Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorThat’s a good one.
znModeratorJared Goff’s ‘complete 180’ has Rams playoff-ready
By Kevin Patra
Jared Goff is in the midst of one of the best non-injury turnarounds in the NFL.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback followed up a disastrous, winless rookie campaign, with a steady, sometimes spectacular, near-playoff-clinching season.
Goff’s 35.3-point increase in passer rating over last season is the largest jump in the NFL. His 98.9 passer rating puts him fifth all-time for a second-year quarterback (Kurt Warner: 109.2, 1999; Dan Marino: 108.9, 1984; Carson Wentz: 101.9, 2017; Russell Wilson 101.2, 2013).
Goff was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl, which means he’ll likely be added at some point, given Carson Wentz’s injury.
While the turnaround from hot mess to steady eddy has surprised most outside the Rams’ facility, not everyone was shocked the quarterback has flipped the script so quickly.
“I said it at the beginning that he was going to make a complete 180,” corner Trumaine Johnson said, via ESPN. “Personally, in my opinion, he should’ve been selected first team, too. But he’s been doing a great job, man, with this whole team.”
Thanks in large part to Sean McVay scheming up wide open receivers, and an improved offensive line, Goff’s numbers have improved across the board:
Goff 2016: 7 games, 54.6 completion percentage; 5.3 yards per attempt, 5 TDs, 7 INTs, 63.6 passer rating.
Goff 2017: 14 games, 62.4 completion percentage; 8.0 yards per attempt, 24 TDs, 7 INTs, 98.9 passer rating.
Goff downplayed the turnaround, saying it was merely a product of the team around him and the natural course of acclimating to the NFL.
“It happens at every level, in high school and college and now in the pros,” Goff said. “The first season is learning a lot, and then the second season it starts to settle down, and it continues to go that way as time goes on.”
Goff is the latest lesson in patience with young players. Casting off high draft picks as “busts” has almost become a niche industry. Doing so ignores the giant leap from college to pro — both physically and mentally — especially for a quarterback learning new aspects of running the offense.
Goff’s turnaround also underscores the importance of a creative coaching mind that can nurture a talented growing passer — not just toss him into traffic and see if he can frogger his way to the other side.
“The guy went No. 1,” Rams running back Todd Gurley said earlier this season. “Dude don’t go No. 1 for no reason.”
Goff went No. 1 and almost imploded as a rookie. Now he’s displaying poise and distributing ability in McVay’s offense, which has the Rams poised to make their first playoff appearance since 2004.
…
znModeratorMcV is a SIGNIFICANTLY better coach than Jeff Fisher.
I agree with that, but with this add-on point: there are very few head coaches McV would not have been significantly better than.
But, McV would not be able to do as well himself if he had to deal with a long series of back-up qbs and continuing OL issues and a move. So I suggest that Fisher could have done better than he did if he had inherited a team like one one McVay did, which includes only minor injury issues, and basically none (with 1 or 2 minor exceptions) at qb/OL.
I mean, we lucked out as Rams fans. McVay is McVay. He will rival Vermeil as best Rams head coach for several decades. The way I see it he will very likely surpass Robinson and Martz. If not surpass Vermeil, not just rival him. He comes in and he’s him,and they upgrade WR and the OL. Plus he inherits Goff, Gurley, Saffold, Donald, Brockers, Tree, Barron, Joyner, Tru, Hekker, 14 16ths of Zuerlein, and Cooper. And that’s not to mention a long list of good contributing role players, special teamers (like Littleton), and depth at many units.
It’s a positive version of a perfect storm. Maybe it needs a name. Like, The Convergence.
Short version: I agree.
.
…
znModeratorTHE RAMS ARE COMING TO TOWN
This Christmas, the Rams will travel over 2,000 miles to face the Titans. After a dominant victory in Seattle, L.A. will be looking to clinch division title with a win on Sunday.
But the Titans — who are currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC — will be eager to bounce back at home from consecutive road losses. As such, Tennessee should present the Rams with several challenges on both sides of the ball.
On offense, the Titans are led by third-year quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Oregon product has completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,832 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017. Running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry are two of the offense’s best assets, combining for 1,598 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“They have two monsters running the ball,” cornerback Troy Hill said. “We’re going to have to be honed in on that run game and then with Marcus throwing the ball too, we just have to stop the run and then control the pass game.”
Hill spent three years at Oregon opposite Mariota on the practice field. He characterized the former Heisman Trophy winner as a player with “all of the intangibles,” and someone who “can make every throw on field.”
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree agreed, describing Mariota as a very athletic, dual-threat quarterback.
“People have been saying he’s a little banged up or whatever, but he’s still able to get out, get away from pressure, and make plays downfield,” he said. “You definitely see the maturity that he’s gotten over the years and he definitely presents a big challenge for us.”
Offensively, L.A. will also be put to the test. On Sunday, the Rams will be facing a dominant defensive front led by Pro Bowl tackle Jurrell Casey, as well as a strong secondary flanked by cornerback Adoree Jackson and safety Kevin Byard.
“They have a great defensive line and a lot of young guys on the edge that are really going to compete,” wide receiver Sammy Watkins said. “It’s going to be a little challenging on the offense because they like to switch things up.”
But Watkins said he’s up for the challenge, adding players like Jackson and Byard present wide receivers with exactly “the types of matchups you’re looking for.”
“They’re young [and] they’ll be in your face, so it’s going to be fun,” Watkins said.
znModerator"It’s not something that I haven’t done before… put it through the uprights and take care of business."
