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znModeratorRams’ Tavon Austin, Case Keenum still looking for chemistry
Jack Wang
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161007/rams-tavon-austin-case-keenum-still-looking-for-chemistry
THOUSAND OAKS >> Two months ago, Tavon Austin dismissed any suggestion that the Rams might become a more pass-friendly offense.
“Oh no, definitely not,” the receiver said. “Definitely not. Todd’s definitely going to get his carries. And that’s just how it goes.”
His prediction has been borne out. The Rams (3-1) sit atop the NFC West, but their surprising opening run has come despite their anemic offense. Only two teams in the NFL average fewer passing yards, and only three have totaled fewer aerial touchdowns.
Still, the presence of star running back Todd Gurley doesn’t really explain Austin’s own lack of production.
In May, Rams coach Jeff Fisher had said that Austin could “maybe double his catches” — putting him in the neighborhood of 104 receptions, a mark that only seven players topped in 2015. So far, the former first-round pick has only made 16 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown.
This is not for the Rams’ lack of trying. Austin is one of the top-25 most targeted receivers in the NFL through four games, with quarterback Case Keenum having already thrown his way 35 times. That’s nine more than leading receiver Kenny Britt, who has recorded 122 more receiving yards. Considering that the Rams recently gave Austin a four-year extension worth up to $42 million, they’re not getting much return per dollar.
The fault doesn’t belong solely to Austin, whose 47-yard punt return played a crucial part in the Rams’ 17-13 win at Arizona last Sunday. Asked this week about his connection with the 5-foot-9 wideout, Keenum shouldered some of the blame.
“Really, there’s a couple from last week that were all on me,” he said. “Watching the film — even on the field — I knew there were some plays that, he might still be running if I hit him in stride. He’s a really good player. An explosive player, as you saw on the punt return, and you see week in and week out.
“Anytime we’ve got him in the open field, I’ve got to get him the ball.”
znModeratorMight be tough this weekend I think I’ll be doing battle with Mathew and getting ready to catch a plane out West Monday…If I’m not on during the game I’ll be sure to pop in some time and share my thoughts.
Anytime. Good luck with all your activities there, including the storm.
znModeratorNFL cites multiple reasons for lower TV ratings
Speculation about plummeting ratings for NFL games led the league to circulate an internal memo Thursday, saying the decline was a result of a variety of factors, Darren Rovell of ESPN reports. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17738537/nfl-memo-cites-multiple-reasons-tv-ratings-drop-2016
Through the fourth week of the season, ratings across all networks are down 11 percent.
“Prime-time windows have clearly been affected the most, while declines during the Sunday afternoon window are more modest,” the NFL’s top media executives, Brian Rolapp and Howard Katz, wrote to the league’s media committee in a memo obtained by ESPN. “While our partners, like us, would have liked to see higher ratings, they remain confident in the NFL and unconcerned about a long-term issue.”
Over the last 15 years, NFL viewership overall, the memo said, has increased 27 percent amidst a prime-time viewership fall of 36 percent.
One of the factors, the executives said, was the presidential election, something that they noted was not unprecedented.
“In 2000, during the campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore, all four NFL broadcast partners suffered year-over-year declines — Fox was down 4 percent, CBS was down 10 percent, ABC was down 7 percent and ESPN was down 11 percent,” the memo said.
The executives also said that they saw “no evidence that concern over player protests during the national anthem is having any material impact on our ratings. In fact, our own data shows that perception of the NFL and its players is actually up in 2016.”
znModeratorznModeratorfrom Film Room: The 3-1 Rams
link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/film-room-the-3-1-rams/
The Rams have eight passing plays that gained 30 or more yards this season, all eight coming in the past three games. Per Pro Football Reference, only three teams have more 30-plus-yard passing plays for the whole season. Keenum has gained 330 yards — exactly 40 percent of his season total of 825 — on those eight plays. Surprisingly, only three of those plays have come after play-action to Gurley (or any running back on the roster).
znModeratorYou have to double-check links here when you post them.
Some links the software reads as pics, and you get the pic which then often doesn’t function as a link.
All you have to do to fix that is put the link in the same line as something your write (a convenient version would be to write “link:”).
So I did that via edit in your case.
Here;s what happens if you don’t do that.
It’s this:
v. this:
znModeratorthat can’t last very long. the offense has to get better.
I don’t disagree that it has to get better.
But they did not just squeak by in those games with defense.
