Is this the week for Terrell Lewis?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
I think it just might be! I got the sense last week, when the rookie outside linebacker was not on the injury report but also was not active against the Jets, that the Rams were giving him a little extra time to rest his knee ahead of a pretty crucial final stretch. Lewis’ knee issues have popped up a couple of times this year (and they caused him to drop in the draft), but if the Rams can figure out a good way to manage it, he should be OK.

How badly does not having a true deep threat hurt the passing game?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
It seems many Rams observers believe a lack of a deep threat at wide receiver is the biggest hindrance to this offense’s production, and others believe it’s turnovers, lack of rhythm and execution, etc.

I’m in the second camp. Turnovers especially have been the biggest reason why this offense has not been successful. Despite having one of the most efficient and productive defenses in the NFL, the Rams are still minus-1 in turnover margin. That’s terrible. The Rams’ offense has turned the ball over at least once in every game this season. Please read that again, because it’s important. Turning the ball over at that rate affects every piece of what they’re able to do on offense. It wrecks the rhythm of the run game. It prevents them from getting deeper into their playbook, and from transitioning into different personnel looks that they’d like because they basically have to start over in their sequencing. If the turnover leads to opponent points, they have to change the game plan to make up for it, especially if they face a deficit.

The Rams don’t have a technical “deep threat,” and that’s obviously by choice because they traded receiver Brandin Cooks before the draft and with plenty of time in free agency. They made this choice because, as it’s now clear, they knew they were going to change the direction of their offense and rely more on high-probability plays instead of low-probability plays like the “deep ball.” High-probability plays mean catch-and-run plays off short passes, a strong run game, and pre-and-at-snap motions and reverses to help widen a defense before punching downfield after the catch. They did this in part because they knew their offensive line was going to be about the same in pass-blocking — Goff averages 2.5 seconds of time in the pocket this year, compared to 2.6 seconds in 2019, according to Pro Football Reference — and because they know Goff struggles against four-man pressure. Therefore, longer-developing plays become even lower-probability.

And, get this: The Rams, through much of the season, ranked among the top six in the NFL in explosive plays, because of their run game and the yards after catch from receivers and tight ends. So they were still “stretching the field,” just in a different way than we’ve come to expect.

Now, could they use a guy who can stretch out the back end of a defense through the air? Sure. When used in the right situation, and with the right player, that can be an incredibly useful play. But if they already knew they wouldn’t be throwing that type of ball much this year, it didn’t make sense from a roster or financial perspective to use resources there. Remember, you always need to give something up to get something. But considering all of this, it was even more frustrating to see them abandon the high-probability options on those third- and fourth-down plays at the end of Sunday’s game. That hasn’t been Goff’s game all year. Commit to a plan.

To me, most of the Rams’ issues would get fixed if they stopped giving the ball away. It seems like there should be a more complicated fix, but really, it’s simple. Get the ball to your playmakers with smart decisions and let them do the rest. Don’t give it back to the other team.

What is the glaring thing to you that has to be fixed for us to finish strong and be competitive in the playoffs that can be fixed?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. If I could only pick one thing to fix, among all that has bothered this offense (and special teams) this season, and that I believed would get the Rams on their way to a deep playoff run, that would be it.

Here’s something telling, and depressing, about the turnover issue: The Rams’ defensive players who spoke postgame on Sunday all lamented not scoring points of their own. Now, they meant that they had hoped to continue a three-game streak of scoring a defensive touchdown. But I felt like it was kind of sad that they put it on their own shoulders, because the Rams’ offense has been turning the ball over so much and has averaged just 20 points per game over the last four. The Rams’ defense is tied for fifth in the NFL in takeaways with 21 and the team still has a turnover margin of minus-1, which ranks 20th.

Do you feel like the locker room has lost confidence in Jared Goff?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
I don’t get that sense, no. I think things would have to get a lot worse for that to happen. The fact that Goff is so even-keel and has historically rebounded from poorer games bodes well for him, too. Something I admire about this team is that the players seem to have each other’s backs, even when things get difficult.

alyoshamucci [ PM ]

game 14 analysis … Jets

This one is pretty painful… I’m generally really supportive of Jared and McVay … but there is an aspect to “downs” that is not working.

Annnd as a result of their performances (and Tyreek Hill’s) I lost my semi finals in two fantasy leagues (I have Mike Thomas in both leagues too, who just went on IR). So I’m not super anxious to be forgiving this year.

The Good

1) I liked the uniform.

2) Morgan Fox with 5 sacks? Nice bro!

3) Both TD passes.

4) Troy Reeder pass defense …

5) Woods being $ as always.

6) Being in it at the end was kinda cool, but not like .. that cool.

