Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › with Goff starting could things loosen up for Gurley?
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InvaderRam.
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November 19, 2016 at 1:42 am #58967
znModeratorCan Goff Starting Affect Gurley?
Myles Simmons
It’s no secret that opposing teams have been making it particularly difficult on the Rams to get anything going in their run game. Week after week, it seems like running back Todd Gurley faces defensive fronts with eight or nine players in the box.
So with quarterback Jared Goff starting on Sunday, could things loosen up a bit for the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year?
“That depends on our ability to put the ball down the field — if we’re having success,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “That’s the big deal, offensively, is to put it down the field so we can have balance.”
Gurley said he can remember how he felt prior to his first start last year against Arizona. The running back, of course, had a massive second half en route to a Rams victory.
“It was cool, just being able to play, to live out your dream,” Gurley said. “It’s definitely an exciting moment to just come in and be able to start.”
But regardless of who is behind center, Gurley and Los Angeles’ offense will have a challenge on Sunday, as Miami has been strong against the run — particularly as of late. Last week, they allowed 70 yards on 24 carries to San Diego’s Melvin Gordon. But 37 of those yards — 53 percent — came on two runs where Gordon shook loose. Add in another 13-yard run, and it means the Dolphins held the Chargers to under a yard per carry on 21 attempts. Miami’s defense racked up eight tackles for loss in the 31-24 victory.
“Great front seven — physical front,” Gurley said of Miami’s defense. “Obviously, the D-line is tremendous. Kiko [Alonso] at linebacker, he just makes plays. And their DBs, they can tackle pretty well.”
Nevertheless, the Rams got their own run game going a bit last week against the Jets. While Gurley had only 10 yards on 10 carries in the first half, things started clicking in the second, as he racked up 54 yards on 11 attempts.
“I believe he had 21 carries and the first half wasn’t pretty,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said this week. “I don’t know what his yards per carry was in the first half, but our defense again is playing lights out and it allowed us to hand the ball off in the second half.
“His yards per carry went up, we saw some 8, 9, 10, 12-yard gains there and that’s what we expect in the run game,” Boras continued. “It took us a half to get there, we’re hoping to build off that momentum and carry it over to the first half this week against a really good defense with Miami.”
If the Rams are able to do so on Sunday, it will be in large part because of the players up front. Boras said the offensive line played well in the second half, opening up some running lanes for both Gurley and Benny Cunningham.
“There were some really good examples in the run game with our double teams and our fits and getting to the second level, it was really well done,” Boras said. “It was well-blocked and Todd and Benny took advantage of it.”
QUINN FULLY PARTICIPATES IN FRIDAY’S PRACTICE
Defensive end Robert Quinn participated in his first practice of the week on Friday, after a non-football illness left him hospitalized on Monday. Quinn said after the session the illness was brought on by dehydration.
“Drink more water — simple as that,” Quinn said of what the doctors told him.
While Quinn maybe would have liked to get back to practicing sooner, he gave credit to those who are making sure he’s 100 percent before getting back on the field.
“The trainers here and doctors here, they take extra precaution to make sure the players health and safety is … as best as it can,” Quinn said. “But we just took it one day at a time. Luckily, I was able to go out there today, run around a little bit, get moving around. Feeling better, just taking it one day at a time, and hopefully just feel like my old self.”
It’s still unclear whether or not Quinn will play on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable after a full session on Friday.
“We’re talking about it. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to play out. I was able to get out there today. I think it’s going to come down to the doctors and, of course, Fisher, and then ultimately how I feel. And hopefully I can get out there on Sunday and be somewhat productive. But if not, well, the guys have to rally up and keep it going.”
November 19, 2016 at 4:26 am #58978znModerator
November 19, 2016 at 9:46 am #58985
— X —ParticipantNo. It won’t. There aren’t any defensive coordinators that are going to suddenly fear the Rams’ passing attack based on a rookie now taking over the controls. If anything, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. They’ll still play the run while putting pressure on the QB. If Goff happens to start hitting on the things the defense is giving him, then I’m sure there will be some in-game adjustments, but the plan by DCs to defend the Rams isn’t going to change. They know our offense is run-centric – or at least that we desire to be.
You have to be odd, to be number one.
-- Dr SeussNovember 19, 2016 at 11:24 am #58996
AgamemnonParticipantI think it will change some. Goff has a fastball. The defense will hopefully have to defend a greater variety of throws, over more of the field. I think if they play man coverage it is better for Goff. His weakness in college was zone defenses. imo
AgamemnonNovember 19, 2016 at 11:28 am #58997znModeratorHis weakness in college was zone defenses. imo
I’ve been reading around, and, Miami is a heavy zone team. They spend a lot of time in cover 3.
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November 19, 2016 at 11:33 am #58998AgamemnonParticipantHis weakness in college was zone defenses. imo
I’ve been reading around, and, Miami is a heavy zone team. They spend a lot of time in cover 3.
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Maybe their defense is that good but if they do that, maybe they won’t be able to put 11 men in the box. Since we traded 4 farms for Goff, the offense should become Goff-centric.
AgamemnonNovember 19, 2016 at 11:37 am #58999
WinnbradParticipantI don’t think Goff helps Gurley, yet…
If Goff can consistently connect on some midrange/deep shots, then yeah.
I can’t see the coaches letting Goff take lots of deep shots. He’s too inexperienced and the O-line struggles often.
November 19, 2016 at 11:55 am #59000znModeratorI can’t see the coaches letting Goff take lots of deep shots. He’s too inexperienced and the O-line struggles often.
I will say this. The Rams offense over the last coupla years, regardless of the qb, puts up its share of deep shots. In terms of numbers that means that they throw deep (31 or more yards) on around 5+% of total attempts, which puts them in the top third of the league on those kinds of passes. Again that’s regardless of the qb.
