press sets up the DALLAS game

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-Blythe-Ready-to-Step-In-If-Needed-Scouting-the-Cowboys-/a845e029-eac5-40ae-be58-e1f6d84d14e1

Kristen Lago

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

While Thursday’s win was a dominant showcase by the offense, who have already accumulated two 40 point games this season, it was another tough week for the defense.

Through three games, the Rams have struggled significantly with their run defense, allowing both the Redskins and 49ers to accumulate at least 200 yards from scrimmage. And though the defense was impressive in the team’s season opener against the Colts, where Indianapolis scored just nine points, they have since given up 66 points in two games.

Fortunately for the Rams, the defense has extra time this week to prepare for Dallas, while the Cowboys will be coming off a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cardinals. And with a players’ day off for the Rams on Tuesday, many defensive players said they would be spending their Monday night getting a leg up on scouting the competition.

“I know they are a tough team, I know they were 13-3 last year and a playoff team and we’re playing them in their house,” nose tackle Michael Brockers said. “We’re going to get their best shot and we have to expect that and prepare for it. So, of course, I’m going to do a little TV scouting, see what I see and I’ll probably rewatch the game tomorrow.”

“For sure, definitely going to watch them on TV tonight,” Ogletree said, “but I’ll still watch it on my iPad too. We will get a little early start on them while they’re playing, but it will be a good game this week.”

The last time the Rams faced the Cowboys was in 2014 where Dallas came back from a 21-0 deficit to stun the Rams 34-31. In two years, however, both teams have changed significantly and Los Angeles is ready for the added challenge they will face on Sunday.

“They have a whole different quarterback, [but] Dez Bryant is still there and Jason Witten is there,” Ogletree said. “It’s changed a little bit for sure, but they have a lot of guys that have been there a while and with the young talent that they have up there, it’s a high-powered offense. They have a game tonight and I’m sure they’re ready for it and when it comes time to play us, they’re going to be ready to play and we have to do the same.”

“They have a solid offensive line and they’re just a great team overall,” Donald said. “They have running backs, they have guys on the outside, a good offensive line, they make a lot of plays. So we just have to do what we have to do — play solid football, stop the run and get at the quarterbacks.”

Sean McVay has Jared Goff cooking and the Rams offense should roll vs. Cowboys
If you haven’t been paying attention, these aren’t the same old Rams

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sean-mcvay-has-jared-goff-cooking-and-the-rams-offense-should-roll-vs-cowboys/

NOTE: Long article with a lot of gifs, hard to copy. Go to the link for the gifs.