The offense had to contribute too. And sure enough, in the last 2 games, on the road, against the 15th and 8th ranked defenses, they came from behind to win.
They don’t come from behind they don’t win.
This is my mantra pic for the early 2016 offense:
znModeratorYes we are 3-1. But as we heard from the media, they don’t take is seriously.
Jack…how long did it take for the media to take the Rams seriously in 99. It was like 8 or 9 games in.
“The media” doesn’t know the Rams as well as we do. No one in the media spends as much time on the Rams as we do. Their attention is divided by 32 teams and 16 games a week. There is no one out there in the national media who devotes equal attention to all 32 teams.
And so when someone says the national media doesn’t take the Rams seriously, all I can do is grin.
I mean how in the hell would they know. We know the team better than they do because we devote as much attention to one team as they do to all 32.
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znModeratorAre those stats completions or attempts? Would be interesting to compare completions on the long ball from last year to this year. It seems to me they are having more success this year.
Keenum 2015 v. Keenum 2016.
2015. On passes of 21 yards or more, cp is 36%. On passes of 31 yards or more, cp is 33%.
2016. On passes of 21 yards or more, cp is 50%. On passes of 31 yards or more, cp is 40%.On 31 or more yards, whenever I look at this, I consider 30% to be minimally decent, 40% to be good, and 50% or more to be very good.
As long as we’re doing this…Tyrod Taylor, 2016.
2016. On passes of 21 yards or more, cp is 28.5%. On passes of 31 yards or more, cp is 22%.
znModeratorAre those stats completions or attempts? Would be interesting to compare completions on the long ball from last year to this year. It seems to me they are having more success this year.
Keenum 2015 v. Keenum 2016.
2015. On passes of 21 yards or more, cp is 36%. On passes of 31 yards or more, cp is 33%.
2016. On passes of 21 yards or more, cp is 50%. On passes of 31 yards or more, cp is 40%.On 31 or more yards, whenever I look at this, I consider 30% to be minimally decent, 40% to be good, and 50% or more to be very good.
znModeratorI think that ranking is a little higher than they really deserve.
The bad guys are selling out to stop Gurley and TA…stacking the box and playing 9-11 guys within 10 yds of the LOS daring CK to beat them deep.
I think the O is starting to feel it a little now, as in OK if that’s what you want to do we’re gonna make you pay.
The big worry though is the O-line sustaining their blocks. Those long pass plays take time and the other teams feel they can get to CK before he can unleash it….so, it’s gonna be a combination of better play from the O-line and CK delivering accurate passes because they are gonna be there.
You know, last year, before teams did this super-stack thing against them, the Rams were still throwing big passing plays, and a fair number too.
They have their share of long passes this year too…more than most teams. It’s actually a Rams thing to do that.
10.9% of their attempts have been for 21 yards or more.
5% of their attempts have been for 31 yards or more.
Compare that to say Ryan.
8.7% of Ryan’s attempts have been for 21 yards or more.
4.37% of Ryan’s attempts have been for 31 yards or more.
Keenum has always been an active and good long passer. Throwing 5% for 31 yards or more btw is a figure that would put the Rams in the top third of the league. Rams qbs have been at around 5% for more a couple of years now, regardless who the qb is.
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znModeratorThat was a detailed and good read. Thanks for taking the time and sharing your thoughts.
Good to hear your thoughts on GRob and watching the film confirmed, to you, that he’s making good progress. I have to admit, I’m keeping an eye on that situation because I expect to see some growth this year from him.
I agree with regards to the O-line and room for Gurley. The blocking has been bad and it seems, to me, most of the pressure is straight up the middle.
Welcome aboard SB. The “pending moderation” thing is a spam filter and you only get it once. Once I cleared you, you;re in. If you can, join us in the chat room during games.
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znModeratorWell some cogitating and pondering, I’ve decided that by far the best take on this I’ve heard is from D’marco Farr. It’s here, in this audio, about 11:48 in —>
link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/audio-farr-simmons-on-the-arz-game/
Farr says defenses not only crowd the line against Gurley and the Rams, they play all sorts of games with stunts and change-ups. His point is that the shifting and movement causes indecision in the OL (not sure who to block) and in turn that causes indecision for the RB.
I think what happened this year is that SF gameplanned that kind of attack, it worked, and now every team they face is doing it.
Remember this is not just a simple case of loading the box. More than that, defenses have been creative in getting their guys to stunt and move in their attack, making it harder for a less experienced line to figure out what to do and who to block each play. That produces hesitation and indecision and so they look like they’re out of sync as a line.
