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November 22, 2017 at 8:01 pm #77845
znModerator
With receiver Robert Woods out, Sammy Watkins must step up for Rams
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21495050/los-angeles-rams-wr-robert-woods-miss-shoulder-injury
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Sean McVay talked about doing it “by committee.” He brought up Josh Reynolds, Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas, all Los Angeles Rams receivers who could see an uptick in snaps now that Robert Woods will miss at least the next two games with a sprained left shoulder. McVay even brought up Tavon Austin, the fifth-year receiver who has been utilized as a backfield decoy.
But there’s no mistaking it: Sammy Watkins is the man who must step up.
Watkins was brought in to be the Rams’ No. 1 receiver, but he hasn’t been used like one. As of Monday, 104 receivers had been targeted more frequently, 102 of them had hauled in more catches, and 59 of them had compiled more receiving yards. It’s largely a byproduct of an offense that likes to spread the ball around, but it also stems from what appears to be faulty chemistry with Jared Goff.
Watkins, who was acquired in a trade and didn’t join the Rams until the day before their first preseason game, has hauled in 63.2 percent of his targets from Goff, which ranks within the bottom 40 percent of qualified NFL receivers.
They have connected on only two of 10 passes that have traveled at least 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
“Football is hard, first of all,” Watkins said recently. “We run at different speeds; you’re throwing at a guy who’s going at different speeds. He’s thrown at so many guys, and to gain that connection is hard.”
Watkins said this moments after his best connection with Goff, a 67-yard touchdown on a deep ball against the New York Giants in Week 9. There was also a beautiful over-the-top hookup that went for 47 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. But Watkins — with 24 catches for 408 yards and four touchdowns in the first 10 games — hasn’t drawn the workload and thus hasn’t come close to providing the numbers of a traditional No. 1 receiver.
That may change now. Cooper Kupp is as polished a rookie as they come, but he isn’t as physically imposing. Reynolds, a rookie fourth-round pick, has played in only 81 offensive snaps, while Thomas and Cooper are second-year players with 23 NFL receptions between them. McVay sounded adamant about getting Austin more involved, especially after a game that saw him receive only two offensive snaps. But Austin is 5-foot-8 and has never projected as a traditional go-to receiver.
All signs point to Watkins getting more involved.
The Rams are 7-3, but they’re coming off a loss to the playoff-bound Minnesota Vikings and their schedule will continue to be daunting. Watkins will draw even more attention from the opposing team’s best corner over these next couple of games. That means a lot of Marshon Lattimore against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12 and a lot of Patrick Peterson against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13.
Two weeks ago, Watkins identified Woods as the man who’s “leading” the Rams’ receivers. He leads the Rams in targets (70), catches (47) and receiving yards (703), but Watkins wasn’t talking about that.
“The way he practices, the way he plays the game, the way he does everything moves this wide receiver group,” Watkins said of Woods, also his teammate with the Buffalo Bills over the past three years. “I had to push my game up the way he was competing.”
Now Watkins will have to push his game up because Woods won’t be there.
November 22, 2017 at 8:50 pm #77858znModeratorVincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
Tell you what, you look at all the numbers and names involved and you gotta figure the #Rams have to be prepared for a shoot out against the #Saints. A defensive stop here and there and 30+ points offensively outta do it. But expect a barn burnerIf they want to win the type of games they lost they need to play better collectively. I don’t feel it’s a “get 12 more involved” issue
Everyone, including Watkins, just needs to play better against the better defenses.
Joe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Rams at 60 percent likelihood to win division, 71 percent to make playoffs. @CVRamsClubAlden Gonzalez@Alden_Gonzalez
The Rams are giving up the NFL’s sixth-most rushing yards per carry and the Saints, with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, are leading the NFL in rushing yards per carry. Pretty obvious what Sunday’s game will come down to.McVay, on more targets for Watkins: “Sammy is a special player. You always want to try to get guys like him involved, but … we never want Jared to feel like he’s got to force the ball. Let the coverage and let whatever the defense presents dictate your decision-making.”
Sammy Watkins has a saying: “90 percent of the time I feel like I’m open. The other 10 percent, some s*** goes bad with the quarterback; a sack of something like that.” Still, Watkins echoed McVay’s message — the Rams are going to have to replace Robert Woods by committee.
Tavon Austin was asked if the Rams have enough to make up for Robert Woods’ absence. “Of course,” he said. “I feel like every receiver that we have on our team can go somewhere and start on another team.”
Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Jared Goff on Sammy Watkins: “He’s been doing a great job, practicing hard and he’s really been good in games. We need to find some ways to get him the ball a little bit more, and that’s something we’ll definitely be conscious of.”ared Goff, on replacing Robert Woods: “I know it will be a by-committee approach, but each guy will have their opportunity in there and it will be cool to see each of these young guys get a chance. I don’t expect much of a fall-off.”
Sean McVay said Kayvon Webster remains in the NFL concussion protocol but that “all things are going in a positive direction.”
J.B. Long@JB_Long
Since drops have been a topic of #LARams conversation coming back from Minnesota, worth pointing out that Goff’s drop rate has gone from 7.8% last year (2nd worst) to 4.1% this year (8th best).November 22, 2017 at 9:49 pm #77863znModeratorTo beat Saints, Rams must focus on stopping the run
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/36509/to-beat-the-saints-rams-must-stop-the-run
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams’ defensive players left Minneapolis frustrated. They blitzed a season-high 20 times and quickly penetrated into the backfield on most of the attempts, but not once did they sack Case Keenum, the Minnesota Vikings’ slippery quarterback.
It overshadowed what might have been an even bigger problem in Sunday’s 24-7 loss — the Rams had trouble with the run again.
