reporters set up the Seattle game

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  • October 2, 2019 at 9:12 pm #106118
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    Game Preview: Rams seeking fourth straight win over NFC West foe Seahawks

    Stu Jackson

    https://www.therams.com/news/rams-seahawks-game-preview

    The Rams (3-1) travel to Seattle Thursday night to face the Seahawks (3-1) in the first divisional matchup of the 2019 season for Los Angeles. Kickoff from CenturyLink Field is set for 5:20 p.m. pacific time.

    L.A. has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, including each of the last three. During that three-game win streak, the Rams’ offense has averaged 37 points per contest.

    To get you ready for the contest, theRams.com compiled a quick preview featuring who to watch, what to watch for on offense and defense for both Los Angeles and Seattle and three keys to victory for L.A.

    Five players to watch

    Rams RT Rob Havenstein: Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney will present a tremendous challenge for the right side of Los Angeles’ offensive line, which means Havenstein will play an instrumental role in keeping the pressure off of QB Jared Goff.
    Rams CB Aqib Talib: He’ll likely draw Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett as his assignment. Lockett has been one of the most dependable receivers in the NFL this season, catching 81.2 percent of passes thrown his way this season – second among all wide receivers behind Michael Gallup’s 86.67, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
    Seahawks RB Chris Carson: Coming off the best performance of the season, he’s the focal point of a Seattle rushing attack averaging 111.5 yards per game.
    Seahawks TE Will Dissly: He’s also been a reliable target in the Seahawks passing game, 86.36 percent of passes thrown his way per Next Gen Stats. That ranks fourth among all players, regardless of position.
    Rams S Eric Weddle: Similar to last week, L.A.’s defense will face a quarterback who has a knack for executing off-schedule plays with a pair of wide receivers who are big plays waiting to happen. Communication will be key, and that starts with the Rams’ primary defensive signal caller.

    What to watch for…

    On offense for the Rams

    A more balanced approach.

    While it was understandable Los Angeles leaned on its passing game given the challenges Tampa Bay’s run defense was was going to present, even QB Jared Goff admitted it’s not a sustainable approach.

    The Seahawks won’t give the Rams too many opportunities to establish the run given they allow the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game. However, with the few opportunities the Rams do get, they’ll need to take advantage.

    On offense for the Seahawks

    QB Russell Wilson can make plays with his arm or his legs, and he’s shown throughout his career that he doesn’t need to be overly reliant on one or the other to lead Seattle to victory.

    The Seahawks also have two starting offensive linemen – LT Duane Brown (biceps) and LG Mike Iupati (foot) – who have been estimated as limited this week.

    Should they miss Thursday’s game, second-year offensive line Jamarco Jones (three career games played) would fill in for Brown. Iupati’s absence would create a major hole at left guard, as his backup – Ethan Pocic – has also been limited with a mid back injury.

    On defense for the Rams

    The defensive line.

    In 10 career games against the Seahawks, DT Aaron Donald has tallied 10.5 sacks, 46 total tackles (17 for loss) and forced two fumbles.

    DL Michael Brockers could benefit not only from the attention commanded by Donald but the potential absences of Brown and Iupati.

    On defense for the Seahawks

    Primarily Clowney, who will be one of the toughest tests for a young Rams offensive line this season.

    Three keys to victory

    Find a rhythm in the passing game: Clowney is going to generate pressure, but the Seahawks defense has the ninth-lowest graded pass rush in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
    Limit the Seahawks’ rushing attack: An effective rushing attack contributes to the ability to open up play action, and Lockett and rookie WR D.K. Metcalf are both capable of capitalizing on it.
    Capitalize on special teams: The Seahawks’ net average of 39.9 yards per punt is fourth-lowest in the NFL through the first four weeks, a potential opportunity to create good field position.

    October 2, 2019 at 10:38 pm #106125
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    Mike Clay@MikeClayNFL
    Russell Wilson’s average depth of throw is up from 8.9 in 2018 to 9.0 in 2019 and yet his completion percentage is up from 66% to a career-high 73%. And he’s on pace for a career-high 40 total TDs. Dude is so good.

