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October 6, 2015 at 8:58 pm #31867
znModeratorAll 22: Gurley’s 52-Yard Run
Insider Myles Simmons breaks down Todd Gurley’s 52-yard run in last Sunday’s road victory over the Cardinals.October 6, 2015 at 9:03 pm #31868znModeratorNick Foles beats the blitz, stands tall to deliver game-winning touchdown
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — A look back at the turning-point play in the St. Louis Rams ‘ 24-22 win against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:
The situation: After leading the entire game, the Rams were clinging to a 17-15 lead and in need of a fourth-quarter scoring drive. A field goal would’ve been OK given that their defense had held the Cardinals to five field goals up to that point but a touchdown and an extra point would make for a two-possession game and at least give the defense some room to breathe.
In the third quarter, the Rams offense had showed some signs of life after a dismal first half. With rookie running back Todd Gurley carrying the freight, the Rams had put together a drive for a touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Foles to receiver Stedman Bailey to make it 17-9 midway through the third quarter. From there, the Cardinals had kicked two field goals and though the Rams defense continued to bend, it was fair to wonder if it would break enough to allow a touchdown. A touchdown from the offense would effectively help salt the game away and increase the defense’s slim margin for error.
That brings us to third-and-6 at Arizona’s 12 with 8:23 to go in the game. A misfire or something short of a first down would have led to a field goal and a one possession game.
The play: Earlier in the game, the Rams scored their first touchdown from a similar spot in a similar situation with receiver Tavon Austin on the outside of a bunch formation to the left. This time, they changed the look with two receiver stacks to each side, including Austin on the outside of tight end Jared Cook’s right shoulder. The Cardinals showed blitz pre-snap with six defenders at the line of scrimmage. It was subtle but Foles varied his snap count enough to get the Cardinals to show which defenders were coming up the middle and which was going to drop into coverage.
From there, three things turned this from Foles ending up on his back or rushing an incompletion into the game’s most important play.
1. With six rushers and six blockers, the Rams found a way to pick up the blitz and block it well enough to give Foles time. In the process, it created one-on-one matchups for all four receivers with an additional defender setting up in the middle of the field watching Foles. The best block of the bunch? That would be running back Benny Cunningham, who picked up safety Tony Jefferson shooting through the A gap. Cunningham stopped Jefferson in his tracks and gave Foles a chance to stand firm in the pocket.
2. Because Cunningham was able to pick up that blitz, Foles had time to assess what safety/linebacker Deone Bucannon was doing. Bucannon was the decoy on the blitz, taking a couple of steps toward the line of scrimmage as though he was coming but then dropping into the middle of the field in zone coverage. As Austin ran what was really a simple in route, Foles didn’t have a throwing lane because Bucannon blocked it. But after Cunningham picked up Jefferson, Foles had time to fake the throw to Austin which got Bucannon in the air and cleared a window to throw, which would lead Austin into open space, in this case the end zone.
3. Foles threw a perfect ball, leading Austin away from cornerback Jerraud Powers with a catchable pass in a spot only Austin could catch it. Like on his first touchdown, Austin ran a strong route, getting across Powers’ face and then simply finishing the route with his speed. While it wasn’t an easy catch, Austin made it look that way as he pulled it in for the touchdown past a diving Powers.
The fallout: Austin’s touchdown was his second of the day and the third scoring toss from Foles on the day. None bigger than this one. After Greg Zuerlein booted the extra point, the Rams led 24-15, a two-score advantage in a game that had been nip and tuck for most of the day. As it turned out, the touchdown was absolutely necessary as a tired defense allowed Arizona to score its lone touchdown on its ensuing possession. But because they picked up the blitz and Foles faced the pressure and delivered, the Rams were able to hang on for a much-needed victory
Nick Foles beats the blitz, stands tall to deliver game-winning touchdown
By Nick WagonerEARTH CITY, Mo. — A look back at the turning-point play in the St. Louis Rams ‘ 24-22 win against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:
The situation: After leading the entire game, the Rams were clinging to a 17-15 lead and in need of a fourth-quarter scoring drive. A field goal would’ve been OK given that their defense had held the Cardinals to five field goals up to that point but a touchdown and an extra point would make for a two-possession game and at least give the defense some room to breathe.
In the third quarter, the Rams offense had showed some signs of life after a dismal first half. With rookie running back Todd Gurley carrying the freight, the Rams had put together a drive for a touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Foles to receiver Stedman Bailey to make it 17-9 midway through the third quarter. From there, the Cardinals had kicked two field goals and though the Rams defense continued to bend, it was fair to wonder if it would break enough to allow a touchdown. A touchdown from the offense would effectively help salt the game away and increase the defense’s slim margin for error.
That brings us to third-and-6 at Arizona’s 12 with 8:23 to go in the game. A misfire or something short of a first down would have led to a field goal and a one possession game.