Vikings running back Latavius Murray picked up 95 yards on only 15 attempts, averaging a season-best 6.33 yards per carry in the process. Jerick McKinnon averaged a meager 3.43 yards on 14 carries, but the Rams still gave up 171 yards on 35 attempts, which led to Minnesota holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.
The Rams’ defense is allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (123.3) and the sixth-most rushing yards per carry (4.53) as it prepares to face a New Orleans Saints offense with the NFL’s most efficient running game.
“It’s something that we’ve got to be aware of,” Rams coach Sean McVay said — and that’s putting it lightly.
Come Sunday, the Rams (7-3) will be looking to shut down the dynamic duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Ingram needed only 11 carries to reach 134 rushing yards in a 34-31 overtime win against the Washington Redskins and now ranks fourth in the NFL with 5.20 yards per carry. Kamara, the NFL leader at 6.38, added 116 scrimmage yards in that game as the Saints improved to 8-2.
Since Week 4, Ingram and Kamara rank third and fourth in the NFL in scrimmage yards, respectively, combining for 1,558 in a span of seven games.
Over the past two weeks, Ingram, the more traditional runner, and Kamara, who factors heavily into the passing game, have combined for 540 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. That’s 53 percent of the Saints’ yardage total and 67 percent of their offensive touchdowns.
Together, Ingram and Kamara have helped the new-look Saints — traditionally overly reliant on Drew Brees’ arm — lead the NFL with 4.82 yards per carry. They’ll have the Rams’ attention heading into an important Week 12 matchup at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles’ front seven can be fierce and dynamic, but it can also be relatively undersized. Teams will continue to test the Rams on the ground as a means of gaining consistent yardage and keeping their resurgent offense off the field.
“I think there’s just always a level of urgency knowing you’re going against a very good rushing team this week,” McVay said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re on the screws with just our preparation and our approach, and the players have to be aware of it. We want to see that practice preparation translate to the game reality, and that’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
November 22, 2017 at 10:51 pm #77866znModeratorSean McVay: ‘I don’t think it’s fair to put me in the same category as Coach Payton’
Herbie Teope
The Times-Picayunehttp://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2017/11/sean_payton_sean_mcvay_feature.html
NFL fans of offense should buckle in Sunday when the New Orleans Saints play the Los Angeles Rams at L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
The Saints enter Week 12 ranked third is scoring (30.2 points per game), first in total offense (415.7 yards per game), third in rushing (144 yards per game) and second in passing (271.7 yard per game).
The Rams are second in scoring (30.3), fourth in total offense (375.4), ninth in rushing (120.4) and ninth in passing (255).
Also in the spotlight are the two men commanding the sidelines in Saints coach Sean Payton and Rams coach Sean McVay, both of whom are regarded as offensive gurus.
The coaches were young when they became NFL head coaches, as the 53-year-old Payton was 42 and McVay a youthful 30.
They also started off with a franchise quarterback – Payton with Drew Brees, and McVay with second-year pro Jared Goff, the first overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
As for other resemblances?
“The first similarity would be S-e-a-n,” Payton said in a Wednesday morning teleconference. “Now, outside of that, he went to Miami of Ohio. I coached there.
“There are a lot of good friends on his staff I know — (offensive line coach) Aaron Kromer, (defensive line coach) Bill Johnson — guys that’ve worked here. I think there’s confidence you build. You go set up shop, you get your opportunity but I’ve never had a chance to work with him outside of that so I wouldn’t know. But he’s doing a good job there.”
Saints guard Josh LeRibeus, who was with McVay in Washington from 2012 to 2015, sees some comparisons.
“They’re both great coaches,” LeRibeus said. “Sean (McVay), he always had a ton of energy, so I’m sure he brought that over to Los Angeles and obviously they’re doing well.”
McVay, who turned 31 shortly after his hiring, has turned around a team that finished the 2016 season at 4-12 to a current 7-3 record and first place in the NFC West.
The respect between McVay and Payton is mutual, but the Rams head coach downplayed any comparisons in a separate Wednesday afternoon teleconference.
“I think he’s accomplished so much I don’t think it’s fair to put me in the same category as Coach Payton,” McVay said. “I think hopefully if you achieve even close to what he has in this league then maybe you start to get mentioned.
“I think in terms of looking at the trajectory and being around some of the same people, it’s certainly flattering words, but I definitely have not done enough to be mentioned in the same sentence as Coach Payton.”
Nevertheless, there are areas of Payton’s coaching ability that McVay admires from afar.
The Rams head coach complimented Payton’s ability to call plays, provide leadership, maintain relationships and communicate.
“When you look at the production year-in and year-out, I think there’s a very clear-cut philosophy, just what I know about him from people who have coached with him,” McVay said. “They just can’t say enough about his leadership and feel for the game, ability to communicate.”
McVay points to Kromer, who coached with Payton in New Orleans and at Miami of Ohio, and Washington wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard, whom Payton coached with the New York Giants, as examples of Payton’s influence.
“I think when you just look at other people who are doing their job at a high level, you have a lot of respect for that,” McVay said. “Certainly as an offensive mind and as a play-caller, there’s a lot of things that you can almost look up to and really admire about the way he’s handled himself and the success he has achieved being an offensive background guy.”
November 22, 2017 at 10:54 pm #77867znModeratorMeet this week’s Rams opponent: New Orleans Saints
By RICH HAMMOND
link: http://www.dailynews.com/2017/11/21/meet-this-weeks-rams-opponent-new-orleans-saints/
The New Orleans Saints, who are into the second decade with a Hall of Fame quarterback, suddenly have transformed themselves into a running team with two equally threatening options.