You might be right, they might limit that for a few games with the rookie, BUT they often use play action to spring receivers, so the way they often do it is less risky. So maybe Goff hits the field throwing those from game one.
I agree that with Goff, they should be throwing more mid-range lasers (11-20 yarders). That was a weakness of Keenumn’s–those weren’t in his arsenal.
BTW, for no good or apparent reason, I decided to find the origin of the word “rookie” (from the wiki):
The Oxford English Dictionary states that the origins are uncertain, but that perhaps it is a corruption of the word recruit. The earliest example from the OED is from Rudyard Kipling’s Barrack-Room Ballads (published 1892): So ‘ark an’ ‘eed, you rookies, which is always grumblin’ sore, referring to rookies in the sense of raw recruits to the British Army. At least during the beginning of the 20th century, in the British Army the term “rookie” was typically used in place of “recruit”
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November 19, 2016 at 1:15 pm #59002
ZooeyModeratorI expect some deep shots. The reward side is high. Huge confidence and momentum builder.
But I do agree that the 11-20 is where they should attack. He clearly has the arm and accuracy to nail those if he has time and makes the reads. And THOSE will makes LBs stop leaning towards the line of scrimmage. Defenses have been leaning in all year long because 1. Gurley and 2. Keenum throws there most of the time. The few downfield shots are not frequent or reliable enough to make the defense lean back a little.
Hopefully, Goff can hit those, and if he does, it will help Gurley. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
November 19, 2016 at 1:41 pm #59007znModeratorI expect some deep shots. The reward side is high. Huge confidence and momentum builder.
But I do agree that the 11-20 is where they should attack. He clearly has the arm and accuracy to nail those if he has time and makes the reads. And THOSE will makes LBs stop leaning towards the line of scrimmage. Defenses have been leaning in all year long because 1. Gurley and 2. Keenum throws there most of the time. The few downfield shots are not frequent or reliable enough to make the defense lean back a little.
Hopefully, Goff can hit those, and if he does, it will help Gurley. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
Slight disagreement.
The Rams have (for years) thrown a fairly high percentage of passes downfield, of the 31+ yard variety. They have been in the top third of the league when it comes to that (ie. percentage of attempts thrown long.) Keenum was no exception. If you doubt me name 10 qbs and I will show the numbers.
Where Keenum was lacking was on throws of 11-20 yards that required zip and a laser line level trajectory. He had to add loft and was a touch passer. He could not rifle those in.
So if you want a study in opposites when it comes to that, compare the 11-20 yarders thrown by Bulger (who had a very quick release and so could zip them with velocity) and Keenum (who is a touch passer who lacks a laser, cannon, rifle…whatever weapon you want for your metaphor).
Keenum was always showing up to laser fight with a volleyball. He made the most of it, but still.
GOFF on the other hand has a release more like Bulger’s and more arm on top of it.
November 19, 2016 at 5:32 pm #59009ZooeyModeratorI expect some deep shots. The reward side is high. Huge confidence and momentum builder.
But I do agree that the 11-20 is where they should attack. He clearly has the arm and accuracy to nail those if he has time and makes the reads. And THOSE will makes LBs stop leaning towards the line of scrimmage. Defenses have been leaning in all year long because 1. Gurley and 2. Keenum throws there most of the time. The few downfield shots are not frequent or reliable enough to make the defense lean back a little.
Hopefully, Goff can hit those, and if he does, it will help Gurley. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
Slight disagreement.
The Rams have (for years) thrown a fairly high percentage of passes downfield, of the 31+ yard variety. They have been in the top third of the league when it comes to that (ie. percentage of attempts thrown long.) Keenum was no exception. If you doubt me name 10 qbs and I will show the numbers.
Where Keenum was lacking was on throws of 11-20 yards that required zip and a laser line level trajectory. He had to add loft and was a touch passer. He could not rifle those in.
So if you want a study in opposites when it comes to that, compare the 11-20 yarders thrown by Bulger (who had a very quick release and so could zip them with velocity) and Keenum (who is a touch passer who lacks a laser, cannon, rifle…whatever weapon you want for your metaphor).
Keenum was always showing up to laser fight with a volleyball. He made the most of it, but still.
GOFF on the other hand has a release more like Bulger’s and more arm on top of it.
There is no disagreement there. That is pretty much what I said, or meant to say. I did say “should” attack which maybe implied that I didn’t think they will attack that way. But I think they will AND they should. So. We are in total agreement.
Sorry about that. Nothing personal.
November 19, 2016 at 6:41 pm #59010znModeratorSorry about that. Nothing personal.
So you’re saying first that I misread you, AND that it’s personal.
Okay, I get why Seattle fans would over-react emotionally to Goff starting. It spells your doom, doesn;t it. Hence the personal attack (ie. the attack being your claim that I misread, which as you know, is just a gratuitous act of posting violence, since I of course never misread).
November 19, 2016 at 7:28 pm #59013
sanbaggerParticipantI don’t think it’s gonna loosen anything up tomorrow. I think Miami is gonna bring pressure at Goff the whole game, even if he beats it.
It’s gonna take several games, maybe not enough left in this year, to get D’s to realize they aren’t confusing him…then they’ll back off.
So…in the long run, yes…in the short term for the rest of this year, I don’t think so.
November 20, 2016 at 8:59 am #59030
InvaderRamModerator“We’re not scaling back our offense, based on what he can operate and understand,” Weinke said. “What we actually can do is add some things that take advantage of his special arm talent. He can make a lot of throws other guys can’t. It creates some opportunities for us to maybe add some things that we haven’t done.”
i’m not so quick to say that it won’t loosen things up. maybe not the first game but by the end of the season.
meanwhile he could have an opportunity to do some damage if they don’t.
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