reactions around the net to the Packers game (if you see one you like add it)

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Laram

The good

Todd Gurley – BEAST! But here is the kicker. Even with 159 yards rushing from TG, the Rams got only 10 points and nothing in the pass game. Something doesn’t jive there. That should have opened PA, or at least given Foles an extra beat or two in the pocket. Really a strange phenomenon to me.

Rams defense – Played extremely well and better than I thought they would. Three to’s against Aaron Rodgers and really just 14 points allowed is an exceptional defensive performance. Other than a couple of mental errors, they were strong. Offense put them in bad positions.

Janoris Jenkins – He got looks but was only thrown at once that I recall. He has really cleaned up his fundamentals.

Mark Barron – Was all over the field today making tackles and had a nice deflection which caused an INT.

Run blocking – Was intermittent, but when it was good, it was very good.

Johnny Hekker – Great heads up play by the Hekker. Kept the play alive by buying time, made a risky throw but got away with it.

The bad

Nick Foles – Taking two delay of game penalties. When you lean down under center and look up, you are looking right at the play clock. No excuse for it.

Cignetti – Was bad today and did absolutely nothing to help his o-line or the qb in the pass game. When you qb is holding onto the ball to long and you o-line can’t hold off the pass rush…you as the OC need to adjust. Quick throws, screens, slants, something to slow down the rush and get Foles some easy throws. Its like a shooter in basketball, sometimes you need a lay-up just to see the ball go through the net.

Zuerlin – Low trajectory on one kick, poor accuracy on another. Would you really trust him in a BIG game to win it?

The ugly

Nick Foles – Yep he shows up in two categories. I know he got very little help from his o-line, but his decision making was absolutely horrid. He forced a number of passes and when he did have time to throw, his accuracy was not good. I understand that a qb will have bad days, but I’m seeing some tendencies in Foles that I have seen before. Take a sack Nick, sometimes its better than the alternative.

Receiving core – With the exception of Austin and Bailey, who didn’t get many opportunities in the game, save the Heykel and Jekyll play…they were all bad. Cook is Cook and I still don’t know why Quick jumped for the ball when he didn’t have to. More times than not when you see that type of play. the receiver drops the pass. Britt was invisible, and Kendricks has never been a consistent option. I didn’t see as many drops as whats being reported, but nobody stood up either!

Pass pro – Way to many breakdowns by the o-line from mental to physical errors. Reynolds blowing a blitz assignment, GRob getting whipped, Saffold, Barnes, Hav, Brown…take your pick. Just an awful performance today by a unit that we hoped was gaining some momentum.

Coaching – Jeff Fisher was horrible in clock management and understanding game situations. Down two scores in the 4th quarter the Rams should have been in hurry up mode. With 4:00 left in the game they were acting like they were up two scores, instead of behind two.

A 63 yard fg really Jeff? He is totally enamored with the fact that GZ has a big leg. We’ve seen it now for 4 years that he has been the Rams HC. Go for it, I think NFL stats will prove 4th and 7 has a better chance of being made over a 63 yard fg. Play the percentages!!!

Jeff Fisher is also responsible for what we are seeing from the o-line. Most of us expect a young inexperienced o-line to be up and down. So he really didn’t give this team much room for error by relying on one. He doesn’t have Tom Brady at qb, nor does he have Julio Jones at receiver.

When you have players of that caliber, you can overcome some deficiencies upfront. You can win some games that you might otherwise lose, and remain competitive in the division while you give a unit time to come together.

With Fisher its always been the necessary pieces on offense that continue to hold his teams back. You would think he would adjust after so many years, but obviously you can’t teach this old dog, new tricks!.

Just poor coaching and careless play on offense that has to be demoralizing to a defense that once again…played its heart out!!

A 63 yard fg really Jeff? He is totally enamored with the fact that GZ has a big leg. We’ve seen it now for 4 years that he has been the Rams HC. Go for it, I think NFL stats will prove 4th and 7 has a better chance of being made over a 63 yard fg. Play the percentages!!!

Really good post by Laram, except for this bit. Going for it is Ok, Trying the FG is Ok. In fact, I agree with Fisher. I would go for it. I know that the NYT 4th down Bot would have gone for it.

http://nyt4thdownbot.com/play/20151011009672

I think that you can use logic to trump statistics in this case. When time becomes critical, whether a play can win or lose becomes the critical factor. imo

Also since we need 2 scores and a FG will do for 1, it becomes what is my best chance to score a TD. I have a better chance of scoring a TD with the ball on my own 35 with first and 10 than I do going for it on 4th and 7. It is about a 1 in 5 chance.

Not making a first down or missing a FG, both lose the game. Making a FG gives me 1 score and do it now give me the most time to try for a TD. Making 4th and 7 just gives me a first down and runs time off the clock. I still need 2 scores.

It is fine to go for it and and figure it doesn’t take much to get a chance at a FG later. But that might well be a another 63 yarder. 😉 So, I am fine with either play, but I prefer Fisher’s in this case.