Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Laram – State of the Rams
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Dak.
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May 17, 2015 at 11:52 am #24705
wvParticipant—————————————
LaramAs I’ve said before Barron and Ayers are duplicates, neither one can cover. They’re both “specialist” in this defense…that’s not a full-time player.
Watch Barron in space in this case against ODB I know, I know, ODB is a beast and would be against most safeties but it was sad.
So IF you’re a safety and you can’t play in predominately a cover 2 (Tampa), you have no cover skills.
Fairley is an upgrade in pass rush over Langford, but not in run defense. They obviously want pressure, but you can’t have Barron and Ayers on the field simultaneously IMO.
The Rams have bet it all on the pass rush, IF they don’t get there…the holes will get exposed.
I would have preferred a more stout guy with more versatility. But its a one year deal, so….
Foles is a HUGE question mark for me. He played well in optimum conditions in a qb friendly system.
Not so much w/o those components. Defenses played him very differently in 2014, w/o speed on the outside.
You didn’t see as many guys running free in the back-end.
I dunno what to expect from him in a traditional offense, with constant pressure. Other than him throwing off his back foot and throwing jump balls.
He should/better be an upgrade over Hill and Davis. Those guys are both career journeyman.
The o-line is even a bigger question mark for me.
I don’t know what any of these guys can do other than Saffold and Robinson. And I know what Robinson can’t do, unless he’s made a major jump.
Who’s gonna cover GRob on stunts, and what happens when Saffold goes down again??
Who makes the line calls?
IMO they focused too much attention on one aspect of defense ON defense…and not enough on offense.
I don’t know this for sure until I see the starting o-line, but me thinks they have overvalued/undervalued the positional strength there.
Say what you want about Barksdale (And I was on him as much as anyone 2nd half of the season) but pop in his 2013 and 1st half 2014 tape.
Just watch the Texans game and watch that “journeyman” as he’s been called here work over the best defensive player in football.
They ran combos with Saffold and JB singled him up quite a bit in that game and shut him completely out!! His number wasn’t called once!!
So the Rams are undervaluing him IMO because he’s not a physically imposing mauler in the run game.
So what… he’s a very reliable player who will suit up every Sunday and be on the field. He doesn’t make mental mistakes but really suffered playing next to Davin Joseph. I went back and looked at his bad games, and I had to re-score some of them.
There were a number of stunts that Barksdale got caught up trying to seal the inside which was actually Joseph’s man!
Look at the KC and second Zona game in particular. He was better than I gave him credit for.
Gurley was a *luxury*, not a necessity IMO..
The NFL wants excitement and POINTS. So all of the rule changes favor the pass game, not the run game.
That’s why its a passing league and rb’s have been undervalued in recent years. The NFL got exactly what they wanted.
They don’t want another 85 Bears defense!
Points come out of the pass game, so despite Gurley and Tre, IF the Rams want to score they will have to be proficient passing.
Teams are gonna blitz, stunt, run games and throw everything at the Rams o-line and force Foles to make some quick decisions.
You can grind it out all day but it’s gonna take more plays which increases the odds for error.
If I have a superior pass game, I don’t need as many possessions.
We’ll see how it all plays out, but I’m usually pretty dialed in on the Rams.
=================May 17, 2015 at 12:00 pm #24706wvParticipantI dont see Gurley as a ‘luxury pick’ myself.
If he’s truly an ‘elite’ RB, then I think he
was worth taking at the ten spot.
And if Tre gets hurt he won’t look like a
luxury pick, of course.As for the ‘passing league’ thing — there’s
the Seattle team that kinda shows theres
still a place for Defense and power running.
Granted, Seattle’s D is awesome and their
home field advantage is ridiculous.w
vMay 17, 2015 at 12:02 pm #24707
znModeratorAs for the ‘passing league’ thing — there’s
the Seattle team that kinda shows theres
still a place for Defense and power running.
Granted, Seattle’s D is awesome and their
home field advantage is ridiculous.They’re not the only ones though. I will do a breakdown sometime.
To me, run-heavy teams pass the ball 50% of the time or less.
3 run-heavy teams that come to mind right off, then, are Seattle (of course), Dallas, and Houston.
I expect the Rams to be a balanced team, with 53-54% passing or thereabouts. Heavy passing teams throw it 56-57% or more.
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May 17, 2015 at 12:52 pm #24709
ZooeyModeratorIt seems to me that going all in on the pass rush is a good idea, especially given the point LA makes later that the NFL has tilted everything towards passing, away from rushing anyway. And that doesn’t mean that the Rams are not trying to cover as well, in spite of the addition of Ayers (who – I will take his word for it – can’t cover). They invested heavily in secondary last year, both in the draft, and in UDFA, and a couple of those guys red-shirted. So the development of the secondary this year will be one aspect of the Rams that I will have an eye on. We have Gaines and Joyner up-and-coming, and this year we should see what Bryant and Roberson can do. I do think their LBs are limited, and probably the least imposing unit on the team. They are serviceable, but no wrecking crew.
