In Rams’ last real dress rehearsal before season opener, here’s what to focus on Saturday
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/25/bonsignore-in-rams-last-real-dress-rehearsal-before-season-opener-heres-what-to-focus-on-saturday/
Take a good look at the Rams’ starters Saturday night when they host the Chargers at the Coliseum. Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Sammy Watkins and all the rest of the first-stringers will play into the third quarter, as is the norm for NFL teams in the third game of the preseason.
But once they leave the field, it’ll be awhile before we see them again.
As in, Sept. 10 when the Rams open the season against the Indianapolis Colts.
That is assuming Rams coach Sean McVay resists the urge to get Goff a few more practice snaps before the season opener. If so, and that seems a safe bet, Goff and the rest of the starters will watch from the sidelines Thursday when the Rams play the Packers to conclude the preseason.
Saturday, then, becomes the final dress rehearsal.
That said, here are some things to focus on with the Rams.
JARED GOFF AND BUILDING ON MOMENTUM
To some, Goff’s performance last week against the Raiders was his official coming-out party as the quarterback prospect the Rams assumed they were getting upon drafting him first overall in 2016.
Goff looked poised and confident while directing the Rams to two touchdowns and a field goal in four drives, completing 16 of 20 passes for 160 yards in the process.
In a hostile environment that pushed him to use a silent count a handful of times, he looked smooth working from the consistent clean pockets provided by an improved offensive line, but also successfully managing the moments he played under duress.
Like when he hastened up his footwork with a pass-rusher barreling down on him, instinctively planted his back foot to create balance, then lofted a perfectly thrown 23-yard pass to Cooper Kupp for a touchdown.
The footwork, the poise, the arm strength and accuracy were rarely apparent during Goff’s rookie season, mostly due to the deficient talent around him and bad coaching. All too often, he played under major fire and had little help.
The Rams have addressed most of the pressing issues, and what we saw from Goff last Saturday is a reflection of those changes and the natural growth of a young quarterback.
Ideally, Goff and the Rams plant another foot in the right direction against the Chargers, enabling them to head into the regular season feeling as good as possible about things.
Much like the confident tone created by the Raiders game.
“I mean, just seeing it come to fruition a little bit and the way we were so efficient,” Goff said. “Like I said again, we were staying in great manageable downs. But, it wasn’t like it was shocking. It’s something that we expected to do. We expect to play like that. We expect to play well, and we expect to move the ball.”
OFFENSIVE LINE NEEDS TO KEEP IMPROVING
According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams’ starting offensive line has allowed just three quarterback pressures through two preseason games. That’s impressive considering the 20 sacks Goff suffered over six games last year and how he continually played under pressure.
The addition of All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth has been a revelation, especially with him replacing one of the worst starting left tackles in the NFL in Greg Robinson. Veteran John Sullivan has been efficient as the new center and Rob Havenstein and Rodger Saffold have been solid at right tackle and left guard. Even Jamon Brown, the new starting left guard, took a positive step in the second preseason game.
“They’re starting to jell, and I think you saw that last Saturday,” Goff said of his offensive line. “The Oakland defensive line is no slouch. They’ve got some dudes over there, and they did a great job keeping them away and giving me a good pocket. It wasn’t just throw it and get hit; it was clean the whole night. It was. No one really around me.”
The Rams face a stiff challenge against the Chargers’ active, talented front seven that features pass-rushing demons Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. It’s the ideal test for them in their final preseason tuneup.
TRUMAINE JOHNSON AND THE SECONDARY
Aside from safety Maurice Alexander, who had a breakthrough season, the Rams secondary took a bit of a step back last season after losing cornerback Janoris Jenkins and with fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson falling short of his 2015 performance.
The coaching change from Jeff Fisher to McVay also meant a defensive shift from Greg Williams’ 4-3 to Wade Phillips’ 3-4. And with it, an entirely new approach in how the Rams cornerbacks are being used.
It would be unfair to categorize it as going from passive to aggressive, but there is no doubt the cornerbacks are much more active and in attack mode under Phillips. And even while injuries and proactive “maintenance” have meant starters and rotational players such as Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman missing preseason games, they’ve both looked good in practice and their backups have played well in the games.
Opposing quarterbacks have challenged Johnson just one time this preseason, and he came up with an interception after easily diagnosing the route and throw by Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree and quarterback Derek Carr.
Robey-Coleman has been ruled out for Saturday while Webster’s status will be decided before the game. The group that does take the field will get challenged by veteran Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who is itching to play after making a brief appearance in the preseason opener and then sitting out all of the second game.
If Webster does play, it’s a good opportunity to see him operating alongside Johnson in what, on paper and thus far schematically, looks like a better, deeper position than last year.
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Agamemnon
