Why the Rams offense will break out against the Browns

J.B. Long

https://www.therams.com/news/why-the-rams-offense-will-break-out-against-the-browns

This is the week the Rams offense comes alive.

Not that 28.5 points per game isn’t a respectable average. By the Sean McVay standard, it just feels, well… average.

Consider that Los Angeles led the league in first half scoring in 2017 and ranked second in 2018.

So far this season, the Rams have mustered only three first quarter points in two games and have scored just one first half touchdown. That translates to a modest 19 first half points, combined.

It changes Sunday night in Cleveland.

The Los Angeles Rams practice ahead of this week’s Sunday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

I can’t recall seeing an opposing injury report like the Browns have put out this week, with four contributors ruled out and eight others questionable to face the Rams.

Let’s start in the secondary, where safety Damarious Randall is a scratch and the other three starters (cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams and safety Morgan Burnett) will be game-time decisions.

As for starting linebackers, Christian Kirksey has been ruled out, while Adarius Taylor is questionable.

On offense, the Browns will also have to replace dynamic tight end David Njoku, who may require wrist surgery.

Austin Blythe could be the first Rams offensive lineman to miss a start due to injury since McVay was hired, but they’ll get no sympathy from the opponents in prime time.

These are opportunities you must capitalize on in the NFL.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

It’s a small sample size, to be certain. But against Steve Wilkes’ Arizona defense last season, the Rams notched 34-0 and 31-9 victories, amassing 893 yards of total offense against the Cardinals. After a one-and-done opportunity as head coach in the desert, Wilkes now runs the defense in Cleveland. And with due respect to Marcus Mariota and Trevor Siemian/Luke Falk, Jared Goff operates the best offense the Browns will have faced in 2019.

Top Trio Versus Dynamic Duo

Which receiving corps would you rather have: Browns or Rams?

Objectively, there’s a very good case to be made for Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry. However, the Browns are still trying to pin down a third with Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley, or potentially currently-suspended Antonio Callaway.

Meantime, the Rams are the only NFL team with three 100-yard receivers, and the way they compete in the running game, block for each other, and threaten defenses with jet sweeps, you wouldn’t trade this trio for any other.

Time to Get Right (Tackle)

That’s not to say the Rams don’t have questions to answer on offense at 2-0, and they primarily involve the offensive line. After a career-season in 2018, Rob Havenstein is off to a slow start against elite competition. Cam Jordan had a field day in the Coliseum last week. The Panthers were able to puncture the pocket against him in Week One, as well.

Now Blythe is dinged, and Pro Bowl defensive end Olivier Vernon awaits in Cleveland, hoping for his first sacks of 2019.

Rams offensive line coach Aaron Kromer exudes nothing but calm confidence, however.

“I haven’t been around a group that was this young, and that every eyeball, every word you say, they’re intentionally listening,” he said this week. “When you have something like that, you can grow. Our goal is to be at our peak at the end of the season.”

Best on Best

On the other side of the line, I think you’ll find the matchup of the game, and one of the best in the NFL this week.

The top selection in 2017, Myles Garrett has already put his name atop the defensive player of the year conversation. Albeit against the lowly Jets, he’s coming off a career-high three sacks on Monday Night, plus two roughing the passer penalties.

Garrett does his damage from right defensive end, meaning he’ll be working in Andrew Whitworth’s office on Sunday Night.

One Block and Gurley’s Gone

In his first 29 regular season games playing in McVay’s offense, Todd Gurley averaged 47 receiving yards per contest.

In his last 5 games (including 2018 postseason), he has 13 receiving yards, TOTAL.

Perhaps more than any other dimension of the Rams offense, this is the piece that’s been missing since December 2018.

However, if you watch the first offensive snap of Week Two, Los Angeles is one block away from scoring a touchdown off a screen and erasing this talking point altogether.

How Good is This Defense, Really?

So far, so good for this veteran-fortified group.

However, if you want to discount their performance through two weeks, it’s not difficult.

First, they surrendered over 200 scrimmage yards to Christian McCaffrey and “survived” against Cam Newton, who is an injured shell of his MVP self and won’t play in Week Three.

