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znModeratorThat quote bothered me too. Whatever it meant, I’ll suspect that second half of the game can be teaching point. “look guys, this is what happens when you do it the way I told you.”
halftime adjustments…. it’s something that the Rams have lacked in recent years….
this is a good thing…..
It is a good thing (though Wms did adjust on defense). But Barwin is saying that’s NOT what they did. He says, they didn’t adjust, they just started playing it the way Wade was calling it.
znModeratorThey brought Short into play the NT and moved Brockers to DE/DT, whatever call it. Brockers, Short, Donald or Donald, Short, Brockers, instead of starting with Westbrooks, Brockers, Donald.
This suggests they have problems with Westbrooks.
Of course the DE opposite Donald was originally supposed to be Easley.
znModeratorRemember that time Aaron Donald fork-lifted Zack Martin into his QB? #GOODNESSGRACIOUS pic.twitter.com/BxeI04av9n
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) October 2, 2017
znModeratorSo what this tells me is that a light went on for the Rams during the Cowboys game.
I take it differently. I take it IF TRUE as a damning comment on the defense. They’ve had Wade all summer, they know his rep, they’ve played 3 games, and they have to be reminded to just stick to the gameplan?
And personally I doubt it’s true, really. Jerry Jones, who knows how to watch a football game, came out and said that the Rams D adjusted at the half. I assume that means he saw something that told him that.
Or maybe in fact many of the Rams vets WERE freelancing and Barwin just took that occasion to do a PC version of telling them to cut it out.
….
znModeratorJerry Jones: Wade Phillips made the difference
Jerry Jones: Wade Phillips made the difference
The Rams found something at halftime. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gives all the credit to Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for whatever it was.
The Cowboys scored 24 points in the first half, six in the second half. They gained 287 yards in the first half, 153 in the second half. They had 14 first downs in the first half, eight in the second half. They converted 5-of-7 third downs in the first half, 2-of-7 in the second half.
It added up to a 35-30 loss for the Cowboys.
“I want to give Wade Phillips his due,” Jones said. “They came back in and made adjustments. We know they have good players. They drafted high, and they drafted well. Against a lesser crew, we could have come back better or we could have shut the door on them in the half there. This is a big win for the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a hurtful loss for us.”
Phillips was the Cowboys head coach from 2007 to the middle of the 2010 season, going 34-22, twice leading the Cowboys to the playoffs, and earning a contract extension after the 2009 season. But Jones fired Phillips and replaced him with Jason Garrett after the team’s 1-7 start in 2010.
Sunday marked the first time since his firing that Phillips had played the Cowboys.
“Wade Phillips was the difference out here today,” Jones said. “He did an outstanding job. I just think we’re playing good defenses. Now is that enough? Of course not. We’re sick. We’re really sick that we lost the game.”
October 2, 2017 at 12:41 pm in reply to: Snap counts for Rams players vs Dallas & other stats #75361znModeratorLMU93 wrote:
Rams scoring drives in 2016 (16 games): 42
Rams scoring drives in 2017 (4 games): 26Most points scored by Rams through first 4 games:
160- 2000
142- 1999 and 2017The Rams +37 points differential through 4 games is their best since 2001 (+74).
The Rams need just 17 points in week 5 vs. SEA to enter the team’s top 5 all-time in scoring through their first 5 games (159 points). 21 points would make them 3rd all-time (163) behind only the 2000 (217 points) and 1999 (183) Rams.
The Rams 1,547 yards through their first four games is their 10th most ever through 4 games and most since 2014 (1,571).
Jared Goff is on pace for 4,288 yards and 28 TDs. He would be just the 3rd Rams QB ever to have 4,200+ yards and 28+ TDs in a season (Warner- 1999 and 2001, Everett- 1989).
Todd Gurley is on pace for 2,384 yards from scrimmage which would be 4th most all-time by a RB. Only 10 have finished with 2,300+ yards from scrimmage.
WR Cooper Kupp is on pace for 56 catches which break the Rams rookie receiving record (Eddie Kennison- 54 in 1996).
Greg Zuerlein’s 14 FGs made through four games is the 2nd most ever by a Rams kicker (Jeff Wilkins- 15 through 4 games in 2006). Zuerlein is now 3rd all-time in FGs made by a Ram (126) and 2nd in career FG percentage (81.3%)
defense signs of life…they have a lot of improving to do, but they’re getting better in a few key areas:
– QB sack percentage (4th)
– Opponent passer rating- 14th
– 3rd down conversions- 18th
– Pass completion percentage- 8thHere’s one for you I just looked up. Rams have not had a positive points differential since 2003 (+119)… Closest they’ve come since was -14 in 2006 and -16 in 2013. The Rams five worst point differential seasons have all come in the past 9 years.
A week after their worst game in a long time the Rams’ special teams rebounds really nicely. Zuerlein 7-of-7 FGs, Cooper 66-yard KOR, forced fumble and Hekker 54.0 net yards/punt.