Hear from new #LARams kicker Sam Ficken. pic.twitter.com/FQDCX1Ztyj
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 22, 2017
December 21, 2017 at 11:19 pm in reply to: Rams Place Allen on IR, Sign Edebali, Cody Davis returns from IR #79297znModeratorCody Davis Returns to Practice
Myles Simmons
The Rams have received some good injury news, as safety Cody Davis has been cleared to return to practice on Thursday.
Davis was placed on injured reserve in early November after suffering a quad injury during the Week 6 victory over the Jaguars. Upon Davis going on injured reserve on Nov. 3, head coach Sean McVay said, “Certainly Cody is a very important part of our team and it’s unfortunate, but he had that quad that just wasn’t getting any better. So, want to be smart, give him a full chance to recover and then we’ll look at bringing him back with the designated to return possibilities the way that that operates.”
Davis had been playing well in the Rams’ new defensive scheme for 2017 under coordinator Wade Phillips. In his fifth year out of Texas Tech, Davis had recorded an interception, a pair of pass breakups, and 22 total tackles prior to going on injured reserve.
While he has returned to practice, Davis is not eligible to return to the active roster until Week 17. That will mark eight weeks since he was placed on injured reserve — the requried amount of time a player designated to return must be on the list.
znModeratorOkay, but the problem you have there is that I basically agree with all of that
I disagree.
znModeratorMy favorite quotation from sports writers on this game.
I don’t even remember who it was, but he said something along the lines of Rams beat Seattle 42 to 7, and “it wasn’t even as close as the score made it look.”
.
znModeratorBehind Enemy Lines: An Inside Look at the Rams
Jim Wyatt
TitansOnline.com Senior Writer and Editor Jim Wyatt gives an inside look at the Los Angeles Rams with Gary Klein, who covers the Rams for the Los Angeles Times.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
The Titans are coming off a 25-23 loss to the 49ers, a loss that dropped the team’s record to 8-6.
The Rams are coming off a 42-7 at Seattle, and are now 10-4.
This week, I caught up with Gary Klein, who covers the Rams for the Los Angeles Times.
Here’s how our conversation went…
Wyatt: Hey Gary. Well, the Rams are one of the NFL’s most improved teams this season. After finishing 4-12 last season, when the team parted ways with Jeff Fisher, the Rams are now 10-4 and a win away from clinching the NFC West. How surprised are you with the turnaround?
Klein: Well, I knew there was a possibility for great improvement, simply because the Rams hired an offense-minded coach to help nurture Jared Goff, and every move the Rams made during the offseason, including the hiring of head coach Sean McVay, was made to help his development. But I think most people are surprised they are contending for a division title with a chance to finish the season with 12 wins.
Wyatt: This is McVay’s first head coaching job. He’s just 31 years old. But he’s already being billed as a genius by some. What has impressed you most about him?
Klein: I think for being so young, and for not ever having been a head coach, I have been impressed with his offensive scheme, and with his ability to instill a new culture, if you will, with one of the youngest teams in the league. And I think he and the front office, they’ve done a good job bringing in some veteran players who have influenced the younger guys, not only with their performance on the field, but with their presence in the locker room.
Wyatt: I think Goff’s improvement has surprised many as well. He’s thrown for 3,503 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. A year ago he threw for just over 1,000 yards with five touchdowns and seven INTs. Did you see such a dramatic turnaround coming for him, and how has it happened?
Klein: Jared Goff, looking at him from afar, people thought the Rams made a mistake by picking him. They thought he was struggling and he wasn’t going to be able to improve. But if you watched enough NFL football, part of it was that he was a rookie, and he just needed a chance to kind of get his feet wet and develop.
And now the Rams have hired a coach who has a history of helping quarterbacks, and scheming on offense. So I am not surprised that Jared Goff has developed. I think he still has room to grow. I don’t think by any means he is a finished product, or that he is a superstar.
He still has a long ways to go. But I think with McVay, and with offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, the offensive coordinator, and with Greg Olson, the team’s quarterbacks coach, they have a pretty good dynamic combination that’s helping him.
Wyatt: As good as Goff has been throwing the ball, running back Todd Gurley has been real workhorse for the Rams. He’s already racked up 1,817 scrimmage yards, including 1,187 and 13 rushing touchdowns. He’s being talked about as MVP of the NFL. Has he clearly been MVP of the Rams, and how good has he been all season?
Klein: Well, he really has been the thread their offensive success is kind of built upon. His ability to run, and the offensive line’s improved play, has opened things up for Goff and the receiving corps, which has also been upgraded. Gurley’s ability to run, and really this season his ability to catch passes out of the backfield has made him a multi-purpose threat. It really has been the key to the Rams offense.
Wyatt: OK Gary, last question here, and I appreciate you doing this: How has the Rams fan base been? With the Chargers and Rams both in town now, it’s sort of created a competition for fans in the city. How has Los Angeles embraced the Rams being back?
Klein: I think the Rams knew they had a process when they moved back here after being gone for more than two decades. It wasn’t like fans were just going to instantly be attracted to the Rams. This is Los Angeles, and if you don’t win, fans are not going to come. And the Rams struggled last year. They had some initial excitement, then they really struggled, and fans stayed away.
And I think even initially this season, fans were hesitant to embrace them. But now that they are winning, I think there is an upsurge in interest and in enthusiasm, and if the Rams can kind of keep it going, I think we’ll see them embraced, just like any winning team in Los Angeles.
znModeratorJust as everybody who was calling Goff a bust last year was a moron, I think people suggesting Goff is MVP-worthy this year are also off their rockers.
