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znModeratorWas awesome to see David Long Jr. get some defensive snaps. Comes in and immediately has to cover the Bears' top weapon (ARob) in the slot. Stays in his hip pocket all the way. pic.twitter.com/643TgGXPIm
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 19, 2019
znModeratorYou can visually see the chemistry/communication building between Troy Hill and Jalen Ramsey. Hill literally tells Ramsey to break on the other route because he's going to carry the deep one over the MOF. Awesome stuff. pic.twitter.com/oTpSs8vFkT
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 19, 2019
znModeratorBeen wondering all year why McVay wasn't helping his OL. The lack of health forced him to adjust and begin helping. Again Mack is chipped by a TE before releasing into his route, then ran up the arc by a T with inside help from a G. Great pocket for Goff. pic.twitter.com/qx88I4rjgd
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 19, 2019
znModeratorAlso, Rams fans need to stop acting like Khalil Mack isn't a superstar/future HOF'er. There's a reason he had 0 stats. Dude got chipped by a TE, then got ran up the arc by a LT with inside help from his guard. Chalk that up as a triple team. pic.twitter.com/9lJ1mOW9OP
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 19, 2019
znModeratorIn terms of Goff, I don’t care about the early INT, he bounced back from that. He was pressing early but settled down. To me it’s important that he was clutch at the end. To me, being clutch when it counts weighs heavily. And he found his long ball again.
Protection issues don’t work this way–if he was protected on play X he should produce. Game after game of high pressure messes with the qb and that is not cured automatically. You could see it took him a bit to settle in and trust what was happening. The INT and near INT came from pressing, which is a symptom of a qb trying to compensate for the OL…something he found during the game he did not have to do. He started letting the game come to him.
The Goff I saw against Chicago was rough around the edges but good in the clutch at the end. He went against a defense that is 4th in points and 10th against the pass, a defense that unraveled him last year, and produced…and engineered a very good clutch “put the game away” drive.
This was the drive that put the game away. Obviously at this point they opened things up and he produced, including a key 3rd down.
Quarter Time Down ToGo Location
4 7:42 1 10 RAM 29 Todd Gurley up the middle for 2 yards (tackle by Bilal Nichols and Roy Robertson-Harris)
4 7:04 2 8 RAM 31 Jared Goff pass complete deep right to Josh Reynolds for 18 yards (tackle by Kyle Fuller)
4 6:26 1 10 RAM 49 Jared Goff pass complete deep left to Josh Reynolds for 51 yards Penalty on LAR: Illegal Formation, 5 yards (no play)
4 6:18 1 15 RAM 44 Todd Gurley left end for 1 yard (tackle by Prince Amukamara)
4 5:37 2 14 RAM 45 Todd Gurley right guard for 7 yards (tackle by Nick Kwiatkoski and Aaron Lynch)
4 5:06 3 7 CHI 48 Jared Goff pass complete short right to Josh Reynolds for 26 yards (tackle by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix)
4 4:18 1 10 CHI 22 Malcolm Brown up the middle for -3 yards (tackle by Eddie Jackson)
4 3:41 2 13 CHI 25 Jared Goff pass complete deep right to Gerald Everett for 20 yards (tackle by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix)
4 3:35 1 5 CHI 5 Malcolm Brown up the middle for 5 yards, touchdown
4 3:31 CHI 15 Greg Zuerlein kicks extra point goodznModeratorBrought some speed to SNF. 💨@NextGenStats powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/oIzjOe92ws
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 19, 2019
znModeratoractionjack
Sneads 2019 draft is shaping up to be a very good one and we are just over halfway through their first season.
Taylor Rapp (2nd Rd)- pretty much a starter from day one, has looked good, excellent tackler, quick to react, takes good angles, has been solid in coverage but can improve there
Darrell Henderson (3rd Rd)- hasnt got a ton of playing time, but has great burst and will be a player for the Rams in the future, just has too good RB’s ahead of him. The Rams had to go this direction in case TG’s knee became a problem. He is the future.
David Long Jr (3rd Rd)- starting to get playing time with the trades and injuries. I like what I see so far. It is awesome to see the Rams with such depth at CB. The future is bright there.
Bobby Evans (3rd Rd)- the guy just starts is first game against the 2nd best defensive player in the league and one of the best d-lines. All he does is shut down Mack anf block very well in the run game in his FIRST start. The future looks bright with this bigger o-line version with these young pups.
Greg Gaines (4th Rd)- Trying to get time in a established unit. I think he makes a bigger impact next year but fine so far, concerned he might be too slow, but he also has proven to be stout against the run.