By the way I know Cooper has brought out several KOs he probably shouldn’t have, but he is leading the NFL in KOR average (27.3). My own guess is he’s getting green-lighted partly because they feel they have an offense that can put together a 70+ yard drive at anytime….
znModerator36 passes (37 including the sack)
31 rusheson the season.
117 passes (121 including 4 sacks)
118 rushesinteresting…
Alden Gonzalez @Alden_Gonzalez
From ESPN Stats & Info: Gurley faced 6 or fewer defenders in the box on 16 of 23 rushing attempts. Defenses are starting to respect Goff.And Goff visibly had a harder time finding people. Not to a bad extent, obviously, but he was a bit less quick and fluid and accurate in this game.
So before today he completed 70.4% of his passes; today it was 58.3%.
.
znModeratorAll together now: The Rams are for real
Alden Gonzalez
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Los Angeles Rams won two of their first three games, but they were supposed to. They beat the short-handed Indianapolis Colts, then survived against a San Francisco 49ers team that is at the onset of an all-out rebuild. Sunday, on the road against a star-studded Dallas Cowboys team coming off a 13-win season, represented the Rams’ first real test of the year. Todd Gurley admitted as much in the days leading up to Week 4. He called it a chance to “see what we are; see how far we came.”
The Rams have come a long, long way.
Their come-from-behind, 35-30 win at AT&T Stadium proved that definitively.
Gurley, the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for September, gained 215 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 53-yard wheel route that the Rams practiced all week. Cooper Kupp caught five of seven targets for 60 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff went 21-of-36 for 255 yards and zero turnovers. Tavon Austin gained 48 yards on six carries. Greg Zuerlein made a franchise-record seven field goals. And a Rams defense that allowed 287 yards in the first half — and 806 combined yards to the Redskins and 49ers in back-to-back weeks — allowed only six points after halftime.
“The No. 1 thing we’ve shown every week is that there is absolutely no quit in these guys,” said Goff, his QB rating now 112.2, nearly double his 63.6 rating from last year. “I think that’s not only a sign of a good team, but a team that is maturing; a team that has some veteran leadership now and a team that’s getting older and starting to learn situations better.”
The Rams’ rejuvenated offense gained 412 yards from scrimmage and topped 30 points for the third time this season, after doing so three times in all of 2015 and 2016.
They did so even though their No. 1 receiver, Sammy Watkins, was targeted only twice. They were pinned deep in their own territory to start back-to-back third-quarter possessions because of penalties on punt returns, and they still marched up the field to score each time. They held the ball for more than 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, and they gave themselves an NFL-leading 142 points through the first four games — 79 more points than they had through the first four games last year.
“Our offense is really going out there and competing and scoring, man,” Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson said. “It’s a great sight to see. I’ve been with the Rams six years. Our offense hasn’t been there. But they’re being consistent. They really are.”
Trailing by eight with less than 10 minutes left, the Cowboys came back with a quick touchdown drive but failed to convert on a game-tying two-point conversion. Then the Rams got the ball, chewed up more than five minutes and gained 68 yards, setting up Zuerlein’s seventh field goal. On the Cowboys’ ensuing possession, the Rams wrapped up Ezekiel Elliott about a yard shy of the first-down marker on fourth down to seal the win.
The Rams began the second half having allowed 90 points in their previous 10 quarters, then forced the Cowboys to punt on three straight possessions and intercepted a pass. Veteran outside linebacker Connor Barwin said the Rams were “prepared for everything [the Cowboys] did, and it was kind of like we had to see it to believe it.”
“Everything they did in the first half was exactly what we practiced all week, and everything in the second half was exactly that,” Barwin added. “We came in here [at halftime] and reiterated to just do what we’re coached to do, and do what we thought they would do. Everybody just kind of settled down and played the defense how they’re supposed to.”
The Rams are 3-1 now, and that may sound familiar. They started 3-1 last year, and then it all went downhill, with only one victory over their final 11 games. But this year’s 3-1 feels different, several returning players admitted, because the offense looks so much better.
The Rams, still in first place in the NFC West, are a different kind of team.
“They’ve got a lot of talent,” Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones said. “It looks to me like it’s coming together.”
znModeratorRams RB Todd Gurley runs wild on Cowboys for career-high 215 yards from scrimmage
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article176477236.html
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys missed linebacker Sean Lee on Sunday.
But, as far as defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is concerned, that’s no excuse for the way the Los Angeles Rams gashed them in a 35-30 victory.
In particular, Rams running back Todd Gurley proved to be a weapon the Cowboys couldn’t contain. Gurley had a career day with 121 rushing yards and 94 receiving yards. The 215 yards from scrimmage were the most in his young career to date.
“Hell of a player,” Marinelli said. “We knew that going into it. We knew this guy is a terrific back and we’ve got to play our gaps. We got knocked out of gaps. Give them credit.
“And we’ve got to tackle. We didn’t tackle well.”