Gurley is not a great behind the LOS lateral movement guy–he has to go forward, that’s who he is. So that’s part of it. Still when you get the blocking, as we saw last year, a back like that can still thrive.
znModeratorPFT’s Week Five picks
Mike Florio
We continue to stink when it comes to picking games this year, with both MDS and yours truly barely above .500. He’s up by a game, and his lead won’t get any larger (or smaller) this weekend.
For the first time this season, we disagree on none of the 14 games.
To see what we think (and to then do the opposite, for amusement purposes only), keep reading. Or not; the click already has been registered.
Bills at Rams
MDS’s take: This is a much better game than anyone would have thought early in the season, with the Bills on a two-game winning streak and the Rams on a three-game winning streak. I’ll pick L.A. to keep it going behind a better-than-expected game from Case Keenum.
MDS’s pick: Rams 24, Bills 20.
Florio’s take: Buffalo has found the gas pedal following that Thursday night debacle, but the Rams are on the right track and will be hard to beat before a big crowd at the Coliseum. Especially with Aaron Donald to prove that he can hold Sheldon Richardson’s jock, if for some reason Donald would even want to.
Florio’s pick: Rams 17, Bills 10.
znModeratorBritt has gone from a 50% catch rate last year to nearly 70% so far this year. That’s pretty dramatic. He’s on pace for 70 catches and 1100 yards.
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off the net from LMU93FootballOutsiders rates Britt 16th among WRs through 4 games. I honestly can’t recall the last time a Rams’ WR was in their top 25.
znModeratorI had to quit about half way through. I couldn’t stand any more of MS giggling.
Yes there’s some good stuff there but the dynamic between Farr and Simmons is really annoying. They’re stepping all over one another. It’s like Farr resents Simmons or something. And the way they get to each other in personal terms is just bad radio. Still at first there was some good stuff there. But then as it goes along all the silly annoying stuff just buried it like volcanic ash.
znModeratorWhy does that happen?
IMO? (And it’s all just IMOs based on limited partial knowledge.)
Because a head coach has so many other things to do that getting equally involved in both units is just frankly impossible.
You have to give a lot to at least one coordinator.
In terms of knowing the other side because you play against it…that’s actually too counter-intuitive for me. For example I don’t think you want to hire Norv Turner as your defensive coordinator just because he has had success against defenses. It doesn’t translate into knowing how to COACH defense. Similarly you’re just not going to hire Wade Wilson as your offensive coordinator. Same thing. So if you got a team and did hire Wilson for the offense and Turner for the defense, you would end up with one big steaming hot mess.
It would be the same as switching the bartender and the cocktail waitresses. That would pretty much ruin happy hour even if on paper you would think the one would know the other’s job. It’s still not the same as doing it.
znModeratorI’ve searched the web. Can’t find any more on him. By my estimate he’s been “not playing” for over 7 weeks. That’s a hell of an injury.
I wanna see what he’s got. I know the coaches see him everyday, and obviously they’re holding him out for a reason, but I’m not sure what that is. He made the roster, so I don’t think they’d have to release anyone to activate him. But I don’t know???
The injury set him behind. He has to catch up. It was a knee but then that probably meant he wasn’t running full speed. I think the injury was all healed up a few weeks ago and the rest is getting up to actual speed executing the offense in practice. Then on game days, you have to ask who he replaces. They’re not going to sit Tavon, and Britt and Quick are playing well. Marquez is important on special teams. I suppose Thomas can sit, but then maybe Thomas is ahead of him in terms of executing the offense.
znModerator“[Keenum]’s getting better,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “He’s very cerebral, he’s getting us in the right plays,
Britt…has also dramatically improved his catch percentage (receptions over targets) from 50 percent in 2015 to 69.2 percent in 2016.
2 things.
Boras on Keenum–the cerebral part. That’s a big part of what a Rams qb has to do and that adds a lot to what Goff has to learn…”getting us in the right plays,” that kind of things. Audibles.
And the 2nd, Britt has gone from a 50% catch rate last year to nearly 70% so far this year. That’s pretty dramatic. He’s on pace for 70 catches and 1100 yards.
znModeratorRams rookie Marqui Christian savors win over former team
Rich Hammond
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161004/rams-rookie-marqui-christian-savors-win-over-former-team
THOUSAND OAKS >> Marqui Christian got a win in his NFL regular-season debut — against the team that drafted him.
