media on Dallas game

Rams take full advantage of Todd Gurley in impressive win over Dallas Cowboys

By RICH HAMMOND

link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/01/rams-defense-hangs-on-for-huge-road-win-over-dallas-cowboys/

ARLINGTON, Texas — “Middle-school offense.” Todd Gurley didn’t mince words, and good for him.

A year ago, the Rams were lost. They ran the ball like a team clad in cement shoes. Touchdowns drives were as infrequent as traffic-free jaunts on the 405. Frustration mounted, and finally Gurley let loose after a game and opined that a group of teenagers could organize an offense equal to the Rams’ attack.

Turns out, the offense just needed Coach Sean McVay, who might pass for a high school senior if he shaved.

Gurley, sullen and criticized last year, now arguably is the NFL’s top all-purpose threat, and is the main reason why the Rams are the league’s surprise team. After a bumpy first half, the Rams responded with brilliance Sunday afternoon and rallied for a 35-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

“When you’re winning, I’m telling you, it makes everything so much better,” Gurley said with a big grin.

What a turnaround. Gurley led the Rams in rushing (121 yards on 23 carries) and receiving (94 yards and one touchdown on seven catches) Sunday and accounted for more than half of the Rams’ 412 yards. His turnaround is the main reason why the Rams have a 3-1 record and flying higher than anyone expected.

This isn’t perfection. The Rams looked dreadful on defense in the first half, when they allowed 24 points and 287 yards and trailed by as many as 11 points. These lengthy lapses have been too frequent for the Rams this season, and success won’t be sustainable if they continue.

But not only did the Rams clean up things on defense in the second half, when they allowed six points and 153 yards, but the Rams also now have an offense potent enough to survive defensive hiccups. That’s why this year’s 3-1 record feels much different than last year, when the Rams finished 1-11.

The Rams had great balance on offense against the Cowboys, as quarterback Jared Goff had a steady day (21 of 36, 255 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) and they ran for 168 yards.

The Rams nursed a small lead for most of the fourth quarter and held the ball for more than 10 minutes. The Cowboys regained momentum in the middle of the quarter, when they pulled within 32-30 but failed to convert on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt.

In need of first downs, with 7:08 left, the Rams turned to Gurley. He carried the ball seven times and caught one pass as the Rams bled more than five minutes off the clock and took a 35-30 lead on kicker Greg Zuerlein’s seventh field goal of the game.

The defense made one final stop to secure the victory and the Rams jumped around on the sideline like, well, a bunch of excited middle-schoolers.

“The biggest thing for us,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said, “is whenever we’ve seen some adversity, we’ve been able to stay calm, stay focused and continue to play our game.”

It’s amazing how a successful running game can calm nerves. A year ago, the Rams seemed to have no idea what to do with Gurley. They ran him up the middle, into a wall of defenders, and when that didn’t work, they just tried it again and again. Gurley averaged 3.2 yards per rushing attempt.

McVay, also the Rams’ play-caller, has made things look different. He sends receivers in motion to pull attention from Gurley, and McVay had the wild idea of actually throwing the ball to Gurley.

The Rams’ run blocking has improved, and Gurley looks more motivated, perhaps in part because he has coaches who are putting him in positions to succeed. With 362 rushing yards and 234 receiving yards through four games, he’s almost halfway his 2016 all-purpose total of 1,212.

Gurley also has become only the third running back in NFL history to total at least 575 yards from scrimmage and at least seven touchdowns in his team’s first four games. The others? Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith.

A year ago, Gurley looked broken. McVay’s offense, and some offensive upgrades, provided the fix.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily if you can ‘fix’ him,” McVay said. “I mean, this guy is a great player. … Just because last year, from a numbers standpoint, maybe it wasn’t what we would have liked, that doesn’t take away from some of the things he did on tape, when you really study it. These are things that we expect from Todd, and I know he expects of himself.”

Todd Gurley’s career day pushes Rams past Cowboys

By Chris Wesseling

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000854669/article/todd-gurleys-career-day-pushes-rams-past-cowboys?campaign=fb-articleshare

Todd Gurley’s career day paced the NFL’s top-ranked scoring offense as the upstart Los Angeles Rams came from behind to topple the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Here’s what we learned in the Rams’ 35-30 victory:

1. The reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Month, Gurley took control of the game in the final two quarters, finishing with a career-best 215 yards from scrimmage. The highlight was a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a post route, as Gurley scored via reception for the third consecutive game. New coach Sean McVay has not only rejuvenated Gurley on the ground, but has also tapped into the former Georgia star’s ability to make plays in the aerial attack. Gurley fell just six yards shy of becoming the first Rams back since Steven Jackson in 2006 to reach 100 receiving yards in a game. Needless to say, Dallas’ defense sorely missed All Pro linebacker Sean Lee, who sat out with a hamstring injury.

