Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Fixing run defense is top priority for Rams
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wv.
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September 22, 2015 at 3:17 am #31010
znModeratorFixing run defense is top priority for Rams
Jim Thomas
Almost since the end of last season, Rams defenders have been harping on the necessity of getting off to a quicker start in 2015, particularly against the run. That must have made the team’s 24-10 loss Sunday to Washington all the more frustrating.
The Rams yielded 182 yards rushing at FedEx Field, their worst outing since allowing 186 yards to Minnesota in the ’14 season opener and the seventh-worst showing in Jeff Fisher’s 50 games as Rams coach.
A team that prides itself on playing tough, physical football got out-muscled on too many plays. And at any level of football, if you can’t stop the run you’re probably not going to win.
“Just too many explosive plays,” Fisher said Monday. “We’ve got to fix our defense against the run.”
More than half of Washington’s rushing total — 99 yards — came on just three plays: a 35-yard run by Alfred Morris, a 39-yard touchdown run by Matt Jones and a 25-yard run by Jones.
“It’s a combination of things,” Fisher said. “It was a combination of gap integrity by the players. It was a combination of the (coaching) staff putting them in some bad positions.
“So overall, we’re all going to take responsibility for that — the defensive staff, the defensive players — and we’ve got to get that fixed. One hundred fifty-three yards a game rushing right now is not what we’re about.”
But that’s where the Rams are two games into the season. They rank 30th in the league in run defense, yielding 153 yards per contest. Only Green Bay (154 yards) and Cleveland (160) are worse.
The Rams were pretty stout against the run in the opener against Seattle, one of the NFL’s top-rushing teams in recent years.
The Seahawks had 124 yards rushing, but needed 32 carries to get there and averaged a modest 3.9 yards per carry. They had only one rushing play gain more than 10 yards.
Washington was a different story. There was nothing fancy about any of those three big plays. Here’s what happened:
Morris’ 35-yard run off left tackle: Defensive tackle Aaron Donald got caught too far upfield — while he was in the backfield, Morris already was pressing the line of scrimmage. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers over-pursued a little too far to the right, leaving a gap open.
Normally there would be a linebacker as a safety net in the gap, but on this play Washington right guard Brandon Scherff smothered middle linebacker James Laurinaitis. And when Morris cut back to the backside, nobody was there because outside linebacker Alec Ogletree was knocked to the ground by a cut block.
As a topper, free safety Rodney McLeod missed a tackle at the Washington 40, which helped turn what would’ve been about 12-yard gain by Morris into a 35-yard advance.
Jones’ 39-yard TD run around left end: Once again, Donald got caught upfield. Defensive end Chris Long got pinned inside, leaving the perimeter open. A few yards downfield, Washington center Kory Lichtensteiger blocked Laurinaitis and tight end Jordan Reed took out Ogletree.
McLeod took a bad angle to the ball and got caught between Ogletree and Laurinaitis (and the Washington players blocking them). Jones broke outside at this point and reached the end zone for Washington’s first score.
Jones’ 25-yard run around right end: Defensive end William Hayes got pinned inside by a Washington blocker, leaving the perimeter open. Safety Mark Barron, lining up as an outside linebacker in one of the packages designed for him by coordinator Gregg Williams, got pushed downfield by Reed.
Scherff took out Laurinaitis, and with the corners in “off” coverage about 10 yards down field, Jones had plenty of room to roam once he broke the line off scrimmage. The play set up Washington’s second TD drive.
As Fisher said, part of the problem simply is getting off blocks.
“They did a really nice job,” Fisher said, praising the blocking schemes of Washington offensive line coach Bill Callahan. “They took advantage of some angles, with a combination of a man (blocking) and a zone scheme cutting the backside off. … We had a couple of times where they blocked the running backs into the secondary. We can’t let that happen.”
On each of those big plays, Rams defensive linemen weren’t holding up Washington blockers at the line of scrimmage — much less defeating them. As a result, that allowed those blockers to get at the linebackers on the second level.
And usually, when a 320-pound guard gets a clean shot on a 240-pound linebacker, the guard is going to win.
Schematically, it wasn’t as if Washington showed the Rams much that was different from what was already on tape.
“They might have tweaked some things we weren’t ready for,” Brockers said. “But for the most part we just got outplayed. That’s as simple as it gets.”
Or as defensive end Robert Quinn put it: “They were able to just kind of pound away. Credit to them.”
That makes the manner of Sunday’s loss all the more disappointing because that’s the style of play Fisher’s teams have been known for, dating to his time with the Tennessee Titans.
“That’s what we’re about,” Fisher said. “On defense, you stop the run and you’re off the field on third down. And we’re not doing either one of them right now.”
With the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town, there’s no time like the present to get things right. Veteran speedster DeAngelo Williams leads the AFC and is second in the NFL with 204 yards rushing.
And big back Le’Veon Bell, who set a franchise record last year with 2,215 yards from scrimmage, will make his season debut after serving a two-game league suspension.
“We’ve gotta figure it out because we’ve got another great team in Pittsburgh next week,” Quinn said. “So we better get ourselves together.”