On Sunday, the Rams’ newest safety sat in the visitors’ locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium, the culmination of a very strange week. Last Tuesday, the Cardinals waived the rookie, in part to make room for a new punter to replace the injured Drew Butler. They had spoken glowingly of the fifth-round pick in the past, and hoped to sneak him onto their practice squad.
The Rams foiled that plan. They claimed the former Division II star off waivers the following day, adding Christian to the roster for their trip to Arizona and giving him six snaps on special teams. Afterward, Christian soaked in a 17-13 win, one made sweeter because it came against a franchise that never even activated him through three games.
“It was crazy,” Christian said. “Like a whirlwind, not knowing where you’re going to go. First of all, getting released — that feeling, just feeling sick.”
Although he knew the Cardinals wanted to keep him around, he was still offended that they didn’t see any immediate in-game use for him. He might have been buried behind a group of talented safeties, but he had also been a star at Midwestern State in northern Texas, winning the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s best small-school defensive player.
Back in April, Arizona general manager Steve Keim said that Christian’s performance at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl had left a scout with “his jaw dropping.”
Surely, there was at least a place for him on special teams?
“It really pissed me off,” Christian said. “I’m just glad the coaches here (in Los Angeles) believed in me, and gave me a chance to play right away.”
Another part of him understood that the move wasn’t personal, and he still talked to a few of his former coaches before kickoff in Glendale, Ariz. — adding that they only wished him the best. He was also glad that he only moved one state over, making it easier for him to maintain the relationships he had formed in the Cardinals’ locker room.
“Those are my brothers,” Christian said.
znModeratorhttp://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161004/rams-rookie-marqui-christian-savors-win-over-former-team
after training-camp struggles, cornerback now seems to be a position of strength for the Rams. Against Arizona, Trumaine Johnson recorded his first interception of the season, E.J. Gaines played well in his first game back from a quad injury and Lamarcus Joyner has thrived in the nickelback role.
znModerator, Massey went on to use the book to achieve complete karmic enlightenment
and Unity with the Divine.Yeah. For all the bloody good it did the Rams.
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znModeratorAll 22: WR Brian Quick TD
Insider Myles Simmons breaks down Brian Quick’s touchdown reception that gave the Rams the lead over the Arizona Cardinals.
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/All-22-WR-Brian-Quick-TD/f1da0309-da02-4e85-8f81-5decc6a5a791
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All 22: Donald and Sims Sack Palmer
Insider Myles Simmons breaks down Aaron Donald and Eugene Sims sack on Carson Palmer in a crucial late-game defensive stand.
znModeratorI just realized the Rams have won THREE games in a roww.
Two on the road.Should they extend Fisher,
or Fire him?Well they actually did that last year. Though only one was on the road…still, that one was at Seattle.
December 13 W Detroit Lions 21 14
December 17 W Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 23
December 27 W @ Seattle Seahawks 23 17They’re almost playing last year’s end of the season schedule backwards.
So last year it was ARz, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, and SF.
This year it was SF, Seattle, Tampa, ARz, (Buffalo), Detroit.
11 games. 6 teams. Repeating on 5 of them.
That means that within the last 8 games, they’ve had 2 3 game winning streaks.
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znModeratori’m glad for ej gaines. haven’t watched the game yet but sounds like he was a key player.
i feel much better about the secondary but he needs to stay healthy.
Have you seen the game yet?
It’s one wild game.
There’s a “make a play” type play practically every offensive and defensive series.
Special teams pitched in too.
znModeratorFwiw, W, I think you;re right.
And if so that just went by everyone, including the announcers.
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znModeratorIt seems to me that the ole war horse JT knows the Rams better than the LA writers and it shows.
Nothing earth shattering here, but he does still know the team better than anyone in the press.
