Rams' familiarity with Russell Wilson won't make it any easier to stop him https://t.co/nT1nRMeZQM via @theramswire

— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) December 7, 2019

Rams Head Coach Sean McVay – – Dec. 6, 2019

(Opening Remarks)
“Injury-wise, we will rule (TE) Gerald Everett out today. Then, with (T) Rob (Havenstein) he’ll be listed as doubtful for the game everybody else will be good to go.”

(On if he thinks Everett’s injury will be ongoing)
“Really, I’m not sure. It’s one of those deals, like we’ve been day-to-day with him. He’s a skilled athlete, so when you’re talking about something like the knee, you want to make sure he is fully functional – able to put his foot in the ground and separate – we’re just not at that point yet. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a turn quickly. A lot of it is predicated on, all right, (Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and his group, and then also the feedback that we’re getting from Gerald and knowing what kind of athlete he is and his best way to be able to contribute. It’s kind of what lead into that decision to leave him out this week as well.”

(On if he is going with WR Nsimba Webster and RB Darrell Henderson Jr. at the returner positions)
“Yes.”

(On if the Rams look different defensively since the first time playing the Seahawks this season)
“No, I wouldn’t say that. We’ve been able to do some different things. Each week, I think what our guys have done a nice job of is, you know, you still have your core philosophies and foundational things that you utilize in most weeks. Then, you also have some specific packages that you can use to try to slow down whatever they are presenting personnel group-wise and things like that. We do have some different things that we’ve been able to do to maximize the skillset that (CB) Jalen (Ramsey) brings and then what that does for our defense overall. It’s not like a totally different foundational kind of philosophy and approach.”

(On K Greg Zuerlein having three field goals and did he say anything to him about missing his last field goal)
“He’s so hard on himself. I thought the special thing about that – if you guys remember after the game – was just the support he had from his teammates. One play, even if it’s the final play, sometimes can determine the outcome, but there is a lot of things that lead up to it getting down to that. Because of the sequence in which it comes, sometimes there could be a lot of stress placed on that, or okay, it’s one or the other. There is a lot of games, there’s a lot of plays in that game that could have gone differently, maybe that alter and affect the outcome. You never let one play define your thoughts on players on offense and defense. I think you want to try to be consistent with that, with the kicker position, especially with somebody like him that’s been so clutch – done such a great job – especially since I’ve been able to work with Greg. I think you want to be able to support guys and trust them as they move forward and let them do that and know that it’s a part of the game. The tough times won’t go on as long as you respond the right way.”

(On if he said anything to K Greg Zuerlein after the first Seattle game)
“Sometimes it’s not saying anything, just putting your arms around him. I can remember seeing a picture of he and (RB) Todd (Gurley II) walking into the locker room. Sometimes you see a lot better than you hear. You could just see the support. Everybody on our team knows that, that play could of maybe changed the outcome, but Greg is not why we didn’t win that last game. There’s a lot of things that led to it coming down to one final play. There’s some things that I think everybody looks at themselves and says, ‘What can I do better throughout the course of the game? If I played 60 snaps, what are some of the decisions that I could have made or some of the different coaches.’ That’s what we want to be able to do and the that’s what we will continue to do.”

(On if he has an appreciation for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and if he watches him even when the Rams are playing him)
“I think the greatest thing about being in this role – you guys know now for a couple of years – I’m a fan of the game. Anytime that you see elite competitors, you see guys that make plays, certainly you don’t want to see him against us. You look at the touchdown pass that he (Russell Wilson) and (Seahawks WR Tyler) Lockett connected on. You’re thinking when you see it in live action there’s no way. Then when you see it on the replay and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Well, there’s really not much you can do.’ That’s an unbelievable play right there. I’m a fan of the game, but hopefully I’m not a fan of to many plays that he has this weekend. He’s a great player. I love football and I love seeing good football and certainly this team has a lot of guys that exemplify that.”