Gurley showcased his elusiveness all afternoon. Gurley had 23 carries and seven catches on the day, and eight of his touches went for double-digit yards.
The highlight came in the third quarter on a 53-yard touchdown reception from Jared Goff. Gurley got past Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson and made a move that left safety Jeff Heath on the ground and him running free to the end zone.
Rams first-year coach Sean McVay has made it a point to utilize Gurley more in the passing game.
“It takes a lot of stress off everybody – Goff, me, the receivers,” Gurley said. “We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of things. Tavon [Austin], he is a mini-running back now, I guess I am a mini-receiver.
“Just to be able to have that diversity in our offense and being able to do pass, run, pass, run. That means a lot for us.”
The production showed up against a Cowboys defense that had been the top-ranked running D a year ago.
Gurley became the first Rams player with 200-plus yards from scrimmage since Dec. 12, 2008 when Steven Jackson had 215 yards from scrimmage against Atlanta.
The last player with 200-plus yards from scrimmage against the Cowboys happened to be current running back Alfred Morris. Morris, playing for the Redskins on Dec. 30, 2012, had 212 yards from scrimmage (200 rushing, 12 receiving).
“Gurley’s a pretty good back and I feel like we could have done a much better job of hitting our gaps,” defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford said. “When they were doing no huddle, our assignments, sometimes we got away from our assignments.
“Those big plays, we can’t let those happen.”
znModeratorOne year later, Goff is better than Dak
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article176459896.html
As the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Jared Goff should always be better than Dak Prescott and on Sunday he was.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback looked nothing like the player who played like a monumental bust last season in his rookie season, and he slowly exploited a Cowboys defense that does not have enough players.
The Cowboys led the Rams 17-6 in the second quarter, and then despite the chance to make the Rams’ one dimensional, the defense was awful in a 35-30 loss.
All of those re-worked drafts of the 2016 class had Dak, who was a fourth-round pick, selected No. 1 overall, which is where the Rams picked Goff. On Sunday, Goff was better.
It helped his team was better, too.
The Rams ripped off 19 consecutive points and squeezed out the remaining minutes to win a game where they entered as underdogs.
As is the case with any NFL loss, there is plenty of blame to go around but this one is on a defense that was handed a win and gave it right back.
Goff threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but the Rams’ running game embarrassed the Cowboys; the Dallas defense allowed the Rams to run for 169 yards with Todd Gurley accounting for 121.
The Rams are 3-1 and one of the biggest surprises in the NFL, as are the Cowboys, who are now 2-2.
The success of the Cowboys is built on their offense taking a lead, and then the defense loading up to defend the pass. It worked last season, and there is no reason it should not have on Sunday.
The absence of linebacker Sean Lee to a hamstring injury was catastrophic to the run defense, because second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith is not ready for this yet.
These and three over-rants after the Cowboys’ second loss of the season.
Thirty points has to be enough.
Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott started the game like it was Week 8 in 2016; Dak was throwing it to Dez Bryant, and Zeke was running and scoring touchdowns.
The running game went for 189 yards, averaged 7.0 yards per carry, and the offensive line struggled. In the second half, Dak was under pressure far too often.
The Rams’ defensive line, at least in the pass, outplayed the Cowboys up front.
The Cowboys receivers are still not getting open enough.
Here is your loss: The Rams won the turnover stat, 2-0.
After leading the NFL in sacks and being named the NFC defensive player of the month, Cowboys defensive end Tank Lawrence is now officially a man the other team talks about during the week.
In the first half against the Rams, Lawrence was repeatedly double-teamed and often found an additional blocker in his way en route to Jared Goff.
Tank did come up with a strip-sack in the second half, the only sack of the game for the Cowboys’ defense.
If Tank is going to be accounted for by multiple offensive players on every snap, someone else has to do something. David Irving will come off suspension next week against the Green Bay Packers, and if he can’t do it, there is no other candidate.
znModeratorznModeratorI don’t quite understand VB’s argument for how this game made the Rams LA’s team,
Well it’s precisely the LA disease people complained about before they moved to St.Louis. There is very little “hometown” loyalty for the team. It’s bandwagon loyalty. Except he’s so eyeball deep in it, he’s actually bragging.
znModeratorAlden Gonzalez @Alden_Gonzalez
From ESPN Stats & Info: Gurley faced 6 or fewer defenders in the box on 16 of 23 rushing attempts. Defenses are starting to respect Goff.Vincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
#Rams fans: Les Snead deserves a ton of credit. He & McVay nailed free agency/draft. They flipped script in 1 off season. That’s impressiveMark Whicker @MWhicker03LANG
The play-calling is better, yes, and so are the WRs, but it doesn’t mean zip without the OL. Lawrence was invisible today for Dallas.Rich Hammond @Rich_Hammond
Very true. Havenstein vs. Lawrence could have been a disaster for Rams.Jerry Jones loves him some Wade Phillips: pic.twitter.com/mlb8Qg9GSl
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) October 1, 2017
znModeratorznModeratorUnder HC Sean McVay, Rams have scored 142 points, the 4th-highest total by a team in its first four games of a season with a first-year HC.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 2, 2017
znModeratorRams finally settled into L.A. home after roaring back to beat Dallas Cowboys
By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angels Daily News
http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20171001/SPORTS/171009983
ARLINGTON, Texas >> The official archives will forever decree the Rams returned home to Los Angeles on January 12, 2016, by edict of the 32 owners of the National Football League and one very persuasive push by Jerry Jones, the influential owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
Officially, anyway.
