post-Arizona: what happens next?

Rams head to playoffs with uncertainty at QB and a dominant defense: The Pile

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2299329/2021/01/04/john-wolford-jared-goff-rams-seahawks/?source=emp_shared_article

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — We don’t know what will happen next week.

We don’t technically even know who the Rams’ quarterback will be. After backup John Wolford helped the Rams to an 18-7 win and a playoff spot Sunday against Arizona — during which Jared Goff, out after thumb surgery, cheered for him on every snap — coach Sean McVay was not definitive about who will start next Saturday against Seattle in the Wild Card Round game.

“We’ll talk about that this week,” McVay said, adding that he was not sure about Goff’s health status.

After Wolford’s disastrous first-ever NFL throw — an interception that led to the Cardinals’ only points — he returned to the Rams’ sideline and told teammates, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

Then, he settled in. On a 16-play, 69-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter, Wolford began to use his ability as a runner — both on designed and off-schedule plays. He rushed for 33 yards on the drive, converting first downs on runs of 13, 11 and nine yards, respectively. The Rams ultimately kicked a field goal to cut Arizona’s lead to 7-3.

Wolford said those runs — and actually getting hit — helped him find his rhythm. He finished 22-of-38 for 231 yards and no touchdowns, plus 56 rushing yards on six carries.

“I think getting hit is a good thing sometimes, to help get you settled into a game,” Wolford said. “And so when I activated those runs, got a first down there on that (third and long), it just felt good. So, it’s something where I have the athleticism to do it, and if it helps us win, I’m going to do it.”

Wolford’s feet also helped the Rams dig a little deeper into their playbook than we have seen this season. The designed runs were one thing, but as we all know — including their opponents — the Rams love them some bootlegs. But when Wolford is rolling into them, the action happens quicker, and his comfort with throwing on the run means he can change his point of release in accordance with how a play breaks down.

The Cardinals, it seemed on Sunday, took a cue from how other opponents have at times covered up those bootlegs. (An outside linebacker or defensive end is a “free rusher” and runs straight through the invisible line of the action and toward the quarterback.) Wolford kept his feet moving at all times when in the pocket and was able to extend the play (and help the offensive line) enough to where several downfield routes could get the time to develop.

In fact, Wolford notably threw the ball 20-plus yards downfield nine times, completing three of those attempts (one was a clear drop by rookie receiver Van Jefferson). As the Rams have moved toward a higher-probability (shorter-yardage) passing game this season, those throws have been few and far between.

“I thought he really gave us a chance offensively with the amount of plays that he made in the pass game with his legs,” McVay said. “Even just being able to extend some of the bootlegs, you know, where he finds Van on the crosser where typically (the ball) has got to come out … I thought it showed up in a big way on all three downs, and he gave it a chance.”

The Rams’ defense entered the Week 17 matchup certain that it would need to hold firm and even score points to ensure a place in the postseason. It did just that. Arizona totaled 214 yards and scored seven points, while the Rams’ defense scored nine (a safety and a pick-six interception). The Rams finished the regular season No. 1 in the NFL in fewest points and yards allowed.

“I just can’t say enough about the defense, the way that they played,” McVay said. “They were unbelievable all day. They’ve been unbelievable all year. They’ve really been the strength of this team, and I thought they showed up in a big way.”

We don’t know what will happen next week at quarterback, even as adamant as the Rams were this week that Goff would be back and ready for the playoffs so quickly after thumb surgery. Goff threw for a bit on the sidelines before the game, but he has not taken any snaps since his surgery. So here’s how it probably will go: No further clarity on Monday or Tuesday and a closed walkthrough on Wednesday, and Goff will throw on Thursday and Friday and will not be ruled out for Sunday’s game (if at all) until we see the list of inactive players.

And that’s fine! While logic and history tell us that if Goff is healthy, he’ll probably play — “if” being the operative word — it’s an advantage for McVay and the Rams if Seattle has to prepare for two very different quarterbacks, so it is understandable if McVay is deploying a bit of gamesmanship here. Goff, after all, threw for 351 yards against this Arizona defense last month and is experienced in playoff games and in facing the Seahawks, whose defense was much improved in the back half of the season.

Further, I’d bet that the decision will be based on two things: Whether Goff is healthy enough to give the Rams the best shot at winning, and whether the looks Wolford could provide against Seattle as a mobile quarterback might give them a better chance. That’s a decision that has to be made with Seattle in mind, and not the Cardinals.

So, again: We don’t know what will happen next week.

But damn, the Rams needed this win, this way, this week. Talk about a palate cleanser. They’re 10-6, and playoff-bound as the No. 6 seed in the NFC.

Welcome to The Pile. Let’s start poking around.

Red zone? Hardly know her

The Rams’ long, promising drives that stalled in the red zone — they didn’t score a touchdown all game but got into the red zone four times — reminded me of that scene from “Friends” in which first-time cook Rachel Green is tasked with making an English trifle for Thanksgiving dessert.

