What's our #1 biggest issue in the McVay era?

[Corbin]

I just wanted to create a poll/thread on what people feel is the biggest area you see as a fan to improve on as the team goes forward? Obviously the McVay era has been amazing and extremely exciting and made it worth lugging the horrible years we all know about. Now this isn't a bashing post or something to stir the pot just wanting to get a feel for everyone out there.


For me, as with any coach or player there are areas that can be improved on and as amazing and brilliant as Sean McVay is he does have a few bad tendencies that opposing coaches with a decent to solid all around decent can get him in to do.

Crunching some numbers I was able to find something I kinda already was leaning towards.

Todd Gurleys stats in our 7 losses since Sean Mcvay has been head coach:

Rams 20 Redskins 27 - Ru. 16 Yds. 88 Avg. 5.5
Rams 10 Seagulls 16 - Ru. 14 Yds. 43 Avg. 3.1
Rams 7 Vikings 24 - Ru. 15 Yds. 37 Avg. 2.5
Rams 35 Eagles 43 - Ru. 13 Yds. 96 Avg. 7.4
Rams 13 Falcons 26 - Ru. 14 Yds. 101 Avg. 7.2
Rams 35 Saints 45 - Ru 13 Yds. 68 Avg. 5.2
Rams 6 Bears 15 - Ru. 11 Yds. 28 Avg 2.5

A common theme in our 6 losses so far in the Mcvay area plus the 1 playoff loss our offensive play calling for Todd Gurley didn't have him carrying the ball past 16 touches on the ground. In 4 of the losses he was averaging over 5+ yards a rush and still wasn't utilized past 16 touches.

These games weren't blowouts by any means and I listening to McVay closely after each loss he acknowledges the lack of using Todd on the ground however he still stays in the habits of not utilizing Todd.

McVay reminds me so damned much of Mike Martz with his aggressive down the field play calling and seemingly lack of control on TO's, most importantly not utilizing a Offensive MVP when the stats are telling you it's time to keep handing him off that ball.

I pray this doesn't go unnoticed in the months and weeks to come into the playoffs where we pay dearly for it for an early exit out the playoffs.

 

[FaulkSF]

Forgetting about the reigning offensive player of the year. If a team shows Nickel, run between the guards!

 

[gabriel18]

Stopping the run . LBERS

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Run the ball to the left! The right side of the line is weaker and was getting manhandled by the Bears.

 

[yrba1]

Would reword running the ball more to being too aggressive with the passing game when the run game isn't working. Some of these games were lost due to McVay trying to make big boy plays:

2017 SEA - Abandoned the run after the forced fumble from Earl Thomas against Gurley
2017 @MN - Abandoned the run as soon as it stopped working, only scored 7 points
2017 PHI - Did a 7-step dropback on the last play on offense, resulting in a forced fumble by Chris Long
2018 @CHI - Kept passing the ball due to O-line in no condition to develop running lanes for Gurley

 

[RamWoodie]

I think it's running the ball more. Against the Bears they abandoned the run too early!

Gurley is too good a RB to give up on him that soon...but...they didn't use him as a safety valve much either

We know he's a stallion...be willing to ride him!!

 

[TSFH Fan]

Dealing with success and expectations is a huge issue based on the volume of posts.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

I voted OTHER
cause I didn’t see “Ram fan theatrical hysteria” as an option.

 

[PressureD41]

I wonder if in the back of McVay's brilliant mind he's trying to keep Gurley fresh for the playoffs? But we need to stop the run, I still say this could derail us in the big game.

 

[nighttrain]

I wonder if in the back of McVay's brilliant mind he's trying to keep Gurley fresh for the playoffs?.

this

 

[jjab360]

Gurley's numbers mainly look lacking during losses because teams pass the ball more when playing from behind and run the ball more when trying to run the clock out. I believe you'll find this is a recurring statistic league-wide and I doubt that you'll find many teams that have more rushing attempts in losses than wins.

I do believe we should have been much more balanced in this latest contest, but if you look at our overall biggest issue it won't be found anywhere on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Ellard80]

Hard for me to call it a "era" yet.

 

[snackdaddy]

I can't pinpoint one thing. They need to run more and run effectively. They need to do a better job protecting Goff. And they need to slow down the run better than they have.

With all that we're an 11-2 team. Obviously we're pretty good at a lot of things. There is no team that doesn't have some kind of warts in their game. Its easy to start picking at them after a loss.

 

[jjab360]

I wonder if in the back of McVay's brilliant mind he's trying to keep Gurley fresh for the playoffs? But we need to stop the run, I still say this could derail us in the big game.

Not just playoffs but for his overall career as well. Gurley is still obviously very young in this league, but there's a history of bellcow 300+ attempt RBs having very short careers.

 

[Ram65]

The defense based on the poll answers.

Looking at the running game I think the offensive line gets man handled by the better defensive line. That hurts the running game and the passing game when Goff has no time.

The answer could be shorter pass routes. Early screen calls against aggressive defensive lines.

Bottom line is offensive line has some problems against better defensive lines. Lack of adjustments in play calling. Of course the defense has more problems most of the time.

 

[RamFan503]

While I would like to see us run the ball more, I am also wondering if McVay is saving Gurley for the playoffs. I know he has been nicked up in a couple games and he has carried a pretty big load thus far. With Brown out, it is probably even more in McVay's mind. Gurley has already had almost as many rushes as he had last season and is averaging 22.5 touches per game. I'm just not sure we can expect McVay to push him all that hard over the next few games.

 

[RamFan503]

Not just playoffs but for his overall career as well. Gurley is still obviously very young in this league, but there's a history of bellcow 300+ attempt RBs having very short careers.

And he tends to be a pretty violent runner - especially around the goal line.

 

[NoCoNite]

Probably the bandwagon fans complaining about a team that they just started cheering for losing a game.

 

[badnews]

Other - Raised expectations

 

[badnews]

I voted OTHER
cause I didn’t see “Ram fan theatrical hysteria” as an option.

I hadn't seen this when I voted, but its what I was thinking too... just not as well defined lol