Just don’t be surprised if somewhere down the road someone points to October 1, 2017 as the day the Rams truly became ours again.
They were L.A.’s team in name only last year. But it never quite felt right or natural. They were trying to re-introduce themselves to their new surroundings and we were trying to acclimate ourselves to their presence again.
In some ways it felt forced. Contrived, even.
We knew them. But we didn’t know them, if that makes any sense.
It didn’t help that they forced us to endure a 4-12 season that, incredibly, was even worse than the record suggests. So this is what we waited 21 years for, we muttered to ourselves.
It was a bad deal all around.
That all changed on Sunday when the Rams strolled into Dallas and miraculously overcame a great team in a hostile environment, injuries, penalties, a shaky defensive first half, communication problems and those God-awful uniforms to beat the Cowboys, 35-30.
They arrived, finally, in L.A.’s hearts and imagination by going toe to toe with one of the best teams in the NFL and outplaying, out-muscling and out-coaching them at every critical turn.
That it all happened while Jones — who played one of the biggest roles of all in the Rams returning to L.A. — watching from his luxury suite only made it all the more dramatic.
The Rams were measured when the situation warranted. Aggressive when absolutely nothing less was required. And resilient throughout.
They spotted the Cowboys leads of 17-6 and 24-13 only to come roaring back in the third quarter, limiting the Cowboys to just two first downs over their first four second-half possessions while scoring 19 straight points to take a 32-24 lead.
“I think the number one thing we’ve shown every week is there is absolutely no quit in these guys,” Rams quarterback and Novato native Jared Goff said. “I think that’s not only the sign of a good team but a team that’s maturing. A team that has some veteran leadership now and a team that’s getting older and starting to learn situations better.”
They did it with Todd Gurley running all over the Cowboys defense by rushing 23 times for 121 yards and catching seven passes for 94 yards and one touchdown. Gurley’s 215 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches is his highest total single-game output of his career, and is there any doubt he has firmly established himself as an early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year and Player of the Year honors?
They did it with Goff, a Marin Catholic High and Cal product, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns and moving the chains with some big-time third-down completions to keep eventual scoring drives alive.
None bigger than when the Rams faced a third-and-11 at their own 11 early in the fourth quarter while leading 26-24. Backed up near their own end zone, it would have been easy for Coach Sean McVay to play it safe, smash the ball into the middle of the line and punt it on fourth down. Instead, he put the situation in Goff’s hands by calling a pass play. Goff responded with a perfect throw to Robert Woods for 19 yards, a first down and fresh new outlook. That drive, incidentally, resulted in a Greg Zuerlein field goal that put the Rams ahead 29-24.
“That was a big-time play for us,” McVay said. “It ended up leading to points. We put ourselves in a bad situation with the offsides and then we ended up having a bad run on second down. Robert ran a great route. Jared delivered it in the timing and the rhythm of the play and it ends up leading to a big conversion on third-and- long. Those are the kinds of things you have to do to go beat an excellent Dallas Cowboys team on the road.”
And they did it with a battered and bruised defense that got pushed from one end of the field to another throughout a sloppy first half finally settling down to limit the Cowboys to just six second-half points.
They didn’t just move to 3-1 on the season and create an endless amount of possibilities for themselves the rest of the way.
They didn’t just boldly announce themselves to a national television audience as a very real threat in the NFC and a legitimate team to keep an eye on.
They connected with Los Angeles in ways they never quite managed to do last season. They gave us a real reason to jump on board. Made us proud in the process. And opened our eyes to a world we never could have imagined just a few short months ago when we wondered if they could consistently run, block and tackle let alone drop the kind of offensive hammers they have on opponents this year.
The playoffs?
Why not?
By beating the Cowboys they just proved they can beat anyone, anytime anywhere.
A division title?
Who says they can’t?
The Seattle Seahawks, the perceived class of the NFC West, have exploitable flaws. And the way the Rams offense is waylaying people, there is no reason to think they can’t do the same against Seattle.
We’ll find out soon enough, with the Seahawks coming to town next week.
And after the pivot they made Sunday against arguably the best team in the NFC, anything is possible next week, and every week after.
At no point could we ever say that last year — even when the Rams started the season 3-1.
It was all smoke and mirrors done by players whose names we were just getting to know.
This 3-1 is legit. The Rams proved that Sunday but proving they can compete with the best the NFL has to offer. Things might never be the same in this relationship as a result.