David Edwards (5th)- the guy hasnt missed a beat since he moved into starting job. We have our LG for the future (maybe tackle). Again love this bigger and just as fast o-line. Killer pick in the 5th.
Nick Scott (7th)- special teams demon, just as advertised.
Dakota Allen (7th)- got him back, looks like a good backup player/special teams demon to me. just needs opportunity, hopefully breaks onto special teams before season ends.
overall a great draft so far, if the Rams can continue to do this well they will remain a team to be dealt with. Just compare to other teams drafts.
znModeratorCameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Havenstein is doubtful for this week, as of nowStu Jackson@StuJRams
Per Pro Football Focus, Rams rookie RT Bobby Evans allowed zero pressures in 21 pass-blocking snaps last night.As a unit, the Rams offensive line not only allowed zero sacks, but zero QB hits and only two QB hurries as well.
It was also only the second time all season the Bears’ defense failed to record double digit pressures, too.
znModeratorJust like old times @TG3II #LARams pic.twitter.com/tHYN434OY0
— Max (@maxpereztl) November 19, 2019
znModeratorGregg Rosenthal, from http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001078444/article/week-11-takeaways-ravens-d-up-pats-eagles-offenses-down?campaign=Twitter_atn
The Ravens’ defense is a problem for the AFC. It’s obvious by now that the Ravens’ offense is the toughest group to prepare for in football. (More on that below in the MVP Watch.) But if the Ravens’ defense continues its incredible transformation, it will be safe to say the same about preparing for that unit.
Defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale was creative in manufacturing pressure early in the year, but the dramatic overhaul in personnel in the front seven did not take hold immediately. You can’t replace Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith and C.J. Mosley (who departed via free agency this offseason) overnight, and the players needed time to understand what Martindale wanted — just as he needed time to find the right players. This was always going to be a difficult team to run against, with Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce clogging the middle. But the improved communication in the back end since trade acquisition Marcus Peters arrived, and the changes in personnel, have been dramatic. Four of the Ravens’ 11 starters in Sunday’s in Week 4 when they gave up a 40-burger to the Browns. Ten of the 26 total defensive players on the roster didn’t play their first game with the team until at least Week 5, per The Athletic.
Other longtime veterans, like former cornerback Brandon Carr, who is now playing free safety, are taking on different roles. Jimmy Smith’s snaps are limited because of Peters’ presence, ideally keeping the veteran Smith fresh. The Ravens can afford to take risks with creative blitzes up front because of their experienced secondary, and because of a No. 1 scoring offense that limits turnovers and routinely goes on long drives. Since Week 7, Football Outsiders ranks the Ravens as the best offense and the best defense in the NFL.
If there’s anything thing to worry about for Ravens fans, it’s that the team is peaking now. This is the definition of a good problem. They’d be the favorites if the AFC playoffs started today, but a lot can change over the next six weeks.
znModeratorPFF, from https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-11-pff-senior-analyst-takeaways
The Rams may have offensive line upgrades in-house
The Rams’ offensive line has been a hot mess this season thus far. They have slipped from being one of the best units in the game to one that has allowed more pressure than any other line other than the Chargers. Rob Havenstein’s collapse in play has been spectacular, but the rest of the unit has struggled, as well. Injuries forced them to play a pair of rookies on Sunday night against Chicago, and both players acquitted themselves well. Bobby Evans at right tackle, in particular, looks like a very viable alternative to Havenstein after he allowed zero pressures from 21 pass-blocking snaps last night.
Aaron Donald is still Aaron Donald
While Aaron Donald is the highest-graded defensive player in the NFL, Week 11 provided a nice primetime reminder of just how dominant he can be. He finished with a season-high 93.3 overall grade against the Chicago Bears, picking up eight pressures (two sacks, two hits, and four hurries) and a batted pass on 45 rushes, and he had another sack negated by a defensive hold. Donald won 27.7% of his pass rushes to lead all interior defensive linemen in Week 11.
znModeratorPFF, from https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-11-pff-senior-analyst-takeaways
There is no longer any gameplan to stop Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ offense
Last season in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Chargers broke out an unusual defense to combat Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens‘ offense. In place of linebackers, the team played with four safeties on the field to try and defend the run with speed as opposed to power, and it worked incredibly well. Baltimore gained just 90 rushing yards as a team, and Jackson wasn’t good enough as a passer to exploit any weaknesses that opened up as a result. The leaps he has made this season mean that right now, he is good enough, and I don’t think the same gameplan would enjoy the same kind of success. Jackson now ranks top-five in PFF passing grade and still remains one of the most dynamic rushing threats in the game. We have reached a point where I don’t know if anybody even knows what the gameplan to slow him down should be, regardless of whether you can execute it or not.November 18, 2019 at 9:14 pm in reply to: Neither Bears nor stomach bug could slow Cooper Kupp & Austin Blythe #108364znModeratorSome notable quotes.