It turns out coaching does matter in the NFL.
When running back Todd Gurley called the Rams’ offense — coached by all-time loser Jeff Fisher at the time — a “middle-school offense” last December, he was thought to have done so out of frustration. It wasn’t considered to be an analytical response to answer the questions behind No. 1 pick Jared Goff’s rookie-year struggles and Gurley’s own mysterious sophomore slump. But Gurley wasn’t that far off with his answer. The Rams’ offensive catastrophe was almost entirely related to its scheme. The first three games of the 2017 season is enough proof.
So far, the Rams’ offense is torching foes — they’re averaging the seventh-most yards per game (374.3) and the most points per game (35.7) in all of football. Goff looks like Legolas sniping Orcs — he’s first in yards per attempt (10.09) and third in passer rating (118.2). Gurley looks like he’s actually wearing a touchdown magnet — he’s tied for the league lead in rushing/receiving touchdowns (six) after scoring six touchdowns over the course of the entire 2016 season.
For all of that, the Rams can thank their new 31-year-old coach, Sean McVay, who replaced Fisher and immediately implemented an offense that caters to its personnel’s strengths — plus, he spells his name the right way. And they can also thank newcomers in receivers Sammy Watkins, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and left tackle Andrew Whitworth. The Rams’ offense received upgrades this offseason in both coaching and personnel.
Watching last year’s Rams offense versus this year’s unit is like going from watching the “Star Wars” prequels to watching “Rogue One.” While we’re on the subject, a quick (but totally accurate) ranking of “Star Wars” movies:
“Rogue One”
“The Empire Strikes Back”
“Return of the Jedi” (Ewoks are cool)
“A New Hope”
“The Force Awakens”
Prequels
OK, back to football. McVay — the former offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins, where he helped turn a mediocre talent, Kirk Cousins, into a $24-million quarterback — has the Rams rolling. They’re 2-1, find themselves in first place in the NFC West, and will head to Dallas for a showdown with the Cowboys on Sunday.
At some point, the Rams will likely come back down to earth. Their offensive explosion, to this point, is at least partly due to matchups against the Colts and 49ers. Looming on the schedule are dates with the Seahawks, Jaguars, Cardinals, Giants, Texans, and Vikings — all teams that know how to play defense. The Rams likely aren’t a playoff team, Goff isn’t a legitimate MVP candidate, and Gurley isn’t the next David Johnson, but they’ve all shown enough signs of progress through three games to already consider the season a success. And they’re going to the give the Cowboys some issues this weekend — even if it’s the Cowboys who emerge with the win at home.
It starts with the QB
Goff’s NFL career began on the sidelines, as he was unable to beat out both Case Keenum and Sean Mannion. When he finally did win the starting job in late November, he did not look like someone who was worthy of the first-overall pick. He sucked and his #DraftTwitter bandwagon — something I found myself on — began tumbling down a seemingly unending slope.
Writing off Goff was premature. Check out his numbers from the first three weeks of this season compared to his seven games last season (admittedly, both are tiny sample sizes, but it’s all we’ve got to work with):
Comp. %
YPA
TD %
INT %
Rating
2016
54.6
5.3
2.4
3.4
63.6
2017
70.4
10.1
6.2
1.2
118.2
Again, it’s true that Goff has benefited from matchups with the Colts and 49ers, but let’s not penalize him for tearing up bad defenses. That’s what good quarterbacks are supposed to do. And don’t forget that he also played against the Redskins, a team that just held Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to one of the worst performances of his career.
Goff’s been good in part because McVay’s creating easy throws with big windows. He’s done this by using a ton of play-action:
goff-rams-playaction-week-1.gif
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“The first thing you’ll notice, you want plays that start out looking the same that are different — your run actions, whether it’s play-action, or some of your movements, where you’re bootlegging him,” McVay told Sports Illustrated after Week 1. “Those are the things he’s really done a good job with, especially when you take into account the stuff in the preseason where early-down plays, you’re running play-actions and movements.
“He’s good at it, he’s gotten really comfortable with it. And that’s where there’s a good chance to open up some things down the field.”
So far this season, Goff has posted a 104.7 passer rating off play-action, completing 13 of 21 passes for 257 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. By using play-action, the Rams are simplifying the game for Goff. More often than not, Goff has an easy read and an easy throw off a play fake — like the play above.
McVay has also gotten creative with his play-action to create big-chunk plays.
goff-rams-play-design-week-1.gif
NFL Game Pass
Below, Goff uses a play-fake to Gurley to set up a screen to Gurley. It’s so simple for the quarterback, yet so effective. And it gets the ball to one of the Rams’ best playmakers in space.
goff-rams-play-design-screen-week-1.gif
NFL Game Pass
It’s not just play-action. On normal passing plays, Goff’s passer rating is 122.9 — the second-best in football behind Alex Smith of all quarterbacks (drunk season, right?), according to PFF. Even without play-action, Goff’s getting open, easy throws.
The touchdown pass below wasn’t just an easy throw, it was an easy pre-snap read by Goff. It looks like a run-pass option, so it’s up to Goff to decide to hand the ball to Gurley or throw to Watkins. Goff chose to throw the ball likely after realizing the Rams’ blockers were outnumbered by the 49ers’ defenders in the box and his receivers were isolated in single coverage — it’s two vs. two on the outside. With his offensive line run blocking, Goff fired a quick slant to Watkins.
goff-rpo-week-3.gif
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I don’t mean for this to sound like Goff hasn’t done anything of value, because he has. Back at Cal during this three college seasons as a starter, Goff loved throwing deep balls down the sideline. That’s not an oversimplification. Cal’s “Bear Raid” offense ran four verticals up to 40 times a game. Goff’s arm talent is never going to blow you away, but one of his strengths is lofting up weighted deep balls down the sideline.