I don’t remember anyone here calling him a bust, but I don’t have a sharp memory for who said what on the board. I don’t even know what I said half the time.
But it was pretty obvious to anybody who actually watched the Rams last year that Goff’s poor performance had more to do with a lack of WRs and OL than with his NFL worthiness.
Similarly, anyone watching this year can see that he has made good progress as a QB, but still needs seasoning. As someone may or may not have said somewhere else on this board, Goff hasn’t “elevated” the team himself. He has been a pretty sure-handed shepherd for this team, but he isn’t the reason they have had a dramatic turnaround. He’s part of the picture, but really McVay and the OL are the story this year…and maybe Woods and Kupp. (On offense). Gurley is a big part of the success, but Gurley was Gurley last year, too, and his resurgence is evidence of the importance of the OL. He didn’t come in great, then forget how to play football, then remember (though the move, and Hollywood did play a part, too).
Anyway. I am delighted with Goff’s growth, and his upside. But he hasn’t done a 180.
He’s been ascending at a 7 degree angle consistently from his first mini-camp.
Although I agree with a lot of that, just for the record and to get my own vote out there in the informal poll, I have a couple of disagreements.
First, I think Goff last year was set back by a lot of things. It includes a lack of weapons. It also includes the move, which IMO is what most disrupted the OL and OL coaching. It also includes no running game. And it also includes the fact that traditionally, college Air Raid qbs hit the NFL further behind than most.
Second, on no running game…I think a lot of that was on Gurley himself. At one point, and we have a direct quote somewhere for this, he openly said he didn’t get around to working out for “1 or 2 months” and was surprised at OTAs to find he had lost weight. Well. A guy who works out a lot is never surprised by his weight. I think he pretty much took the 2016 off-season off. Either way he did not look the same. He did not have the same energy, drive, explosion, strength…he wasn’t the same back in 2016 that he was in 2015. He DID make a point of working hard this last off-season and IMO just plain looks like a different back. Plus Whitworth makes a difference, as does Sullivan, as does Saffold playing between those 2, as does Kromer, as does LaFleur (who learned from Atlanta’s prolific running game).
So a lot of things got better but I think one of them was Gurley himself.
And then there’s McVay.
I assume McVay has some small part in this overall improvement thing. You know, he probably contributed. Did his bit. It probably did some good, whatever it was. Don’t want to minimize that or anything. (Yes kidding. McVay was huge.)
znModeratorCarson Wentz, Jared Goff among top young QBs to build around
Gil Brandt
When the 2017 NFL playoffs begin, young quarterback talent will be center stage. Half of the 12 teams that would currently be in if the postseason began today feature quarterbacks who are 28 or under, while the current top seed in the NFC — the Eagles — were led for most of the season by a 24-year-old in his second season as a pro.
So as some teams get ready for playoff battle while others look ahead to the future, I thought I’d rank the young quarterbacks in the NFL according to who I’d build a franchise around. To keep the field truly young, I limited my scan to players who will be 26 or younger as of Sept. 1, 2018. I also wanted to focus on players who have provided a fair amount of game tape to evaluate this season, so I cut out anyone who didn’t start at least three games in 2017. Thus, you won’t see Cam Newton (28 years old) or rookie Patrick Mahomes (zero appearances) discussed here.
NOTE: I’ve evaluated all 14 QBs who fit my criteria, though the bottom four are listed in alphabetical order, as I don’t currently expect any of them to turn into franchise quarterbacks.
1
Carson Wentz
QB
Eagles
This is a rare talent. Wentz, 24, has everything you need to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, and guys like that just don’t come around very often. He’s tough, athletic and strong. The thing that impressed me the most about his second pro season was how well he played on third down. There are usually more defensive backs on the field on third down, making it that much harder to complete a pass, but Wentz put together off-the-charts, third-down numbers: a 65.3 percent completion rate with a league-high passer rating of 123.7. I think his torn ACL was more of a freak injury than the result of something endemic to the way he plays, and I expect he’ll recover fully and be the same aggressive player when he returns, as willing to take off and run as ever.
2017 stats: 13 games | 60.2 pct | 3,296 pass yds | 7.5 ypa | 33 pass TD | 7 INT | 299 rush yds | 0 rush TD
2
Jared Goff
QB
Rams
First-year coach Sean McVay has really unlocked the 23-year-old Goff’s potential. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft has always been talented, and he has many of the inherent traits you look for in a potential franchise QB, including accuracy — he can throw the ball in a peach basket from about 40 yards away. But when I watched Rams practice from the sideline ahead of their game in Dallas earlier this season, I was shocked by just how much Goff had improved since his rookie training camp, especially in the areas of footwork and quickness of delivery. Goff’s success is not all due to coaching; you can’t just throw anyone on the Rams and expect him to succeed at the level Goff has. But a good coach will put you in position to match your strengths against the opponent’s weaknesses, and that’s what McVay is doing with Goff, to stupendous effect.
2017 stats: 14 games | 62.4 pct | 3,503 pass yds | 8.0 ypa | 24 pass TD | 7 INT
3
Deshaun Watson
QB
Texans
Watson, 22, played less than half a season before suffering a torn ACL in practice in early November, but even in that relatively short time span, he answered every question I had about his ability. Dismissed by some as not being “ready to play,” Watson took the league by storm after seizing the Texans’ starting job, highlighted by his 402-yard, four touchdown effort against a Seahawks defense that, don’t forget, still had the services of a healthy Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor. Watson has rare athletic ability and spins a tight spiral, and he’s a great character guy with outstanding football IQ. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but if he’s in the right system — one that relies more on play-action passes than the QB’s ability to make big-armed downfield throws — he’ll win you plenty of games.