Drew Brees remains under center, and at age 38, he’s still looking strong. Last Sunday against Washington, Brees passed for 385 yards and two touchdowns, his third game this season with at least 330 yards. The Saints are at their best, though, when they’re running the ball.
Mark Ingram, the former Heisman Trophy winner, seems to be improving by the week, and in his last two games, Ingram has totaled 265 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Then there’s rookie third-round draft pick Alvin Kamara, who is averaging 6.4 yards per carry and totaled 106 yards two weeks ago.
Together, they form the NFL’s most potent rushing duo. The Saints are third in the NFL with an average of 144 rushing yards per game, and tied for first with 4.6 yards per rushing attempt. Last year, the Saints ranked 16th in the NFL with 108.9 rushing yards per game, and tied for 12th with 4.3 yards per carry.
Ingram’s breakthrough has been notable. A first-round draft pick in 2011, Ingram didn’t reach 1,000 yards in any of his first five seasons in the Saints’ pass-happy offense, but last season apparently opened some eyes, as Ingram gained 1,043 yards and rushed for 5.1 yards per carry.
Early this season, the Saints traded veteran running back Adrian Peterson to Arizona and handed primary duties to Ingram, who is on pace for almost 1,300 yards this season.
WHO’S COACHING THE SAINTS?
After the Rams fired Jeff Fisher last December, one of the first names to pop up as a potential candidate was Saints coach Sean Payton, who at that time didn’t seem to be in a very stable position.
Payton led the Saints to a Super Bowl championship in 2009, and followed that with three consecutive double-digit-win seasons, but the Saints went 7-9 in 2014, 2015 and 2016, which led to some reasonable questioning about whether both sides might consider it the right time for a change.
Before long, though, Payton and the Saints reaffirmed their commitment to each other, and after an 0-2 start to this season, the Saints have won eight consecutive games and are atop the NFC South.
BY THE NUMBERS
4: Consecutive games in which the New Orleans defense had allowed 17 or fewer points, until last Sunday’s 34-31 overtime victory over Washington.
68,894: Career passing yards for Brees, the active leader, who ranks third in NFL history behind Peyton Manning (71,940) and Brett Favre (71,838).
32:15: The Saints’ average time of possession this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Without question, the Saints’ biggest receiving threat is Michael Thomas, who has 753 yards, but veteran Ted Ginn might be more important to the Rams when it comes to slowing New Orleans’ passing game.
The Rams could be thin at cornerback, with Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman nursing injuries and Troy Hill on the rebound from a hamstring injury. Presumably, the Rams will put their top corner, Trumaine Johnson, on Thomas, in what should be a good matchup, but what about Ginn?
Ginn doesn’t have Thomas’ every-down consistency, but the 11th-year receiver still is on pace for a career year, and could have the ability to connect with Brees on some big plays.
Ginn had 141 receiving yards last month against Green Bay, but two weeks ago against Buffalo, he had only one catch for 3 yards. Last week against Washington, Ginn was consistent and effective, with six catches (on six targets) for 87 yards.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
“I’m staying in the moment. I’m just worried about this season and what we can do this season, and all of that stuff will take care of itself.” — Brees, age 38, who is in the final season of his contract
November 23, 2017 at 5:01 pm #77889znModeratorWhat They’re Saying: The New Orleans Saints
Kristen Lago
Each week TheRams.com will be taking a look at what Los Angeles’ opponents have to say about facing the Rams. Heading into Week 12 of the regular season, check out what the New Orleans Saints’ coaches and players had to say about their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum:
On the hallmarks of a Wade Phillips defense:
“I would say the coverage scheme would start with man principles. In other words, he does a good job of mixing up his single safety man defense (and) two-man. They play some quarters looks (that) they match. There aren’t many spots where you are just sitting down. They do a real good job of matching their coverage to your personnel and contesting throws. I think over the years he’s built it from a 3-4 front, played some variations from it. You’re seeing even some tweaks this year. I think the technique (is sound). You don’t see many mental errors. You see guys knowing what to do and doing it awfully well.”
– Saints’ HC Sean Payton
“Wade Phillips is a guy who coached with the San Diego Chargers when I was there. Obviously we played against him a number of times. I have so much respect for him. He’s one of the most respected guys from my perspective in the league. You know the type of defense that’s going to be. You know the type of energy they’re going to play with and we’re going to have to match that and execute to perfection.”
– Saints’ QB Drew Brees
On how difficult facing the Rams will be in Week 12:
“They’re a division leader. They’re just coming off of a tough loss on the road and I’m sure they’re going to be wanting to turn that team around at home. So, I’m sure we’re going to get their best shot. All we can do is prepare and focus on ourselves and correct the mistakes from the day, improve tomorrow and get ready to go out there and play our best game.”
– Saints’ RB Mark Ingram
“We understand the challenges that are coming up ahead of us. Don’t look any further than the Rams. They’re fighting for the exact same things that we are fighting for and they have had a phenomenal season thus far. We know it’s going to be an extremely tough matchup for us. Playing these guys last year, they’ve got really, really good personnel. Sean McVay has done a tremendous job there.”
– Saints’ QB Drew Brees
On what he has seen from WR Sammy Watkins this season:
“He’s a guy that has tremendous speed and can get down the field and get behind you. There are a handful of things they are doing extremely well with him. I think Sean (McVay) and those guys on offense have had outstanding play design creativity. They’re changing plays at the line, they are changing plays in the red zone trying to get to some advantageous looks and they are clearly on the same page and they do a good job with their tempo to allow themselves time to do that. I think he’s found a niche there and a home there and I’m talking about Sammy.”