The play: Earlier in the game, the Rams scored their first touchdown from a similar spot in a similar situation with receiver Tavon Austin on the outside of a bunch formation to the left. This time, they changed the look with two receiver stacks to each side, including Austin on the outside of tight end Jared Cook’s right shoulder. The Cardinals showed blitz pre-snap with six defenders at the line of scrimmage. It was subtle but Foles varied his snap count enough to get the Cardinals to show which defenders were coming up the middle and which was going to drop into coverage.
From there, three things turned this from Foles ending up on his back or rushing an incompletion into the game’s most important play.
1. With six rushers and six blockers, the Rams found a way to pick up the blitz and block it well enough to give Foles time. In the process, it created one-on-one matchups for all four receivers with an additional defender setting up in the middle of the field watching Foles. The best block of the bunch? That would be running back Benny Cunningham, who picked up safety Tony Jefferson shooting through the A gap. Cunningham stopped Jefferson in his tracks and gave Foles a chance to stand firm in the pocket.
2. Because Cunningham was able to pick up that blitz, Foles had time to assess what safety/linebacker Deone Bucannon was doing. Bucannon was the decoy on the blitz, taking a couple of steps toward the line of scrimmage as though he was coming but then dropping into the middle of the field in zone coverage. As Austin ran what was really a simple in route, Foles didn’t have a throwing lane because Bucannon blocked it. But after Cunningham picked up Jefferson, Foles had time to fake the throw to Austin which got Bucannon in the air and cleared a window to throw, which would lead Austin into open space, in this case the end zone.
3. Foles threw a perfect ball, leading Austin away from cornerback Jerraud Powers with a catchable pass in a spot only Austin could catch it. Like on his first touchdown, Austin ran a strong route, getting across Powers’ face and then simply finishing the route with his speed. While it wasn’t an easy catch, Austin made it look that way as he pulled it in for the touchdown past a diving Powers.
The fallout: Austin’s touchdown was his second of the day and the third scoring toss from Foles on the day. None bigger than this one. After Greg Zuerlein booted the extra point, the Rams led 24-15, a two-score advantage in a game that had been nip and tuck for most of the day. As it turned out, the touchdown was absolutely necessary as a tired defense allowed Arizona to score its lone touchdown on its ensuing possession. But because they picked up the blitz and Foles faced the pressure and delivered, the Rams were able to hang on for a much-needed victory
October 6, 2015 at 9:09 pm #31869znModeratorBailey reminds us all: Don’t sleep on Stedman
Jim Thomas
Jeff Fisher wasn’t amused, and there’s a good chance wide receiver Stedman Bailey will receive a letter from the NFL this week — the kind informing players they have been fined.
But for pure entertainment purposes, it’s hard to beat Bailey’s clever touchdown celebration following an 18-yard reception that gave the Rams a 17-9 lead over Arizona in third quarter Sunday.
After making the grab in the right corner of the end zone, Bailey dropped to the ground and lay there for a few seconds before getting up. Did he slip? Was he out of breath? Was he hurt?
None of the above. Replays showed Bailey with his head on the football, using it like a … uh … pillow.
Even Tavon Austin, who watched Bailey score many a touchdown when they were college teammates at West Virginia, was temporarily confused.
“I don’t know what he was doing on the ground,” Austin said, chuckling. “Probably using the football as a pillow on the ground over there. I can’t celebrate with him, so I let him do his thing — get his Zs — and then he popped right up. He went to sleep for a little bit, but he woke up.”
And that, Bailey explained, was exactly the point.
“I just feel like at times a lot of guys around just sleep on me,” Bailey explained. “So you know I just wanted to let ’em know they need to wake up.”
Bailey has displayed flashes of talent since the Rams selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft, but he’s had to fight for playing time in the pros. In two-plus NFL seasons, Bailey has a modest 53 receptions for 749 yards. His TD catch in the Rams’ 24-22 upset victory over the Big Red was only the second of his career.
(He’s also scored a TD on an end-around, as well as on the famed “Mountaineer” 90-yard trick-play punt return last year vs. Seattle.)
“I kind of know that I can do a lot of good things in this league,” Bailey said. “At times things don’t really go our way where I can showcase everything that I can do. But I’m just trying to stay patient and wait for my time.”
Fisher was not a fan of the post-TD hijinks. He already has had a talk with Bailey about it. It could’ve cost the Rams a 15-yard penalty for using the football as a prop.
Nonetheless, Bailey scored points for creativity with his teammates.
“It was different, man,” said veteran defensive end William Hayes. “I wasn’t expecting that at all but it was pretty clever. I don’t care what he does as long as he keeps putting that ball in the end zone. He can go to sleep every week.”
October 7, 2015 at 8:30 am #31898
wvParticipantAll 22: Gurley’s 52-Yard Run
Insider Myles Simmons breaks down Todd Gurley’s 52-yard run in last Sunday’s road victory over the Cardinals.Good breakdown by Simmons. He’s a good communicator.
I think we all have a sense that Tavon and Gurley together,
are better than either Tavon or Gurley by themselves.w
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