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And who knew Kupp could be a fullback? Multiple times, Kupp essentially “pulled” as a receiver in motion and set a block on the edge for running back Todd Gurley.
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Blythe did not miss a snap Sunday, even though he said he had expected to feel “really winded and low-energy.” Blythe instead had his strongest game of the season. Teammates credited Blythe’s steady play and communication and the Rams ran the ball with confidence.
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Baltimore’s defense has faced only 21.3 rushing attempts per game this season, the NFL’s third-lowest average, but teams have run for a decent average of 4.4 yards per carry against the Ravens. Will the Rams try to beat Baltimore on the ground, even though the Ravens are known for their physical play and have allowed fewer than 20 points per game this season?
znModeratorThe Ravens’ transformation defensively has been nothing short of remarkable. A group that was a liability earlier in the year (understandable with the departures of CJ Mosley, Terrell Suggs and Eric Weddle) has once again become a strength. Watson got shut out in the first half, something that didn’t happen to the QB in college and hasn’t happened to him since. And Houston wound up with just 232 yards from scrimmage. Good work by Wink Martindale.
znModeratorLindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
Sean McVay says there’s no update on Robert Woods, that he is still handling his personal matter.McVay also says they anticipate that WR Brandin Cooks will be available for Monday night.
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Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips can take a bow. He’s dealt with changing personnel the last few years—including in-season (swapping out cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib for Jalen Ramsey)—and his group has propped up a struggling offense of late to put the team back in contention. L.A. has won three of four since the loss to the Niners, and Phillips’ group has yielded 10, 10, 17 and 7 points in those games. The Ravens, by the way, are next.
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Joe Curley, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2019/11/17/los-angeles-rams-chicago-bears-score/4226298002/
Hill meets challenge
When the Rams traded for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Oct. 16, the team’s other starting cornerback, Troy Hill, readied himself to play in opponents’ crosshairs.
“That’s a lockdown corner,” Hill said of Ramsey, “so you’ve got to expect to get a lot of action on the other side.”
On Sunday night, as Ramsey made his home debut at the Coliseum, Hill enjoyed one of his best performances for the Rams.
The fifth-year cornerback from Oregon picked off Mitch Trubisky for his third career interception late in the first half, setting up the Rams’ first touchdown drive, and added a drive-stopping third down sack of Trubisky in the third quarter.
Hill was also credited with six tackles and three pass breakups.
The Bears averaged just 3.6 yards per play on the night.
znModeratorDo the 6-4 Rams have what it takes to make the playoffs?@nateburleson and @KyleBrandt disagree on this one. pic.twitter.com/IBIRWiKE7U
— GMFB (@gmfb) November 18, 2019
znModeratorSaw at least two false starts in the first half that weren't called. https://t.co/tSmeeaqY0I
— Rams Talk (@TalkRams) November 18, 2019
znModeratorBill Barnwell from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28103551/making-sense-2019-nfc-playoff-race-eight-good-teams-six-spots
Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of what might go down as the stylistic peak of the Sean McVay era, the legendary 54-51 shootout between the Rams and Chiefs on Monday Night Football. That game was passing football on amphetamines in an environment in which it felt like either team was capable of scoring on every single snap.
Now, 363 days later, the Rams played out a game in which it seemed like both teams were more concerned about making a mistake than they were about scoring. Sunday’s stultifying 17-7 win over the Bears is a credit to Wade Phillips’ defense, which has turned things around after the Rams dealt most of their available draft credit line for cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
It’s also a reminder of just how notably things have changed for Los Angeles. This time last season, the Rams were still living off outside zone and the play-action opportunities their core run concept created. Against those Chiefs, it was mostly the latter, as Jared Goff dropped back to pass 54 times against 21 rushing plays. Goff fumbled twice, but he finished with 413 passing yards and four touchdowns without throwing a pick.
On Sunday, the entire offense was flipped. The Rams used the “duo” run scheme so frequently that commentator Cris Collinsworth called it out in the middle of the game. McVay took the game out of Goff’s hands after a dismal start against the Bears in 2018 and an ugly performance against the Steelers last weekend, running the ball on 34 of Los Angeles’ 52 snaps on offense. Goff finished 11-of-18 for 173 yards with an interception, although a long touchdown to Josh Reynolds was wiped away by an illegal formation penalty.