– Saints’ HC Sean Payton
On quarterback Jared Goff and his deep ball:
“He throws some deep balls, but there’s probably about 20-30 balls he’s overthrown. He should have more than that, which is pretty unbelievable. But yeah, they do take shots. It’s all predicated off their run game with Todd Gurley. Everything runs through him. They’re going to run you, run you, run you and then take their play action shots. You just have to make sure you stay on top of Sammy Watkins.
– Saints’ S Kenny Vaccaro
On what makes Todd Gurley so difficult to defend:
“He is strong. I think he has tremendous balance and I think he has this burst through a hole that you saw on (his) college tape. Where he can hit it and crease you quickly. He’s very comfortable catching the football and he can block the pressures. He checks these boxes and there’s not one area where you say he can only catch check downs. He is a viable target in the passing game and an extremely explosive runner.”
– Saints’ HC Sean Payton
On head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff:
“It’s very important. I don’t know Sean McVay very well. I had a few text conversations with him this offseason actually. From everything I’ve heard he’s an extremely talented guy and obviously very well-liked and has done a really, really good job there. He’s put together a great staff. I feel like I’ve been with many coaches on his staff in different places, from college (at) Purdue, to San Diego to here. He’s really done a tremendous job all the way around. Jared Goff is playing really, really good football and obviously he has some weapons around him too. Their team that has the same belief and confidence that we do, they’re rolling and we have to play our best game when we go there.”
– Saints QB’ Drew Brees
On if Todd Gurley is the best running back they have seen this year:
“He’s one of them. I mean Devonta Freeman is good. I’m trying to think of who else we have on our schedule, but we play a lot of good backs. It seems like every team has a star back these days. But yeah he’s playing at an elite level right now and now their offense kind of runs through him.”
– Saints’ S Kenny Vaccaro
November 23, 2017 at 10:55 pm #77898znModeratorNovember 24, 2017 at 9:08 am #77901znModeratorWhat’s behind epic turnarounds of Rams’ offense, Saints’ defense
ESPN.com
Who would have guessed that 12 weeks into this NFL season we’d be eagerly anticipating the showdown between the Los Angeles Rams’ offense and the New Orleans Saints’ defense — with a possible first-round playoff bye on the line?
Last season, the Rams ranked dead last in the NFL with 262.7 yards and 14 points per game. New Orleans’ defense, meanwhile, ranked 27th in yards allowed (375.4 per game) and 31st in points allowed (28.4). The Saints were even worse in both categories through the first two weeks of this season, when they started 0-2.
But now here we are, with the 8-2 Saints and 7-3 Rams being powered by the league’s two most surprising units.
Here’s a closer look at how they got here from ESPN NFL Nation reporters Mike Triplett and Alden Gonzalez.
Rams offense
How bad was it? Consistently bad. Almost historically bad. Heading into 2017, the Rams had suffered through a 10-year stretch during which they never once finished within the top 20 in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). From 2008 to ’15, they didn’t have a single 1,000-yard receiver. The NFL produced 174 of them during that time. The Rams ranked dead last in yards after each of the past two seasons. In 2016, they were also last in points, first downs, third-down conversion rate and Total QBR. Jared Goff, their franchise quarterback, absorbed 26 sacks while starting the final seven games. Todd Gurley, one of the game’s most talented running backs, managed only 885 rushing yards on 278 attempts. Their offensive line was dreadful, their receivers were underwhelming and their scheme lacked innovation. So, thoroughly bad.
Turning point: It all started Jan. 12, when the Rams trusted their gut and made Sean McVay, 30 at the time, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. McVay worked wonders with Kirk Cousins as the Washington Redskins’ offensive coordinator and was already deemed one of the game’s sharpest offensive minds, somebody with a knack for making the game simple for his quarterback. But the Rams also needed to work on the roster. Andrew Whitworth, one of the game’s best left tackles, replaced Greg Robinson, one of the game’s worst left tackles. Veteran center John Sullivan was also brought in, solidifying the Rams’ offensive line. Their receiving corps was also injected with new life. The Rams signed Robert Woods, traded for Sammy Watkins and drafted Cooper Kupp and Gerald Everett. Then, in the midst of all that, Goff got better as a second-year quarterback, mostly with his decision-making and his feel for the pocket.
Largest PPG Increase From Previous Season*
SEASON TEAM PPG INCREASE W-L
2017 Rams +16.3 ?
1999 Rams +15.1 13-3
1975 Colts +14.6 10-4
2013 Chiefs +13.7 11-5
*Since 1970 mergerWhere they are now: The Rams went from averaging 14 points in 2016 to averaging 30.3 points in 2017, second highest in the NFL. They could eventually join the 1965 San Francisco 49ers as the only teams to go from last to first in points from one season to the next. The Rams’ increase in points per game (16.3) is on pace to be the largest year-to-year improvement since the 1970 merger. Their 303 points are their most through 10 games since 2000, which featured The Greatest Show On Turf. Goff has taken only 15 sacks. He’s averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, has thrown 16 touchdowns to four interceptions and is on pace to pass for 4,176 yards. Gurley leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,216) and touchdowns (11). Five players (Woods, Gurley, Kupp, Watkins and second-year tight end Tyler Higbee) have caught more than 15 passes. What a difference a year makes. — Alden Gonzalez
Saints defense
How bad was it? Historically, hideously bad. Before this season, the Saints hadn’t finished higher than 27th in the NFL in yards allowed or points allowed since 2013, and, really, defense has been a problem for much of the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era. They have used five different defensive coordinators since 2008, while setting the NFL record for most yards allowed in 2012 and the NFL records for most TD passes allowed and highest opponents’ passer rating in 2015. Worse yet, the Saints were on pace to shatter all of those marks through two weeks this season after blowout losses to Minnesota and New England (the Saints gave up a league-high 512.5 yards per game and 388.5 passing yards per game in Weeks 1-2).