2. Credit Rams coordinator Wade Phillips for key halftime adjustments after his defense failed to stop Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys’ offense on four first-half possessions. Taking a decisive 287-126 edge in net yards into the third quarter, Dallas’ first four second-half possessions resulted in three punts and a Mark Barron interception before Dak Prescott found a wide open James Hanna for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Rams dominated time of possession, stonewalled Elliott and came through with big stops on third downs, playing keep away throughout the second half.

3. Already armed with three-time All-Pro Johnny Hekker as the premier punter in football, the Rams’ special teams have also benefited from the league’s most productive place kicker at the season’s quarter mark. After entering Week 4 with the most kicks (field goals and extra points) converted, Greg Zuerlein drilled seven field goals without a miss, accounting for 23 of the team’s 35 points.

4. While it’s fair to point out the lack of powerhouse defenses on the Rams’ early-season schedule, the dramatic turnaround masterminded by McVay will have him in the Coach of the Year discussion as long as it continues. In addition to Gurley’s renaissance, McVay has also transformed Jared Goff from one of the NFL’s least efficient quarterbacks to one of its most efficient. Goff has already thrown more touchdown passes (seven) through four games than he managed in seven rookie starts (five). The top overall pick in the 2016 draft has completed 66.7 percent of his passes at 9.2 yards per attempt for a 112.2 passer rating at the season’s quarter mark.

5. One of McVay’s stiffest challenges is figuring out how to get his organization’s money’s worth out of fourth receiver Tavon Austin, relegated to a gadget player in September. McVay found success Sunday by using the jitterbug receiver/runner hybrid as a change-of-pace backup to Gurley, dialing up six runs for 48 yards (8.0 yards per carry). Maximizing Austin’s unique playmaking ability will continue to be a challenge going forward.

Rams finally settled into L.A. home after roaring back to beat Dallas Cowboys

By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angels Daily News

http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20171001/SPORTS/171009983

ARLINGTON, Texas >> The official archives will forever decree the Rams returned home to Los Angeles on January 12, 2016, by edict of the 32 owners of the National Football League and one very persuasive push by Jerry Jones, the influential owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

Officially, anyway.

Just don’t be surprised if somewhere down the road someone points to October 1, 2017 as the day the Rams truly became ours again.

They were L.A.’s team in name only last year. But it never quite felt right or natural. They were trying to re-introduce themselves to their new surroundings and we were trying to acclimate ourselves to their presence again.

In some ways it felt forced. Contrived, even.

We knew them. But we didn’t know them, if that makes any sense.

It didn’t help that they forced us to endure a 4-12 season that, incredibly, was even worse than the record suggests. So this is what we waited 21 years for, we muttered to ourselves.

It was a bad deal all around.

That all changed on Sunday when the Rams strolled into Dallas and miraculously overcame a great team in a hostile environment, injuries, penalties, a shaky defensive first half, communication problems and those God-awful uniforms to beat the Cowboys, 35-30.

They arrived, finally, in L.A.’s hearts and imagination by going toe to toe with one of the best teams in the NFL and outplaying, out-muscling and out-coaching them at every critical turn.

That it all happened while Jones — who played one of the biggest roles of all in the Rams returning to L.A. — watching from his luxury suite only made it all the more dramatic.

The Rams were measured when the situation warranted. Aggressive when absolutely nothing less was required. And resilient throughout.

They spotted the Cowboys leads of 17-6 and 24-13 only to come roaring back in the third quarter, limiting the Cowboys to just two first downs over their first four second-half possessions while scoring 19 straight points to take a 32-24 lead.

“I think the number one thing we’ve shown every week is there is absolutely no quit in these guys,” Rams quarterback and Novato native Jared Goff said. “I think that’s not only the sign of a good team but a team that’s maturing. A team that has some veteran leadership now and a team that’s getting older and starting to learn situations better.”

They did it with Todd Gurley running all over the Cowboys defense by rushing 23 times for 121 yards and catching seven passes for 94 yards and one touchdown. Gurley’s 215 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches is his highest total single-game output of his career, and is there any doubt he has firmly established himself as an early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year and Player of the Year honors?

They did it with Goff, a Marin Catholic High and Cal product, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns and moving the chains with some big-time third-down completions to keep eventual scoring drives alive.

