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WinnbradParticipant
This was excellent. Thanks, ZN!
WinnbradParticipant“The Rams are back”.
Fisher said it as he was walking off the field. I think he was talking to an assistant coach. It wasn’t for the camera.
Hmmmm…
WinnbradParticipantIMO, it will always be this way as long as Keenum is the QB. The media loves to obsess over QBs ad WRs. They also love the highlight reel plays and team controversies. It’s why guys like Beckham are talked about constantly. He’s everything the media loves. A star, a highlight reel, and a controversy, all in one.
The Rams, to be blunt, are boring. And ugly.
I like it.
WinnbradParticipantThat was a detailed and good read. Thanks for taking the time and sharing your thoughts.
Good to hear your thoughts on GRob and watching the film confirmed, to you, that he’s making good progress. I have to admit, I’m keeping an eye on that situation because I expect to see some growth this year from him.
I agree with regards to the O-line and room for Gurley. The blocking has been bad and it seems, to me, most of the pressure is straight up the middle.
Hey SB, welcome! And thanks!
WinnbradParticipantYeah. Keenum and Austin are a little out of sync. Rewatching so many games lately has made it obvious. Both are at fault. Keenum’s throws and Austin’s drops.
If they can get on track there are some big plays waiting for them. Especially after play-action to Gurley.
There’s holes in them there defenses, I tell ya!
WinnbradParticipantWell some cogitating and pondering, I’ve decided that by far the best take on this I’ve heard is from D’marco Farr. It’s here, in this audio
link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/audio-farr-simmons-on-the-arz-game/
Farr says defenses not only crowd the line against Gurley and the Rams, they play all sorts of games with stunts and change-ups. His point is that the shifting and movement causes indecision in the OL (not sure who to block) and in turn that causes indecision for the RB.
I think what happened this year is that SF gameplanned that kind of attack, it worked, and now every team they face is doing it.
Remember this is not just a simple case of loading the box. More than that, defenses have been creative in getting their guys to stunt and move in their attack, making it harder for a less experienced line to figure out what to do and who to block each play. That produces hesitation and indecision and so they look like they’re out of sync as a line.
Gurley is not a great behind the LOS lateral movement guy–he has to go forward, that’s who he is. So that’s part of it. Still when you get the blocking, as we saw last year, a back like that can still thrive.
That’s the best explanation I’ve heard.
WinnbradParticipantYeah. I think Gurley is being “keyed” by the defenses. Whatever that term means?
I don’t blame them. I’d key him, too.
WinnbradParticipantthe holding was down field, which was why the ball was marked ten yards from the spot of the foul, not the previous line of scrimmage. This happens with receivers, like Gresham, as opposed to lineman who are never downfield blocking.
I rewatched the game. The holding was 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. Either way, the refs got it wrong. They either owe me 3 yards or 5! LOL!
WinnbradParticipantI understand where he’s coming from with that, but I disagree. If BC were better, the coaches would know by now. They would have known long ago. Gurley is a better back than BC by a lot.
BC may be a better screen/flat pass kind of guy, and he is great, but as a pure runner out of the backfield, it’s not even close.
When I watch the coaches tape of the past 3 games (I refuse to watch the niner game LOL!), I’m seeing defenders leaving nowhere for Gurley to go. I’m sure teams have made adjustments from last year to prevent the Gurley “highlight reel” run, which is what’s missing this year from his stats. Throw in one highlight reel run per game, doesn’t have to be a long TD, just a 30-40 yard gallop, and Gurley’s numbers look similar to last year during his hot streak. Throw in 2 big runs per game and he looks just like the stud Todd Gurley we know and love. And everyone will be oohing and aaaahing over him again.
He runs through tackles, breaks them as well as anyone in the league today, and he can outrun people.
IMO, there’s just way less daylight this year than last. The opportunities for big plays are far less right now.
If I were a defensive coordinator, I wouldn’t lose sleep over Britt, Quick, Cunningham, or Keenum. I’d find a way to stop Gurley. He’s the only player on offense than can completely take over a game. Austin can hurt you, but he’s not gonna beat a team for 60 minutes.
Hopefully, the Rams can take advantage of that in some other ways. And I think they have with Britt and Quick. If Keenum would stop misfiring to Austin, and Austin would stop the drops, we’d see more big plays from Austin, too.