2017 stats: 7 games | 61.8 pct | 1,699 pass yds | 8.3 ypa | 19 pass TD | 8 INT | 269 rush yds | 2 rush TD
4
Marcus Mariota
QB
Titans
Mariota, 24, is not having a good season. But I honestly just love this guy. He’s an athletic player with outstanding speed and accuracy. In my opinion, the Titans’ run-oriented offense is not taking advantage of what Mariota can do best. Tennessee should be spreading the field and putting Mariota in position to win with his elusiveness and vision. Frankly, I think his struggles — including a career high interception total — can be blamed more on scheme than on Mariota’s decision-making. If he were in an offense that maximized his mobility, I don’t think he’d be turning the ball over at nearly the same level. Mariota is tough, mature and, in the right system, capable of taking a team to the Super Bowl.
2017 stats: 13 games | 62.8 pct | 2,823 pass yds | 7.2 ypa | 12 pass TD | 14 INT | 228 rush yds | 5 rush TD
5
Dak Prescott
QB
Cowboys
Prescott’s second season has not gone as swimmingly as his dazzling debut campaign, but I think that can be blamed more on a lack of support in the receiver corps and the absence of running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games. The 24-year-old Prescott is very smart and accurate, and he’s got great work habits. If Elliott had been available for a full season, Prescott would likely have helped push Dallas into the same competitive neighborhood as Minnesota and Philadelphia. He’s someone who can be a Super Bowl-winning QB in the future.
2017 stats: 14 games | 63.4 pct | 2,964 pass yds | 7.0 ypa | 21 pass TD | 11 INT | 320 rush yds | 6 rush TD
6
Jimmy Garoppolo
QB
49ers
What Garoppolo — who will turn 27 next November — has accomplished in the last three weeks leads me to believe he’s the kind of quarterback who can take you to the Super Bowl. To win three games in a row while posting nearly 9 yards per attempt on a team that is average at best is very, very good. He doesn’t have any demonstrable weaknesses, really. He’s not as athletic as most of the quarterbacks ranked ahead of him here, and the body of work he’s put forth so far is relatively limited. But he’s the best quarterback of the 2014 class and should keep San Francisco on the right track.
2017 stats: 4 games | 68.7 pct | 1,026 pass yds | 8.9 ypa | 3 pass TD | 2 INT
7
Blake Bortles
QB
JaguarsBortles, 25, has played well lately, but he still has moments that make you shake your head. He has the ideal size, athletic ability and arm strength to develop into a franchise QB — but he’s not there yet. Having Nathaniel Hackett, who is very good at teaching the fundamentals of the West Coast offense, as his offensive coordinator has benefitted Bortles greatly. The Jaguars’ stellar defense, which provides Bortles with advantageous field position, also helps. Bortles doesn’t throw a tight spiral — but then, neither did Peyton Manning.
2017 stats: 14 games | 61.0 pct | 3,147 pass yds | 7.2 ypa | 19 pass TD | 8 INT | 282 rush yds | 2 rush TD
8
Jameis Winston
QB
BuccaneersWinston, 23, has been hampered some by injury issues this season. He has the skill set necessary for success, but he also has a long release and gets involved in too many bad plays. I’m concerned about his ability to accept coaching, given that he hasn’t performed well this season despite the presence of Dirk Koetter, who’s good at working with QBs, on the sideline. Winston has plenty of potential, but will he make the changes needed to become a championship-caliber player?
2017 stats: 11 games | 64.0 pct | 2,774 pass yds | 7.6 ypa | 17 pass TD | 8 INT
9
Mitchell Trubisky
QB
BearsTrubisky, 23, is athletic and has a quick release. I don’t think he’ll be the kind of quarterback who can carry a team to the Super Bowl by himself, but he should be able to get you to the playoffs. I have some concern about his field presence, but he throws with good velocity and has above-average speed. The bottom line is, he’s won three games with a Bears team that basically has no pass-catchers to speak of. Trubisky is an ascending player whose best football is ahead of him.
2017 stats: 10 games | 59.8 pct | 1,822 pass yds | 6.7 ypa | 7 pass TD | 7 INT | 202 rush yds | 1 rush TD
10
Jacoby Brissett
QB
ColtsBrissett, 24, is a pretty good passer and a good athlete with the physical tools to develop into a quarterback who can help take a team to the playoffs — though not by himself, and certainly not with the supporting cast he has on a bad team in Indy. Brissett is not exceptionally fast, but he’s a long strider, which helps him pick up yards and run away from people.
2017 stats: 14 games | 59.6 pct | 2,769 pass yds | 6.7 ypa | 11 pass TD | 7 INT | 234 rush yds | 4 rush TD
DON’T EXPECT MUCH
11
C.J. Beathard
QB
49ers2017 stats: 7 games | 54.9 pct | 1,430 pass yds | 6.4 ypa | 4 pass TD | 6 INT
12
Brett Hundley
QB
Packers2017 stats: 9 games | 63.9 pct | 1,534 pass yds | 6.1 ypa | 8 pass TD | 8 INT | 207 rush yds | 2 rush TD
13
DeShone Kizer
QB
Browns2017 stats: 13 games | 53.9 pct | 2,398 pass yds | 5.8 ypa | 9 pass TD | 19 INT | 350 rush yds | 5 rush TD
14
Trevor Siemian
QB
Broncos2017 stats: 11 games | 59.0 pct | 2,285 pass yds | 6.5 ypa | 12 pass TD | 14 INT
Each of the players listed above — listed IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER — lacks something. Beathard (24) is a strong passer but not a great runner. Hundley (24) is a good runner but not a great passer. Kizer (21) has some talent but might have benefited from staying in school one more year. Siemian (25) has stumbled after a promising 2016 season.znModeratorPFF: NFL Week 16 Preview: Rams at Titans
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-nfl-week-16-preview-rams-at-titans
The Los Angeles Rams visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season. PFF previews the top player matchups of the game.