Turning point: There’s a macro answer and a micro answer here. The major turning point was the Saints absolutely nailing their offseason personnel moves. They drafted cornerback Marshon Lattimore in Round 1 and safety Marcus Williams in Round 2, and signed defensive end Alex Okafor and linebackers A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o in free agency. It’s easy to say the Saints “just needed a No. 1 shutdown cornerback, a quarterback of their defense at middle linebacker and a quality edge rusher opposite Cameron Jordan.” But every team needs those things, and it’s never easy to pull off. The Saints also overhauled their defensive coaching staff this offseason to support coordinator Dennis Allen, who has done a great job since taking over in November 2015. The more specific turning point, however, was the 34-13 victory at Carolina in Week 3, when the season was in peril after those first two ugly losses. Payton has pointed to that game (and the 20-0 win over Miami in London a week later) as the kind of confidence boost the Saints’ young defense needed to prove its preseason performance was legit. “At some point, you want to see the results. And I think we saw some of the fruits of our labor,” Payton said. “And you began to get a little bit of confidence after that week, and then you shut out Miami and then you start building on it.”
New Orleans’ Historic Turnaround
Here’s a look at the largest decrease in points per game allowed from the previous season in Saints history:SEASON PPG DECREASE OPP PPG
2013 -9.4 19.0 (28.4 in 2012)
2017 -8.8 19.6 (28.4 in 2016)
2000 -8.1 19.0 (27.1 in 1999)Where they are now: Injuries have become a concern, with Okafor suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 11 and Lattimore’s status in doubt for Sunday’s game at Los Angeles because of an ankle injury. But Lattimore, safety Kenny Vaccaro and linebacker Klein should all be healthy in time for the stretch run. And in general, the Saints have been thriving on defense since Week 3. The Saints rank third in the NFL in yards allowed and points allowed since Week 3 and second in passing defense over that stretch. Lattimore, who is the front-runner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been the most vital newcomer. But second-year cornerback Ken Crawley has also stepped up big after being a healthy inactive the first two weeks. And that improved cornerback play has allowed the Saints’ pass rush to be more effective. Jordan should be in the conversation for NFL Defensive Player of the Year with eight sacks, 15 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, four pass defenses and an interception in the end zone for a touchdown. “These guys are growing at a rapid pace and they’re making plays they hadn’t made in previous years. This year they’re playing lights out across the board,” Jordan said of the secondary, pointing to pass breakups by Lattimore and Crawley in the end zone in Week 11. “And it’s motivating and inspiring to be part of the defense. … The passion is infectious.” — Mike Triplett
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November 24, 2017 at 10:25 am #77902znModeratorRams hope Saints’ backs won’t have them on the run
RICH HAMMOND
link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/23/rams-hope-saints-backs-wont-have-them-on-the-run/
THOUSAND OAKS – The Rams had the drill down perfect for nine games. Come in for halftime, hydrate and figure out how to shut down the opponent’s run game. Then came last week, and Minnesota.
Typically excellent against the run in the second half, the Rams turned porous last week against the Vikings, a big reason Minnesota pulled away for a 24-7 victory. Was it a blip or a cause for concern? The answer should be evident Sunday, when New Orleans and its stellar running game visits the Coliseum.
The Saints feature Mark Ingram (806 yards, eight touchdowns) and Alvin Kamara (459 yards, four touchdowns), who combined have rushed for 4.8 yards per carry, tied for the NFL’s best average.
“We can play good run defense and I think we will,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Thursday. “It’s a work in progress. Points are the key thing. I think we get overzealous on how many yards (opponents) made or didn’t make, or what they made rushing or passing. You’ve got to keep them out of the end zone, you’ve got to keep them from scoring.
“We had a game that was 7-7 last week going into the fourth quarter against a pretty good team on the road. Now, we’re playing at home against a really good offensive team, too, so that’s going to be challenge. But it’s week-to-week on trying to improve.”
The Rams’ run defense has been somewhat maligned this season, because it allows an average of 4.5 yards per carry, tied for the sixth-worst in the NFL. That’s not great, but it ignores something that had been a trend, at least until last week: the Rams figure out things at halftime.
Before the Minnesota game, the Rams had allowed a total of 733 rushing yards in the first half, compared to 339 in the second half. They’d shut down backs such as Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott.
Then, last Sunday, the Vikings had only 72 rushing yards at halftime of a game that was tied 7-7. In the second half, the Vikings rushed for 99 yards, the most given up by the Rams in a second half this season, and they pulled away in the fourth quarter against a Rams defense that looked increasingly gassed.
“One game doesn’t dictate and determine what we feel like we are,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “To say you’re concerned, I think there’s just always a level of urgency, knowing you’re going against a very good rushing team this week. We’ve got to make sure we’re on the screws with our preparation and our approach, and the players have to be aware of it.”
Sunday marked the first time since the season opener – a blowout of Indianapolis in which the Rams went to backups early – in which the Rams allowed more rushing yards in the second half than in the first.
Some of the yardage disparity could be explained by the score. The Rams started the season with a 7-2 record, so naturally they were ahead for much of those games, and in the second halves, opponents focused more on throwing the ball and attempting to catch up. That doesn’t always explain it, though.
Against Dallas on Oct. 1, the Rams trailed 24-16 and the Cowboys had 133 rushing yards at halftime. The Rams stormed back to win 35-30 and the Cowboys had only 66 second-half rushing yards.
Washington led the Rams 20-10 at halftime on Sept. 17, with 167 rushing yards, and held on to win but rushed for only 62 second-half yards. Two weeks ago, Houston trailed only 9-7 at halftime, with 78 rushing yards, but totaled only 11 in the second half and got blown out.