znModeratorThe Pro Football Focus Power Rankings represent how every NFL team ranks overall to this point in the season, based on PFF’s grading of every player on every play of every game. It factors in offense, defense, and special teams, but does not factor in coaching and scheme, which may result in some teams playing better than the sum of their parts. It does not take into account things like team record, injuries or playoff odds, and is a measure of a team’s performance at this point of the season.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl-power-rankings/
Rankings Entering Week 5 – Updated 10/5/2016
Team Overall Offense Defense
Denver Broncos 1 4 3
Baltimore Ravens 2 18 5
Green Bay Packers 3 8 7
Seattle Seahawks 4 27 1
Philadelphia Eagles 5 3 12
Atlanta Falcons 6 1 28
Cincinnati Bengals 7 9 8
Oakland Raiders 8 2 26
New England Patriots 9 19 10
Dallas Cowboys 10 5 24
Buffalo Bills 11 23 4
Los Angeles Rams 12 31 2
Chicago Bears 13 13 19
New Orleans Saints 14 6 23
Arizona Cardinals 15 16 6
New York Giants 16 15 16
Minnesota Vikings 17 21 11
Miami Dolphins 18 20 20
Kansas City Chiefs 19 25 15
Washington Redskins 20 10 29
Pittsburgh Steelers 21 11 22
Carolina Panthers 22 24 14
Cleveland Browns 23 17 21
San Diego Chargers 24 26 18
Tennessee Titans 25 12 27
Jacksonville Jaguars 26 28 17
Detroit Lions 27 7 32
Indianapolis Colts 28 14 31
Houston Texans 29 29 13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30 22 30
San Francisco 49ers 31 32 9
New York Jets 32 30 25znModeratorWhen the Rams got rid of Massey I thought they’d never see excellence personified like that again.
It’s funny you should mention that. I’ve been thinking the same thing. I think Aaron Donald is to Chris Massey as Paint-by-Numbers is to Vincent Van Gogh. And that is so far ahead of anybody else, it is mind-boggling.
You guys forget what the locker room and coaches said about Massey. Remember when they said he should spend more time with the playbook and less time reading The Bhagavad Gita?
So he was not without controversy.
znModeratorRex Ryan laughs off his 2014 comment that Rams DT Aaron Donald “couldn’t hold the jock strap” of Jets DL Sheldon Richardson. Rex compares Donald to Hall of Fame DT John Randle.
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Here’s Rex, the transcript:
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(On if he remembers the context regarding his comments on Rams DT Aaron Donald from Donald’s rookie season)
“I’ve made a lot of dumb comments in my days, that’s probably right up there at the top. But what it was, was I was disappointed. We had a guy, (Jets DE) Sheldon Richardson had a great year, never made the Pro Bowl and one of our coaches had said ‘This guy can’t hold his jock.’ So I go ahead and say it – I never even saw him play, but I knew he was a rookie, so rookies shouldn’t go to the Pro Bowl. But, anyway, after I’ve seen this kid play, I’m like ‘Oh boy!’ Mark that down as one of the dumbest ones – and I’ve had a couple of them, maybe one or two dumb ones, that one right there is right at the top. But, obviously, he’s a great player. And, you know what, there’s two other great players getting ready to come out there and play as well in (Bills DTs) Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, who are pretty good players, too. If you like defensive tackle play, you’ve got (Rams DT Michael) Brockers and all that, it’s going to be a great game for it.”
On the new defensive tackle phenomenon with players like Dareus and Donald)
“They’re so athletic now. These guys are rare, though in any game. You don’t find Aaron Donalds or Marcell Dareuses out there. There’s a handful of these type of guys that are in the league now and they’re unbelievable. I’m looking at Donald, and the thing about him is he’s got such great quickness, but he’s also got such a change of direction, he’s got head and shoulder fakes and he uses his hands so well. And I love his motor, it’s rare to find someone who can play as many snaps as he does with that kind of intensity and effort. Really, a joy to watch – unfortunately, I’m not looking forward to Sunday, I can tell you that much. He really is a fun player to watch and I love his effort. I guess the nearest thing to him is John Randle, that I can remember – a guy with just explosiveness and power. Really a rare guy.”
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And more from Rex:
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(On his observations on the Rams)
“First off, I think they’re playing to the strength of their team. They play great special teams, I think that’s probably the most underrated unit, they’re unbelievable, (special teams coordinator) John Fassel does a great job coaching them. He’s got that riverboat gambler-type of mentality, as well, so you have to have your antenna up for that. But then their defense is led by an outstanding front-four, very athletic at the linebacker spot, as well. And then the corner, 22 (Trumaine Johnson), whoever he is, that sucker is a great football player. And I love (S T.J.) McDonald, I think he’s a tempo-setter, the way he plays. So they’re as solid as heck on defense with a great front. And then offensively, they have weapons. You’ve got as good a running back as there is playing right now in (Todd) Gurley. I think everybody is paying attention to him, and rightfully so. (WR) Tavon Austin, you have got two big wideouts. This is an outstanding group. The only stat that matters is what your record is and right now, they’re 3-1 and that’s all you really need to know about that team.”
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