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October 18, 2018 at 1:09 pm #92520
znModeratorFirst Look: Rams Move On to San Francisco
https://www.therams.com/news/first-look-rams-move-on-to-san-francisco/
Rams vs. 49ers: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 7
Rams vs. 49ers: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 7
What’s latest on 49ers running backs, quarterbacks as Rams approach?
October 18, 2018 at 7:33 pm #92535znModerator5 things to know about Rams-49ers in Week 7 https://t.co/l4qf5XzBzJ via @theramswire
— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) October 18, 2018
October 18, 2018 at 8:06 pm #92537znModeratorLos Angeles Rams (-9.5) at San Francisco 49ers
Pick: Los Angeles Rams -9.5Last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers utilized play-action passes to the left side of the field with great success. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers used it to connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the team’s opening play, a 60-yard catch, and again later in the first quarter, a 54-yard gain to tight end Jimmy Graham.
No passer is using play-action more often than Rams quarterback Jared Goff in 2018 (39 percent of plays) and his passer rating on these snaps is 124.4, which includes a 4-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
October 18, 2018 at 11:32 pm #92553znModeratorQuotes & Notes 10/18/18: Wade Phillips, Ndamukong Suh Talk Defense Ahead of Week 7
Injury Report 10/18: Brockers Returns to Practice
https://www.therams.com/news/injury-report-10-18-brockers-returns-to-practice
Troy Hill Looking to Bounce Back in Passing Game
https://www.therams.com/news/troy-hill-looking-to-bounce-back-in-passing-game
Daily Dose: Donald and Gurley Amongst the League’s Best
https://www.therams.com/news/daily-dose-donald-and-gurley-amongst-the-league-s-best
Opposing View: 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Sees Significant Improvement in Jared Goff
October 19, 2018 at 1:15 pm #92572znModeratorRams’ 3 biggest causes for concern vs. 49ers
Cameron DaSilva
Rams' 3 biggest causes for concern vs. 49ers
Prior to Monday night’s shootout between the 49ers and Packers, it looked like the Rams would have a fairly easy win over San Francisco in Week 7. However, the 49ers nearly pulled off the upset before blowing a fourth-quarter lead, which caused the spread to shift one point in San Francisco’s direction.
The Niners showed they have dangerous playmakers on offense and Richard Sherman is still an above-average cornerback, which makes this far from a “gimme” for L.A.
Here are the Rams’ three biggest causes for concern heading into Week 7.
Cooper Kupp’s absence
The Rams have played the second half of each of their last two games without Kupp, so this isn’t exactly uncharted territory. However, his absence from the lineup changes things a bit. Robert Woods will probably move inside to the slot while Brandin Cooks will maintain his position as the X receiver.
Kupp has been Jared Goff’s safety valve the past two seasons but he won’t have that on Sunday. Josh Reynolds should see more playing time on the outside, likely against Richard Sherman – a matchup that doesn’t favor the Rams. Nick Williams is also a candidate to play, potentially getting some snaps in the slot.
Regardless of who replaces Kupp, it’ll be difficult to make up for his consistent production.
DeForest Buckner wreaking havoc up front
The 49ers have sunk assets into their defensive line like no other team in recent years, spending three first-round picks on Buckner, Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas. Only Buckner has been a consistent player for them with Thomas falling out of favor and barely playing more than 50 percent of the snaps.
Buckner switches between left and right defensive tackle, which means both Rodger Saffold and Austin Blythe will be asked to block him. He opens things up for Reuben Foster and Fred Warner at linebacker, eating up blocks and allowing them to run free at times.
Buckner leads the team in sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (6) and quarterback hits (9), so stopping him is priority No. 1 along the defensive front.
Containing 49ers’ explosive playmakers
The 49ers don’t look the same without Jimmy Garoppolo back there, but both Matt Breida and Marquise Goodwin are dangerous players regardless of who’s at quarterback. Goodwin finally got going on Monday night against the Packers, catching four passes for 126 ayrds, scoring two touchdowns.
Breida, on the other hand, has been the 49ers’ most reliable playmaker, averaging a ridiculous 6.8 yards per carry to lead the league. He has the ability to take a carry to the house from anywhere on the field, as evidenced by his long rush of 66 yards.
Although he’s not a workhorse back by title – he doesn’t have a game with more than 14 carries – he’s a dangerous player who the Rams have to be mindful of when San Francisco has the ball
October 19, 2018 at 10:18 pm #92582znModeratorHow The 49ers Can Make A Statement Against Todd Gurley And The Undefeated Rams
Vincent Frank
The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to magically flip the switch after six games and somehow become the playoff contender most expected them to be at the start of the season. Monday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers assured that the elegant tank is on. There will be no meaningful January football in Santa Clara. From here on out, it’s all about progression on the field and narratives being thrown in the team’s direction from media folk like myself.