7) HIgbee had himself a decent day.

The Bad

8) Kick the FG. I don’t care if he misses. Or? Have a couple 4 yard routes.

9) Can’t stop Frank Gore in 4 minute offense? I know it’s not been a long time that you’ve been coach, but as a fan I’ve been watching Frank Gore finish games against us since I was single …

10) How many holding calls?

11) Our DBs looked like they were sleeping.

12) Akers was dinged … and the others couldn’t make it work enough to take the carries.

13) No outside pass rush.

14) Also painfully obvious now we need a deep threat.

The Ugly

15) Goff’s lows. This is an issue. This is psychological. Goff has bad days and there’s no way to give Woods a chance to rile them up if he can’t get the ball. We can’t be flat for a whole half. The issue is that his lows are not a floor we can be comfortable with. The INT he threw was … incompetence. Behind the receiver and low and into a defender.

16) Mcvay seems to not be able to realize and adjust to this. That’s not okay. The plan needs to be in place every week in case he shows up flat. “What do we do if Jared shows up flat” needs to have an answer in the game plan every week. This can’t be a surprise. IN two 3 and outs Sun Tzu and I were like “Jared is flat, what can we do?” … we’re fans. There needs to be an answer. Or a Super bowl is not in our cards.

Leaving it there.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Rams held a walkthru today so injury report will be an estimation. RT Rob Havenstein is dealing with a shoulder injury but he is expected to play on Sunday at Seattle.

Sean McVay says that things are looking pretty good for OLB Terrell Lewis this week.

Rams Wire@TheRamsWire
Pete Carroll says Aaron Donald is ‘as good as there’s ever been in the game’

The anti-vaxxers went so far right, they looped around and invented vaccinations pic.twitter.com/yD4mIqmsVs

— Washington Post TikTok Guy Comma Georgia (@davejorgenson) December 23, 2020

The Rams are seeking their second sweep of the Seahawks in three seasons – something they’ve never done before.

7 stats and facts to know for this Week 16 showdown https://t.co/eVhObhXFeG

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) December 23, 2020

SeattleRams@seattlerams_nfl
Rec yards needed over the next two games in order to hit 1K on the season again.

Cooper Kupp -92
Robert Woods -148

I’d be ok if they both reach these numbers against Seattle.

Shocked it got to this point.. https://t.co/0tCde0UvMe

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 21, 2020

Zooey wrote:

But I sure as hell cannot remember the Pats or 9ers pulling up like this. OTOH, the Steelers, after winning their first 11 in a row, or whatever, just lost to the Bengals. I don’t know what it means.

I think I already said this? Not sure. BUT. Even if I am repeating here–this is the league’s youngest team.

Having a bad experience like this could turn out to be a good, hard lesson for a young team.

They came out flat against what they took to be an inferior opponent and it bit em in the ass. Took a chunk out in fact. Every time they sit down now, they will be reminded.

wv wrote:

Nancy Pelosi just agreed to double the budget of Congress’ own private, free, government run health clinic by millions of dollars, but still refuses to bring M4A to the floor for a vote.

Prix.

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
People who want to put all of this on Goff are totally correct except for the drops, blown blocks, no run game and bad special teams.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Rams DT Aaron Donald (7th straight) and CB Jalen Ramsey (4th straight) have been selected to the 2021 Pro Bowl.

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Per @Sportradar research, Aaron Donald today became the 17th player in NFL history to be selected to 7 or more consecutive Pro Bowls to begin their NFL career.

ESPN Stats & Info@ESPNStatsInfo
Aaron Donald has now earned a Pro Bowl selection in all 7 seasons of his NFL career.

He’s just the 4th defensive player since the 1970 merger selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 7 seasons, joining Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas and Patrick Willis.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sean McVay says Micah Kiser and Taylor Rapp won’t come off IR this week either. And Rapp may not be back in the regular-season – team had originally been hopeful he could come back before the postseason.

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
“It’s something we’ve got to get a hold on,” Sean McVay says when asked about consistency from game-to-game.

Kevin Greene was a sack king. pic.twitter.com/ONP542MruP

— DOWNTOWN RAMS [DTR] (@DowntownRams) December 21, 2020

I’m tempted to laugh and make fun — but this is just selfishness.
300,000 dead from COVID. People are hungry. Families not gathering together on holidays because they’re sacrificing for others.

And then there’s this… https://t.co/IWR3AWnLy9

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) December 21, 2020

RIP Kevin Greene … a lot of great football memories … pic.twitter.com/b3SgKzWFmD

— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) December 21, 2020

Pelosi is worth over $100 million https://t.co/qrlG51Rue7

— jordan (@JordanUhl) December 21, 2020