Seems like decent value, assuming he can play more games than he misses. I too hope this doesn’t shut the door on drafting Sadiq.

Now that the Rams have already used their 2nd pick of the first round on a veteran CB, I wonder if any team that is interested in Ty Simpson will feel the need to jump up ahead of the Rams and pick Simpson at 12. I doubt it happens as Simpson seems more like a late first rounder or an early 2nd at this point, but who knows. Assuming the Rams have no interest in Simpson, I’d love for that to happen as it will push either a quality receiver or a DB down to LA.

I

zn wrote:

from The Athletic, Everything we learned about all 32 teams at the 2026 NFL combine: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7077535/2026/03/02/nfl-combine-2026-takeaways-free-agency-plans/?campaign=17105581&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=603890

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams really do not value the combine. General manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay have routinely not attended the annual event, but it was jarring to spend most of the week in Indianapolis and to see almost no presence from the franchise and to hear about that absence from staffers on other teams. Los Angeles does risk giving up some intel — namely in meeting with lots of prospects, a process that is more limited after the combine — but it does speak to the franchise’s resistance of groupthink culture in order to find specific fits to draft and develop in their schemes and cultures that can pounce on market inefficiencies. It can be seen as a bit of an arrogant approach, but it’s hard to argue with the track record that has taken mid-round players such as Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Byron Young and Quentin Lake and turned them into stars. — Nate Atkins

Perhaps the entire front office has read Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers, and as a result feels like you just can’t trust what you learn from your interactions with unfamiliar people in these contexts.

I always think of Bobby April when I think of special teams coaches. If I recall correctly, he was highly thought of as a ST coach, but other than Wilkins the Rams ST were not very good when April was there. Lots of pitch forks and torches were out on the message boards. He didn’t have much to work with though when it came to coverage units. I think Jeff Wilkins made more tackles than any Rams kicker in my memory. On the other hand, the Rams special teams were never better than when Fassel was in charge, but he had guys like Tavon Austin and Pharoh Cooper making returns and Johnny Hekker punting. I don’t remember the coverage units being leaky either.

I have no idea if I have a point to make here, so good for you if you read this far and I apologize for wasting your time, but maybe the problems the Rams on extra points and FG this year good have been as much about personnel as it was about coaching. The blocked punts? The PR for a TD in the second Seattle game? Smith’s muffed punt in the playoff game? I don’t know where to point my finger for those errors. The blocked punt in the playoff game vs. Carolina was clearly on Tanner Ingle, but he was a PS call up. Is that a lack of experience, a poor job of preparing him by the coaches, a bad job by the personnel department, all of those things? Like I said, I don’t know what I am trying to say with this post, but I hate having losses that can be directly attributed to the special teams unit.

Special teams and the secondary. The Rams did well to get this far and keep the game close. I hope that Stafford returns for one more year.

Some of the things that I feared would happen (i.e. Williams extending plays and the Rams secondary making mistakes in response, McVay insisting on passing despite the conditions and ST being counted onto win the game)happened and yet the Rams still found a way to win. During the first half, on the Rams broadcast MJD was hoping that the Rams would start running to set up the play action in response to the Bears blitzing so often on first and second down. I was disappointed by lack of rushing attempts in the first half, but it was good to see Kyren get his chances in the second half.

Once again, I wouldn’t mind seeing this vaunted pass rush come up with a couple of sacks when it matters most. Yeah, I know Caleb Williams is a magician, but still.

Great win. I honestly thought that the weather would do them in. On to Seattle.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by canadaram.

Current forecast has both Saturday and Sunday below freezing. I’m assuming that it will also be windy. I remember the last cold weather playoff game the Rams played in Chicago. I hope this one starts and ends better for the Rams.

The corners really had some difficulty. I will be disappointed if the Rams do not make several new additions to this unit during the offseason. Anyway, nice to see the front seven rack up some sacks. Admittedly a couple of those were coverage sacks, but my comments about the corners still stand. Dotson’s value is abundantly obvious, Stafford took way more heat than I expected and the Cardinals front blew up a couple of running plays in crucial moments. Good to see Mevis make his kicks. Something that I don’t take for granted.

As always, I had the volume on the tv muted and had Rams radio playing on my iPad. Near the end of the game JB Long and MJD were talking about Carolina and I think Jones-Drew said the Rams D needs to commit to stopping the Panthers running game and make Bryce Young beat them through the air. I know that Lake will be back and that should help the secondary a lot, but the thought of the Rams relying on their pass defense to win a playoff game does not instil a lot of confidence in this Rams fan.

