Defense is inexcusable.

Well, I am more optimistic than you, but I don’t begrudge you your view. I get where you’re coming from.

However, I do have one small disagreement and it’s more historical than philosophical. I doubt it will make any difference in your view. In fact it verges on pedantry.

YOU: True. Our run D did come back in the 2nd half. After we had fallen out of any sense of meaningful competition. After another lost year had been confirmed.

Actually, the run defense improved in the first half of the season. Up and down, but improved. Once it did get set, it wasn’t just that it was better…it was probably the best run defense in the league.

The first 4 games were decidedly awful, with especially bad outings against Dallas and SF.

They picked it up against Jacksonville, lapsed against Houston, got it back together against Carolina, and then smothered Seattle (25 carries for 44 yards).

From the IND game on, they allowed 519 yards on 181 carries. 74 yards a game and 2.87 a carry across 16 games would have ranked them 1st in the league in yards per game and 1st in the league in yards per attempt (and by significant margins in both cases). And that included a game each against SF (30 for 83) and Seattle (36 for 111).

So it’s not just that they improved–they suddenly became the best rushing defense in the game.

Yet that was the same group that looked just bloody awful against Dallas.

Plus of course I don’t think they would have gone 7-9 last year if Bradford had played the whole season. So I don’t attribute the record to the run D alone.

It really is both things, this bunch. In the final stretch last year they weren’t just good, they were superlative. Yet they are (mostly) the same guys who looked lost against Dallas last year and Green Bay yesterday.

So, there’s something to both views, optimistic and critical.

It shouldn’t be this schizophrenic and it’s hard to say why they are (though I have some ideas on that). I mean, what changed to suddenly make them not just good last year, but the BEST? Again I have some ideas on that but it is a strange thing.

Lots to think about.

TrenchRam wrote:

missed the entire first half yesterday thanks to DirecTV. My fancy new receiver told me last week that it could be set to record any Rams game and then didn’t work.

Fwiw (and maybe you know this), according to my channel guide the game will be rebroadcast Weds. at 3 AM.

..

I had the game on DVR and watched the first half.

This was great for rewinding and slo motion.

Some thoughts:

On first Packers drive:

Lacy’s first run. There were 4 missed tackles. 4. It’s not that no one could have made a play–they just didn’t. Also–Roberson was blocked for a full 10 yards downfield.

Rodger’s scramble.

Pressure by Quinn and Long, Landford was engaged with two blockers. Donald should have made the play but could not shed his blocker. He was still blocked long after Rodgers was past him. The linebackers were not there to make a play. Donald had a poor game, really. Invisible. He has to get off blocks better. I’m sure Williams will do some things with him to help.

On the quick pass to the sideline, the corner was waaaay off the receiver. It was free yards. The corner was 7 yards off. it was Johnson. On the next play he was turned by the receiver–couldn’t recover. Result: first down. Easy.

On Cobb’s first down the safeties were way off. Mcgee also missed the tackle.

On the next pass–Armstrong slipped. Lacy–first down.

On Lacy’s next run–gaping hole(could have driven a truck through it) and Donald again could not get off block.

On Rodger’s T.D.–he actually had several options. No receiver’s touched off the line.

I really don’t like the corners 7 yards off the line on first down–all the time. The receivers come off untouched. I just don’t get it.

The Rams first drive:

Packers clearly control the line. They also don’t miss tackles.

The CBs are tight on the line on first.

On runs the Rams line was blown up. No where for Stacy to go.

Packers finally play off receivers on 1st and 25.

It was a shame on the Britt pass. Sam was just a little off.

Once he refines his timing they should have things with these receivers. Quick looks great and Britt will make plays. Faulk made a good point on the pass to Tavon crossing. If Sam had waited until Tavon cleared the LBers face tavon probably would have been gone. Hitting him before that allowed the LBer to make the play. Give Austin space.

But Sam played well. I feel good about that.

All in all–just a sloppy performance by the Rams. The O-line looked helpless at times. The defense did not tackle well.

Bright spots:

The receivers.

Bradford.

Westbrooks. That guy has made this team.

Sims. He could start for a lot of teams. We’re lucky.

Have to watch the second half.

TrenchRam wrote:

A run D without Brockers or JL is a very different beasts than what I hope to see in September. Last week, at least, it seemed to me that I saw at least as many plays where whoever was supposed to be in the hole just wasn’t there as plays where they lost a battle with a blocker. I’m starting to look at JL55 as a guy who has to be on the field for them to be competitive.

William Hayes will also make the run defense a different beast. Behind Brockers he may the best defender against the run on the d-line. The Rams need him healthy.

You need some guys who can just overpower o-line men & without those two guys I don’t know if the Rams have any one who can do that.

I’m not too concerned about the running game as long as Brockers and company are healthy by week 1.

I, however, have little confidence in the secondary. They were helpless against Rodgers. There just isn’t anyone with pro-bowl level talent back there.

And even with a great front 4, a team with a good passing game will destroy the defense with a quick, efficient passing game.

Isiah58 wrote:

It was hard to watch, but I return to what I said yesterday. The combination of Aaron Rogers running the no-huddle in week 2 of the preseason, and running it expertly, against a Rams’ D that was without its QB JL, and without its best interior run defender, is a mismatch. Combine that with no game planning to stop or counter GB’s offense, and it is not too surprising that the outcome was what it was. Rogers doesn’t look rushed even when he has pressure, and calmly just rifles the ball where it has to be. There is a reason why he has been and can be again the league MVP. Defending 12 play drives in the no huddle probably had our defense ready to spew, but once Rogers left and the game slowed down there was a marked improvement. Unacceptable, but still we won’t likely face that kind of offensive pressure again until we see Manning in week 9.

If the Rams D looks this bad again next week in Cleveland against Hoyer and Manziel, it will be a little more telling but I still have faith in Fisher. Next week will be Cleveland’s first home game and there will be a buzz in the stadium, but I expect that Brockers may be back and hopefully Laurenitis as well.

I agree with all that.

I just dont think Fisher cares about what the fans care about
in the first two preseason games. Seems like in
games three and four Fisher starts building
towards game-One.

I’m just not worried about the defense.
With the Personnel Greg Williams has
there is No F’ing Way this defense
doesnt emerge as a topflight D.

The only thing that concerns me
at this point,
is the health of the OLinemen.

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