That skill has translated to the NFL this year.
weighteddeepball.gif
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According to PFF, Goff is the league’s best deep-ball passer. On passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield, Goff is 9 of 13 for 304 yards, one touchdown, no picks, and a 137.5 passer rating. It’s throws like this that make it seem like Goff has a bright future in the league (note the play-action, the pressure and quarterback hit, and Watkins’ ability to track the over-the-shoulder pass):
goff-watkins-rams-week-3.gif
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He’s also shown the willingness to cycle through his reads. Below, you’ll see Goff’s eyes work from his right to his far left before finding his tight end on a delayed release all the way back on his right.
goff-week-2-rams-redskins.gif
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To do that, Goff needs protection — something that didn’t happen last year. In his rookie season, Goff was under pressure on 44 percent of his dropbacks, according to PFF. This year, he’s been under pressure on 38.4 percent of his dropbacks. It’s worth noting that Goff has still dealt with the seventh-highest pressure rate among all quarterbacks, so it’s not as if the signing of Whitworth has transformed the Rams’ offensive line into a top unit — it hasn’t. But the Rams’ offensive line has been better. That’s important.
Even when he’s under pressure, Goff has been great. He’s accumulated the third-best passer rating under pressure (98.9), per PFF. And when he’s been given a clean pocket, he’s racked up a passer rating of 126.2 — only Alex Smith has been better without pressure.
If given time in the pocket, Goff is deadly like most NFL quarterbacks.
goff-week-1-rams.gif
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Impressively, Goff has cut down on his turnovers. Going through all of his passes to this point in the season, there have been very few dropped picks. That’s a credit to the coaching, which has drawn up risk-free throws, and Goff’s decision making. Obvously, he’s still going to make mistakes. See his game-losing interception to the Redskins, when he stared down a short pass for an eternity:
goff-week-2-int.gif
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But he has been light years better than last year. The scary part? Goff and McVay are still growing comfortable together, and Goff has started only 10 games in his career, which pretty much makes him a rookie.
“It’s the fact that we just haven’t worked together long enough,” McVay told SI. “We’re trying to figure it out ourselves as we get comfortable with one another. That’s the biggest thing.”
Goff’s success should continue against the Cowboys, whose defense features one capable playmaker in defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and his league-leading 6.5 sacks. The Rams will need to account for Lawrence if they want Goff to remain upright. But besides Lawrence, no one on the Cowboys’ defense should scare them. Block Lawrence — not an easy task — and the Rams offense should be fine.
The Cowboys’ defense has pitched two solid games this year — Week 1 against the Giants and Week 3 against the Cardinals. The key to those performances? They manhandled weak offensive lines and got after the quarterback. The Rams need to protect Goff. If they can do that, they can torch a weak secondary.
Touchdown Todd
Look for Gurley’s success to continue too, but don’t expect him to keep scoring touchdowns at this rate.
Last year, Gurley averaged 3.2 yards per carry. This year, he’s averaging 3.8 yards per carry. According to PFF, he ranked 19th in elusiveness out of 25 qualified running backs last year. This year, he ranks 18th out of 28 qualified running backs. So Gurley hasn’t been transformed back into the rookie-version of himself we saw in 2015, but he’s been better. There’s no doubt that his unsustainable touchdown rate — no, he’s not going to score 32 touchdowns this year — will come back down to earth.
But the biggest difference from last year to this year is how Gurley is being used. Mainly, the Rams are getting Gurley into open space by using him as a pass catcher. Last year, Gurley averaged 2.7 catches per game and 7.6 yards per catch. This year, he’s averaging 4.3 catches per game and 10.8 yards per catch. When he’s in space — and not bottled up behind a mediocre offensive line — he can do stuff like this:
gurley-rams-week-2.gif
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In Week 2, C.J. Anderson roasted the Cowboys for 154 yards on 28 touches. Expect Gurley to get the ball a lot and expect him to perform well. The Cowboys have shut down the Cardinals and Giants’ running backs, but neither of those teams feature quality players coming out of the backfield. Gurley might not ever be as good as he was in his sensational rookie year, but he’s more than capable.
Setting realistic expectations
Again, it’s not realistic to expect the Rams to continue scoring 35.7 points per game. It’s not realistic to expect Goff to outplay Tom Brady for the rest of the season. And it’s not realistic to expect Gurley to score touchdowns at this rate. The Rams are going to calm down when they play defenses that are capable of exploiting their flaws. A regression is coming.
But the Rams should already be pleased at their progress. They likely won’t make the playoffs this season, but their future is bright. Last year, it looked like their most recent first-round picks of Goff and Gurley might bust. Now, those two look like potential building blocks. If Watkins can stay healthy, he’s a WR1. For so many years, the Rams were stuck as a 7-9 or 8-8 team under Fisher. For the first time in what probably feels like forever, the Rams can dream of a better future that involves an exciting, innovative offense — an offense that can lead the team into the postseason in the wars to come.
Dallas will get a glimpse of that offense on Sunday. And even if it’s the Cowboys that walk away with the win — they are, after all, the more talented team that’s also playing at home — they’ll actually have some difficulty lassoing these high-flying, youthful Rams.