(On what he thinks has been going on with Seahawks WR Josh Gordon and if he is still a guy that the Rams have to plan for)
“Oh, yeah. He’s a dangerous player I can’t speak to what goes on there. I can just speak to the fact that they are a very productive offense. They’ve got great weapons. Then even when you just look at what (Seahawks WR) Josh (Gordon) has done, whether it be earlier this year in New England, whether it be over the course of his career and even in a couple of plays that he’s made in his first game that he was active catching some third downs – different things like that. He’s a guy that can play, but they’ve got a lot of guys that can play. He’s somebody we have to be aware of for sure.”

(On how Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny changed the backfield for Seattle as far as what he can do)
“They utilize him the same way, where they’re committed to a philosophy. They are both great runners. Obviously, they liked him so much, where he’s got the speed factor. You saw in the game against us last year, the second time, he made his presence felt. Both of those guys, I think they complement each other well, but they can really do all the same things that they do in a normal game with how they want to run it. You see pop a trap for 60 yards against Philly a couple of weeks ago. You see them running physical between the tackles on some of their offset, gun, downhill plays. Then obviously, (RB Chris) Carson has had a lot of production. He’s a violent runner. We’ve got make sure we tackle really well in this game against both of those guys.”

Circling back on some film and realized that Saffold has been a monster in the running game lately. Was hurt earlier in the year but since week 9 has really regained his power and strength. This OL as a whole has taken their play up a notch over that time too. pic.twitter.com/i0GJhuTOit

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) December 6, 2019

#LARams Cory Littleton has been on an absolute tear this season, proving to be one of the top LBs in the league 🔥

In 2019 (among LBs with at least 350 snaps), Littleton's grades rank:

– 1st in Tackling
– 2nd in Coverage
– 5th in Pass Rushing
– 6th in Overall Defense pic.twitter.com/p9Cb0Dv33j

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) December 6, 2019

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/06/nfl-rams-seahawks-week-14-betting-line-spread/

The Rams came into the week as 2.5-point underdogs against the Seattle Seahawks, even with the game being played at the Coliseum. It was just the second time in the last two seasons that the Rams weren’t favored at home, but that line has since flipped.

According to BetMGM, the Rams are now actually 1.5-point favorites over Seattle. That’s a four-point shift in a matter of days, which is unusual, to say the least.

It’s likely that a large contingent of bettors were taking the Rams with the points, which caused the oddsmakers to make the line less enticing for those backing Los Angeles. By shifting it to 1.5 points in favor of the Rams, it should level out the number of bets coming in on each team.

Brian Schottenheimer: Seahawks "very difficult to deal with" when run game firing https://t.co/zJIai1JRmt

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 6, 2019

Last three Rams-Seahawks games have been thrillers. Will Sunday's game be the fourth consecutive decided by fewer than seven points? https://t.co/LZYlzimdwk

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) December 6, 2019

Gary Klein@LATimesklein
Clay Matthews said he lost appeal of NFL fine for tweeting about officiating of hits on QBs. Said he wasn’t remorseful enough. Because he did not feel he was wrong.

Frank Schwab@YahooSchwab
Let’s please just not let the NFC East in the playoffs this season.

Greatness on greatness.@AaronDonald97 ranks his top 5 defenders in NFL history. 🏆 (by @pizzahut) pic.twitter.com/QsaO0RSh6c

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2019

Rams could again turn to Todd Gurley in crucial home game against NFC West rival Seahawks

GARY KLEIN

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2019-12-04/rams-could-again-turn-to-todd-gurley-in-crucial-home-game-against-nfc-west-rival-seahawks

Since becoming the Rams coach in 2017, Sean McVay never has shied from accountability. He protectively falls on the sword for every miscue or poor performance by players, saying it was his fault for not putting them in better positions.

But as the play-caller, his limited use of running back Todd Gurley during the first half of the season indisputably was McVay’s error — and his alone — to own.

He all but did so Wednesday when asked what precipitated Gurley’s increased usage of late.

“Me not being an idiot?” McVay said.

Three days earlier against the Arizona Cardinals, McVay’s offense finally resembled the balanced, big-play units that dominated opponents most of his first two seasons.

He put the ball in Gurley’s hands, giving quarterback Jared Goff time to pass for two touchdowns and massive amounts of yardage in a victory that improved the Rams’ record to 7-5 and kept alive their chances for a third consecutive playoff berth.