So clearly it’s not all dictated by game score. In fact, it could be argued that the Rams’ problem on run defense last week was more about their weakness on pass defense.
The Vikings struggled to run the ball in the first half, but after the Rams lost cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman to injuries, the Vikings started to pass on the Rams with success. That seemed to open up things for the Vikings’ run game, particularly Latavius Murray.
New Orleans arguably has the most-balanced offense the Rams have faced this season, as it includes future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. Ingram has rushed for 100 yards in four of his last six games — and topped 130 yards in his last two games – and Kamara averages 6.4 yards per rush.
The good news for the Rams is that even though their run defense has been porous at times, they’ve allowed only one opposing back to reach 100 yards. Jacksonville’s Fournette gained 130, but that included a 75-yard touchdown on the game’s first offensive play. After that, Fournette gained only 55 yards on 20 carries.
INJURY REPORT
The Rams got mixed news on the health of their cornerbacks during Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. Webster (concussion) returned in a limited role but Robey-Coleman (thigh) remains out.
Robey-Coleman’s status for Sunday appears to be in doubt, and he would be replaced, as the Rams’ nickel back, by safety Lamarcus Joyner or cornerback Blake Countess.
Mark Barron (hand) and Lance Dunbar (knee) remained out, and Aaron Donald missed practice with an illness.
November 24, 2017 at 9:24 pm #77916znModeratorRams to Face Saints in Matchup of Division Leaders
Kristen Lago
The Rams are in the middle of what some are calling the toughest stretch of their season. After taking on the leaders of the NFC North in Minnesota, the club will host one of the hottest teams in the NFL — the 8-2 Saints.
New Orleans has won eight straight coming into Week 12. L.A. will be looking to bounce back after its first loss in over a month. The Saints are playing some of their best football since 2010 — the year they took home their first Super Bowl championship — while the Rams have made one of the best year-to-year turnarounds in the league.
And while the Rams own a 40-33 advantage over the Saints throughout series history — winning two of their past three meetings — Sunday’s contest will not only mark one of L.A’s most difficult this year, but it is also set to be one of the top NFC matchups of the regular season.
“There’s a variety of playmakers [and] they do such a great job of making people defend the width and depth of the field,” head coach Sean McVay said of the Saints. “They’re a nightmare to prepare for and it’s why they’re one of the best in the league. It shows very quickly.”
“We understand the challenges that are coming up ahead of us,” Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees said. “They’re fighting for the exact same things that we are fighting for and they have had a phenomenal season thus far. We know it’s going to be an extremely tough matchup.”
Both teams are averaging more than 30 points per game and both defenses are giving up fewer than 20. Sunday’s contest is only the fourth time since the 1970 merger that two teams averaging 30-plus points per game will meet in Week 12 or later, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau.
But in Week 12, all eyes will be on the L.A. offense, looking to see how the unit responds to an uncharacteristically poor offensive output in Week 11.
“We put that one behind us,” right guard Jamon Brownsaid. “It’s also fuel for this weekend [because] as coaches say, ‘A loss is not a loss, it’s a lesson.’”
For quarterback Jared Goff, Sunday’s contest will also mark a redemption game of sorts. The Cal product received his first road start against the Saints last season and threw his first three career touchdown passes, but ultimately came up short as L.A. fell 49-21.
“I remember it being a shoot out for a minute and then they kind of pulled away,” Goff said. “But they have different players back there, especially in their secondary. They’ve got different guys and so it’s definitely going to be a challenge for sure.”
Unfortunately for the signal-caller, this week Goff will be without the team’s most productive wide receiver Robert Woods. Woods leads the team with four touchdowns and 703 yards. But after injuring his left shoulder in last week’s game, he is expected to be out for the next couple of weeks.
Los Angeles, however, does have a lot of depth in the receiving room. McVay says the offense will require “a by-committee approach” to replace Woods, offering a chance for some of the team’s other receivers — Sammy Watkins, Cooper Kupp, Pharoh Cooper, Tavon Austin, Josh Reynolds, and Mike Thomas — to step up.
“It’s going to be next-man-up mentality,” Cooper said. “Everybody, whoever’s name is called, we’re going to be ready to go and try to fill that role that Robert had on this offense.”
The Saints’ will be without both of their top cornerbacks, Ken Crawley and Marshon Lattimore. The rookie out of Ohio State has been an important piece of the New Orleans secondary and is a potential rookie of the year candidate, recording 36 tackles, one forced fumble, and two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown.
But the unit will get a boost from safety Kenny Vaccaro and linebacker A.J. Klein who are expected to play on Sunday.
“[In the] last couple years they’ve struggled a little bit, but this year they’re doing a fantastic job,” offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said. “Really holding the offenses down, and they’ve got a lot of good and a lot of new defenders.”
On defense, the Rams will face a tall task in containing Brees — a 17-year veteran and expected future Hall of Famer — who has completed 76.1 percent of his passes for 2,783 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2017. At 38-years old, Brees has been in the league longer than any Rams’ player, and warrants a lot of respect from members of the L.A. defense.
“I remember watching him with the Chargers. He’s a great quarterback, a first ballot Hall of Famer, we all know that,” cornerback John Johnson III, the Rams’ youngest starter, said of Brees. “If you can play with guys like him you can play with anybody. It will be a test, but we’re ready for it.
Under head coach Sean Payton, the Saints have also developed a formidable, two-pronged ground attack featuring Mark Ingram (806 yards rushing, eight touchdowns) and Alvin Kamara (459 yards rushing, four touchdowns). The running backs are averaging a combined 4.8 yards per carry — tied for the best NFL average — while the Rams run defense is giving up 4.5 yards per carry, putting them among the bottom five in the league.