Next, they knocked out a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in Drew Brees and feasted on an underprepared, conservative Teddy Bridgewater for the better part of three quarters.

In the Rams defense – pun very intended – they can only play what’s in front of them. And whether it’s creating takeaways on both opening drives or keeping opponents out of the end zone for every quarter Eric Weddle has finished, they’ve been great. Football Outsiders has them fifth overall through two weeks.

Diffusing Defense

With the above caveats, no team has been better at limiting chunk plays.

Opposing offenses have just two gains of 20-plus yards against the Rams defense; that’s two fewer than any other franchise.

Between Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and OBJ, the Browns will thoroughly challenge this stat on Sunday.

Relying on Former Rams

It feels like there’s a misperception about the Browns offensive line. I’ve heard repeatedly this week that the Rams pass rush is going to chew them up in the trenches.

Perhaps this is because Mayfield’s protections includes two players the Rams released: former first-round draft pick Greg Robinson and Eric Kush (he of Fat Arm American Friday fame).

While Robinson continues to underwhelm, Kush has been solid in Chicago and Cleveland. Plus, on the interior, the Browns have been stout, particularly at left guard where Joel Bitinio is PFF’s top-graded player at his position.

It will be interesting to see where Aaron Donald chooses to go to work this weekend.

Weddle’s Week?

I’ll leave you with a quick nugget on Weddle, in the hopes he breaks his interception drought on Sunday night.

The 13-year pro’s last pick came in Cleveland in December 2017, and his four interceptions (in eight games) against the Browns match his career high against any opponent (also four against the Chiefs in 19 games).

Hey guys. The stadium issue is its own thread, in terms of the things it raises. As a rule, don’t put actual articles in a tweets thread—it buries a topic. Tweets threads are for small things.

Here’s where AD tweaked his back. pic.twitter.com/eKFnt72Rg6

— Hotdaddywags (@hotdaddywags) September 21, 2019

Baker Mayfield tells @miketirico that Browns players expect to end a 17-year playoff drought this season https://t.co/pKxAGx4cS8

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 21, 2019

The epitome of a 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 win. pic.twitter.com/SgJgELFX8K

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 18, 2019

LARAMSinFeb.

Sounds like Demoff is preparing to eff up our uniforms….

From an article in the Athletic:

“Our goal has always been to take the historical elements of the Rams uniforms — the colors, the horns, the symbolism — (and) keep those but progress them forward,” Demoff said. “You’re building the most modern and what we believe will be the world’s best sports and entertainment district at SoFi Stadium. You’re investing in all these technological aspects, these futuristic aspects. You can’t just walk in with uniforms that throw back to the 1970s. I just don’t think that that’s the right brand fit for the Rams or this stadium.”

https://athlonsports.com/nfl-power-rankings

3. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams certainly took advantage of some officiating mistakes and Drew Brees’ injury in their rematch with the Saints but beating two solid teams early despite not looking super crisp is probably mission accomplished so far in LA ahead of some big tests.

https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-2019-9#3-los-angeles-rams-30

3. Los Angeles Rams
One thing to know: Wide receiver Cooper Kupp proved he’s all the way back from his injury with an astounding 67-yard catch and run that ended just short of a touchdown. Alongside Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, the Rams have one of the most fearsome receiving corps in the league.

Clay Matthews III heads to Cleveland on special day for his dad https://t.co/NTOjHDXqNb pic.twitter.com/Kx97y0AiJv

— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) September 21, 2019

THE ACCURACY! 🍺

(via @LovoCristian) pic.twitter.com/Eaj00sVHK0

— ESPN (@espn) September 21, 2019

Jake W. Goldman@JakeWGoldman
Guys: “I let my wife pick all the colors for our wedding because I’m terrible with that stuff.”

Also guys: “I prefer our alternate uniforms because the helmet doesn’t clash as much with our pants and compliments the secondary color we use for our jersey piping.”

Rams C Brian Allen did some VERY impressive things as a run-blocker in Week 2.