It happens like that sometimes. A turning point occurs. A seminal moment arrives and unfolds.
Los Angeles had barely finished breakfast or rubbed the sleep out of its eyes early Sunday morning when the Rams and Cowboys kicked off. But, sooner than you can say Dak Prescott, it was obvious the Rams had invited everyone onto the rollercoaster ride with them and told them to buckle up.
We weren’t quite sure they’d get us back to level ground safely. There were plenty of moments where it looked like they’d send us careening head first into the pavement. But they never blinked, not even once. And time after time they flashed a devilish grin as if to say: Don’t worry. We got this.
Like the defense finally heeding the advice of coordinator Wade Phillips.
He had the Cowboys down to a tee, even forecasting to his players exactly what they’d do.
Only for some reason, they needed further proof.
“It was almost like, we believed it, but we didn’t believe it till we actually saw it,” said linebacker Connor Barwin. “Then we saw it in that first half. And we came in and said, they did exactly what we thought they’d do. Now let’s go out and do what we’re supposed to do. And that’s what we did.”
In doing so, they bought Goff and the Rams offense the necessary time to come back in a signature win that finally solidified themselves as L.A.’s team.
It took a while, but the Rams are officially back.
znModeratorRams prove they’re the real deal by beating Cowboys
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-cowboys-20171001-story.html
It looks different, sounds different and, more than anything else, it feels different.
That was evident from the whooping, hollering and joking in the locker room on Sunday after the Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 35-30, before a crowd of 91,869 at AT&T Stadium.
Greg Zuerlein kicked a team-record seven field goals, quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley led the offense, and the defense came together in the second half as the Rams improved to 3-1 and stayed atop the NFC West with a second consecutive road victory.
Not that anyone is getting too far ahead of themselves. The Rams learned the hard way last season when they started 3-1 under former coach Jeff Fisher, and then nosedived to 4-12.
But when asked if this year’s 3-1 feels different, players could barely contain themselves.
“Hell yeah!” defensive lineman Aaron Donald exclaimed, teammates joining in to echo the chorus.
After a season-opening victory over Indianapolis, a loss against Washington and a victory at San Francisco, there was good reason to question whether the Rams were for real. On Sunday, they showed they are not an illusion by making the Cowboys’ home their proving ground.
Through the first quarter of the season, first-year coach Sean McVay appears to have engineered a complete offensive makeover heading into next week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Coliseum.
“You feel like you’re in a good position,” McVay said in a measured tone, “but there’s a lot of football to be played.”
The Rams are still a long way from contending for a playoff berth, something the franchise has not enjoyed since 2004. But they are making an early statement — and enjoying the moment.
There is no more obvious example than the broad smile Gurley wore after rushing for 121 yards and catching a team-best seven passes for 94 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter that put the Rams ahead to stay.
“When you’re winning, I’m telling you, it makes everything so much better,” he said.
Zuerlein was the difference against the Cowboys, converting three field goals in the first half and four in the second, including three in the fourth quarter.
“He won the game today,” McVay said of his kicker, who’s 14 for 14 on the season. “He’s Mr. Automatic.”
The Rams, the NFL’s worst offense the past two seasons, have scored at least 35 points in their victories. That has helped make up for the struggles of a defense that during the previous two games and the first half Sunday had trouble stopping the run.
The unit rallied in the second half against the Cowboys, holding off quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott with less than two minutes left to secure the victory.
“We still have work to do, but were building, and that’s the whole thing,” said linebacker Mark Barron, who intercepted a pass that set up a fourth-quarter field goal. “We continue to finish. As long as we do that we’ll be fine and we’ll continue to get better.”
Goff continued to show improvement with his second consecutive turnover-free performance. He completed 21 of 36 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams overcame a 24-16 halftime deficit.
“It’s been fun so far,” Goff said, “and we look to continue it.”
Last season’s 3-1 start included a 9-3 victory over the Seahawks and consecutive road victories at Tampa Bay and Arizona. But Goff was on the bench behind journeyman Case Keenum, Gurley could not find running room and the receiving corps was undependable.
The Rams hired the 31-year-old McVay and then upgraded the offensive line and signed, drafted and traded for reliable receivers.They appear equipped to avoid a collapse like last season’s.
“It’s only the beginning,” Gurley said. “We’ve been here last year at 3-1 and only won one game after that so we got to keep that in mind as well. We’ve definitely got to keep moving forward and just get better every week and don’t get complacent.”
Said offensive lineman Jamon Brown: “Last year, we kind of escaped with wins. This year, we’re heading in the right direction.”
Safety Maurice Alexander said road victories over the 49ers and the Cowboys have produced confidence.
“You can tell from the vibe in the locker room,” he said.
Donald cautioned that there remains room for improvement. But there is no doubt this is different than last season.
“We keep playing like this, we can do some special things,” Donald said. “We have to keep it going.”
znModeratorhammer wrote:
The offense is much better with TA than without. His speed and ability to run in space make the defense use resources they would otherwise use to key on Gurley or rush the passer. It makes the defensive backs hesitate. It gives the offense an advantage. The jet sweep to Austin and the threat of it stretches the defense, it helps to create space when Gurley runs.