This week’s narrative against the Los Angeles Rams is pretty simple. Kyle Shanahan’s squad has an opportunity to make a statement. Let’s rephrase that. Kyle Shanahan’s squad has to make a statement in front of its home crowd and with the franchise unveiling its “The Catch” statue outside of Levi’s Stadium.
What’s this statement we speak of? It’s rather clear. It’s not about winning. It’s about remaining competitive and showing that a lost season won’t define how the team plays on the field over the final 10 games.
The division-rival Rams head into Week 7 as the NFL’s only undefeated team. They rank No. 3 in the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game. They are seventh in points allowed at less than 20 per outing. Both Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are legitimate MVP candidates. Sean McVay has one-upped Kyle Shanahan as the most-dynamic young play caller and head coach in the NFL.
Every single thing is working in the Rams’ favor heading into this game. As Goff and Gurley do their thing, the 49ers are relying on backups at the game’s most important offensive positions. As Wade Phillips continues to make his mark as one of the greatest defensive minds in the game, fellow coordinator Robert Saleh is struggling in San Francisco. Everything here is pointing to a blowout win for the Rams and a 1-6 start to the season in Northern California.
But.
Yes, there’s a but here. There’s also reason for optimism in San Francisco. Not optimism that the 49ers can pull out a much-needed win. That remains far-fetched. There’s optimism that they can stick with the NFL’s best team through four quarters, leading fans to remain entertained instead of wondering why they wasted a beautiful fall day in sunny California.
There’s certainly matchups that favor the 49ers in this one. This year’s track record for both teams also suggests that we might not be privy to a blowout that some in the national media are predicting.
After running roughshod through their first three opponents, outscoring them by a combined 66 points, Los Angeles has fallen back to earth some. Each of its last three wins have come by seven points or less. That includes a combined margin of victory of five points against the Seahawks and Broncos over the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ elegant tank tells us a story of a competitive team. Three of San Francisco’s five losses have come by one score. That includes games against the Chargers and Packers that this team could have very well won if it made plays in the fourth quarter. Of the two games San Francisco lost by more than one score, Week 3’s defeat at the hands of the one-win Arizona Cardinals was an outlier of sorts. Shanahan’s squad turned the ball over a whopping five times. It also put up 33 first downs compared to 10 for the Cardinals. Not to be outdone in that category, the 49ers held on to the ball for north of 40 minutes and out-gained Arizona, 447-220.
These are all indications the 49ers can keep Sunday’s game close.
The bad news? Those above-mentioned five turnovers. San Francisco ranks dead last in the NFL in turnover margin at minus-11. That includes eight giveaways and zero takeaways over the past two games. That’s also the caveat here. If San Francisco continues this trend, it’s not going to beat even the lowly Cardinals or Raiders moving forward. Everything else is moot.
Assuming for a second Shanahan and Co. have turned the page from these past two games, there’s a darn good chance San Francisco remains competitive on Sunday. Its defense has performed well against the run. That could enable the 49ers to focus more on stopping Jared Goff and Co. through the air. After all, San Francisco is yielding 14 passing touchdowns compared to one interception on the year. Honing in on the passing game while being able to stop Gurley without stacking the box would be huge.
Offensively, San Francisco is averaging the third-most rushing yards per game and is tied for the top mark in yards per rush. It’s also taking on a Rams defense that’s yielding a whopping 4.8 yards per rush. Shanahan must scheme to his strengths here. That means committing and staying committed to the run. It will lead to ball-control offense, keeping the Rams’ top-ranked offense off the field.
And in reality, that’s what we need to see from this coaching staff. Shanahan is among the best in the game in drawing up game plans and schemes. But he tends to lose focus on what the strengths of San Francisco’s offense are throughout the game. Taking on another offensive genius in Sean McVay, Sunday’s game gives Shanahan an opportunity to make a major statement. Sure McVay and the Rams might be the toast of the NFL right now. That’s fine. But bad injury luck and a lost season isn’t going to stop Shanahan from proving he’s right up there with his younger counterpart.
That narrative includes the entire 49ers team. They must prove that the gap moving forward in the NFC West is nowhere near as big as it seems right now. Los Angeles has more combined wins than the other three teams in the division. That’s fine. It’s also six weeks of action.
If we’re looking at this same huge gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco come December, there’s going to be major long-term issues for the Northern California franchise. A path back to relevance in the NFC West won’t be short. But it must start Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. That’s how the 49ers can make a statement.
October 20, 2018 at 12:07 pm #92592znModeratorDepleted 49ers secondary should lead to big day for Jared Goff, Rams WRs
Cameron DaSilvaDepleted 49ers secondary should lead to big day for Jared Goff, Rams WRs
Rams Week 7 preview: 5 questions with Niners Wire
Cameron DaSilvaOctober 20, 2018 at 10:01 pm #92599znModeratorRams looking to break 6-0 curse, start 7-0 for first time since 1985 https://t.co/Xq6R7bDOqH via @theramswire
— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) October 21, 2018
October 20, 2018 at 11:27 pm #92605znModerator -
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