EDIT: And yeah, Higbee’s value cannot be overstated.

• This reply was modified 2 months ago by canadaram.

zn wrote:

canadaram wrote:

Well since you asked, my thoughts are that the absence of Lake has something to do with this slide. Don’t get me wrong…

Remember that in 2021 they lost every game in November and made the playoffs as a wild card.

…

…

Yes, and I think that’s why for some crazy reason I didn’t feel nearly as invested in the loss to Seattle. Usually I am an emotional mess after any loss, especially to a divisional foe. Maybe it’s just me compensating, but the fact that the Rams had already clinched a playoff spot combined with the fact that in the past McVay hasn’t seemed too concerned about seeding, I’m not too worried about things. The Rams seem just as likely to win or lose on the road as they do at home. Stafford seems completely unaffected by road games as does the rest of the offense. If Adams, Dotson, Higbee and Lake are ready for the playoffs, the Rams have as good a chance as any team to win the NFC. I would love to see Verse start heating up in the sack department though.

Honestly surprised that this didn’t happen earlier in the season. The Eagles game seemed like a big enough reason.

Being the road team on a Thursday night is never a good thing…unless you’re the Niners coming to LA. These are two great teams, but I am expecting the Seahawks to benefit greatly from being at home on a short week.

zn wrote:

Wyatt Miller@wymill07
Sean McVay said everyone should be good to play in Sunday’s game. Davante Adams will be listed as questionable, but McVay would be “very surprised” if he doesn’t play.

Why is Alaric Jackson listed as DNP on Friday’s report?

https://www.therams.com/team/injury-report/

I saw zn mention Balzer in another thread so I thought I’d checkout what Howard had to say about the game. Occasionally I like to see what the beat reporters from other teams have to say.

Rams 45, Cardinals 17: A look at the defensive meltdown

A look at the very ugly performance by the Cardinals on defense on Sunday against the Rams.

Howard Balzer

Even while the Arizona Cardinals immediately allowed big plays early in Sunday’s 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, it still appeared as if they might be able to keep it a relatively close game for four quarters.

No such luck. After two of the first three offensive possessions resulted in points and a 10-10 tie, the game got quickly out of hand when five of the next six possessions were three-and-outs, while the Rams’ first five possessions ended with four touchdowns and a field goal for a 31-10 lead 4:51 into the third quarter. They scored 24 points on four red-zone trips and had 368 yards on 42 scrimmage plays at that point.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said afterward, “The thing that stands out to me were the explosives on mixed downs, which going into the game we talked about that. That’s how they make their hay, and they made their hay today. We didn’t even get it to third down I think in two or three drives. And like I said, give them credit. That’s a good unit, but we have to play better than that.”

So, let’s get to all the ugliness of a game where the Rams totaled 534 yards on 64 plays (8.34 per play) prior to three end-of-game kneeldowns.

One note: On the virtually empty stat sheet except for tackles, the Cardinals had no sacks, two quarterback hits, no tackles for loss, no takeaways and only two passes defensed.

Ah, those explosives

On a field-goal drive for their first score, the Rams reached third down once (an incomplete pass) and had 18-yard runs by running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

On their first touchdown drive, they traveled 74 yards on a mere six plays, highlighted by a 14-yard run by Corum and successive pass plays of 18 and 32 yards to wide receiver Puka Nacua. They didn’t have a third down.

The next possession also never reached third down on 10 plays for 75 yards with Nacua having catches for 10 and 20 yards and Williams having two 9-yard runs.

The lead reached 24-10 on a ridiculously easy 92-yard drive (they gained 97 thanks to a false start) on seven plays that started with 1:42 to play in the half and took 1:30 off the clock. There were again no third downs. The possession began with three plays for 48 yards (10 by Williams, 10 to wide receiver Davante Adams (who had only 29 yards on four receptions in the game) and a 28-yarder to Nacua. After the false start, tight end Colby Parkinson had a 14-yard catch and two plays later, Nacua scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass.

Finally, on the first possession of the third quarter, the Rams went 62 yards on 10 plays somewhat more methodically with a 17-yard run by Corum. They did face third-and-goal from the 6-yard line and the result was a touchdown by Parkinson.

For the finishing touches, the Rams scored on two consecutive plays: a 31-yard Nacua touchdown with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter after an interception and a 48-yard run by Corum on the Rams’ first play of the fourth quarter.

Breaking it down individually

Nacua had seven receptions for 167 yards and five were for 20 yards or more, totaling 139 (20, 28, 28, 31, 32). Four for 111 yards were on first-down plays.