The plethera of good receivers stretch the defense. The offensive line kept Goff clean and opened holes for Gurley. All of the offensive options helped Gurley without them he would not have had near as much success as he did today. Teams that crowd the line of scrimmage against this offense will get burned unlike last year. I was very happy to see how much room Gurley had to run today. He often was down the field four yards before being touched. Dallas tried to cover him with a linebacker out of the backfield. McVay’s play calling and the multitude of threats allow this offense to succeed. Last week Watkins and Woods had big games, this week it was Gurley, next week it could be Gurley, Watkins, Woods, Krupp, Everett or Austin.
znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorznModeratorznModeratorIt’s safe to say it now: The Rams, victorious in their first real test, are legit
Alden Gonzalez
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Los Angeles Rams won two of their first three games, but they were supposed to. They beat the short-handed Indianapolis Colts, then survived against a San Francisco 49ers team that is at the onset of an all-out rebuild. Sunday, on the road against a star-studded Dallas Cowboys team coming off a 13-win season, represented the Rams’ first real test of the season. Todd Gurley said as much in the days leading up to Week 4. He called it a chance to “see what we are; see how far we came.”
The Rams have come a long, long way.
Todd Gurley rushed for 121 yards and caught seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ impressive 35-30 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
They beat the Cowboys 35-30 at AT&T Stadium, and basically everybody contributed.Gurley, the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for September, gained 215 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown on a 53-yard wheel route that gave the Rams their first lead late in the third quarter. Cooper Kupp caught five of seven targets for 60 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff went 21-of-36 for 255 yards and zero turnovers. Tavon Austin gained 48 yards on six carries. Greg Zuerlein made a career-high seven field goals. And a Rams defense that allowed 287 yards in the first half — and 806 combined yards to the Redskins and 49ers in back-to-back weeks — forced three consecutive punts and then intercepted a pass immediately after halftime.
“The No. 1 thing we’ve shown every week is that there is absolutely no quit in these guys,” said Goff, his QB rating now 112.2, nearly double his 63.6 rating from last year. “I think that’s not only a sign of a good team, but a team that is maturing; a team that has some veteran leadership now and a team that’s getting older and starting to learn situations better.”
The Rams’ rejuvenated offense gained 412 yards from scrimmage and topped 30 points for the third time this season — after doing so only once last season. They did all that even though their No. 1 receiver, Sammy Watkins, was targeted only twice. The Rams were pinned deep in their own territory to start back-to-back third-quarter possessions because of blocks in the back on punt returns, and they still marched up the field to score each time.
The Cowboys came back with a quick touchdown drive but failed to convert on a game-tying two-point conversion. Then the Rams got the ball, chewed up more than five minutes and gained 68 yards, setting up Zuerlein’s seventh field goal. On the Cowboys’ ensuing possession, the Rams wrapped up Ezekiel Elliott about a yard shy of the first-down marker on fourth down, sealing the win and putting them at 3-1 to start the season.
The Rams also started 3-1 last season, and then it all went downhill.
But this season, it feels different because the Rams appear to have a legitimate offense.
znModeratorTodd Gurley’s career day pushes Rams past Cowboys
By Chris Wesseling
Todd Gurley’s career day paced the NFL’s top-ranked scoring offense as the upstart Los Angeles Rams came from behind to topple the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Here’s what we learned in the Rams’ 35-30 victory:
1. The reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Month, Gurley took control of the game in the final two quarters, finishing with a career-best 215 yards from scrimmage. The highlight was a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a post route, as Gurley scored via reception for the third consecutive game. New coach Sean McVay has not only rejuvenated Gurley on the ground, but has also tapped into the former Georgia star’s ability to make plays in the aerial attack. Gurley fell just six yards shy of becoming the first Rams back since Steven Jackson in 2006 to reach 100 receiving yards in a game. Needless to say, Dallas’ defense sorely missed All Pro linebacker Sean Lee, who sat out with a hamstring injury.
2. Credit Rams coordinator Wade Phillips for key halftime adjustments after his defense failed to stop Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys’ offense on four first-half possessions. Taking a decisive 287-126 edge in net yards into the third quarter, Dallas’ first four second-half possessions resulted in three punts and a Mark Barron interception before Dak Prescott found a wide open James Hanna for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Rams dominated time of possession, stonewalled Elliott and came through with big stops on third downs, playing keep away throughout the second half.
3. Already armed with three-time All-Pro Johnny Hekker as the premier punter in football, the Rams’ special teams have also benefited from the league’s most productive place kicker at the season’s quarter mark. After entering Week 4 with the most kicks (field goals and extra points) converted, Greg Zuerlein drilled seven field goals without a miss, accounting for 23 of the team’s 35 points.