Create torque w/the backside hand to help define the RB's read? ☑️

Bang down (pin), climb, & release at the perfect time on a double? ☑️

Intersect the Mike w/great angles & very good play speed? ☑️ pic.twitter.com/yV1mybfsU7

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 20, 2019

Rams Head Coach Sean McVay – September 20, 2019

(Opening Remarks)
“From an injury standpoint, we’re going to rule (TE) Tyler Higbee out. We’re going to keep him back, hopefully we’ll be able to get him back next week. The other guys with (OL) Austin (Blythe) and then (DT) Aaron (Donald) will be listed as questionable. Aaron is feeling good, probably just more a semantics than anything else.”

(On if OL Austin Blythe is able to play on Sunday)
“There’s a chance. With these ankle injuries, it’s one of those deals we’re going to use all the time that we do have. See if we can get some of that swelling out and if he feels good enough, then we’ll make a decision on that. Really, it’s just a matter of thinking through, ‘Okay, who’s going to be kind of that 44th, 45th, 46th guy that you want to use up?’ If he’s feeling good enough to do that, we may go that direction, but we’re going to use the time that we do have.”

(On how he feels about TE Gerald Everett stepping into the starting tight end role)
“Very good. He’s a starting caliber player. He’s done a great job. We’re really fortunate to have two good tight ends that we feel like are starting type players. I think (TE) Gerald (Everett) will get a chance to demonstrate why he can really play on all three downs as well.”

(On if there was a specific play that DT Aaron Donald did something to his back on)
“I can’t remember. I remember there was a certain reaction afterwards. He plays so physical and violent, I think it was more just the torque that he created on his own. I’m not exactly sure which specific play it was.”

(On if Donald’s back is something that they are worried about lingering)
“No, it’s more muscular than anything else. He felt a lot better today. More than anything, we’re just being as smart and as careful as we can with Aaron.”

(On if Donald is questionable for Sunday)
“He’s playing (laughs). It’s a questionable because really, we’re smart with him. He didn’t do some things, but unless something really unforeseen happens, this guy is going on Sunday night.”

(On if he checks into the availability of WR Antonio Brown since the Patriots released him or if they pass)
“You always look into things. We evaluate, but with the situation we have specific to the receiver position, we couldn’t be happier with the guys that we do have.”

(On his assessment of the Browns)
“I think they’ve got really good players. I think they did a great job last year. If you just look at the latter half of the season, they won a lot of games, played really good, productive football. I think two games is really a very small sample size to evaluate what the season looks like in terms of the entirety of the league. You definitely see in the two games why they’re a very tough match up. You see why the hype is real. They’ve got great players, they’ve got good coaches and its going to be a great challenge for us to go to their place and see if we can come away with a win.”

(On how he feels CBs Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib have played so far)
“I think they’ve done a nice job. I think really our defense as a whole has done an outstanding job communicating. Like with anything else, there’s always some things that we can continue to clean up. I think in terms of limiting the big plays when you look at we’ve only given up two plays over 20-yards in the first two games against two explosive offenses, that’s a very positive thing. Make offenses snap it one more time, but been pleased with those guys.”

(On his decision to leave tomorrow rather than today)
“The time that we kick off. Last year when we actually played Chicago on Sunday night, it felt like we were there for two and a half weeks. (laughs) I think more than anything, being able to have an extra day and just getting the body clock adjusted and just some of the things that I’ve been educated on – on what’s going to be the best way to travel, but keep our guys in a normal rhythm and a routine. We’ve practiced a little bit later this week and we’ll get up earlier tomorrow and we’ll fly out there. Because we kick off later, we felt like it’s not going to be something that you need to go two days in advance. Different than Carolina where it was 10 o’clock in our heads, so that was a three-hour time change just kind of getting guys acclimated. That was what went into that approach. Similar, to like what we did in the NFC Championship if we were kicking off even at 4:00 or something like that, you feel like you can make it a one-day trip as long as all the things align with what we want to do from a sports-science standpoint.”

wv wrote:

I mean, Brown was in Movies. Classics. I think he was in McHales Navy, er somethin. Jackie Brown vs Godzilla. The Dirty Toaster. Somethin. I forget, but I know he was in movies. Massey couldnt act.

w
v

He was in The Naked Gun.