Rams still figuring out things on defense, but with Dallas coming up, they better hurry

RICH HAMMOND

link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/28/rams-still-figuring-out-things-on-defense-but-with-dallas-coming-up-they-better-hurry/

THOUSAND OAKS — It’s not time to worry about the Rams’ defense. Give that another couple days.

Thus far, the scheme of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has underwhelmed. The Rams rank 26th in the NFL in points allowed per game (25.0) and 22nd in yards allowed (343.7), and last week the Rams ended up in a shootout against a San Francisco team that previously hadn’t scored a touchdown.

The challenge doesn’t get easier this Sunday, as the Rams travel to face a balanced Dallas offense that includes quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and tight end Jason Witten.

“We look at it as a big challenge,” Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “I think we’ll see a lot about our team this week, as far as where we are, to match up against that premier offense.”

The Rams clearly are having some issues. After their dominating season-opening game against an Indianapolis team that lacked its quarterback and center, the Rams allowed 27 points and 385 yards in a loss to Washington, then 39 points and 421 yards in a way-too-close victory over the 49ers.

Run defense remains an issue, cornerbacks have been beat on big plays and, last week, the 49ers converted on nine of their 18 third-down attempts.

On the other hand, Phillips pointed out that special-teams miscues sent the Rams’ defense onto the field in unusual circumstances multiple times, and Phillips said the unit would get a boost from the expected return of starting cornerback Kayvon Webster, who missed two games with a shoulder injury.

Phillips also hinted that the Rams might move Michael Brockers, who has been one of the most productive players up front, away from nose tackle and to a defensive tackle role.

“A premier challenge,” Phillips said of Dallas. “When you’re playing a really good offensive team, that’s when you have to step up and be a good defensive team. I think we’ll get better in some of the areas we need to, but we’ll find out. That’s why we play the games, to see what happens. But I like our group.”

Phillips’ recent history shows that early-season struggles, when he takes over and transitions a team from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 front, are not uncommon.

In 2011, Phillips took over an awful Houston defense. In the third game of that season, the Texans allowed 40 points and 454 yards in a loss to New Orleans. Houston finished that season ranked fourth in points allowed (17.4 per game) and second in yards (285.7).

In 2004, Phillips’ San Diego defense allowed an average of 28 points in its first three games. The Chargers finished that season 11th in the league, with an average of 19.6 points allowed per game.

Even in Denver in 2015, when Phillips took over what had been a fairly stout defense, the Broncos twice allowed 40-plus points. So while these early bumps for the Rams shouldn’t automatically cause panic, another bad week or two might counter the narrative that Phillips is a turnaround artist.

“It goes both ways,” Phillips said. “One year we started 0-3 in Buffalo and made the playoffs. Then, I think in Denver in our first game we gave up 170 yards. It’s all about how you play and who you’re playing, too. I’m looking forward to this one.”

In his last four stops as defensive coordinator (Denver, Houston, San Diego and Atlanta), Phillips has improved his teams’ points-against and yards-against totals in the first year. Not since 2005 has a Phillips-coached defense finished out of the NFL’s top 10 in points and yards.

oldschoolramfan wrote:

Jackie Slater remembers a story……

“It was Nov. 15th, 1992 and the Rams were playing the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. The Rams were 2 touchdown underdogs and the team knew that the coach was not happy about that.”
Slater continues……”Coach Knox walks in to the locker room and just looked at us for a long time. Then, he finally say’s, 14-point underdogs? And then, he spits on the floor, put his cap on and walked out to the field. Nothing else needed to be said.”

The Rams beat the Cowboys 27-23 that day.

That was the last time the LOS ANGELES RAMS played the Dallas Cowboys……..25 years later, they meet in Dallas on Sunday to revive one of the NFL’s best rivalries.