September 22, 2015 at 9:38 am #31012
PA RamParticipantSomeone just posted this on another board….oh–that’s right–it was me. Anyway something I looked up fwiw.
“It’s a combination of things,” Fisher said. “It was a combination of gap integrity by the players. It was a combination of the (coaching) staff putting them in some bad positions.
Farr said something about this on the radio broadcast. The Rams were attacking vertically and Washington was attacking horizontally. Williams did not correct things until the 2nd half.I did this quickly scanning play-by-plays so if I missed anything…well, I tried not to miss anything:
First half Washington runs for 148 yards. These yards are mostly the result of 3 BIG runs. 25 yards off right tackle. 35 yards off left tackle. 39 yards off left tackle. So take away those runs and they rush for about 49 yards. Attacking the edge paid off for them with big plays. The Rams were attacking vertically and left them exposed on the edges.
11 of 16 rush plays were to the ends.
The Rams adjusted in the 2nd half.
Washington continued to attack the edge heavily and this was the result:
-2(left end)
3(left tackle)
4(left end)
-2(left tackle)
5 (left tackle)
11(left tackle)
4(left end)
2(right end)
9(left end)
2(left end)
-2(right tackle)37 yards attacking the edges. But that’s where Washington felt the home runs were—particularly the left edge.
So the Rams certainly cleaned things up in the 2nd half against the run but the offense was too inept to take advantage of their opportunities.
The defense is not as bad as it looked. But I do think Williams has to be quicker to adjust to things.
Again, this was a quick scan of NFL.Com. If anyone wants exact numbers you’ll have to check them but the idea behind what they did won’t change.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
September 22, 2015 at 10:11 am #31015
bnwBlocked” the seventh-worst showing in Jeff Fisher’s 50 games as Rams coach.”
That is sad. Need to give Ogletree a raise. BTW what is an ogletree? A pervy peeping perch?
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This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by
bnw.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
September 22, 2015 at 12:12 pm #31021
rflParticipantStopping the run is a top priority?
Gee. Who woulda thought that?
Just another example of this top-drawer coaching staff being on top of the priorities that produce winning football.
By virtue of the absurd ...
September 22, 2015 at 12:33 pm #31022rflParticipantSo take away those runs and they rush for about 49 yards.
The thing is, you CAN’T “take away” a few plays! They all count.
In the NFL, a running game which achieves 3 big plays that result in points has had a helluva day, even if the rest of the plays are pedestrian. ALL NFL running offenses fail a lot if not most of the time.
And that’s the point about run defenses. Good ones don’t give up 3 big running plays that shift the competitive balance of the game.
The defense is not as bad as it looked.
But what does this remark add up to? Is anyone saying the Ram defense is “bad”?
No. Everyone is saying that the Ram defense is or can be expected to be elite. The whole point of the newsworthy aspect of this is that an apparently mediocre WASH offense mangled an apparently elite defense. And, see, the fact is that IT DID!
And I return to what I have been arguing virtually alone on this board for more than a year:
THIS IS NOT AN ELITE DEFENSE!!! No elite defense is as erratic, vulnerable to the run, and passive in yielding quick throws as this defense is. The whole point of being elite is that you pressure and contain offenses week after week. WE DO IT RARELY. And between the impressive games, we are nothing more than mediocre.
I honestly don’t know how long this has to go on before it is widely realized that the leadership of this team has no clothes and that this defense is wildly over-hyped.
The only way anyone can maintain the illusion of excellence is to “take away” the bad plays, the somnolent games, the inconsistency, the recurring vulnerabilities …
And the inability to do the most fundamental task which good defenses have taken great pride in doing for more than 100 years:
Stop the damn run!
Don’t ask me to believe this is an elite defense until they can do that without having to “take away” big, killer plays.
By virtue of the absurd ...
September 22, 2015 at 1:53 pm #31024PA RamParticipantThe thing is, you CAN’T “take away” a few plays! They all count.
I know that. The point was that they did not adjust to what Washington was doing until the 2nd half. Those big plays came on certain types of runs vs. certain types of defense. The right defense was not in place. True–the players did a lousy job but not having the proper defense called did not help the situation.
The defense is not as bad as it looked.
Never said it was elite. Don’t think it is at this point. I just said they were not as bad as they looked. I’m not going to believe one week defines this defense as that awful. And don’t forget–Washington ran pretty well against the Dolphins(who supposedly have a good defense). Washington has to get some credit. But yes–the defense needs to be better. No doubt about that. I think they’re in trouble this week.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
September 22, 2015 at 2:23 pm #31026rflParticipantNever said it was elite. Don’t think it is at this point. I just said they were not as bad as they looked.
OK. If I misread, it’s my bad.
So, then, I gather that you’re not one of those expecting 10-6 or better?
Unless this team has a truly elite defense, then no sane fan would expect better than .500, and probably not that.
I have never seen a Ram team that was surrounded by a muddier, more bewildering consensus of expectation.