MATCHUP: LOS ANGELES RAMS OFFENSE VS. TENNESSEE TITANS DEFENSE
RB Todd Gurley vs. Titans run defense – Sunday marked the fifth time this season Gurley has had 20 or more carries in a game. It also marked the fifth win in such games. In those games, Gurley has 608 yards, 320 yards after contact, 2.70 yards after contact per attempt (2.70), and six touchdowns. Week 16, Gurley will face a Titans defense that boasts inside linebackers Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard. Both linebackers are tied for seventh among their position in run-defense grade with grades of 88.6 and they have combined for 55 run stops, with Woodyard second among inside linebackers in run-stop percentage at 10.8. While Woodyard makes big plays, he has also missed three missed tackles in the run game, and Gurley just made Bobby Wagner miss his first tackle of the season in Week 15 on his way to seven missed tackles forced total for the game.
WR Robert Woods vs. CB Adoree’ Jackson – Woods’ return in Week 15 was quiet, but he caught all six of his targets, four of them for first downs. With that, Woods brought his wide receiver rating (passer rating when targeted) up to 128.1 on the season. That is fourth-highest among receivers with at least 40 targets. Of his 73 targets on the season, 45.5 percent of them have gone for either a first down or a touchdown (the 11th-highest rate among receivers). His counterpart in Jackson has stepped his play up after giving up three touchdowns in his first four games of his rookie season. Though he hasn’t given up a touchdown over his last four games, Jackson is allowing the 23rd-highest passer rating (98.3) into his coverage while also allowing an average of 1.24 yards per coverage snap (third most).
T Andrew Whitworth vs. Edge Brian Orakpo – In his 14th game in Los Angeles, Whitworth allowed his sixth quarterback sack of the season, resulting in a fumble. This ties his career high which came in 2006, his rookie year. Since the bye, Whitworth is tied for 22nd in pressures allowed among left tackles while his pass-blocking efficiency of 95.7 also ranks 22nd. Week 16 brings him a matchup with Orakpo, who has seven sacks and 52 total pressures from the right side this season. His 11.0 pass-rush productivity from the right side is tied with Von Miller for 17th-highest among edge defenders.
MATCHUP: TENNESSEE TITANS OFFENSE VS. LOS ANGELES RAMS DEFENSE
QB Marcus Mariota vs. Rams pass-rush – When Mariota has faced pressure this season, he’s completed 48-of-87 passes for 628 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. His 87.7 passer rating when under pressure ranks second in the league. Conversely, his 77.5 passer rating when kept clean ranks 35th out of 38 qualified quarterbacks. The Rams have forced pressure on 38 percent of pass plays, which is tied for the fifth-highest rate. They’ve converted eight percent of their pressures into sacks. Rams interior defensive lineman Aaron Donald leads his position group with a pass-rushing productivity of 15.4.RB DeMarco Murray vs. LB Mark Barron – Murray ranks 39th among running backs with a run grade of 69.0. He possesses an elusive rating of 32.5 and he averages 2.08 yards after contact per rushing attempt. Only 21.1 percent of his runs have been held to zero yards or less, which is slightly better than the league average of 23.2 percent. Barron’s 10.5 run-stop percentage is tied for fourth among linebackers. However, his run-defense grade of 43.2 ranks 72nd.
WR Rishard Matthews vs. CB Trumaine Johnson – Matthews approaches Week 16 averaging 1.89 receiving yards per route run, which is tied for 17th among wide receivers. When lined up outside to the right, he’s caught 19 of 24 targets for 314 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he boasts a wide receiver rating of 146.5 when he runs his routes from that position. Johnson has allowed an average of 1.34 receiving yards per coverage snap. When he’s lined up as the left cornerback, he’s given up 25 catches on 48 passes into his coverage for 371 yards, one touchdown and has also secured one interception. Quarterbacks targeting a player in his coverage average a passer rating of 78.0.
znModeratorRams QB Jared Goff accomplishing ‘a complete 180’
Alden Gonzalez
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Jared Goff isn’t officially a Pro Bowler yet, but he probably will be eventually. And that in itself is astounding when considering where the Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback found himself at this time last year, finishing a tumultuous rookie season that went down as one of the worst in recent memory.
Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has consistently defended Goff, will tell you he is “not surprised at all” by his teammate’s turnaround.
“I said it at the beginning that he was going to make a complete 180. Personally, in my opinion, he should’ve been selected first team, too. But he’s been doing a great job, man, with this whole team.”
Goff is a first alternate for the Pro Bowl, which means he is the first option to replace Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who suffered a torn ACL in the Week 14 game against the Rams.
Goff, 23, might eventually find his way onto the roster, thus completing a stunning turnaround.