Take the Rams over Cowboys

http://nypost.com/2017/09/28/take-the-rams-over-cowboys/

Rams (+6) over COWBOYS: After too many years of broad mediocrity under Jeff Fisher, Rams hierarchy let Fisher go last season during franchise’s first year back in Los Angeles. New coach Sean McVay appears the jockey change highly regarded young QB Jared Goff needed, as the Rams are off to encouraging 2-1 start. Cowboys won their opener, but after getting drilled in Denver, were not impressive wrestling the Cardinals into submission Monday. ’Boys have underperformed for years off Monday nighters, and it appears coaching adjustments and slick drafts could take this Rams talent base a long way. L.A. Express picking up steam … hop aboard these Rams, for one unit.

Game Preview: Rams, Cowboys to Face Off in Week 4

Kristen Lago

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Game-Preview-Rams-Cowboys-to-Face-Off-in-Week-4-/5f9fe827-7a6a-4849-9c1d-0e60ad7b5bc9

The Rams will be on the road for the second-straight week this Sunday as they travel to Arlington to take on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Week 4 contest brings together two teams that share a rich history and rivalry together, dating back to their first game in 1960.

“I’ve always been a fan of the game [and] you have an appreciation for what’s taken place before,” first-year head coach Sean McVay said of the history between teams. “I think that embracing that history is part of it, [but] I also think it’s important to know that this is a storied franchise on both ends and we’ve got a great challenge.”

The series has spanned 57 years and 32 games, but Sunday will mark the first regular-season since 2014, when the Cowboys mounted a comeback to defeat the Rams 34-31.

However, this season’s contest will look a bit different from the last. Dallas’ offense now features the dynamic duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott and the team is coming off a 13-3 finish, while Los Angeles enters the game under a different coaching staff and with many new faces on both sides of the ball.

“What coach Garrett’s done with his team, it’s going to be a great challenge and an excellent atmosphere,” McVay said. “And I know our guys are looking forward to it.”

One thing the two teams will have in common entering Week 4 is their records, as both the Cowboys and the Rams will look to improve to 3-1. But after recording a 4-12 record last year, it’s Los Angeles that has the most to prove. Not only does the team sit in sole possession of the top spot in the NFC West, but also the offense as a whole has shown immense improvement under McVay.

“We know that we’re going to have to be at our best to get our third win against an excellent Cowboys team,” he said. “They go 13-3 last year, 7-1 at home, with great road win for them this week. I’ve got a lot of respect for this organization and head coach Jason Garrett, just from having gone against them a couple times a year, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

The tough matchup against the Cowboys — highly regarded as one of the league’s top-tier programs — should provide a benchmark test of sorts for the Rams as they enter the second quarter of the season.

“It’s an opportunity for us to go up against a great team and see where we are and how far we have come,” Gurley said. “Every week you have to come with it and if you can finish, this is the first quarter of the season. If you can finish 3-1, you are going to be right where you want to be.”

The Rams are currently the league’s highest-scoring team through three games with 107 points and quarterback Jared Goff has looked vastly improved over his rookie season. Goff enters Sunday’s game with 817 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception, while running back Todd Gurley was named September’s NFC Offensive Player of the Month after recording an 149-yard, three touchdown performance in Week 3.

An improved receiving corps and offensive line has also bolstered the offense through the addition of dynamic playmakers like Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins as well as strong veterans on the line like center John Sullivan and left tackle Andrew Whitworth.

And though the Cowboys strong suit is their offense, the Rams will still need to be ready for a tough Dallas defense. On the offensive line, expect the right side — comprised of right guard Jamon Brown and right tackle Rob Havenstein — to be challenged by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The NFC Defensive Player of the Month has 6.5 sacks this season and has been one of the most consistent players on the Cowboys’ defensive line.

“I think when you just flip on the tape, he’s a scary player,” McVay said. “Excellent effort, he’s got a variety of ways that he can get to the quarterback and they move him around, I think he plays the run very well as well. He’s done a great job by winning his one-on-ones and that’s what the great players in this league do and he’s certainly playing like that right now.”

And although Gurley may not need to worry about linebacker Sean Lee — who will be a gametime decision for Sunday — middle linebacker Jaylon Smith is also a dominant force on the Dallas defense. In Monday night’s game against the Cardinals, Smith recorded seven tackles and a forced fumble.

In the secondary, Rams’ receivers will face a young, but challenging group of cornerbacks and safeties including Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods. The duo combined for nine tackles and two pass deflections in Week 3.