4. While it’s fair to point out the lack of powerhouse defenses on the Rams’ early-season schedule, the dramatic turnaround masterminded by McVay will have him in the Coach of the Year discussion as long as it continues. In addition to Gurley’s renaissance, McVay has also transformed Jared Goff from one of the NFL’s least efficient quarterbacks to one of its most efficient. Goff has already thrown more touchdown passes (seven) through four games than he managed in seven rookie starts (five). The top overall pick in the 2016 draft has completed 66.7 percent of his passes at 9.2 yards per attempt for a 112.2 passer rating at the season’s quarter mark.
5. One of McVay’s stiffest challenges is figuring out how to get his organization’s money’s worth out of fourth receiver Tavon Austin, relegated to a gadget player in September. McVay found success Sunday by using the jitterbug receiver/runner hybrid as a change-of-pace backup to Gurley, dialing up six runs for 48 yards (8.0 yards per carry). Maximizing Austin’s unique playmaking ability will continue to be a challenge going forward.
znModeratorRams take full advantage of Todd Gurley in impressive win over Dallas Cowboys
By RICH HAMMOND
link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/01/rams-defense-hangs-on-for-huge-road-win-over-dallas-cowboys/
ARLINGTON, Texas — “Middle-school offense.” Todd Gurley didn’t mince words, and good for him.
A year ago, the Rams were lost. They ran the ball like a team clad in cement shoes. Touchdowns drives were as infrequent as traffic-free jaunts on the 405. Frustration mounted, and finally Gurley let loose after a game and opined that a group of teenagers could organize an offense equal to the Rams’ attack.
Turns out, the offense just needed Coach Sean McVay, who might pass for a high school senior if he shaved.
Gurley, sullen and criticized last year, now arguably is the NFL’s top all-purpose threat, and is the main reason why the Rams are the league’s surprise team. After a bumpy first half, the Rams responded with brilliance Sunday afternoon and rallied for a 35-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
“When you’re winning, I’m telling you, it makes everything so much better,” Gurley said with a big grin.
What a turnaround. Gurley led the Rams in rushing (121 yards on 23 carries) and receiving (94 yards and one touchdown on seven catches) Sunday and accounted for more than half of the Rams’ 412 yards. His turnaround is the main reason why the Rams have a 3-1 record and flying higher than anyone expected.
This isn’t perfection. The Rams looked dreadful on defense in the first half, when they allowed 24 points and 287 yards and trailed by as many as 11 points. These lengthy lapses have been too frequent for the Rams this season, and success won’t be sustainable if they continue.
But not only did the Rams clean up things on defense in the second half, when they allowed six points and 153 yards, but the Rams also now have an offense potent enough to survive defensive hiccups. That’s why this year’s 3-1 record feels much different than last year, when the Rams finished 1-11.
The Rams had great balance on offense against the Cowboys, as quarterback Jared Goff had a steady day (21 of 36, 255 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) and they ran for 168 yards.
The Rams nursed a small lead for most of the fourth quarter and held the ball for more than 10 minutes. The Cowboys regained momentum in the middle of the quarter, when they pulled within 32-30 but failed to convert on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt.
In need of first downs, with 7:08 left, the Rams turned to Gurley. He carried the ball seven times and caught one pass as the Rams bled more than five minutes off the clock and took a 35-30 lead on kicker Greg Zuerlein’s seventh field goal of the game.
The defense made one final stop to secure the victory and the Rams jumped around on the sideline like, well, a bunch of excited middle-schoolers.
“The biggest thing for us,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said, “is whenever we’ve seen some adversity, we’ve been able to stay calm, stay focused and continue to play our game.”
It’s amazing how a successful running game can calm nerves. A year ago, the Rams seemed to have no idea what to do with Gurley. They ran him up the middle, into a wall of defenders, and when that didn’t work, they just tried it again and again. Gurley averaged 3.2 yards per rushing attempt.
McVay, also the Rams’ play-caller, has made things look different. He sends receivers in motion to pull attention from Gurley, and McVay had the wild idea of actually throwing the ball to Gurley.
The Rams’ run blocking has improved, and Gurley looks more motivated, perhaps in part because he has coaches who are putting him in positions to succeed. With 362 rushing yards and 234 receiving yards through four games, he’s almost halfway his 2016 all-purpose total of 1,212.
Gurley also has become only the third running back in NFL history to total at least 575 yards from scrimmage and at least seven touchdowns in his team’s first four games. The others? Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith.