“To start with, you have Drew Brees and he’s one of the best doing it,” linebacker Mark Barron said. “And then on top of that, you have the running backs and they are playing really well right now.”
Suffice to say, this week will pose a tough challenge for the Rams defense, albeit one they are eager to take on.
“We’ve been up and down on the run obviously, but you can see a lot of teams are that way.” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “So, we can play good run defense and I think we will. We’re playing at home against a really good offensive team, so that’s going to be challenge. But it’s week-to-week on trying to improve in every area.”
November 24, 2017 at 9:26 pm #77917znModeratorOpponent Breakdown: With Improved Run Game, Saints Offense is Excelling
Myles Simmons
Drew Brees is a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Of that, there is no doubt.
Originally a Chargers second-round pick in 2001, Brees has turned into one of the best quarterbacks of all time since arriving with the Saints in 2006. Now in his 12th season with New Orleans, and 17th season overall, the 38-year-old quarterback is No. 3 all time in yards passing (68,894) and No. 3 in passing touchdowns (480).
Brees was a solid quarterback in his five seasons with the Chargers. But he’s become the quarterback everyone has come to know and respect under head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans.
Payton and Brees have one of the longest coach-quarterback relationships in the league, and that manifests itself on a weekly basis.
“I think the very first and obvious one is just the amount of time — 11 years for me, 12 years for him in the system,” Payton said this week. “There’s nuances of course, over the years there is personnel that change, receivers or tight ends, running backs and you’re always kind of paying attention to your own team and putting wrinkles in that fit maybe what you want to do and there is that database, let’s just say, of reps or remembering certain games or plays.
“So, I think No. 1 would just be the time on task. In today’s NFL, that is not always the norm and then the continuity within the staff — [Saints offensive coordinator] Pete Carmichael has been here for all 12 of those seasons — so really there hadn’t been an offensive change in regards to terminology. There’s been some constants and obviously there have been additions and subtractions and things you do differently, but that would be a starting point I think.”
That continuity has Brees still playing at an elite level in 2017, as he’s completed a league-leading 71.6 percent of his passes for 2,783 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator in the mid-2000s when Brees was San Diego’s quarterback, and said he’s admired Brees throughout his career. And with 242 games of experience, Brees is particularly difficult to surprise. There’s pretty much nothing he hasn’t seen.
“Not only does he see things, he studies,” Phillips said. “If a guy has a different stance, if a guy puts his hands on his hips and does this” — Phillips motioned to his hips — “then he’s going to blitz. He knows those things, too.
“Like a lot of players in the league, a lot of players have talent, but he has great talent and he learned to utilize it,” Phillips continued. “So, I admire him for the way he prepares. The Peyton Manning-type preparation — that’s Drew Brees.”
But if there’s one factor in this year’s Saints team that has bought it to an 8-2 record after finishing 7-9 for the three straight years, it’s the emergence of New Orleans’ run game.
The Saints are currently No. 3 in rushing, led by Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. The two have combined for 1,265 yards rushing and 1,925 yards from scrimmage this season.
“I think anytime you’re having a decent amount of success running the football you’ve got to be able to block the perimeter well with the receivers,” Payton said, also complimenting the offensive line for setting the tone up front. “Mark and Alvin have done a real good job.”
Payton also credited Adrian Peterson — who the Saints traded to the Cardinals midseason — for his influence on the group. “[C]ertainly they looked up to just his work and attention to detail and I think that, like anything, you begin to do a few things and you just keep working on getting better at it. But, the continuity on the offensive line, the depth at tackle and obviously Mark and Alvin have complemented each other pretty well.”
Phillips said the run game with Ingram and Kamara has been the biggest difference with this year’s Saints offense.
“They’ve got the best running game they’ve had since they won the Super Bowl and I think that’s the real key,” Phillips said. “They’re really powerful offensively now. They can run the ball and win or they can throw the ball and win. Before, it was all on [Brees] and this year’s team is different.”
Mark Ingram has been a quality running back since he came out of Alabama in 2011, but eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time in 2016. One of his marquee games last year came against Los Angeles, as he rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans’ 48-21 victory.
But Kamara has aded a significant amount of value to the Saints’ backfield. Many times, New Orleans will rotate in the rookie out of Tennessee with Ingram on the same drive, providing a two-pronged attack. Kamara has also been a solid pass catcher, making 49 receptions for 447 yards with three touchdowns. He’s received the second-most targets on the team behind wide receiver Michael Thomas.
“They remind me of Atlanta last year,” Phillips said. “Two different backs, but they’re both especially good. One of them is more into the running game, the other is more into the passing game, so both of them give you problems at both. Kamara is really the big threat out of the backfield and of course Ingram is running the ball. But, they can do either one, so planning for both of them is not easy because, like I said, they can interchange or both do run and pass. But you’ve got stop Ingram from running the football and I think you’ve got to stop the other guy from catching the ball as much as you can and then try to hold them down in the other area.”
But even if those running backs get slowed down, the Saints have a dynamic playmaker in second-year receiver Michael Thomas. The wideout out of Ohio State leads the team with 65 receptions for 753 yards and has caught a pair of touchdowns.
“Mike was kind of one of those players where we were hoping we had an opportunity to get him on our team,” Payton said. “Fortunately, we were able to. He’s very competitive, he’s got strong hands in traffic and it’s very important to him. I would say his work ethic, the attention to detail — those intangible things have served him well.”
November 25, 2017 at 4:06 pm #77928znModeratorPFT’s Week 12 picks
Mike Florio
Saints at Rams
MDS’s take: The Saints are playing as well as any team in football right now, but in Los Angeles I think they’re going to struggle against a very good defense and lose a low-scoring game.