“I mean, they do a lot of different things. They’re very multiple and have changed some of the stuff they’ve done,” Goff said. “They mix up coverages, mix up fronts, mix up blitzes and do a good job of it. I think they’re talented in all three phases.”

“[They’re] a good defense, we see them flying around,” Woods said. “A fast defense and they’re able to just disguise [their coverages]. They play solid, fly to the ball and they are a fast group of guys that like to attack the quarterback and attack the ball.”

While Dallas’ does boast a strong defense, the real challenge for the Rams does not lie with their offense. Instead, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the Los Angeles defense will have to answer a tough question come Sunday: Can the Rams defense stop Prescott and a high-powered Cowboys’ offense?

“[It’s] a premiere challenge,” defensive coordinator and former Cowboys’ head coach Wade Phillips said. “You know, when you’re playing a really good offensive team, that’s when you have to step up and be a really good defensive team. I think we’ll get better in some of the areas that we need to, but we’ll find out.”

The Rams’ defense has been a bit up-and-down this season, starting off the season on a high against the Colts, but allowing a combined 66 points and 806 yards in their last two games. But many players, like defensive tackle Aaron Donald, do not seem worried.

“I feel like it wasn’t as bad as we thought,” Donald said of last week’s performance against the 49ers. “We definitely made a lot of mistakes here and there. But it’s nothing that we can’t clean up. And I’d rather it happen now — early — than later. So we’re going to be good.”

Fortunately for the Rams this week, outside linebacker Connor Barwin has a lot of experience playing against the Cowboys and had some tips on how to stop the formidable Dallas’ offense, led by Prescott and Elliott.

“In my experience last year, the quarterback is the real deal,” Barwin said. “He can really do it all. He can make plays from outside the pocket, he can make plays from inside the pocket and then he can make plays with his feet. So we will have to be at our best against him.”

“It’s a common theme — You stop them, you stop them, and then a guy gets out of their gap and Ezekiel will crease you for a 40-yard run,” he continued. “ We would play really well against him at times, but as soon as one guy makes a mistake up front, Ezekiel is great at getting north very quickly. So it’s about being focused and physical for the entire game, for 60 snaps not 50 snaps and that is how you stop the run.”

In the secondary, one matchup to watch this week will be between cornerback Trumaine Johnson and wide receiver Dez Bryant. Though Dallas has a slew of other offensive weapons, including tight end Jason Witten, stopping Bryant will be a No. 1 priority for the Rams and Johnson seemed ready for the challenge after practice on Thursday.

“He’s a competitor and he’s a dog,” Johnson said. “I have been playing Dez since I have been in the league and I will have to be aggressive with him, I have to be ready to compete and it’s going to be fun. I can’t wait.”

Overall, Week 4 should be one of the toughest games the Rams have faced thus far and could come down to a series of key matchups on both sides. Kickoff for the Rams vs. Cowboys is set for 10 A.M. To find out where you can watch the contest, click here.

Rams front 7 v. Ezekiel Elliott

vid link: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-players-only/0ap3000000853556/How-can-Rams-front-seven-stop-Ezekiel-Elliott

==

NFL.com: http://www.nfl.com/public/article/2017/09/29/0ap3000000853536.htm

If I told you in June that Jared Goff would rank in the top three in the NFL in completion percentage (70.4), yards per attempt (10.1), and passer rating (118.2) as we hit October, you would have likely fallen off your chair laughing. The Sean McVay effect, however, has the second-year passer looking like a rising quarterback. Gone are the jittery hitches and deer-in-headlights plays. Instead, McVay has schemed his quarterback easy throws into wide-open windows and Goff is making plays with confidence. The Cowboys secondary looks like a 21st-century version of M*A*S*H right now, which provides Goff with an optimal matchup on paper. First, however, the Rams will need to find a way to block game-wrecker DeMarcus Lawrence.

Dak Prescott is systematically dismantling any lingering concerns about his ability to carry the Cowboys offense. With a running game that has suffered fits and starts this season and an offensive line not as dominant as a year ago, Prescott has been a marvel. The second-year quarterback is nearly unstoppable when on the move. Against a Rams defense that boasts Aaron Donald in the middle, expect the Cowboys to move Prescott’s pocket often Sunday, putting pressure on L.A.’s secondary with his feet and arm. The Rams have been gashed on the ground to the tune of 139.0 yards per game this season (fourth-worst in the NFL), so Sunday should be a get-right game for Ezekiel Elliott.

