old zine piece about the 99 defense

THE RAMS DEFENSE, BY JEFF
(Dec 7, 1999)

http://www.geocities.ws/ramsezine/articles/ramsd_jeff_12_7.htm

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY. The Rams defense is 3rd in the NFL in average points allowed per game (14) and tied for fourth in passing TDs allowed for the season (14). Not a bad turnaround from last year.

These guys have the mentality that they want to keep the other team out of the endzone. They don’t have the mentality of say the Bucs defense, which wants to shut you down and keep you from gaining anything.

IMO, the Rams philosophy was born out of all the big plays the defense gave up last year, combined with this year’s offense and its ability to score. Reduce the opponents points and we can outscore them.

This philosophy is working—but still, I would like them to develop a mentality similar to the Bucs.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME. The overall defensive scheme fits the personality of this team, and that is why it works. We know the offense is going to put points on the board, so the defense does not have to completely shut down the opponent’s offense.

What I like best about this defensive scheme is the way they play in the first half. In the first half, they play like a shut down defense (although they have given up a couple early touchdowns to Tenn and in the 1st Carolina game). This allows the Rams to jump out to a large lead. The Rams offense usually scores TOUCHDOWNS and not field goals. So in the first half the Rams play tight coverage, give up no rushing yardage, and get after the QB.

Once they get the big lead, they play a little softer, giving up yardage in exchange for clock time while preventing the big play and the quick score. The philosophy is that the other team will not be able to score enough points to win in the remaining time. This is a very cautious approach that almost cost us in the last Carolina game and DID cost us the Detroit game—but overall it has worked out perfectly.

Also, the defensive coordinators know that most teams convert 3 out of 10 3rd downs. If you do not give up big plays, most teams will not be able to put together a string of drives without making a mistake, or (statistically) they will just fail to convert a 3rd down (BTW this could get is in trouble with Minn or Wash).

I cannot complain because this philosophy has worked. But, the Rams HAVE displayed the ability to be a shut down defense. At first the Rams only gave up one first down Sunday against Carolina, for example, but then they started to play soft right before the end of the half and gave up a touchdown (they also dropped 2 INTs on Carolina’s scoring drive).

In essence, this is a very good defense that could be better. But due to the greatness of our offense, the defense has the luxury to play it safe and preserve wins (which it has done—except for the fatal error in the Detroit game).

STRENGTH OF THE DEFENSE. The strength of the defense is by far and away the DL. I have never seen a DL make so many tackles in the running game. Although Fletcher has dramatically upgraded our MLB play, the DL is responsible for our dramatic improvement against the run. This unit is also capable consistently putting a great deal of pressure on the QB.

Carter is playing the best football (run and pass) of any D-lineman today. Farr and Agnew are tremendously underrated—no team has been able to run inside against us. Farr’s 7 sacks are also very impressive for a DT. This is a very disciplined group that has a tremendous amount of talent—and speed. The DL only needs a little more depth. Although I am in the minority, I feel that depth is needed more at DE than at DT right now. Our back-up DTs are playing really well right now.

RUN DEFENSE. The defense plays the run very well against running backs…but opponents rush/average is a little higher due to QB scrambles (and those come from passing plays, and thus should not be counted).

The defense shuts down the run at the beginning of each game. This fact, coupled with the Rams jumping out to a big lead, is the reason why we are number one against the run.

Two games have also demonstarted that this unit is very good against the run. TENN had a lead yet could not run the ball and control the clock…and so we almost won the game. Same with the Detroit when they were up by 9 points late in the second half. Detroit could get nothing on the ground.

Although this unit will give up an occasional 10-15 yard run, most times it holds the team to very little yardage rushing, which leads to a lot of 2nd & 3rd and longs. I feel very confident when it is 3rd and 1 or 2. We have had al ot of sucess in those situations both in the middle of the field and at the goal line.

The sucess of the run defense is basically due to the team’s disipline. It is amazing to watch. Every player is where he should be on every play—and thus there are no holes. The only exceptions is when the other team blocks the play perfectly (example—the 30 yard run by Garner in the 2nd Niner game).

The one weakness here is Collins’s lack of speed and McCleon’s inability to support the run. We have given up a few long runs on weakside sweeps.

THE SECONDARY, & 3RD COMPARED TO 1ST & 2ND DOWN.
I might be wrong, but it appears that Rams play tight man to man coverage more on first and second down, and then back off some and mainly play a soft zone on 3rd down. If this is correct, then it is more of a problem with the scheme than with talent. I do not recall the Rams secondary giving up many big pass plays on 1st and 2nd down.

Also, the Rams bring in Allen on 3rd and long. I think that Allen has improved a great deal from last year, but he is by far our least effective CB. Other teams know this and always seen to get their best reciever in match-ups with him. In fact, before the that dreadful 71 yard touchdown against Carolina last week, Allen was the only corner to give up a touchdown to a receiver this year (Ravens-Stokely, Lions-Morten, Carolina-Hayes).

Think about that! We just played the 12th game and McCleon gave up his first touchdown and Lyght has yet to give up one.

If we replace Allen with Bly, the pass defense should improve. It would also put another play maker on the field.

I would also like to see more man coverage on 3rd down.

I might be in the minority, but I see a lot of talent in the defensive backfield. A few of the sacks this year have been coverage sacks. Also, when you hold a WCO offense below a 50% completion rate, as in the last Carolina game, you are doing something right.

PS I would like to tell he long time fans that I respect all of you for having perservered. It was not easy to weather this past decade, but we did, and we proved that our dedication is far more important to us than immediate gratification. I do not know many of you that well or know what you do, but I can say that you all have a special sense of loyalty that is very hard to find in everyday life.