Gary Klein@LATimesklein
Rams CB Aqib Talib said Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky can present “the Russell Wilson effect” or “the Cam Newton effect.” Or both. “He’s kind of like both of them put together.”

McVay: “We have a lot of confidence in Justin [Davis] and John [Kelly] to step up, and they’ll be needed…And they’ll be needed to do it in a hurry.”

Whicker: How rookie DT John Franklin-Myers went from 0-40 in high school to the 11-1 Rams https://t.co/I8tZel3C3M

— Inside SoCal Sports (@InsideSoCalSpts) December 6, 2018

Backstage at @NFLFilms (these guys just wear suits all the time) with @gregcosell and @MattBowen41 talking about the upcoming #LARams vs #DaBears game! #LARvsCHI pic.twitter.com/yPN2GpKid3

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 7, 2018

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Bears’ QB Mitchell Trubisky is off Chicago’s injury report and is expected to start Sunday night vs. Rams.

Chicago Bears@ChicagoBears
Nagy on Mitch Trubisky: “He put together three really good days at practice. The main thing for us was just seeing conditioning wise if can he could hold up and he did.”

RIP Isiah Robertson. Came into the league @RamsNFL together. We pray for you and will miss you. 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/7r6MvCZjBW

— Jack Youngblood (@theblood85) December 7, 2018

On Goff’s 2 off games, Denver & Detroit

1. RICH HAMMOND: In a recent social-media question-and-answer session, Goff said the Broncos’ defense was the toughest to dissect that he has faced this season, so perhaps his struggles weren’t entirely related to weather.

2. Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore

Goff looked rattled and took some hits. Was it the coverage that confused him? He threw some questionable passes.

They were doing some different things defensively coverage wise and pressure wise. I think that plus the long lay off all contributed

Jared Goff looks for bounce-back effort as Rams prepare for frigid Chicago and Bears’ hot defense

RICH HAMMOND

link: https://www.dailynews.com/2018/12/05/jared-goff-looks-for-bounce-back-effort-as-rams-prepare-for-frigid-chicago-and-bears-hot-defense/

THOUSAND OAKS – The Gloved One – Jared Goff, not Michael Jackson – might be making an appearance in Chicago, one week after a performance that certainly did not seem worthy of an encore.

Based on the standards he has set this season, with stellar overall play, Goff looked strikingly bad in last Sunday’s victory at Detroit, as he completed 17 of 33 attempts for 205 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Now, Goff must prepare for a tenacious Chicago opponent and challenging elements.

Goff must contend not only with Bears linebacker Khalil Mack but with temperatures that likely will drop into the low 20s for a Sunday-night game. Goff will try to heat up after last week’s tepid performance.

“Many reasons,” Goff said Wednesday when asked about the Rams’ offensive struggles. “Many reasons, and something that I’ll look to improve on (is) to try to keep taking care of the ball. That’s something that I really looked at myself at, and I need to do a better job of that, get better and move on.”

It’s probably fair to toss out Goff’s game against Detroit, even with some surprising miscues, which included a way-off interception, plus two other near-interceptions in the fourth quarter, and a fumble. The Rams looked out of sync after their bye, and the Lions’ defense didn’t get enough credit for a solid game.

The Rams, thanks in large part to Aaron Donald, claimed a 30-16 victory, but twice, on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, Lions defenders got their hands on passes that would have been easy pick-six plays. Goff rarely looked comfortable in the pocket and had his lowest yards-per-attempt average (6.27) of the season, as well as his second-lowest quarterback rating (68.6).

“I think he did a good job of making plays when he had to make them,” pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron said. “Obviously there were a couple throws he might want to take back, but it’s a tough position, where those split-second decisions are made every game. His ability to stay and collected when things don’t go perfectly during the game, that has such a positive effect on the rest of our offense and the rest of our team.”

Coach Sean McVay also pointed out that Goff audibled out of some pass plays that led to big Todd Gurley runs. So the issue going forward is not Goff’s ability to bounce back. His personality and the Rams’ solid coaching make that easy. It’s those freezing temperatures that could be problematic.

Goff’s other truly poor game this season was the Rams’ narrow Oct. 14 victory at Denver. It snowed lightly before the game, and kickoff temperature was 25 degrees, with a wind chill of 18.

Goff, a Northern California native long accustomed to warm-weather games, (quite reasonably) wore gloves during the game and completed 14 of 28 attempts for 201 yards and one interception. It was Goff’s only game this season without a touchdown pass, with season-lows in yards and completion percentage.

In a recent social-media question-and-answer session, Goff said the Broncos’ defense was the toughest to dissect that he has faced this season, so perhaps his struggles weren’t entirely related to weather.

The Rams put that game in the hands of Gurley, who rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns, but now the Rams face a Bears defense that allows only 3.7 yards per carry (second-best in the NFL).