WinnbradParticipantThe injury set him behind. He has to catch up. It was a knee but then that probably meant he wasn’t running full speed. I think the injury was all healed up a few weeks ago and the rest is getting up to actual speed executing the offense in practice. Then on game days, you have to ask who he replaces. They’re not going to sit Tavon, and Britt and Quick are playing well. Marquez is important on special teams. I suppose Thomas can sit, but then maybe Thomas is ahead of him in terms of executing the offense.
All good points. I forgot about special teams, and they have been great so far. Not sure I want to change anything there.
My guess now is we wait until the coaches think he is fully up to speed on the offense. I’d like to see what he’s got in a 4 WR set. 2 wide and 2 slot receivers. I think he can move some chains.
WinnbradParticipantI’m glad you’re doing well. That has to be a terrifying thing.
I just wanted to comment on the Gurley thing. I don’t believe the blocking or scheme is working right now–but what did they change from last year? I just don’t understand what the big difference is. Just not getting it done up front?
Having said that–I really do think that Gurley shares at least SOME of the blame. He used to get through some of these holes but now he seems to lose his balance easier as he’s tripping through the line. I think there may be some pressing on his part–some impatience with the line. He may need that second for the hole to open and he’s already buried into the pile.
I’m sure they’re working with him.
I know this isn’t exactly a fair comparison but Tavon has 6 rushes for 24 yards(4.0 yards a carry) and Cunningham has 4 carries for 32 yards(8 yards a carry–although his long is 22 to be fair).
Gurley has a 2.6 yards per carry average.
Even if he can’t break the big one–it’s still surprising he doesn’t have a better average–at least something near 4 yards would be nice.
So yes–I am questioning Gurley himself–at least a little bit. I think this combination of things needs to be solved. It all has to work together and right now it isn’t. Try something different with him. I know they’re doing a lot of running into the middle this year. That clearly ain’t working,.
Thanks PA. Yeah, I’m doing better.
RE: Gurley. To my very untrained eye, it looks like defenses are geared up to stop Gurley from hitting a big play. Everybody crashes down on him as soon as he gets near a football.
Last year Gurley would chug along getting 2-3 yards per carry for a long stretch of the game. Then he’d break a big one. His YPC would skyrocket after that. Sometimes he’d break 2 big runs in one game.
But there was a stretch of games last year where Gurley didn’t have a big run. Teams were focusing solely on stopping him, and forcing the rest of the Rams offense to make a play. It’s a good strategy. The Rams still won a few of those games, but Gurley wasn’t breaking off highlight reel runs.
I think every team has adopted that strategy this year. They will not let Gurley beat them, no matter what.
So the Rams have to answer that. I think we’re seeing that with Britt and Quick having more room to operate downfield.
WinnbradParticipantGresham could have been holding 5 yards down field. You’d have to watch the play to make sure that Gresham’s holding occurred at the los if you really plan on bringing the NFL to its knees with your protest.
I thought holding was marked off 10 yards back from the line of scrimmage. It wouldn’t do any good to mark off holding from the spot of foul on a running play. Anyway, I’ll watch it again to be sure.
And yes, I will crush the NFL for this! Join me in my quest! They will rue the day they trifled with us!!!
WinnbradParticipantThanks guys. I’m getting better every day.
WinnbradParticipantFwiw, W, I think you;re right.
And if so that just went by everyone, including the announcers.
.
Good. I’m not alone. I thought maybe it was the meds…
WinnbradParticipantAh ha! Thank you ZN. So here we go.
1st and 10 at the Ram 13. This pass fell incomplete, thanks to the competent Cody Davis
2nd and 10 from the Ram 13.
Chris Johnson takes the ball to the goal line. But wait, there’s a flag. And it’s not against us!
It’s holding against Arizona. 10 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage at the 13.
The line of scrimmage should now be the 23. But it’s not, it’s the 18, as evidenced below.
The TV clearly shows 2nd and 15. You can see the line of scrimmage and 1st down marker.Next play, Palmer completes a pass to David Johnson for 6 yards. Then Arizona kicks a field goal.
We’ve been shortchanged! I want my 5 yards back.
WinnbradParticipantIn lieu of the check how about your prediction for best Rams player on offense and defense against the Bills?
I’ll take Gurley on the O. He’s long overdue for a big play, and I’m thinking it’s a pass play. A wheel route or something, like Faulk used to run.
I’ll take Barron on the D. Offenses don’t seem to know what to do with him. I’m guessing a pick six or a strip six.
Let’s hope all of that happens!
WinnbradParticipantHe also said he was in Arizona for the game and Palmer was “loopie” after that hit and was really out of it
I watched the replay several times. Palmer’s head hits the ground really hard. That’s what got him, I think. And yeah, he was toast after that.
