tweets & things … 12/19 thru 12/21

leafnose

Jackie Slater on local LA TV post the Cowboys game was “yelling” to his analysis panel that on one particular play that the offensive line failed to pick up their assignments.

He said veteran leadership is a vital part of a team. He said that the loss of Roger Saffold was clearly defined by the particular play he was breaking down, saying Saffold would have recognized the scheme and made sure that it was covered, but this the line was lost on that play

He said that Saffold was the longest tenured Ram, and that his absence on that play and throughout this season has been very obvious. Corbett and Blythe lack volume. Saffold had that mass: He was probably the strongest guy on the team.

So the club goes from enjoying perhaps the only line that kept their 5 starter intact last year to an assemblance that has had success and fails. The fails linked together scream at the interior line.

It’s an easily fixed situation. But Slater’s comment rings true. Saffold’s departure hurt.

The @49ers arguably have the best TE in the NFL in George Kittle but he will have company when they meet the Rams as Tyler Higbee comes in red hot @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/2py3ddxON6

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) December 19, 2019

Field Yates@FieldYates
With K Greg Zuerlein dealing with a quad injury, the Rams tried our former Cowboys K Brett Maher, per source.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
It’s been a good Rams defense otherwise. But yes, there were 3 bad days. What has changed, for a variety of reasons, is between 2017-18 the Rams offense could throttle it up on those types of bad defensive days.

PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
#LARams Taylor Rapp makes our list of the Top 10 Highest-Graded rookies through Week 15

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-10-highest-graded-rookies-through-week-15

10. S TAYLOR RAPP, LOS ANGELES RAMS
It’s always fun to see a player who has an elite trait in college immediately translate that skill to the pro game. For Rapp, it’s undoubtedly his tackling. At Washington, he missed only 12 tackles on 176 attempts over his entire college career. Amazingly, he’s been even better this season, with only four misses on 91 attempts.

6️⃣ seasons in the @NFL

6️⃣ straight Pro Bowl selections

This man just keeps making history!

👏 @AaronDonald97 #H2P pic.twitter.com/vAsUDy37fW

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 19, 2019

PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
Robert Woods & Cooper Kupp have been as reliable as WRs come in 2019, ranked 4th & T-6th, respectively, in Drop grades (min 100 targets)

Woods is 50 yards away from consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. It would also be the 2nd year in a row that the #Rams had two 1,000 yard receivers

Alex Marvez@alexmarvez
I’m hearing there’s a chance Wade Phillips doesn’t return as @RamsNFL d-coordinator. In final year of his contract. He’s expected to meet with Sean McVay at season’s end. Rams LBs coach Joe Barry would be strong replacement candidate. More tonight 8-11 pm et on @SiriusXMNFL

Note from me: Joe Barry has been a DC twice, in Detroit (2007-8) and Washington (2015-16). His Detroit defense was ranked 32nd both years. His Washington defenses was ranked 28th both years.

J.B. Long from https://www.therams.com/news/payback-and-playoff-hopes-on-the-line-at-levi-s

Don’t Overthink It

As much as we like to find nuance and next-generation metrics to explain how teams win and lose, in football the answer is almost always staring you right in the face: turnover margin.

The Rams are now minus-6 on the season, compared to plus-5 for the 49ers. That spread of 11 extra possessions over the course of 14 games can explain a sizable portion of their difference in fortunes.

And since the quarterback is most responsible for taking care of the ball, it’s no coincidence L.A. is 3-0 when Jared Goff is turnover free and 5-6 in all other games.

Paradoxically, the Rams won the turnover battle in Week 6 versus the Niners, but an avalanche of pressure smothered Goff and led to the least productive day of this season and one of the worst of his career.

@RamsNFL Got to my Hotel in San Jose. Checked in. Went to the elevator and this guy was in there… He said we’re gonna win! pic.twitter.com/HOwIliTjtJ

— Bruce Boyer (@pboss100) December 21, 2019

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Richard Sherman’s return tonight vs. the Rams is a boost for the 49ers’ defense and, potentially, his wallet. Sherman earns a $1 million incentive by playing in 90% of the snaps this season. He’s at 85.7% heading into tonight, with the threshold and money now in reach.

Ross Tucker@RossTuckerNFL
I was surprised he was coming back after only missing one game with a Grade 2 hamstring strain but it makes sense now.

Don’t blame him one bit for wanting the $ but those injuries are tricky.

Something to watch for sure.

Flashback to Thursday night football 2012 when the Rams defense put on one of its best performances against Arizona. @JOEL9ONE And company sacked Kevin Kolb 9 times in the 17-3 victory pic.twitter.com/pB4G7r4rVI

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) November 29, 2019

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
Kicker Greg Zuerlein is questionable today. Zuerlein was scheduled to kick yesterday to test that right quad injury. Nothing on NFL transactions regarding Rams signing a kicker yesterday. Could be good indication.

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Based on Sean McVay’s comments this week, and the fact that the Rams didn’t sign a kicker (they would’ve done so yesterday), Zuerlein must’ve showed them enough in yesterday’s workout that they feel comfortable playing him.

J.B. Long@JB_Long
Against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules, L.A. can string together a 3rd straight 10-win season. The kind of sustained success this franchise hasn’t attained since the Greatest Show on Turf.