From 2016 to 2017, Goff has made significant improvements in completion percentage (54.6 to 62.4), yards per attempt (5.3 to 8.0), touchdown-to-interception ratio (0.71 to 3.43) and Total QBR (18.3 to 52.9). He has thrown for 3,503 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. The Rams currently have five Pro Bowl representatives, their most since 2003, and Goff could join the group, too.
The NFC quarterbacks are Wentz, the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees. As an alternate, Goff would be considered a Pro Bowler only if he accepts the invitation to replace Wentz. And only an appearance in the Super Bowl — or, of course, injury — would prevent him from playing in the game if he so chooses.
Goff called it “a huge honor,” but “very much so a team award.”
“You look around the league at the top amount of guys teams have, and most teams that have all the guys in the Pro Bowl are better teams,” said Goff, his team 10-4 and on the verge of clinching the NFC West. “Most of the time it is a reflection of the team, and that’s no different with my selection there.”
Goff wasn’t just being modest; he is in many ways the personification of how a player benefits from improved circumstances.
Goff is running a more innovative, quarterback-friendly scheme designed by first-year head coach Sean McVay. He’s operating behind a significantly improved offensive line, thanks to the offseason additions of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan. And he’s throwing to a better group of receivers, including newcomers Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.
But Goff himself has made significant strides as well. The former No. 1 overall pick has felt the game slow down for him in his second year.
“It happens at every level, in high school and college and now in the pros,” Goff said. “The first season is learning a lot, and then the second season it starts to settle down, and it continues to go that way as time goes on.”
Before he became the Rams’ coach, McVay was impressed by Goff’s ability to “make all the throws,” even in times when he didn’t benefit from a clean pocket. He saw it while watching film from a game against the New Orleans Saints in the 11th week of Goff’s rookie season, when Goff threw three touchdown passes in the first half. Goff struggled in other weeks, but McVay was still impressed by his willingness to absorb hits in order to complete throws. And while meeting with Goff for the first time, McVay was moved by how he took accountability, didn’t deflect blame and wanted to be coached.
Then the season played out.
“And I couldn’t be more impressed with just the way that Jared consistently carries himself throughout the week and the way that he handles the games,” McVay said. “He’s just so even-keeled, and I think that demeanor rubs off on his teammates.”
Goff sat behind Case Keenum for the first nine games of the 2016 season. When Goff finally started competing against the first-team defense in practice, Johnson saw someone who could make throws all over the field and occasionally make things happen outside of the pocket. In the offseason, he saw someone who was taking more ownership of the offense and making it a point to build chemistry with new receivers.
“I talked to him a couple times, too,” Johnson said, “and I just felt he was ready.”
Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold also said he was “not stunned” about Goff’s turnaround.
“I knew that he was going to pick up his game a lot after the struggles that we had last year,” Saffold said. “I think that humbled him enough to want to go out and play really well this year.”
Saffold started to see signs that Goff’s accuracy was improving during organized team activities. He noticed the extra work Goff was putting in and saw his confidence continue to increase. Goff initially needed to learn how to take snaps from under center, adjust to the speed of this level and grasp the intricacies of an NFL offense. Over time, it became clear that he also needed more help. But teammates never questioned his talent.
“The guy went No. 1,” Rams running back Todd Gurley said earlier this season. “Dude don’t go No. 1 for no reason.”
Asked about Goff on Wednesday, McVay said the Rams “feel very good about our future at that position with him leading the way,” a sentence that seems to roll off the tongue a lot easier now. Goff ranks among the top 10 in passing yards, yards per attempt, touchdowns, touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating (98.9).
He could become the 14th quarterback to make the Pro Bowl at age 23 or younger, according to research from the Elias Sports Bureau — but that wasn’t really a goal heading in.
“I just wanted to try and get better every day and focus on every week, trying to improve and let everything fall where it may at the end of year,” Goff said. “It’s something I’m very honored by, but not necessarily something I’m going to hang my hat on. There’s a lot bigger things I want to do as a team and personally.”
znModeratorSometimes I have a lot of affinities with Zizek. Though he’s not the be all and end all, and there’s no such thing as being “a zizekian.” He’s just a good voice, one to listen to among other good voices.
One way to put what he just said is that confronting universal health care as an issue directly forces people to think about the extremes of american ideological blindness. It helps you think about the real material effects directly on your own well-being.
It has the advantage of not being abstract. So like, hey, we should confront and end racist policies. To which a lot of whites in the mainstream can go, well okay, and since I am not racist, there’s no problem.
If you say, you know we already know that this system does not work as well as a better one that already exists, and this system has a direct effect on your life and your children’s lives, a lot more people can get that.
Yet, at the same time, you still have to fight the harder fight and say, this is racism and here’s what it does to people.
…
znModeratorznModeratorQ: what will be the official announcement on days when the kicker doesn’t practice?
A: “ficken off”znModeratorMaybe the reason why MCVay went for it on 4th down when Goff got picked
Missed an extra point
Kicked one kickoff out of bounds
Squib kicked another kickoff short
znModeratorznModeratorBTW, in case you didn’t know, in German, “Ficken” means “fuck.”
Which is handy cause then if he ever misses a field goal, we can just go “ficken!….”
znModeratorDecember 20, 2017 at 9:18 pm in reply to: Colin Cowherd, Michael Silver & others on the "changing of the guard" theme #79257znModeratorChanging of guard? Upstart Rams destroy Seahawks on road in unofficial NFC West title game
Young Rams make emphatic statement that they’re now class of divisionARTHUR ARKUSH
profootballweekly.comhttp://www.profootballweekly.com/lists/2017/12/17/f6b6c7ec8096415687376caaa10c73ee/index.xml?page=1
Time will tell whether the Rams’ utter domination of the Seahawks in Seattle in the unofficial NFC West title game marks a changing of the divisional guard.