None bigger than when the Rams faced a third-and-11 at their own 11 early in the fourth quarter while leading 26-24. Backed up near their own end zone, it would have been easy for Coach Sean McVay to play it safe, smash the ball into the middle of the line and punt it on fourth down. Instead, he put the situation in Goff’s hands by calling a pass play. Goff responded with a perfect throw to Robert Woods for 19 yards, a first down and fresh new outlook. That drive, incidentally, resulted in a Greg Zuerlein field goal that put the Rams ahead 29-24.

“That was a big-time play for us,” McVay said. “It ended up leading to points. We put ourselves in a bad situation with the offsides and then we ended up having a bad run on second down. Robert ran a great route. Jared delivered it in the timing and the rhythm of the play and it ends up leading to a big conversion on third-and- long. Those are the kinds of things you have to do to go beat an excellent Dallas Cowboys team on the road.”

And they did it with a battered and bruised defense that got pushed from one end of the field to another throughout a sloppy first half finally settling down to limit the Cowboys to just six second-half points.

They didn’t just move to 3-1 on the season and create an endless amount of possibilities for themselves the rest of the way.

They didn’t just boldly announce themselves to a national television audience as a very real threat in the NFC and a legitimate team to keep an eye on.

They connected with Los Angeles in ways they never quite managed to do last season. They gave us a real reason to jump on board. Made us proud in the process. And opened our eyes to a world we never could have imagined just a few short months ago when we wondered if they could consistently run, block and tackle let alone drop the kind of offensive hammers they have on opponents this year.

The playoffs?

Why not?

By beating the Cowboys they just proved they can beat anyone, anytime anywhere.

A division title?

Who says they can’t?

The Seattle Seahawks, the perceived class of the NFC West, have exploitable flaws. And the way the Rams offense is waylaying people, there is no reason to think they can’t do the same against Seattle.

We’ll find out soon enough, with the Seahawks coming to town next week.

And after the pivot they made Sunday against arguably the best team in the NFC, anything is possible next week, and every week after.

At no point could we ever say that last year — even when the Rams started the season 3-1.

It was all smoke and mirrors done by players whose names we were just getting to know.

This 3-1 is legit. The Rams proved that Sunday but proving they can compete with the best the NFL has to offer. Things might never be the same in this relationship as a result.

It happens like that sometimes. A turning point occurs. A seminal moment arrives and unfolds.

Los Angeles had barely finished breakfast or rubbed the sleep out of its eyes early Sunday morning when the Rams and Cowboys kicked off. But, sooner than you can say Dak Prescott, it was obvious the Rams had invited everyone onto the rollercoaster ride with them and told them to buckle up.

We weren’t quite sure they’d get us back to level ground safely. There were plenty of moments where it looked like they’d send us careening head first into the pavement. But they never blinked, not even once. And time after time they flashed a devilish grin as if to say: Don’t worry. We got this.

Like the defense finally heeding the advice of coordinator Wade Phillips.

He had the Cowboys down to a tee, even forecasting to his players exactly what they’d do.

Only for some reason, they needed further proof.

“It was almost like, we believed it, but we didn’t believe it till we actually saw it,” said linebacker Connor Barwin. “Then we saw it in that first half. And we came in and said, they did exactly what we thought they’d do. Now let’s go out and do what we’re supposed to do. And that’s what we did.”

In doing so, they bought Goff and the Rams offense the necessary time to come back in a signature win that finally solidified themselves as L.A.’s team.

It took a while, but the Rams are officially back.

One year later, Goff is better than Dak

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article176459896.html

As the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Jared Goff should always be better than Dak Prescott and on Sunday he was.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback looked nothing like the player who played like a monumental bust last season in his rookie season, and he slowly exploited a Cowboys defense that does not have enough players.

The Cowboys led the Rams 17-6 in the second quarter, and then despite the chance to make the Rams’ one dimensional, the defense was awful in a 35-30 loss.

All of those re-worked drafts of the 2016 class had Dak, who was a fourth-round pick, selected No. 1 overall, which is where the Rams picked Goff. On Sunday, Goff was better.

It helped his team was better, too.

The Rams ripped off 19 consecutive points and squeezed out the remaining minutes to win a game where they entered as underdogs.

As is the case with any NFL loss, there is plenty of blame to go around but this one is on a defense that was handed a win and gave it right back.

Goff threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but the Rams’ running game embarrassed the Cowboys; the Dallas defense allowed the Rams to run for 169 yards with Todd Gurley accounting for 121.

The Rams are 3-1 and one of the biggest surprises in the NFL, as are the Cowboys, who are now 2-2.

The success of the Cowboys is built on their offense taking a lead, and then the defense loading up to defend the pass. It worked last season, and there is no reason it should not have on Sunday.