Corum rushed for 128 yards on 12 carries and had runs of 14, 17, 18 and 48 (97 yards) with the latter on first down.

Williams rushed 13 times for 84 yards with runs of 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, and 18 (62 on six attempts). He also had a 7-yard run to go with runs of nine and 10 on first down.

Including a 10-yard catch by Adams, one reception for nine yards by Williams, two for 26 by Parkinson and two for 21 by tight end Davis Allen on first down, six Rams players totaled 260 yards on 16 first-down plays.

On explosives of 10 or more for running backs, Williams and Corum combined for 125 yards on six plays and Nacua had his 5-for-139 on plays of 20 yards or more.

Heck, even third running back Ronnie Rivers got the Rams to the final kneeldowns with five runs for 27 yards and he averaged 5.1 on eight carries.

On balance, and it was balanced, the Rams rushed for 253 yards without the kneeldowns on 33 plays (7.7 average) and passed for 281 on 31 attempts (9.1 per attempt).

Meanwhile, the Cardinals continued their pattern of imbalance with 50 called pass plays and 12 called runs.

Explaining it all

After having only five third-down plays the week before in a loss to the Carolina Panthers, thanks to three turnovers, Rams head coach Sean McVay said, “It shows how important it is about the early-down efficiency. Last week was really rare. Obviously, we had some of the turnovers, but it was good to have a clean slate in that regard this week. When you can be efficient on those early downs, you eliminate a lot of those past situations where the defense feels like they can almost get the pen in their hand.“For us to be able to be the offense that we want to be, we have to continue to take steps in that direction. To be able to have the balance in the run and pass (game) like we’ve had in the early-down efficiency – that’s always key and critical.”

Gannon on the run defense: “We’re going to look at the tape tonight. It’s going to be fundamentals. We’re putting them in the right spots, but I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fundamentals and technique that we’re not getting executed at a high enough level.”It also can’t be overlooked that the inside linebackers were rookie Cody Simon and Owen Pappoe, who played his first snaps of the season on defense (nine tackles/five solo) with Akeem Davis-Gaither not on the stat sheet. After 12 games, he was third on the team with 68 tackles (30 solo). Simon had three tackles (one solo).

Gannon on Nacua: “There are a couple coverages that they found the stress and they made plays. There’s also a couple coverages that I thought we were in a call that should take away some explosives to them, and we didn’t do it. They kind of beat us right-handed and left-handed. Meaning when we should be taking away something we didn’t, and then the stress of when there’s a tough one-on-one down there winning those too, so (they) just out-executed us.”

Somewhat fitting

It’s the way the season has gone for kicker Chad Ryland. He has missed field-goal attempts of 33 and 43 yards wide right in two games that were lost by three points. Then, after the Rams went ahead 24-10 Sunday, the Cardinals got the ball with 12 seconds remaining in the first half and managed to get into position for a 63-yard field-goal attempt. Ryland banged it long enough down the middle, but it was for naught because the Rams called timeout before the kick. On the actual attempt, it went, yes, slightly wide right.

Or, as Billy Joel sang, “And so it goes.”

Ryland did make a 38-yard attempt.

Punter Matt Haack had a good day with five punts for a 54.2-yard average and 45.0 net.

With kick returner Greg Dortch placed on injured reserve Saturday, wide receiver Michael Wilson was on punt-return duty, but two were touchbacks and one was downed. Wide receiver Jalen Brooks, who was elevated from the practice squad, returned three kickoffs for 66 yards, including one for 33 yards.

https://cardswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2025/12/08/rams-45-cardinals-17-a-look-at-the-defensive-meltdown/87668043007/#

Loved the running game, especially on the first drive. The three incompletions that followed in the redzone were disappointing though. Of course, it didn’t matter as far as this game was concerned. Just weird to see Stafford miss Adams. Hopefully they’re back in sync versus Detroit. Corum and Williams were able to run all game. McVay continues to split the carries almost 50/50 between those two and I continue to like it. Good to see a couple of sacks, I just wish that Verse would go on a tear. Anyway, the Cardinals offense clearly missed Harrison Jr. , but the Rams handled their business like a good team should. Glad that McVay rested guys in the 4th. These next two games are going to be brutal.

Hey! Luketa is a Canadian! He fills the hole on defense left by the departure of fellow Canadian Michael Hoecht. Alaric Jackson allows the Rams to meet their Canadian player quota on offense. However, if the recent accusations prove to be true, in the future I will be less likely to point out that AJ is Canadian.