Pete Carroll didn’t become one of the NFL’s best coaches by accident, and if there’s anything Russell Wilson has taught us, it’s that burying his Seahawks takes extraordinary measures.
Extraordinary, though, may best describe the 42-7 undressing of Seattle by Sean McVay’s Rams in the biggest game of his and most of his young players’ lives. A homefield crowd as raucous as any in the NFL booed its beloved Seahawks as they headed into the intermission trailing 34-0 — the second-largest home deficit at halftime in franchise history.
Todd Gurley did something Marshawn Lynch never did as a Seahawk: tally 180 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns, an effort that earned him the final quarter-and-a-half off. Gurley was untouched on his 57-yard house call in the final seconds of the half, after Seattle called a timeout with the visitors content to call off the dogs, on his third score.
The Rams’ rebuilt offensive line took the fight to a Seahawks front accustomed to delivering knockouts, not absorbing them. Wade Phillips’ attacking ‘D’ unrelentingly battered Wilson, who was sacked seven times and lost a fumble in Seahawks territory before halftime leading to Gurley’s dagger touchdown.
If Gurley wasn’t the best player on the field, it was Aaron Donald, who seemed to disrupt every play en route to three sacks, four QB hits and leaving an unquantifiable mark on the win. (Donald and his agents, though, will have fun attempting to quantify his value to the Rams this offseason, when he should deservedly become the league’s highest-paid defender).
And McVay — who didn’t feature Gurley enough in the first meeting, 16-10 Seahawks in Week 5, nor last week when the Eagles upset the Rams at home — was the masterful orchestrator. He had his players ready and a clear, powerful plan of attack to take advantage of a wounded Seahawks ‘D.’
Indeed, the NFL’s youngest coach, with one of the league’s greenest rosters, rendered Caroll — the oldest and one of the best coaches in football — and a perennial powerhouse futile. It was a staggering outcome, even when considering just how resoundingly McVay has transformed the dull and undisciplined Rams under Jeff Fisher into an increasingly explosive and mature club.
The Rams’ mission isn’t complete. Though they’re 10-4 and extended their West lead to two full games over Seattle, their playoff future isn’t yet secure. They’ll visit Nashville in Week 16 and Fisher’s old digs needing one more win — or a Seahawks loss — for the West crown.
znModeratorAnd Goff has zero, right?
Well he has zero 4th quarter comebacks.
The Rams did come back in the 2nd half against Dallas.
Goff has been in 3 4th quarter comeback situations this year. Washington, Seattle 1, and Phil. In all 3, mistakes killed the potential game winning drive.
Is it too soon to talk about cutting him?
You know, I once read an article about where qbs stood in terms of 4th quarter comebacks. This one was unique because it did add up the comeback situations and looked at the percentage of wins. No one does percentages on this, and they should. Anyway, even the highest percentage was not that high. 50% wins is exemplary. I gathered at the time reading it that if you can get around 40% wins you’re doing very well.
At the time the article was written, around 2006, the qb with the highest percentage (not most wins, just highest percentage) was Bulger, with 60-something%.
3 years of miserably damaged OLs put an end to that, though.
…
znModeratorUPDATE: Zuerlein will undergo back surgery performed by Robert Watkins on Thursday and is expected to be out until Training Camp in 2018.
znModeratorApparently he’s been battling the back injury all year…
—
According to Rams head coach Sean McVay, Zuerlein has been dealing with a herniated disc in his back throughout the season, but on Saturday night, while sleeping at the team hotel in Seattle, Zuerlein re-aggravated the injury and could barely get out of bed Sunday morning, let alone walk.
McVay was told about Zuerlein’s condition before kickoff, and said that punter Johnny Hekker was prepared to be the emergency field goal kicker, with Cooper Kupp being the holder.
However, just hours before the game, Zuerlein said he would give it a go, and played injured during the team’s 42-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.znModeratorAnd Goff has zero, right?
Well he has zero 4th quarter comebacks.
The Rams did come back in the 2nd half against Dallas.
Goff has been in 3 4th quarter comeback situations this year. Washington, Seattle 1, and Phil. In all 3, mistakes killed the potential game winning drive.
znModeratorThat list is only current qbs, ie. qbs now on rosters.
Montana had 31. Marino had 36. And then etc. with many more.
znModeratorJoe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Sean McVay on both the Rams and Tennessee playing for potential playoff berths this weekend. “They’ve got a lot to play for, but so do well… We know what’s at stake for us.” @CVRamsClubSean McVay on Aaron Donald’s season: “For the teams that I’ve been a part of, I’ve never seen anything like what Aaron’s done… He’s made a huge impact.”
December 20, 2017 at 6:46 pm in reply to: Rams Place Allen on IR, Sign Edebali, Cody Davis returns from IR #79229znModeratorRams are just stocked right up with LBs.
26 Barron, Mark LB 6-2 225 28 6 Alabama
50 Ebukam, Samson LB 6-3 240 22 R Eastern Washington
96 Edebali, Kasim LB 6-2 253 28 4 Boston College
54 Hager, Bryce LB 6-1 237 25 3 Baylor
55 Lynch, Cameron LB 6-0 229 24 3 Syracuse
52 Ogletree, Alec LB 6-2 235 26 5 Georgia
98 Barwin, Connor OLB 6-4 255 31 9 Cincinnati
58 Littleton, Cory OLB 6-3 225 24 2 Washington
94 Quinn, Robert OLB 6-4 250 27 7 North Carolina
53 Thompson, Carlos OLB 6-5 250 25 1 MississippiznModeratorsome more
—
Question – What was a bigger fluke – Rams or Eagles Game?