WinnbradParticipantThat is an awesome post Winnbrad. Very sorry to learn of your stroke but glad you’re recovering. So you still remember the $100 you owe me, right?
LOL! Um… yeah. You take a check? 🙂
- This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by Winnbrad.
WinnbradParticipantThere was a thread on this recently, somewhere around here. Lots of ideas. Let me look around.
Found it:
link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/fewer-people-are-watching-the-nfl-on-tv/
- This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by Winnbrad.
WinnbradParticipantI’m using the Zooey tactic. I picked the Rams to get killed last week. In honor of that deep insight I shall pick the Rams to have a complete let down this week. They’ll go full Keystone Cops mode and give this game away early. Bills 103 – Rams 2 (Donald gets a safety)
WinnbradParticipantI don’t like this. All this moving up. Nope, don’t like it one bit. We’re treading on thin ice here. Foreign territory.
Move us back to 31. Cleveland territory. That way we can sneak up on people.
WinnbradParticipantGarcia could throw a hard out. And a zip through the end zone. Keenum throws a five yard dunk with a high arc.
Yep. Garcia had a better arm, but almost everyone does over Keenum. I’m referencing the grit, that tough hombre kind of attitude. Th little kid on the playground that keeps fighting against the big boys after he’s been knocked down a dozen times. Keenum’s a scrapper. I wish he were better at everything. But I like his guts.
WinnbradParticipantAfter the game, I said Case Keenum was what a really good Austin Davis would look like because he’s a gamer with limited ability. But he’s smarter than Davis. So I’m gonna revise my comparison. Case Keenum is a more mobile, grittier version of Pat Haden.
I don’t disagree, but he also kinda reminds me of the Jeff Garcia type. Not saying that’s good or bad, just what I think of when I watch him.
WinnbradParticipantI can only speak as to why I never watch games anymore in real time. Instead, I watch replays with the NFL pass on Apple TV. Several reasons:
No commercials. There are way too many stoppages in play. The commercials go on forever, and most are bad. Refs take too long to make decisions. All of that slows the game down.
Replay games allow me to rewind and really enjoy the subtle stuff about the game.
I play fantasy football, so I watch the Redzone for the highlights and stats. I also follow along on my ESPN app. My local games are always the Redskins, Ravens, or Panthers. I only watch those teams if the Rams are playing them.
Most commentators are bad. I like some, but most talk too much about issues not related to football. Case in point, the kneeling thing going on now. I don’t care. I watch football for football, not political/social stances being pursued by a bunch of millionaires that are paid to play a game. Turning down the volume helps.
Sideline reporters. Too many of them. Yes, the ladies are pretty, but they’re not needed.
I think the biggest problem the NFL has is supply and demand. The demand for football is still extremely high, but the supply is everywhere. I can watch football on my TV, laptop, desktop, phone, and every bar in Richmond. There must be a thousand sports bars here, all packed with dozens of televisions. There is no reason for me to sit through a 3 hour game that consists of about 45 minutes of actual playing time, when I can watch snippets all day on so many different devices. And I can avoid all commercials and non-football related BS.
Edited because of words and things.
- This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by Winnbrad.
WinnbradParticipantNo. Gurley is fine. He’s all business on the field. He seems to push himself to excel as much as anyone. Just my observation.
WinnbradParticipantI want to see Spruce. He has already shown better hands than Austin.
Punt returns worry me now. Fumbling a punt return is really gonna hurt.
WinnbradParticipantNo. The Rams are about to get a beatdown of epic proportions. This will be a nightmare that will linger with all of us for the rest of our lives. Even our grandchildren will be afraid to whisper of it.
Time will not heal this.
We are doomed.
Now go enjoy the game!
42-10 Cards
WinnbradParticipantThe Rams aren’t boring. They’ve lot dozens of games in many exciting ways.
I want to insert a sad face, but I don’t where the sad face thingies are.
I’ll just draw one.
🙁
WinnbradParticipantThey’d still win with Edelman.
They could bring Bledsoe out of retirement. Get a win.
I could start. Still a win.
WinnbradParticipantCall me crazy but i think spruce will help,
right off the bat. I think his skill set is much-needed,
and i think they can plug him in and get some third down conversions.I dunno what they have in Cooper.
Sometimes i think my biggest criticism of Snisher is their lack of
interest in getting a good solid VETERAN WR. Heck, i would have signed Anquan Boldin, if i had been Snisher.w
vSpruce will help. But any quick WR with good hands will help.
Move the chains, Spruce.
Move the chains…
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