That missing touchdown came off a play fake, and while that used to be the most devastating element of the Rams’ offense, it’s come and gone. In 2018, Goff led the league with 2,026 passing yards off play-action, more than 200 ahead of any other quarterback, adding 15 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. He was seventh in the league in passer rating on play-action at 114.5. This season, Goff has a 66.3 passer rating on play-action passes, worst in the NFL by nearly eight full points. He has thrown five interceptions with just one touchdown.
Even in the abbreviated sample against one of the league’s best pass rushes, Goff underwhelmed. He did hit a pair of deep throws downfield, notably the near-touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp, but he looked lost for confidence in the pocket at times and continued to miss open receivers. He inexplicably whiffed high on what should have been an easy completion to Reynolds on a dagger concept. NFL Next Gen Stats suggested he had a 75% chance of completing this pass, which is remarkably high for a throw downfield. By those numbers, Goff has the largest negative gap between his actual completion percentage (60.3%) and his expected completion percentage (66.7%) of any quarterback in football with 200 attempts or more.
Goff isn’t playing well, but to some extent McVay might have been forced to make changes by his personnel. In that Chiefs game a year ago, the only Rams starter who was missing from the lineup was Kupp, who had torn his ACL. On Sunday, after Robert Woods was a late scratch for personal reasons, the Rams were down five of their offensive starters. Several of the players who are left look totally compromised, including Todd Gurley and Andrew Whitworth, whose slide might be one of the least-reported but most-important stories of the 2019 season. Whitworth on Sunday committed his seventh holding penalty of the season, a stunning number from a superstar who committed just seven holds across his first two full seasons in Los Angeles.
It remains to be seen whether McVay wanted to use this philosophy for one week to try to beat a Bears team that tormented Goff in Chicago last season or if the Rams will go run-heavy and try to win with a few shot plays in the passing game. (The Bears destroyed Goff last December when they went with the 6-1 front on defense, which came full circle on Sunday when the Rams used the same front against Mitchell Trubisky.) With the Ravens coming to town next week, the Rams will likely want to keep the ball out of Lamar Jackson’s hands and keep a devastating Baltimore offense on the sidelines, which would seemingly point toward the run.
The biggest game for the Rams might come against the Cowboys in Week 15. Los Angeles still has games it will want to win against the Seahawks (Week 14) and 49ers (Week 16), but its chances of winning the division are down below 2% at this point. The Rams’ best chance of getting in is as a wild-card team, and a tiebreaker victory over the Cowboys could loom large if Dallas doesn’t win the NFC East.
znModeratorGive Goff some rhythm. Give Goff some time. Watch him drop a dime. https://t.co/lU187gYo09
— Mr.KWass (@DarthKader28) November 18, 2019
znModeratorPatient work by Todd Gurley. pic.twitter.com/PDVvzZLD39
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorGurley’s initial burst is still good enough. pic.twitter.com/p5rteHPBoI
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorRams finding ways to run different plays to the outside with Gurley that still sets up Jet Sweep and PA boots.
Good work by Cooper Krupp and Josh Reynolds as pullers. pic.twitter.com/Us3gRXR1xN
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorWhere Todd Gurley can be more efficient with his feet on this play. pic.twitter.com/TCuGEBpXda
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorAaron Donald loops inside. Gets outside arm into armpit of #69 and torques big fella to the turf on the way to Trubisky. pic.twitter.com/bq5MJ2wbPn
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorClutch throw by Jared Goff pic.twitter.com/Zvvvo4b409
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 18, 2019
znModeratorznModerator#VoiceofREason –> "The @Ravens are the best team in the #NFL." –@richeisen raised the stakes on how special Baltimore has been this season: pic.twitter.com/EdoxTD79LT
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) November 18, 2019
znModeratorThese teams have given up the least amount of explosive plays so far this season! #LARams #GoNiners #GoPats #Bears100 #BroncosCountry #BoltUp #FlyEaglesFly #HereWeGo #GoBills #Colts
Where will the Chargers and Chiefs end up after tonight? #MNF @gregcosell | @MattBowen41 pic.twitter.com/wBBicfxBMB
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) November 18, 2019
znModeratorEverything about this play was perfect. I've been waiting to see this all year. pic.twitter.com/c0PEfInMfY
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 18, 2019
znModeratorGoff’s numbers don’t reflect how well he played, IMO. He made some beautiful throws, and his numbers would have looked pretty good if not for a muff of a deep sideline pass that he dropped in over two defenders, and a 53 yard TD bomb that was called back.
Goff was clutch down the stretch.
“+1” as the kids say on the internets.
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