As the Rams prepare for Sunday’s game against the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks, all indications are that McVay will stick to a plan that worked against the Cardinals and mostly worked wonders during a run to the playoffs in 2017 and to the Super Bowl last season.

“You don’t want to make the same mistakes that you ended up making earlier on,” McVay said.

How McVay would manage the left-knee issue that sidelined and slowed Gurley late last season has hung over the organization since the Rams’ 13-3 Super Bowl defeat by the New England Patriots.

During the offseason, the Rams re-signed running back Malcolm Brown and drafted Darrell Henderson. Both have rotated into games with Gurley. But McVay said Gurley’s limited use early in the season was not an attempt at load management to keep him fresh for a potential playoff run.

“It has nothing to do with that,” he said.

Does McVay really think he was an idiot for not using Gurley more?

Rams running back Todd Gurley rushes the football past Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks during the second half at State Farm Stadium on on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
Rams running back Todd Gurley rushes the football past Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks during the second half at State Farm Stadium on on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.(Getty Images)
“There’s some instances where, certainly, you look back and it’s always hindsight in terms of, ‘What can you do?’” McVay said.

The low point — or perhaps the awakening — came Nov. 10 when Gurley did not touch the ball during the fourth quarter of a 17-12 defeat by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss dropped the Rams’ record to 5-4 and put them teetering on the verge of elimination from playoff contention.

“The Steelers game stands out in terms of where we were running the football well and you didn’t really give him a chance to get back going based on how that thing played out,” McVay said.

The next week, Gurley carried a season-high 25 times for 97 yards and a touchdown in a 17-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson made Gurley and the Rams’ offense moot in a 45-6 rout before McVay returned to a winning formula against the Cardinals.

Gurley carried the ball 19 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. Goff, benefiting from play-action opportunities, passed for 424 yards as the Rams rolled up a season-best 549 yards against the Cardinals and their league-worst defense.

A successful rushing attack, especially on first down, sets up play-action and other opportunities, Goff said.

“You’ve seen in the past,” he said, “when we’re operating at a high level is when we’re doing that and we need to continue to do it.”

In a league that has progressively emphasized passing, the Ravens (10-2), Seahawks (10-2), and San Francisco 49ers (10-2) have made strong running games and strong defenses the cornerstones of their success.

The Ravens rank first, Seahawks second and 49ers third in rushing.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is not surprised, and he has not been tempted to change.

“I’ve always felt like this is the way that gives you the best chance to stay on top and get on top,” Carroll said Wednesday during a teleconference. “I just think from the history of ball that this is the best formula and it’s the best way to have your quarterback play at a high level, which is so crucial.

“It’s the best way for your team to have a complementary effect on your defense.”

No argument from McVay.

“Those teams are also efficient when they decide to throw the football — I think it goes hand-in-hand,” he said. “They can control the clock, they have really good defenses that are opportunistic to take the ball away.”

The Rams will try to do the same on Sunday against the Seahawks.

Their playoff fate could depend on it.

Rams giving out rally towels at Seahawks game. pic.twitter.com/XH4MoCBFqJ

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) December 5, 2019

Per sources, Sean McVay doesn't actually think he's an idiot – most of the time pic.twitter.com/ijMcwXHUnO

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) December 5, 2019

PFF: Highest-graded rookies through Week 13 … https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-highest-graded-rookie-rankings-nfl-week-13-2019

8. S TAYLOR RAPP, LOS ANGELES RAMS
The start to his rookie campaign was a slow one, but Taylor Rapp is picking up steam as of late — his 82.5 overall grade since Week 7 is the fifth best among all qualifying safeties. In that timespan, Rapp has produced the third most defensive stops (20), fifth most combined pass breakups and interceptions (five) and has allowed just a 65.2 passer rating (seventh). Rapp has produced his best plays for the Rams when playing free safety — since Week 7, Rapp has played more snaps at that alignment then he had during the first six weeks and has had an 84.3 grade in that role, ranking behind only Tyrann Mathieu and Minkah Fitzpatrick.