Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › reporters on the Patz game, including "Goff pays for lackluster offense"
- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by
zn.
-
AuthorPosts
-
December 4, 2016 at 9:47 pm #60279
nittany ramModeratorDecember 4, 2016 at 10:13 pm #60282
znModeratorLink: http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-patriots-sidebar-20161204-story.html
NITTANY: I thought I would post the whole article here, cause the Times has a monthly quota on viewing articles, and so not everyone can read every article with just a link.
======
Jared Goff pays the price for Rams’ lackluster offense in loss to Patriots
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-patriots-sidebar-20161204-story.html
It was a brief exchange near midfield in Gillette Stadium, after the New England Patriots thoroughly dominated the Rams in a 26-10 victory that wasn’t nearly as close as the score would indicate.
“I told him congratulations on the record,” Rams quarterback Jared Goff said of his message to Patriots star Tom Brady, who passed Peyton Manning to become the winningest quarterback in NFL history with victory No. 201 on Sunday. “And he just wished me good luck.”
Goff — who grew up in the Bay Area idolizing Brady and is still searching for his first victory three starts into his NFL career — is going to need it because he doesn’t have the benefits Brady enjoys. For instance, a more effective and consistent offensive line, some more sure-handed receivers and a semblance of a running game.
The Rams (4-8) had none of the above while losing for the seventh time in eight games, and Goff — who completed 14 of 32 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions — paid the price.
The Patriots, disguising their blitzes and mixing up their coverage schemes, sacked Goff four times for a loss of 35 yards and had nine “hits” on the rookie quarterback.
Rams receivers dropped at least four passes, including a short, over-the-middle toss that went through the hands of Lance Kendricks and into the arms of Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler for an interception at the Rams’ 37-yard line to end the first quarter.
Four plays later, Brady threw a back-shoulder pass to Chris Hogan on a fade route for a 14-yard touchdown pass that gave New England a 14-0 lead.
Todd Gurley couldn’t ease any pressure on Goff — the back carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards, the 18th time in 19 games the 2015 NFL offensive rookie of the year has been held under 100 yards. The Rams converted only one of 12 third-down plays into a first down.
“The elephant in the room is the offense,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’re doing everything we can to get better, but when you’re playing someone like Tom [Brady] and you convert one third down offensively and give them so many more opportunities, it’s hard to win games.
“We have to improve in the run game, we have to improve on third down. … Penalties, dropped passes on offense, and our inability to protect the passer contributed to the loss.”
While Brady carved up the Rams with surgeon-like precision, completing 33 of 46 passes for 269 yards and one touchdown, Goff spent much of a 39-degree afternoon scrambling away from pressure and picking himself up off the turf.
Goff completed only four of 11 passes for 27 yards and one interception in the first two quarters for a halftime rating of 7.0. New England had huge first-half advantages in total yards (230-25), first downs (12-1) and time of possession (21 minutes 51 seconds-8:09).
Patriots cruise past Rams, 26-10, as Tom Brady becomes the all-time winningest quarterback
Patriots cruise past Rams, 26-10, as Tom Brady becomes the all-time winningest quarterback
Goff boosted his quarterback rating to double figures (43.9) by the end of the game, thanks to a 17-yard completion to Brian Quick in the third quarter and a 66-yard bomb to Kenny Britt that set up a one-yard touchdown pass to Britt with 1:15 left. Britt also dropped two passes.“Penalties, dropped balls, we really shot ourselves in the foot, to tell you the truth,” Britt said. “The execution wasn’t there. … We can’t go three and out all these times and put our defense in that position against a high-powered offense like that. You have to stay on the field, keep the defense off and score points.”
Goff’s second interception, in the third quarter, came after Patriots end Jabaal Sheard got a piece of Goff’s arm, and it led to the first of three Stephen Gostkowski field goals.
But Goff was not above reproach. He missed some open receivers and wasn’t able to generate much offense after extending plays with his legs.
“We had a lot of errors across the board offensively, myself, everybody,” Goff said. “Errors are going to happen; you just want to limit them. When one thing happens, you can’t get down about it. You have to move on. Things don’t always go your way, but you can’t let [errors] keep happening.”
Though Goff got beat up and was unable to thrust the Rams back into the game, his teammates still thought the quarterback made strides with his mobility, toughness and leadership.
“You can see him growing on the field, taking charge as a quarterback and leading us,” Britt said. “He’s doing a great job of being vocal in the huddle and keeping us in the game.
“He’s also developing into a quarterback who can take a hit, stay in the pocket and scramble to keep a play alive. When he does that, we can turn a bad play into a good play, and those broken plays are the ones that can win games.”