    Sam Farmer@LATimesfarmer
    Jadeveon Clowney, Ziggy Ansah give Seahawks an edge (rush) against Rams’ line

    October 3, 2019 at 12:51 am #106139
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    Will Rams division dominance continue?

    J.B. Long

    https://www.therams.com/news/will-rams-division-dominance-continue

    For the first time since Sean McVay was hired, the Rams do not hold at least a share of first place in the NFC West. For the moment, at least externally, they’re no longer the favorite.

    They have a chance to change that over the next two games, head-to-head against the Seahawks and 49ers. And perhaps division rivalries are just the tonic they need following an embarrassing home loss to Tampa Bay.

    All the shortcomings they got away with against the Panthers, Saints, and Browns were laid bare at the Coliseum in Week 4. Chief among them, what’s the identity of this 2019 group?

    In a sense, the Rams are victims of their own success. When you score more points than any franchise in football over the course of two seasons – and do so in perfect run/pass equilibrium – there’s only one way you can go from there.

    At the quarter pole, it’s clear these are not the 2017-18 Rams. At least not yet; at least not offensively. And that’s fine! It’s a truth that doesn’t need to have negative connotations.

    Perhaps it’s time we stop comparing them to the two-time defending division champions of years gone by, and allow this group of Rams to figure out who they’re going to be and how they’re going to three-peat.

    Contrast in Styles

    The Seahawks have a future Hall of Famer at quarterback at the top of the MVP conversation as the calendar turns to October. Yet, they insist on being a run-first offense, and in fact were the only team in the NFL to attempt more runs than passes last season.

    Conversely, the Rams have an All-Pro tailback and a recent Offensive Player of the Year in Todd Gurley, but have thrown it on 65% of their offensive snaps so far.

    This isn’t the space to tease out all the various reasons why those dynamics are real. We’ll just point to the paradox and predict that despite their tendencies, both Seattle and Los Angeles will go as their superstars go.

    Rethinking Thursday

    Speaking of Gurley, his stance against Thursday Night Football is well-documented and widely-shared around the league.

    Nonetheless, the Rams have to convince themselves that they won the lottery with this TNF assignment.

    First and foremost, it’s early in the schedule and the Rams are relatively healthy, which is huge. Second, even though it’s on the road, it’s in the same time zone. Third, it’s against a familiar division opponent that played on the road last week. And finally, being in Seattle Thursday gives you a four-day head start on the 49ers, who host Cleveland in the final game of Week 5.

    Yes, for the third time this season, the Rams next opponent will play Monday Night Football before taking on Los Angeles.

    It may not feel like it now, but the Rams got a scheduling break. Especially if they capitalize with a win.

    Thursday Night Fireworks

    The Rams have authored two of the most entertaining Thursday games in recent years.

    In Santa Clara in 2017, Goff and Gurley orchestrated a 41-39 barnburner.

    Then, home to the Vikings in 2018, the Rams prevailed 38-31, on the back of a perfect quarterback rating.

    That leaves Goff with two wins, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a pair of Thursday games since 2017.

    If tonight is anything like those performances, we should be in for a good one.

    October 3, 2019 at 2:43 pm #106149
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    Rams rated worst OLine in NFL by PFF:https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/02/rams-offensive-line-woes/

    Chris Carter mentions that in his take on the Rams:

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    • This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Avatar photowv.
    October 3, 2019 at 7:19 pm #106163
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    October 3, 2019 at 7:44 pm #106166
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    B.Westbrook on degenerative knees:

    October 3, 2019 at 8:04 pm #106167
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    That’s a good vid (and thanks for posting) but I disagree with Carter on Goff. I think even in a bad loss Goff showed last game that he has progressed. Beat the hell up, throwing every down, coming from several scores down, playing behind a struggling line against a top pass rushing defense, he got them close…to the point where a couple of times in the game, I thought, they’re going to take this one. That was only and solely because of the passing game…while everything else, especially the defense, was crashing and burning.

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