I think Gurley was a great decision at 10. I’ve yet to see anybody offer another name that was on the board at that point who could arguably have made as big a difference. His presence will make Foles and the passing game better both by making the defense worry about more things, and by his own value as a receiver. Want a better passing game? Get Gurley. Nobody else on the board would have helped the passing game more at that point. And while running the ball may very well mean more plays to score, Gurley doesn’t fumble. And running with Gurley is a lower risk than throwing to anybody. I just don’t agree that the Gurley addition will make a drive more likely to make a mistake. On the contrary. I think he immediately becomes the guy on the Rams that defenses have to gameplan for.
May 17, 2015 at 12:54 pm #24710
bnwBlocked—————————————
LaramieYou can grind it out all day but it’s gonna take more plays which increases the odds for error.
If I have a superior pass game, I don’t need as many possessions.
We’ll see how it all plays out, but I’m usually pretty dialed in on the Rams.
=================For someone who claims to be dialed into the Rams he’s missed the main goal (besides winning) of Fisher’s system. That is he wants a ball control offense to keep the other teams defense on the field and wore down by the 4th quarter. The assumption is our defense will be better rested and able to keep our offense within 7 points of the lead starting their final game winning drive while running out the clock.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 18, 2015 at 10:19 pm #24829
laramParticipant—————————————
LaramieYou can grind it out all day but it’s gonna take more plays which increases the odds for error.
If I have a superior pass game, I don’t need as many possessions.
We’ll see how it all plays out, but I’m usually pretty dialed in on the Rams.
=================For someone who claims to be dialed into the Rams he’s missed the main goal (besides winning) of Fisher’s system. That is he wants a ball control offense to keep the other teams defense on the field and wore down by the 4th quarter. The assumption is our defense will be better rested and able to keep our offense within 7 points of the lead starting their final game winning drive while running out the clock.
I think even Ray Charles can see what Fisher wants to do.
Again a superior pass offense doesn’t need as many possessions to score.
Who were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Exactly.
Laram
May 18, 2015 at 10:23 pm #24830znModeratorWho were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Well, Blount/Vereen, Lynch, Rice, Bradshaw/Jacobs, and Starks.
Either way my bet is that they continue to be a balanced team that still throws. They’re not going to be a run-heavy Seattle style team.
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May 18, 2015 at 10:33 pm #24831ZooeyModerator—————————————
LaramieYou can grind it out all day but it’s gonna take more plays which increases the odds for error.
If I have a superior pass game, I don’t need as many possessions.
We’ll see how it all plays out, but I’m usually pretty dialed in on the Rams.
=================For someone who claims to be dialed into the Rams he’s missed the main goal (besides winning) of Fisher’s system. That is he wants a ball control offense to keep the other teams defense on the field and wore down by the 4th quarter. The assumption is our defense will be better rested and able to keep our offense within 7 points of the lead starting their final game winning drive while running out the clock.
I think even Ray Charles can see what Fisher wants to do.
Again a superior pass offense doesn’t need as many possessions to score.
Who were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Exactly.
Okay. But there was no way they were going to get a superior pass offense in this draft.
Gurley was there at 10. Cooper and White were gone. And Foles…well…he isn’t Warner. Who also was unavailable at 10.
May 18, 2015 at 10:37 pm #24833laramParticipantWho were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Well, Blount/Vereen, Lynch, Rice, Bradshaw/Jacobs, and Starks.
Either way my bet is that they continue to be a balanced team that still throws. They’re not going to be a run-heavy Seattle style team.
…
Blount – 14 carries 40 yards
Vereen 4 carries 13 yards
Lynch 15 carries 39 yards
Rice – 20 carries 59 yardsWhat was your point? MY response to the Op had nothing to do with whether they would be balanced or not, and by listing the rb’s you support MY point. They had little to do with the outcomes.
Laram
May 18, 2015 at 10:48 pm #24834znModeratorWho were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Well, Blount/Vereen, Lynch, Rice, Bradshaw/Jacobs, and Starks.
Either way my bet is that they continue to be a balanced team that still throws. They’re not going to be a run-heavy Seattle style team.
…
Blount – 14 carries 40 yards
Vereen 4 carries 13 yards
Lynch 15 carries 39 yards
Rice – 20 carries 59 yardsWhat was your point? MY response to the Op had nothing to do with whether they would be balanced or not, and by listing the rb’s you support MY point. They had little to do with the outcomes.
