickerson, and Peet.

When an offense is one dimensional because the o-line simply doesn't know how to run block no QB is going to look good.

They also started the season with two overpaid FA CB's, one of whom was over the hill and the other a very poor scheme fit. Now with Ramsey, Long and Williams they are three deep at CB. With the return of Johnson, and now with a veteran Rapp beside him, this secondary will be far better.

Bottom line, injuries exposed issues of poor coaching. IMO the new hires should help as the new OC should buffer the negative impact of Kromer, and the DC will probably allow the young guys like Gaines and Long and Ebukam to play. I see no reason this defense can't be a top 10 unit. This team can be better in 2020 than they were in 2018.

 

[dang]

Their analysis of Ramsey (including Ramsey vs. Peters) is ridiculous because it's done in a complete vacuum and further highlights some of PFF's well-known flaws. One need only look at the dramatic increase in our sack #'s after Ramsey was added to the D.

How did Peters grade out in run defense. He was without a doubt the most uncommitted tackler I have ever seen as a starting defensive player. It was embarrassing to watch him on roller skates running away from ball carriers trying to tackle everyone with only his arms. Ramsey is 10X the physical player and run defender that Peters is. I do admit the trade to the Ravens did seem to suit Peters well on his pass coverage.

 

[Ram65]

It's good to have a bigger picture conversation on the subject, I think.

Yes, the offensive line wasn't good enough - we can talk about that all day - let's move past it for this.

Goff was not good under pressure - sure, we can blame the OL for that, but all QBs deal with pressure at some point - the defense can always send more than we have to block if they want to. I don't know how they are getting their numbers, but it does jive with the "eye test" - Goff often threw the ball away, threw inaccurately to a WR, or threw an INT when facing pressure - yes, the OL needs to improve, but so does Goff. Part of paying a QB that money is that you end up losing pro bowl caliber guards like Rodger Saffold, so there has to be some improvement to cover up the roster holes.

Without a doubt, Goff needs to improve. Goff is not the type of QB that can overcome pressure like a Russell Wilson or a Pat Mahomes. He has demonstrated the ability to avoid a pass rusher by shuffling in the pocket. He will not outmaneuver multiple defenders with the catlike change of directions and quickness that the quarterbacks mentioned can. That makes him an easier target when protection breaks down. He needs to get better control of his thought process and emotions when under pressure. Avoiding INTs is the most important improvement he needs to make. He can also step up in the pocket when there is that opportunity. His mechanics may be breaking down as he sees more pressure than he has in the past. There was a disconnect this year with Todd Gurley as his outlet receiver. They need to work on that maybe with some better angles. Roger Saffold was missed but, it wasn't just one subpar offensive lineman Goff and the Rams had to overcome.

 

[SeminoleRam]

Actually they have him this year whether they resign him or not.

Don’t want the Rams to have to do it but can they tag Ramsey if they can’t re-sign him after next season? I thought I read somewhere that they can’t. Personally, I hope they sign him to a Long Term contract but will the Rams have the cap space???

 

[Mojo Ram]

Defenses were dialed into the tendencies, playbook etc and knew what was coming making things difficult for Goff and everyone else on the field. David Edwards or Jackie Slater...wouldn't have mattered much IMO.

 

[OldSchool]

Don’t want the Rams to have to do it but can they tag Ramsey if they can’t re-sign him after next season? I thought I read somewhere that they can’t. Personally, I hope they sign him to a Long Term contract but will the Rams have the cap space???

They can so far as I'm aware.

 

[TexasRam]

 

[HellRam]

Defenses were dialed into the tendencies, playbook etc and knew what was coming making things difficult for Goff and everyone else on the field. David Edwards or Jackie Slater...wouldn't have mattered much IMO.

Which is why some weeks the Rams looked great and like their usual upper tier offensive team. Then against defenses that knew how to defend them, they had absolutely no answer. Lots of feast or famine for this years team.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Was he wearing Batman sunglasses while he was tanning?

.

 

[Zaphod]

It really wasn’t only pressure up the middle throwing Goff off, there were plays he would step up into the pocket and be forced to make a throw with really almost no throwing lane available for the route that was open.

The biggest improvement this team can see will be the new OC, but only if McVay listens. Teams with the talent to do so could literally out scheme McVay because he rarely made effective adjustments.

I think they do have some young guards that may work out, assuming that our left tackle comes back, but center is top priority. After that, I think it needs to be crystal clear that we need quality depth and competition at both center and guard.

Defensively, you can see a lack of gap discipline, though AD is improving there. SJD was a massive improvement at stuffing runs up the middle, laterally controlling and shedding blocks with an efficiency we’ve not seen in a while. But we’re still getting gashed on simple pitches in either direction, off tackle, and sorry but even veers got way too ugly with good lead blockers.

I don’t think you can make a statement about our secondary until Johnson returns as Rapp played very well for a rookie. Weddle was done.