our reactions to the ARZ game

Strong second half.  Rams were more physical.  Good win.

yeah,  kyren williams.  what a player.  so tough.  and cooper kupp too.  puka had one bad drop in the endzone.  but he usually catches those.

and byron young!  first sack.  and a forced fumble on the play too!  just need to partner him up with someone on the other side.  and witherspoon again has a great game.

and congrats to mcvay for adjusting in the second half.

one of the worst halves they’ve had this season followed by the one of the best.

InvaderRam wrote:

yeah, kyren williams. what a player. so tough. and cooper kupp too. puka had one bad drop in the endzone. but he usually catches those. and byron young! first sack. and a forced fumble on the play too! just need to partner him up with someone on the other side. and witherspoon again has a great game. and congrats to mcvay for adjusting in the second half. one of the worst halves they’ve had this season followed by the one of the best.

If you get a chance, there is going to be some major talent at Edge, in free agency. One name I have on my mind for next year is AJ Espenesa from Buffalo. The Bills I hear are going to be in a mess financially, and may not be able to sign him. We would have a ton of cap room to sign him. Za’Darius Smith is another guy I like as well, and he plays for the Browns, right now. Either one would fit well, being paired with Byron Young.

I attended the game….

did you folks hear my voice on TV when I yelled at McVay to run the ball? Thank goodness he listened to me.

a tale of two halves…offense played great in the 2nd half.

Cards are not very good…… Rams win!!!!

Steelers next week, could be the first win streak of the season

Either the Cardinals have a major run-defense problem, or the Rams are developing a physical running-game.

Interesting ‘way’ to win a Ram/Cardinal game.  What if teams in the future have to worry about a Rams…running game?

Important division win.

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A game like that — 158 yards — makes one start thinking about running-style ‘comparisons’.    I watched K. Williams and tried to think of who he reminded me of in ‘that’ game and i thought of…..Emmitt Smith ?

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zn wrote:

wv wrote:

A game like that — 158 yards — makes one start thinking about running-style ‘comparisons’. I watched K. Williams and tried to think of who he reminded me of in ‘that’ game and i thought of…..Emmitt Smith ? w v

He actually reminds me a bit of of Sony Michel. A smaller but smart, tough back with decent vision who does not have extra speed or elusiveness but who maximizes basic RB skills. He has enough physical talent but uses his head and sheer will to get more out of what he has. Wms. is a one hit and go gap-blocking runner who does not have the power of a power back or the magic in traffic of an elusive back or the raw speed and acceleration of a speed back–on most teams with premier backs he would be the #2, but a valuable one. That’s not a put down. He may be basic physically–certainly talent enough to play in the NFL, just not exceptional–but he is gifted at maximizing and getting the most out of what he does have, including things like reading blocks. If you listen to him talk about games, he has the same kind of knowledge of the game for his position that Kupp does as a receiver. He sees lanes but can’t make people miss and can’t run over guys, but he knows how to take what is there and has the mindset of a true gamer who sees and does all the little things that add up to him being a great opportunist. In fact he sees his opportunities quickly, and has great anticipation based on what he sees, but he’s never going to be the kind of back who creates second and third opportunities after he seizes the first one. If Dickerson had Williams’ head and mindset he would have been unstoppable. I don’t mean he’s a JAG. More like (an unlikely analogy) a Brady at RB. Brady didn’t have the arm, toughness, size, or magic of the qbs you automatically see can be special, but he processed more quickly than anyone else, and just wanted it more than most. So Wms. has enough strength, enough toughness, enough burst, enough quickness, enough vision–but his gift is to maximize all that by just willing it and processing fast, plus being an instinctive student of the game. In his own, different way I compare him to his favorite NFL back of all time–Steven Jackson. He may not be Jackson physically but he has #39’s will and instincts and smarts.

I completely agree. He is not a physically gifted RB, but he has good vision and anticipation.  He’s also short and runs low which makes it harder for defenders to find him in traffic. That and his abilities as a pass blocker and receiver make him a great fit in McVay’s offense.

I also sort of see wv’s Emmitt Smith analogy too.

wv wrote:

Either the Cardinals have a major run-defense problem, or the Rams are developing a physical running-game. Interesting ‘way’ to win a Ram/Cardinal game. What if teams in the future have to worry about a Rams…running game? Important division win. w v

i still would plan on strengthening the oline and finding another running back if i were the rams.  they don’t need to spend major capital on that second rb.  whether that is evans or some lower round draft pick i don’t know.  i don’t know that williams can hold up over the course of an entire season by himself.  but williams in tandem with another reliable solid running back would be super fun to watch.  especially with kupp, nacua, atwell, and higbee catching passes.

at oline i would spend major draft capital on finding a left tackle.  if they can find a left tackle and a second running back to pair with williams, i think the rams could have that dominant running game.

InvaderRam wrote:

 

i still would plan on strengthening the oline and finding another running back if i were the rams. they don’t need to spend major capital on that second rb. whether that is evans or some lower round draft pick i don’t know. i don’t know that williams can hold up over the course of an entire season by himself. but williams in tandem with another reliable solid running back would be super fun to watch. especially with kupp, nacua, atwell, and higbee catching passes. at oline i would spend major draft capital on finding a left tackle. if they can find a left tackle and a second running back to pair with williams, i think the rams could have that dominant running game.

Well, I dunno what they will need next year, but i know they are not as good as Philly or San Francisco.   So, they need to look at those two teams at least and figure out what they need to have to beat them.

Stafford and Donald are not getting any younger.   I dont know how long the Rams window will be open after next year.   Might be another ‘All In’ year.  I dunno.

Is there another OBJ out there?  Another Von Miller?   Jalen Ramsey?  🙂

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InvaderRam wrote:

 

i worry less about stafford, but i think donald has about two years left past this season. there’s not many defensive linemen if any who can produce at a high level past 34 years old. 2025 will be his age 34 season.

Yeah,  I thought he would tail off a bit this year, but I’m not sure he has.   He’s been explosive as Deacon and as rock-solid consistent as Merlin.   Best Defensive player of the decade.

My wild speculation is, he plays two more years and then rides off into the sunset.

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