In those games.
You don’t measure an entire league-wide trend by doing stats from one game.
For example, in their superbowl year, Baltimore ran in the playoffs more than they passed. But that’s several games. And that’s also after a season where they were 12th in rushing attempts and 15th in passing attempts.
Even the reasoning is sound. You don’t throw to score more quickly because then you’re setting your own defense up to experience the same thing in reverse. They get on the field more quickly and more often.
If the last 5 superbowl teams, in terms of just attempts during the season, most were balanced.
Ranked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningMay 19, 2015 at 1:25 am #24845
InvaderRamModeratorwell i take comfort in the fact that laram calls gurley a luxury pick. which i take to mean he’s not necessarily a bad player but a bad pick…
haha!
i do think gurley will have a significant role in the passing game as well. he’ll make a good safety valve for foles. but i also think he’ll be able to provide some big plays there.
also hopefully quick comes back healthy. and bailey gets some chemistry going with his qb.
i also agree about the oline. they need to re-sign barksdale.
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This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by
InvaderRam.
May 19, 2015 at 11:09 am #24856bnwBlocked—————————————
LaramieYou can grind it out all day but it’s gonna take more plays which increases the odds for error.
If I have a superior pass game, I don’t need as many possessions.
We’ll see how it all plays out, but I’m usually pretty dialed in on the Rams.
=================For someone who claims to be dialed into the Rams he’s missed the main goal (besides winning) of Fisher’s system. That is he wants a ball control offense to keep the other teams defense on the field and wore down by the 4th quarter. The assumption is our defense will be better rested and able to keep our offense within 7 points of the lead starting their final game winning drive while running out the clock.
I think even Ray Charles can see what Fisher wants to do.
Again a superior pass offense doesn’t need as many possessions to score.
Who were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Exactly.
Apparently Ray Charles sees a superior pass offense on the horizon? No one else does so grinding out scoring drives to keep a potent defense more rested for the final quarter makes sense to me.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 19, 2015 at 11:55 am #24859
joemadParticipantRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
May 19, 2015 at 12:09 pm #24860znModeratorRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
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May 19, 2015 at 12:22 pm #24861bnwBlockedRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
…
Wow. It must keep Carroll up at nights.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 19, 2015 at 12:43 pm #24864znModeratorRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
…
Wow. It must keep Carroll up at nights.
No it’s by design.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s more than one kind of successful offensive philosophy in the NFL.
May 19, 2015 at 12:50 pm #24865znModeratorAnd while running the ball may very well mean more plays to score, Gurley doesn’t fumble. And running with Gurley is a lower risk than throwing to anybody. I just don’t agree that the Gurley addition will make a drive more likely to make a mistake. On the contrary. I think he immediately becomes the guy on the Rams that defenses have to gameplan for.
Yeah, I mean, since when did people start assuming that a ball control offense with play action strikes built in means magnifying mistakes.
First off, the idea that they will become as run heavy as Seattle or Dallas does not strike me as realistic.
Second off, even those teams throw around 48% of the time.
Third off, ball control and power running means controlling the clock and wearing down the opposing defense while keeping your defense fresher. The object is to win in the 4th quarter.
I thought all of this stuff was universally appreciated.
Moreover, as my numbers above show, superbowl winning teams tend more toward being balanced offensively, not pass heavy.
Pass heavy = teams like New Orleans, Atlanta, and Indy. They passed the ball (respectively) 61.8%, 62.9%, & 61.4% of the time. As a group they are not dominating the league. Dallas, in contrast, ran the ball 51.6% of the time.
May 19, 2015 at 1:09 pm #24866bnwBlockedRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
…
Wow. It must keep Carroll up at nights.
No it’s by design.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s more than one kind of successful offensive philosophy in the NFL.
I know. I should have added a 😉
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 19, 2015 at 1:15 pm #24867bnwBlockedThird off, ball control and power running means controlling the clock and wearing down the opposing defense while keeping your defense fresher. The object is to win in the 4th quarter.
I thought all of this stuff was universally appreciated.
It should be. Such strategy best fits the personnel makeup of this team.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 19, 2015 at 1:35 pm #24871
DakParticipantThe big question is IF the Rams will be able to pass successfully when needed, in the 4th quarter, or when coming from behind. I don’t know what Foles IS, exactly. He has no track record of “being clutch” or bringing teams back. And, the Rams’ receivers, while more talented than the past several years, have not established that they can reliably move the chains when needed the most. There are a lot of question marks.
I agree, too, that the Rams should still go after Barksdale, and really I’d be happiest if they also got a veteran center.
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