Goff, presumably, will need to make some plays against the Bears, even if it’s freezing, and even in the Sahara desert, he wouldn’t have an easy time with Mack, the 2016 NFL defensive player of the year. The Rams were scheduled to face Mack in the season opener, but a few days before, Oakland traded him to Chicago.

“He’s a great player. Obviously, been great for a long time,” Goff said. “It’ll be fun. I’m excited to get the chance to compete against him. He’s a great player and it’ll be a good challenge for us, but we’re ready.”

Mack has nine sacks, which ranks fifth among NFL linebackers this season, and the bigger issue for Goff is that Mack has forced five fumbles, second only to Kansas City’s Dee Ford (with six).

Ball security seems to be an increasing issue for Goff. In his first 10 games this season, Goff fumbled four times but didn’t lose any of them. Last week against Detroit, he suffered a strip-sack fumble that the Lions recovered, and in his previous game against Kansas City, Goff lost two fumbles.

“At times, stuff may slip up through the season,” Goff said. “You may get, I don’t know if lazy is the right word, but you just kind of forget about some things. It’s just making sure you’re conscious of it and thinking of it at all times. Just getting stuff at practice, working on it and just always thinking about it.”

Overall, though, it’s been a stellar season for Goff, who ranks fourth with 3,754 yards, sixth with 27 touchdowns and has thrown only seven interceptions in 414 attempts. With another 51 yards and two touchdowns, he will surpass his totals from 2017, when he made the Pro Bowl.

SunTzu_vs_Camus

Goff pulled the ball down at the end of his drop on many many passes in the Lions game….they were doing something that took away those intermediate passes…Goff pulled down so many and then stumbled around awkwardly in the pocket…he’s sure not a Wentz type in the pocket and more like a KWarner as far as his movement. imo

However, again…the Lions were doin somethin that confused Goff and the rams really never adjusted. Goff just started hitting on the passes he missed for most of the game – cuz the WRs were open, at times…and Goff would flat miss the WR. It’s totally okay, cuz everyone has “one of those days” where everything is off and you just have to make the best of it – and gut out a win somehow…and Goff/Rams did.

Bate@NoPlanB_
Sean McVay when asked about breakfast from his 6th birthday:

“Great start to the day with a bowl of Rice Krispies at 4:37am. Threw together a perfect ratio of krispies to USDA Organic 2% milk. 34 degrees. Expired the next day. Executed all three phases: snap, crackle, and pop.”

Nathan Fenno@nathanfenno
The Rams and St. Louis PSL holders have reached a $24-million settlement, according to documents filed in federal court. Story to come.

==

Eric Bickel@EBJunkies
Hearing from several different people over last few days that Alex Smith is having devastating complications from his broken leg surgery battling infection. Supposedly he’s had multiple surgeries to try to combat infection. Chances of him playing again in real jeaopardy.

===

Updated list of defenders who are blowing up opposing pass games.#LARams #BeRedSeeRed #DaBears #GoBills #FightForEachOther #BroncosCountry #Jets #FinsUp #Texans #GoSaints #Browns pic.twitter.com/DIGXr34Adu

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 5, 2018

LAT's @LATimesfarmer on Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack. https://t.co/zjOMnbynFM

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) December 7, 2018

Another game with over 150 scrimmage yards for the NFC Offensive Player of the Week!

All-22: Breaking down @TG3II's 19-yard reception. pic.twitter.com/qmTNvwmDHi

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 5, 2018

How will the Bears protect Mitch Trubisky from QB menace Aaron Donald of the Rams?

Chicago Tribune

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-blocking-aaron-donald-biggs-20181205-story.html

James Daniels was sitting at his locker Wednesday afternoon before practice intently studying video of the Rams on his tablet when the questions began: How is he going to protect Mitch Trubisky from menacing Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald?

The Bears rookie left guard figures to get most of the work blocking Donald on Sunday night when the Rams come to Soldier Field with an NFL-best 11-1 record. With Trubisky set to return after missing the last two games with a right shoulder injury, the offensive line needs to keep the quarterback upright.

Donald has been on such a tear, not only is he the leading candidate to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season, something accomplished only twice previously by J.J. Watt (2014-15) and Lawrence Taylor (1981-82), he could be a legitimate MVP candidate if Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes split votes for a quarterback. No defensive player has won MVP honors since Taylor in 1986.

Donald leads the NFL with 16½ sacks, four more than the next defender, and has 12½ in the last six games. He spent most of last Sunday’s game at Ford Field in the Lions backfield, abusing rookie left guard Frank Ragnow, a first-round draft pick. Donald had two sacks, a third wiped out by a penalty, two additional tackles for a loss and a forced fumble that led to the decisive touchdown in a close game that turned into a blowout.