MDS’s pick: Rams 14, Saints 13.
Florio’s take: It’s the game of the day, regardless of whether Angelinos will show up accordingly. The Saints are too balanced, and the Rams were exposed a bit in Minnesota.
Florio’s pick: Saints 30, Rams 27.
November 25, 2017 at 5:20 pm #77932znModeratorfrom NFL Week 12 game picks: Rams edge Saints
By Elliot Harrison
Rams 28 Saints 25
Sunday, Nov. 26 @ 4:25 PM ET
Scoring might be higher in this contest, although New Orleans’ defense has been stout for the balance of the season, and the Rams’ unit has really come on over the last six games. Neither played particularly well last week. Wade Phillips’ group struggled with those talented Vikings wideouts, playing without a full deck in the secondary. The Saints can empathize, as the absence of cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (who left early last week with an ankle injury) and Delvin Breaux ( on injured reserve) really hurt against Kirk Cousins. New Orleans won’t have the home crowd to lean on this week, but either way, this should be a fantastic matchup.
Fun fact: The Saints and Rams are two of the three teams in the league that can boast both a top-10 rushing offense and top-10 passing offense this season (the Chiefs are the other). Only two squads could claim that last year: the Patriots and Falcons. You might have heard that they played in the Super Bowl.
November 25, 2017 at 11:44 pm #77937znModeratorThese teams "dink and dunk" the most with SHORT THROWS!#GoPackGo #GoSaints #ChiefsKingdom #SKOL #Chargers #RavensFlock #HereWeGo #OnePride #FinsUp #KeepPounding #HTTR pic.twitter.com/K6adLAF1T8
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) November 24, 2017
November 26, 2017 at 2:10 am #77939znModeratorMMQB: Why the Saints Need to Run Over L.A.
By Gary Gramling
1. A week ago, we all watched Drew Brees lead a Drew Brees comeback for a Drew Brees win, and remembered Drew Brees making other Drew Brees comebacks en route to other Drew Brees wins. But for the bulk of this season, the story of the Saints has been “things that aren’t Drew Brees.” Around these parts, we’ve written plenty about how the Saints suddenly got good on defense (yes, and on the offensive line, we’ll get to that, so stand down, Jonathan Jones fan boys), fueling their turnaround after three straight 7-9 seasons.
And the defense’s dominance has been the result of massively improved play in the secondary, thanks in large part to the addition of Marshon Lattimore. Rookie safety Marcus Williams has been an upgrade in the back, and CB Ken Crawley (who is on a personal 10-game winning streak, by the way) has been a gift from the heavens opposite Lattimore. But the rookie corner has given them a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber shutdown corner, taking pressure off the rest of the secondary, which in turn has bought an extra beat for a B-plus pass rush, allowing them to produce at an A-level. With Lattimore (ankle) (and Crawley) out for the Rams game, the pH level of this defense gets thrown off, and not in a good way.
But like all great teams, there’s chemistry between what the Saints do on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Almost a romance. Like The Notebook. Or all those movies that used to come on Cinemax late at night. The defense is much improved, but the run game (there’s that offensive line, told ya we’d get to it!) has given that defense a big boost. Over the first two weeks of the season, the Saints defense was on the field for 33 minutes, 11 seconds per game. During the eight-game winning streak, the Saints have won the time-of-possession battle in every game but one (last week’s overtime win over Washington), and the defense has been on the field for an average of just 26:24.
So as much as there is a concern that Jared Goff and Co. will carve up a shorthanded secondary, the Saints running game can easily remedy that, especially against a Rams defense that is talented, fast, aggressive, and susceptible to the run.
L.A. gave up big rushing days at Dallas (189 rushing yards, 7.0 average) and Jacksonville (169, 6.5), as well as in losses to Washington (229 rushing yards, 5.9) and Minnesota (171, 4.9). The Saints are good up front, but they are also so diverse, and both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara thrive on the kind of misdirection designs that can pick this Rams defense apart. Linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron are fast and light. Aaron Donald, as spectacular as he is, can get overaggressive and take himself out of position at times. The Saints should be able to use the Rams’ defensive strengths against them. That, more than Brees, Goff and the Saints’ injuries, could be the story of this game.
November 26, 2017 at 11:55 am #77943znModeratorfrom Five bold predictions for NFL Week 12
Jordan Schultz
Shutdown Cornhttps://sports.yahoo.com/five-bold-predictions-nfl-week-12-172020080.html?src=rss
2. Jared Goff continues to excel versus New Orleans Saints
Goff is a viable MVP candidate in this his second season. Prior to last week’s loss to Minnesota, the 23-year-old quarterback had amassed nine touchdowns and just one pick over the previous four games, all wins. The Saints will make things difficult for him with a steady pass rush, but Goff’s mobility will allow him to extend plays and compile another big day. Remember, he was held out of the end zone for just the second time all season last week (we told you so). That however, will not happen again. Also, remember that through 10 games, Goff is throwing an interception on only 1.3 percent of his passing attempts, per ESPN.com. That’s the fourth-best rate in the NFL. As a rookie, he ranked 29th among 33 quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts.
3. Mark Ingram disappoints against the Los Angeles Rams
The veteran running back has experienced a career revival in 2017, averaging 120.7 yards per scrimmage since New Orleans dealt Adrian Peterson. But the Rams are superb up front and this feels like a better opportunity for Alvin Kamara coming of of the backfield as a pass catcher. Make no mistake: Ingram — well on his way to a second Pro Bowl — is certainly capable of ripping off a big run or two, but don’t expect this to be one of his better days.
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