And I have never seen a Ram team and its coaching staff more endlessly buffered by excuses and defenses. Honestly, I do not understand what it will take for a consensus to form, among fans, the StL media, and the league, that Fisher’s staff is seriously bungling the chance to operate a defense with superlative talent.
By virtue of the absurd ...
September 22, 2015 at 3:22 pm #31027
wvParticipantLa on the defense:
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LaramThey’re best run defense IMO was the second half of 2013.
They were shutdown stoppers because the played straight up fundamentally sound gap control.
Not this tricky, gimmicky Donald in pass coverage stuff.
There are just too many moving parys in a GW defense IMO.
It allows for more breakdowns and missed assignments IMO.
September 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm #31029
InvaderRamModeratormaybe fisher needs to reign in williams?
just frustrating. sounds like williams’ ego is getting in the way. wouldn’t surprise me.
September 22, 2015 at 6:14 pm #31030
nittany ramModeratormaybe fisher needs to reign in williams?
just frustrating. sounds like williams’ ego is getting in the way. wouldn’t surprise me.
True, yet nobody was complaining about Williams after the Seattle game.
What laram says about Williams’ defense may have some truth to it but I’m not sure the gimmicky nature of the defense is why they struggled against Washington. I think they just got whupped.
September 22, 2015 at 6:46 pm #31031InvaderRamModeratormaybe fisher needs to reign in williams?
just frustrating. sounds like williams’ ego is getting in the way. wouldn’t surprise me.
True, yet nobody was complaining about Williams after the Seattle game.
What laram says about Williams’ defense may have some truth to it but I’m not sure the gimmicky nature of the defense is why they struggled against Washington. I think they just got whupped.
also a good point. maybe a little patience is needed. pitt game can’t come soon enough.
whatever it is they better get it sorted quick. can’t take half the season to fix it.
September 22, 2015 at 6:55 pm #31032wvParticipantmaybe a little patience is needed. pitt game can’t come soon enough.
whatever it is they better get it sorted quick. can’t take half the season to fix it.=========================
Well, i think they kinda ‘can’ take half a season to fix it. I said earlier in the year, they need to be 3 and 3 after the first six games. Right now they are 1 and 1, of course.
To win Ten, i think they have to go .500 in the early part of the season. As opposed to, you know, 1 and 4, that sort of thing. Cant dig a big hole.I say all this because I ‘expect’ them to improve as the OLine gets more
experience and Foles and the receivers get to play more together,
and Gurley and maybe Quick come into-play.We’ll see though. Either I’m right, and they improve with experience,
or…they’ll be the SOSAFR.
Same Ole Sorry Ass Fisher-Rams.We dunno how good Washington is this year, btw.
Maybe they make the playoffs and Dallas and Philly dont.w
vSeptember 22, 2015 at 8:04 pm #31033InvaderRamModeratorin order to go 3-3, i think the rams defense has to play better than even their week 1 performance.
from the past 2 weeks i can gather that.
1. the rams just match up well with the seahawks. that’s been the case the past several years. i’m not sure how well they stack up against their next 4 opponents.
2. the seattle offensive line is not good. they’ve gotten battered 2 weeks in a row now. i don’t know the ol situations of their next 4 opponents.
they’ve got some tough matchups coming up.
2 of them feature some heavy duty running backs in bell and lacy. those two teams happen to have very good quarterbacks too. better than cousins. if they can’t shore up the defense. the run defense in particular. that’s 2 losses already right there with arizona and cleveland still to play.
of course. who knows. maybe they play up to their opponents and really take it to pittsburgh and green bay.
September 22, 2015 at 11:37 pm #31040PA RamParticipantSo, then, I gather that you’re not one of those expecting 10-6 or better?
Before the first game I figured 5 wins.
After the first game I figured 9 or 10.
After the second game I’m settling in around 7 or 8.
We’ll see how they do against Pittsburgh.
By week 14 or 15 I should have a firm opinion. 🙂
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
September 22, 2015 at 11:55 pm #31041
AgamemnonParticipantI am going with 8 – 8 until they demonstrate they are better than that.
AgamemnonSeptember 23, 2015 at 6:56 am #31049wvParticipant———————————————-
Blue and Gold“…it is impressive empirically. All records have things that can be picked apart, when the Steelers had all those shutouts in the 1976 season, how many were against winning teams? Or were in the top half of the league offensively? I know the answer but you can look it up.
The point is the best 2-game stretch in allowing the fewest rushing yards in Rams history was in 2014.
The best 3-game stretch in allowing the fewest rushing yards in Rams history was in in 1965. The 2nd best was in 2014.
The best 4-game streches were in 1965 and then 2014
The best 5-game stretch in allowing the fewest rushing yards in Rams history was in 2014
The best 6-game stretch in allowing the fewest rushing yards in Rams history was in 2014, he 2nd best was 1968
The best 7-game was in 1967 and the next best was in 2014. (week 7 through 13)
This team, these players, this scheme CAN stop the run. The issue as I have outlined it is why they can be dominant for stretches and then give up three killers like Sunday, or on some of the other games where they just blow it.
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