-Looking back at the make up of this team, what was the bigger fluke? Handedly beating Philly, at the time the best team in the conference, or what happened yesterday?
-Rams game. Eagles really hadn’t been tested too much and had little experience defending Russell Wilson so I could see them getting exposed. Did not think a 42-7 blowout with a chance for division title was going to happen.
-When you are beaten at home, in a must win game against your division rival – it isn’t a fluke.
-Losing to them wouldn’t be a fluke. HOW they completely got blasted for 4 quarters very much IS a fluke and 100% uncharacteristic of this team since it has NEVER happened before under Pete Carroll.
-Games like the Eagles game have happened numerous times in the Pete Carroll era. Games like the Rams game yesterday have not happened since Wilson got here. Yesterday was more of a fluke, although I believe the Rams really are the way better team.
-Them starting like 7 drives on our side of the field was no fluke. That was the most mismatched special teams match I believe I’ve ever seen. Both kicking games and going both ways in every conceivable way we were outmatched. Overall I’ll call it a fluke, but in many ways it was just an ass kicking.
-Losing wasn’t a fluke. Getting absolutely trucked was.
-Beating the Eagles and losing to the Rams have about the same value as none of these teams are winning anything this year.
-Yeah, Rams are gonna’ get smoked in the playoffs. Maybe even one and done. And their home game will be a home game for whoever they play against.
-I wouldn’t trust Goff to win a playoff game, especially if it comes down to the 4th quarter and the Rams need a drive.
-But as we found out with a young Russell 4-5 years ago, a great run game and nasty dominant defense is all you need in the playoffs. The Rams have that.
-I’m not picking them to go to the SB, but I’m certainly not thinking they’re going to get smoked either.
-I disagree, I think they can go to Super Bowl.
-Gurley was playing with a purpose yesterday, and that D is very good.
Goff wont have to be a superstar to get them there.-Idk if they can go back up to Minny or to Philly and win. Depends on how good Foles is. Saints might be able to beat them on a second go, but that game would be at LA again.
-No they arent, they have everything it takes to make a playoff run. Great runningback and run game. Young QB and talented recievers that can be deadly with the passing game. And a pretty good D that has Aaron Donald wrecking opposing o lines. Also great special teams.
-They are a complete team that is well coached. Exact opposite of what Seattle is right now thats why they demolished them at home.
-That’s your opinion, not fact. They probably will win 1 game and lose the 2nd game on the road. And that’s solid for a team who hasn’t had a winning season since what 2004?
-2004 has nothing to do with it.
Reality is, They have the best running back in nfc and I think are as good as anyone in conference-How is that just my opinion? They have proven all season they are a complete team that is legit. They just proved it again by running the seahawks out of their own stadium and beat the snot out of them in all aspects of football. They smashed them so bad that gurley didn’t even play in the 4th. If he would have might have gotten 200 yards lol.
-Good team, not great. I’m entitled to my opinion. If they win more than 1 game in the playoffs, I’ll be very impressed. Way too early to act like they are world beaters.
-You never know, still a lot of ball to be played. They clearly are a loaded team with damn good coaching.
-I think they may look better than they are because the nfc is not as good this year. However, if they do come out of the conference, nobody will be saying 5-10 years from now, ” oh that was the year the nfc Stunk”
-I don’t see an asterisk by the Houston rockets in 1994 and 95 saying….. “Jordan was retired those two seasons”
-Point is… if they come out of it, it’s because they were best team.
-NFC not as good this year lol what? NFC is stacked this year the NFC south legit might have 3 teams in the playoffs.
-How is that an indicator?
The nfc east has provided 3 playoff teams numerous times.-Plus what you are saying furthers my point. This is a good rams team and to think otherwise, one must be blind. Especially after what they did to us yesterday.
-The reality is we should have lost that first game and we were at full strength. I knew the rams were going to beat the crap out of us yesterday, and i have said it all year rams are legit they may very well go to the superbowl. The Seahawks are not as big a deal as everyone thinks there just not. Sure we are talented and have pro bowl players. Where the problems are i have no idea. I know Bevell and Cable need to go or change there scheme because its not working here. Me personally I am glad we got are asses handed to us and i hope it continues next week and against Arizona. Hopefully that will open some eyes for some serious changes.
-An ass kicking is NOT what I would call a fluke. The Rams were ready to play. Seattle was not. Piss poor effort and piss poor coaching led to yesterday’s results.
-Said on the board all you have to do is beat Gurley…and we let him MVP all over us on our ass all day
-It is an opinion because they lost against the Vikings, Eagles, a healthy defense Seahawks. Them beating up a really beat up Seahawks and has no running game doesn’t say much.
-The loss to the Rams was predictable. The Hawks escaped LA due to 5 turnovers and dropped passes by the Rams.
-The Rams have better players and coaches.
znModeratorAlden Gonzalez@Alden_Gonzalez
The Rams’ next opponent, the Titans, have lost back-to-back games to the Cardinals and 49ers, crippling their playoff hopes. Mike Mularkey, on what his team needs to shore up heading into Sunday: “I would say play 60 minutes of really complementary football. Between the three phases, we’ve done it. And when we’ve done it, we’ve been as good as anybody in the league. We just haven’t done it consistently.” -
AuthorPosts