“It’s a trifle. It’s got all of these layers,” she says. “First, there’s a layer of ladyfingers, then a layer of jam, then custard, which I made from scratch. Raspberries, more ladyfingers. Then beef sautéed with peas and onions …”

If the Rams’ drives were the ladyfingers, custard, jam and raspberries, the red-zone stalls — hindered by penalties, drops and decision making — were the beef (sautéed with peas and onions).

“We have to do a much better job of finishing drives in the red area,” McVay said.

This is not a problem unique to playing a backup quarterback (although perhaps false-start penalties could be attributed to not being as accustomed to Wolford’s cadence). The Rams are scoring in the red zone at just a 62 percent rate this season and just 50 percent over their last three games.

“The thing that really is disappointing — but hey, the guys continued to battle — is when you have two red-zone drives where you’re, in essence, inside the 2-yard-line and you only come away with three points total,” McVay said. “We’ve got to be better than that.”

Troy Hill and more defensive highlights

The defense prided itself down the backstretch of the season in taking away the ball and turning it into points, and the Rams finished the season tied for first in scoring defense (four touchdowns) with Indianapolis despite not scoring in the first 11 games.

Cornerback Troy Hill, who is set to be a free agent this spring, scored three of those TDs, and the latest came via an interception of Cardinals backup quarterback Chris Streveler that he returned for 84 yards for a score.

“We (myself and the end zone) just became best friends this year,” Hill said. “You never get tired of your best friend.”

Hill’s return, with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter, put the Rams ahead 12-7 at the half and placed them in a situation they are familiar with and love: McVay’s Rams are now 35-0 when holding a halftime lead.

Aaron Donald unsurprisingly had a solid game as well, setting an early tone with a tackle for loss and then a run-stuff. Donald finished with four tackles — two for a loss in key run-stop situations. Around him, other defensive linemen stepped up. Morgan Fox had a sack (immediately after Donald’s tackle for loss in the first quarter), a quarterback hit and two tackles for loss. Outside linebacker Samson Ebukam recorded two sacks, and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd got one sack to finish the season with 10.5.

Will a non-QB run game come back to life?

Wolford was averaging 9.4 yards per carry at one point Sunday, but the Rams couldn’t get much else going on the ground. Rookie Cam Akers stunningly returned from a high ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago and had 21 carries for just 34 yards. Veteran back Malcolm Brown had three carries for 20 yards.

“Outside of John, I didn’t think we ran the ball particularly well,” McVay said. “I didn’t think we got great movement. I have to do a better job of making sure I’m activating certain plays.”

Akers was still taking the lead reps late in the game, even though all four available running backs were on the game roster.

Jalen Ramsey’s “regular” season

I’m not going to jump in the comments section and argue about offensive or defensive pass interference. I’m just going to drop this stat and leave it at that.

Ramsey faced elite NFC West receivers DK Metcalf and DeAndre Hopkins twice each this season and allowed a combined total of 75 receiving yards, according to data acquired from Next Gen Stats and Pro Football Reference.

Special teams

I don’t know what to do with myself. Folks, I have no qualms with the Rams’ special-teams unit, which, like everybody you follow on Instagram, has decided to transform for the better in 2021.

Nsimba Webster was back on punt returns and got the Rams great field position after the second-quarter safety, and he took care of the football. Johnny Hekker won the coin toss (and, you know, did the punting thing). Matt Gay hit all three of his field-goals attempts. Rookie running back Raymond Calais got a shot at kick return. Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson blocked a field goal and linebacker Troy Reeder recovered it!

And coordinator John Bonamego, after all of the ups and downs of this season, may have done a lot in the way of job preservation.

Bottom of The Pile

A favorite, and absolutely igniting, play of Wolford’s teammates was his fourth-quarter designed run (zone read) on third-and-9. Wolford lowered his shoulder and crashed into two Cardinals defenders to get the first down, and the Rams’ sideline lit up. “He’s willing to risk it all to get the first down, man,” Floyd said. “That just gives the defense an extra boost of confidence to go out and get him the ball back.”

Floyd’s sack allowed him to reach a contract escalator that is reportedly worth over $1 million. McVay said this week that the Rams would “absolutely” like to have Floyd back next season (he’s on a one-year deal), but it might be tough to keep him after a season like this.

Wolford is not going to delete his LinkedIn account, remarking postgame that “he’s 1-0 with it active.”

With veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers on the COVID-19/reserve list, safety and captain John Johnson broke down the Rams’ final pregame huddle, a task usually reserved for Brockers. It was both a special and joyful moment, judging by the looks on the faces of Johnson and his teammates.

Brockers and receiver Cooper Kupp were both inactive because they were on the COVID-19/reserve list. The Rams play Seattle on Saturday, and I am told that as long as they are asymptomatic by that time, they will be able to be cleared to play.