NFL Research stat of the week: DeMarcus Lawrence leads the NFL in sacks (6.5) and QB hits (10) this season. The last Dallas player to lead NFL in sacks was DeMarcus Ware (15.5, 2010). Lawrence earned the most sacks by a Cowboy in the first three games of a season since 1982.

Has Sean McVay turned the Rams around already? Sunday will say

http://www.vcstar.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2017/09/30/has-sean-mcvay-turned-rams-around-already-sunday-say/720418001/

The Los Angeles Rams are the highest scoring team in the NFL. Todd Gurley is the NFC Offensive Player of the Month. Jared Goff leads the NFL is passing yards per attempt.

Has first-year head coach Sean McVay turned the Rams around already?

We’ll find out on Sunday morning, when the Rams visit Jerry’s World for an early season test against Dallas.

“We’ve got to be at our best on Sunday,” McVay said this week. “There’s not a weakness on this team and that’s why if we’re going to give ourselves a chance to compete, we’ve got to be ready to go.”

Just an offseason removed from putting up perhaps the worst offensive season in a decade, the Rams lead the NFL in scoring with 107 points in three games.

They put up 46 and 41 points in their two wins, meaning the Rams now have as many 40-point games in McVay’s three games as they did in five seasons under previous head coach Jeff Fisher.

“They’re obviously playing really good offensive football and it doesn’t surprise me one bit,” Dallas head coach Jason Garrett said. “They’ve got a lot of good pieces there.

“The running back is outstanding, a lot of weapons outside and there is no question that Jared is in a comfortable place and really doing a good job executing what they’re asking him to do.”

Gurley has already made up for last year’s struggles. The running back is tied for the league lead in touchdowns with six through three games.

He had six total in his “sophomore slump” of 2016.

“You have your ups and downs in this game,” said Gurley, who was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month this week. “Every year is not going to be a good year and, obviously, I figured that out last year.

“All you can do is move forward, just keep working hard, control what you can control and just take it day-by-day preparation. Once the season comes, you just let all the anger out.”

Goff is coming off a career-high 145.6 passer rating in the Rams’ 41-39 win at San Francisco on Sept. 21.

“We feel good right now,” Goff said. “We’re so focused on Dallas and what we’re doing right now that we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Goff remembers vividly that the Rams opened 3-1 a year ago and lost 11 of their final 12 games.

“We started off 3-1 last year and saw the way that went,” Goff said. “So it doesn’t mean much.”

Especially since the wins have come against Indianapolis and San Francisco, who are a combined 1-5.

Conversely, the Cowboys (2-1) were 13-3 a year ago and have one of the top offenses in football, featuring quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliot and receiver Dez Bryant.

Of course, McVay mentioned all three this week, and then included “first ballot Hall of Famer” Jason Witten at tight end, “one of the better slot receivers in the league” Cole Beasley, as well as receivers Terrance Williams and Ryan Switzer.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips called the Dallas offense a “premiere challenge” this week.

“When you’re playing a really good offensive team, that’s when you have to step up and be a really good defensive team,” Phillips said.

While the offense is surpassing all expectations, the defense has been slow to transition from Gregg Williams’ 4-3 defense to Phillips’ 3-4 system.

The Rams are 26th in scoring defense and 29th against the run through three games.

“We’re going to be all right,” Phillips said. “We’re getting better.”

The Rams will be boosted by the return of cornerback Kayvon Webster, who missed the last two games with a shoulder injury. Although safety Lamarcus Joyner, one of the keystones of the unit, has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in San Francisco.

“I feel good about our defense,” Phillips said. “I think we’re going to be fine. … We’ve got a good group that works hard and I’m glad I’m coaching here.”

Phillips will coach in Dallas for the first time since being first as Cowboys head coach in 2010.

“Like most of the teams in the league, it didn’t end well with me,” Phillips said laughing. “So, if I had a vendetta against… any team that has fired me, I’d have a quarter of the league, seven of them.

“Those things happen. Part of coaching is getting fired.”

please…

zn wrote:

InvaderRam wrote:

please…

Is that an

“oh puh-leez” as in get real.

Or a “pleez” as in ooo I want this.

as in please don’t crush my spirit.

at least not this season.