December 6, 2016 at 2:11 am #60396znModeratorFive Takeaways: Rams 26-10 loss to Patriots
By Myles Simmons
After Sunday’s game against the Patriots, the Rams have now dropped three in a row and seven of their last eight. With just the final quarter of the 2016 season to go, here are five takeaways from Week 13.
1) Poor offensive production
It’s been an ongoing story for the Rams for a while now, and the lack of offensive production continued on Sunday against the Patriots.
Los Angeles managed only 162 total yards — 66 of which came on wide receiver Kenny Britt’s reception just after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles finished just 1-of-12 in third-down efficiency and had only 36 yards rushing.
“The elephant in the room is the offense, and I get it,” head coach Jeff Fisher said postgame. “We’re working hard on it, and we’re doing everything we possibly can, and we’ve got to get better.”
“That’s a great team we played today,” running back Todd Gurley said. “But they’re one of 32 teams just like we are. So that doesn’t make an excuse for us to go out and play like we did.”
The Rams have scored 10 points or fewer in four of their last five games, and in six of their 12 games overall. L.A. is currently No. 32 scoring just 15.0 points per game. That will have to improve if the Rams are to make a run in the last four games of the season.
2) Too many offensive errors
Drops from receivers and an inability to effectively protect the passer were significant factors that limited the Rams’ offensive production. In his third pro start, quarterback Jared Goff completed 14 of his 32 passes for 161 yards, with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. But both of those turnovers had issues that had to do with more than just the signal-caller.
On Goff’s first pick, the ball went off the hands of tight end Lance Kendricks and cornerback Maloclm Butler secured it before it hit the ground. On the second, Goff’s arm was hit as he was throwing, which led to the ball floating in the air midfield.
“Both interceptions, one was the result of a drop and one was the result of bad protection and he got hit and let the ball go,” Fisher said. “So if he’s making a bad decision and hitting a defender in the chest with the ball, then that’s one thing, but you know, he didn’t do that.”
“I have to look at the tape so I can give you a more realistic evaluation of his play, but Jared Goff wasn’t the reason we lost this football game today,” Fisher continued.
Going forward, one of the Rams keys will be to limit the negative plays that can pop up during games.
“We had a lot of errors across the board, really, offensively — myself, everybody really,” Goff said. “Errors, they’re obviously going to happen, you just want to limit them. I mean, when one thing happens, you can’t get down about it. You’re OK, move on.”
3) Defense limits Patriots scoring opportunities
Los Angeles’ defense responded after a poor performance against New Orleans with a better showing against New England. The unit surrendered a 43-yard touchdown run to running back LeGarrette Blount on the game’s opening drive, but aside from that held him to just 45 yards on 17 carries.
Quarterback Tom Brady finished 33-of-46 passing for 269 yards with one touchdown. The Rams effectively pressured Brady a number of times, recording four quarterback hits.
The pressure came through in particular on third down, as the Patriots finished just 4-of-16 in the category.
And after New England scored a touchdown off a L.A. turnover with 13:04 in the second quarter, the Rams did not let the Patriots back in the end zone.
“We held them to four third-down conversions. And that in itself, I think, is respectable,” Fisher said. “But you know he’s going to move the football when you play Tom and this offense, you have to go into it thinking you are going to hold them to field goals. Field goals are a win for your defense. You guys have heard me say that before. And for the most part, we did.”
4) Robinson returns to lineup
Left tackle Greg Robinson was inactive against New Orleans in Week 12, but returned to his regular spot on the line for Week 13. Fisher had said he made the decision to deactivate Robinson because the young lineman needed a break after a number of penalties and mental mistakes. Robinson, in turn, said during the week heading into the matchup he tried to make the most of that time.
“I feel like my focus was just to come out and try my best to put the best performance on film,” Robinson said postgame. “[There were] many things I wish I could get back. But it’s just frustrating that we didn’t come through with the win. Just have to build off that and try to stick it through next week. I feel like we have a good chance.”
Robinson was flagged for a holding penalty in the third quarter on Sunday. Thirteen penalties have been called against Robinson this season, nine of which have been accepted.
5) Fisher contract extension
After Sunday’s game, Fisher confirmed that he had signed a contract extension with the Rams prior to the beginning of the 2016 regular season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team.
“The discussion started at the end of the year, last year,” Fisher said. “Then they moved into the offseason, so I agreed with the organization well before the season started.”
“I am expecting to be the coach of the franchise, however, I fully understand that the wins and losses fall on my shoulders,” Fisher added. “That is the fact of our business. And I get that. And as I said, I’m not looking over my shoulder, I’m doing everything I can, on a daily basis, to get this team to win football games.”
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