The absence of linebacker Sean Lee to a hamstring injury was catastrophic to the run defense, because second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith is not ready for this yet.

These and three over-rants after the Cowboys’ second loss of the season.

Thirty points has to be enough.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott started the game like it was Week 8 in 2016; Dak was throwing it to Dez Bryant, and Zeke was running and scoring touchdowns.

The running game went for 189 yards, averaged 7.0 yards per carry, and the offensive line struggled. In the second half, Dak was under pressure far too often.

The Rams’ defensive line, at least in the pass, outplayed the Cowboys up front.

The Cowboys receivers are still not getting open enough.

Here is your loss: The Rams won the turnover stat, 2-0.

After leading the NFL in sacks and being named the NFC defensive player of the month, Cowboys defensive end Tank Lawrence is now officially a man the other team talks about during the week.

In the first half against the Rams, Lawrence was repeatedly double-teamed and often found an additional blocker in his way en route to Jared Goff.

Tank did come up with a strip-sack in the second half, the only sack of the game for the Cowboys’ defense.

If Tank is going to be accounted for by multiple offensive players on every snap, someone else has to do something. David Irving will come off suspension next week against the Green Bay Packers, and if he can’t do it, there is no other candidate.

All together now: The Rams are for real

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/35656/its-safe-to-say-it-now-the-rams-victorious-in-their-first-real-test-are-legit

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Los Angeles Rams won two of their first three games, but they were supposed to. They beat the short-handed Indianapolis Colts, then survived against a San Francisco 49ers team that is at the onset of an all-out rebuild. Sunday, on the road against a star-studded Dallas Cowboys team coming off a 13-win season, represented the Rams’ first real test of the year. Todd Gurley admitted as much in the days leading up to Week 4. He called it a chance to “see what we are; see how far we came.”

The Rams have come a long, long way.

Their come-from-behind, 35-30 win at AT&T Stadium proved that definitively.

Gurley, the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for September, gained 215 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 53-yard wheel route that the Rams practiced all week. Cooper Kupp caught five of seven targets for 60 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff went 21-of-36 for 255 yards and zero turnovers. Tavon Austin gained 48 yards on six carries. Greg Zuerlein made a franchise-record seven field goals. And a Rams defense that allowed 287 yards in the first half — and 806 combined yards to the Redskins and 49ers in back-to-back weeks — allowed only six points after halftime.

“The No. 1 thing we’ve shown every week is that there is absolutely no quit in these guys,” said Goff, his QB rating now 112.2, nearly double his 63.6 rating from last year. “I think that’s not only a sign of a good team, but a team that is maturing; a team that has some veteran leadership now and a team that’s getting older and starting to learn situations better.”

The Rams’ rejuvenated offense gained 412 yards from scrimmage and topped 30 points for the third time this season, after doing so three times in all of 2015 and 2016.

They did so even though their No. 1 receiver, Sammy Watkins, was targeted only twice. They were pinned deep in their own territory to start back-to-back third-quarter possessions because of penalties on punt returns, and they still marched up the field to score each time. They held the ball for more than 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, and they gave themselves an NFL-leading 142 points through the first four games — 79 more points than they had through the first four games last year.

“Our offense is really going out there and competing and scoring, man,” Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson said. “It’s a great sight to see. I’ve been with the Rams six years. Our offense hasn’t been there. But they’re being consistent. They really are.”

Trailing by eight with less than 10 minutes left, the Cowboys came back with a quick touchdown drive but failed to convert on a game-tying two-point conversion. Then the Rams got the ball, chewed up more than five minutes and gained 68 yards, setting up Zuerlein’s seventh field goal. On the Cowboys’ ensuing possession, the Rams wrapped up Ezekiel Elliott about a yard shy of the first-down marker on fourth down to seal the win.

The Rams began the second half having allowed 90 points in their previous 10 quarters, then forced the Cowboys to punt on three straight possessions and intercepted a pass. Veteran outside linebacker Connor Barwin said the Rams were “prepared for everything [the Cowboys] did, and it was kind of like we had to see it to believe it.”

“Everything they did in the first half was exactly what we practiced all week, and everything in the second half was exactly that,” Barwin added. “We came in here [at halftime] and reiterated to just do what we’re coached to do, and do what we thought they would do. Everybody just kind of settled down and played the defense how they’re supposed to.”

The Rams are 3-1 now, and that may sound familiar. They started 3-1 last year, and then it all went downhill, with only one victory over their final 11 games. But this year’s 3-1 feels different, several returning players admitted, because the offense looks so much better.

The Rams, still in first place in the NFC West, are a different kind of team.

“They’ve got a lot of talent,” Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones said. “It looks to me like it’s coming together.”