A year ago, Gurley looked broken. McVay’s offense, and some offensive upgrades, provided the fix.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily if you can ‘fix’ him,” McVay said. “I mean, this guy is a great player. … Just because last year, from a numbers standpoint, maybe it wasn’t what we would have liked, that doesn’t take away from some of the things he did on tape, when you really study it. These are things that we expect from Todd, and I know he expects of himself.”
znModerator‼️ O-LINE APPRECIATION TWEET ‼️@robhavenstein78 @NFLRAMS_Jbrown @JASully65 @Rodger_Saffold @awhitworth77 pic.twitter.com/Dlst9IPLVi
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 1, 2017
znModeratorVincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
Jared Goff just said the 54-yard TD pass to Todd Gurley was a play the #Rams put in on MondayFYI: #Rams Jared Goff did lose sound in his helmet from McVay in the 1st half so adjustments were made to deal w/it. It did throw timing off
Julia Faron @JFaron
Zuerlein’s seven field goals are a franchise record. The previous record was six (Jeff Wilkins, vs. Denver 9/10/06).Zuerlein scored 23 points (seven field goals and two points after touchdown), which is the second-highest total for a Ram in a single game.
Nathan Jahnke @PFF_NateJahnke
Andrew Whitworth has now played 4 games with the Rams, and has still only allowed just 1 pressure.Henry Ellard @EllardHop85
Impressive win by the Rams in Dallas! It’s still early but I’m starting to believe this team has a chance to do something this year.Eugene Sims @EugeneSims2
Did you see them boys?! And I ain’t talking about them cowboys😂 #proudofmybrosJoe Curley @vcsjoecurley
“It is four games and we have 12 left that we know of for sure.” — McVay“Can’t say enough about Jared in crunch time.” — McVay
Alden Gonzalez @Alden_Gonzalez
Rams DT Aaron Donald: “We keep playing like this, we’re going to do some special things.”Rich Hammond @Rich_Hammond
Tavon Austin: “He worked us to death in practice. If anyone knows Coach Sean, he demands perfection. That’s what I like about him.”The Rams are 1-0 all time in blue/white helmets and blue/gold jerseys.
Rams allowed 6 points and 153 yards in the second half and somehow the “Fire Wade Phillips” tweets in my @ vanished.
Mark Whicker @MWhicker03LANG
The play-calling is better, yes, and so are the WRs, but it doesn’t mean zip without the OL. Lawrence was invisible today for Dallas.J.B. Long @JB_Long
Held without a receiving TD in his 1st two seasons, @TG3II now the first @RamsNFL RB with one in 3 straight games since @marshallfaulk 2001.Tale of 2 halves for @RamsNFL defense
1st: 24pts, 287 yds, 18:00 DAL possession
2nd: 6pts, 125 yds, 11:28 DAL possession
Start of something?znModeratorThe Rams interior duo dominated today! pic.twitter.com/CxVUtGdirc
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 1, 2017
znModeratorfrom Rams at Cowboys Postgame Notes
– Today’s games marks the fourth consecutive game that the Rams have posted 20-plus points and the third game with a 30-plus point total.
– First time since 2014 that the Rams have posted 300-plus total yards in each of their first four games.
– Gurley totaled 215 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches, which is his highest total single-game output of his career.
– Gurley has led the Rams in yards from scrimmage in all four contests this season.
– Gurley’s 53-yard receiving touchdown is the Rams longest scoring play of the season and is his third longest catch of his career.
– Gurley’s 53-yard receiving touchdown is the longest touchdown reception by a Rams running back since former RB Steven Jackson had a 64-yard reception against Washington (12/24/06).
– Gurley is the first Rams RB with 200-plus yards from scrimmage in a single game since RB Steven Jackson posted 215 yards from scrimmage against the Atlanta Falcons on (12/28/08)
– WR Cooper Kupp recorded a 7-yard touchdown pass, his second score of the season. Kupp finished the game with five receptions for 60 yards
– OLB Mark Barron intercepted Prescott in the fourth quarter. Marks his third interception as a Ram, first of the season and sixth career.
– Barron split the team lead in tackles with LB Alec Ogletree, each posting seven tackles, according to press box statistics.
– DT Michael Brockers sacked Cowboys QB Dak Prescott for a 1-yard loss. Marked Brockers’ first sack of the season and 15.5 career.
– OLB Connor Barwin sacked Prescott. Marked his second sack as a Rams, 52.5 career.
– CB Troy Hill recovered a fumble on punt return to put the Rams at the Dallas 18-yard line.
– WR/KR Pharoh Cooper registered his longest career kickoff return with a 66 yard return. Cooper’s 66-yard kickoff return is the longest return for a Ram since former RB/KR Benny Cunningham had a 102-yard kickoff return vs. Tampa Bay (12/17/15).
– K Greg Zuerlein converted field goals 7-of-7 field goals, setting a franchise record for most field goals in a game. The previous record was six (Jeff Wilkins, vs. Denver 9/10/06).
– Zuerlein scored 23 points (seven field goals and two points after touchdown), which is the second-highest total for a Ram in a single game. Previously, there have been several Rams that have scored 24 points in a game, which is the highest mark in franchise history. The last player to score 24 points in a game was former RB Steven Jackson when he scored four touchdowns at Minnesota (12/31/06).
– Zuerlein has converted 18 consecutive field goal attempts.
– Zuerlein (535) has passed RB Marshall Faulk (524) for fifth on the Rams’ all-time scoring list. Zuerlein trails Bruce Gossett (571).
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