“He’s a player that when you turn on the tape, and you go through with your guys each week who the game-changers are, you put like three circles around him,” coach Matt Nagy said. “Because he’s a game-changer times three.”

It’s sometimes difficult to double-team Donald because he often attacks the outside shoulder of the guard. Even when he is double-teamed, he still creates train wrecks in the backfield. He whipped Lions right guard Kenny Wiggins and then center Graham Glasgow on his way to sacking and stripping Matthew Stafford on one play last week.

“I’m getting sleep, yeah,” Daniels said. “Trust your technique and you will be fine.”

According to STATS, Daniels, a second-round pick from Iowa, who has started six games and rotated in another three, has not allowed a sack this season. Right guard Bryan Witzmann, who has started the last four games, has allowed two sacks.

While edge rushers can be chipped by running backs and tight ends, you can’t get such help on interior pass rushers. If Donald starts at the outside shoulder of Daniels or Witzmann, it’s hard for center Cody Whitehair to help, and he’ll likely look to the other side where familiar Bears foe Ndamukong Suh will be.

Donald and Suh will twist and stunt from time to time, so the interior linemen will have to be ready for that because Donald is tremendously powerful and can put a lineman on his heels and quickly throw him to the ground. Against the 49ers, Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips even lined Donald up at defensive end. He defeated an offensive tackle and tight end on one play, a 280-pound game-plan wrecker coming off the edge.

Donald is a monster because he’s the quickest player off the ball in a league in which there are fantastic pass rushers 40 pounds lighter, and he can beat offensive linemen with his hands. He has developed as a technician at the point of attack where he can knock a lineman’s hands down and bull-rush him back into the quarterback or swim over the lineman. Even when a lineman gets a good chuck on Donald to start a play, he can finish with his arms wrapped around the quarterback because he counters better than anyone on the interior.

Quarterbacks can step up into the pocket to buy the split-second needed to release a pass when sensing edge pressure, but there’s no stepping up against Donald, which means we might see a lot of the agile Trubisky fleeing the pocket.

Witzmann struggled against the Giants and he has been uneven since replacing Kyle Long, who started the only previous time the Bears faced Donald — in 2015, a 37-13 victory for the Bears on a day when Donald had 1½ sacks. Witzmann will be put in positions to block Donald too.

Right tackle Bobby Massie said Phillips tries to create situations where his linemen are getting one-on-one blocks across the board by at least occupying the attention of each lineman. Whitehair can help if he’s uncovered, but the Rams will also get in five-man fronts, which ensures solo blocks across the board.

“It’s not the first time we have played a good defense,” Massie said. “Everybody is going to have to be on their stuff. You just have to get your hands on Donald. I’m not taking nothing away from him, but he’s not God. He’s been blocked before. He can be blocked. He’s a damn good player. He’s an animal, and from the three-technique? He’s a dog. You’ve just got to get your hands on him and block him. At the end of the day, that’s what needs to happen.”

Nagy was asked if he could provide help to Witzmann (and presumably Daniels) to keep Donald out of Trubisky’s lap.

“Well … I’m going to just keep that to me,” Nagy said, chuckling. “It’s a good question, though.”

#Rams Jared Goff and Robert Woods:

The fine line between greatness and failure. pic.twitter.com/UD5FIHivFh

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 3, 2018

A Detroit horror film by Aaron Donald pic.twitter.com/d47C7Er9QA

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 5, 2018

JB Long

https://www.facebook.com

On the flight home from Detroit, I decided to do a quick study of Aaron Donald’s NFL-leading 16.5 sacks. From our standpoint, it feels like he’s not just imposing his will, but he’s wrecking opposing offenses at the most critical moments of games.
Here’s what I came up with:
-Opponents have a total of one subsequent first down on drives in which he recorded a sack (and it was because of a personal foul against Seattle).
-Opponents have zero touchdowns on drives in which he recorded a sack.
-12 of his sacks have occurred in the second half.
-Eight of his sacks have occurred in the fourth quarter.
-Eight of his sacks have occurred on third down.
-14 of his sacks have (a) forced a fumble recovered by the Rams, (b) led to a turnover on that same set of downs, or (c) led to a punt on that same set of downs.
-Two of his sacks have immediately forced a field goal try.
As for his four forced fumbles:
-All four have been recovered by the Rams (including one recovered by Donald, himself).
-All have led to Rams touchdowns (either on the fumble recovery or the ensuing offensive possession).
-Three of his forced fumbles occurred on first down plays for the opposition.
He’s also leading the league with 20 tackles for loss, showing up just as prominently in run defense.
And here’s a final trend, courtesy of the Rams P.R. department: The Rams are undefeated (16-0) in the Sean McVay / Wade Phillips era when Donald records a sack.