PREGAME Beating the Bucs

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I think this game will be decided by time of possession. If the Bucs manage to keep the ball on offense for long and steady drive with running and short passing, we're in trouble. We've been vulnerable to that strategy and I think they have the means to apply it with Fournette back. Brady knows he can't keep the ball very long, so I feel they will strategize for this, I hope Morris plans accordingly.

Also of course turnovers, if Stfford throws picks we're most probably done. We'll probably try to beat them deep so there's a risk.
But the thing is, who does Brady have for short, drop off passes, besides, Gronk and maybe a RB? Godwin is gone. AB is gone. Evans needs a head of steam to become really dangerous, and besides, we have the answer in Ramsey. Last time, we knocked Gronk the f*ck out. They had Fournette last time too, but was not used by Arians when we scored quick TD’s. Their all star RT Firth is injured and diminishEd even if he plays. The Center is out. Brady is in friggin trouble, because Von is on fire and AD is ready to eat Him alive…..
 

12intheBox

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But the thing is, who does Brady have for short, drop off passes, besides, Gronk and maybe a RB? Godwin is gone. AB is gone. Evans needs a head of steam to become really dangerous, and besides, we have the answer in Ramsey. Last time, we knocked Gronk the f*ck out. They had Fournette last time too, but was not used by Arians when we scored quick TD’s. Their all star RT Firth is injured and diminishEd even if he plays. The Center is out. Brady is in friggin trouble, because Von is on fire and AD is ready to eat Him alive…..
Slippery Gio Bernard needs to be accounted for
 

Merlin

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But the thing is, who does Brady have for short, drop off passes, besides, Gronk and maybe a RB? Godwin is gone. AB is gone. Evans needs a head of steam to become really dangerous, and besides, we have the answer in Ramsey. Last time, we knocked Gronk the f*ck out. They had Fournette last time too, but was not used by Arians when we scored quick TD’s. Their all star RT Firth is injured and diminishEd even if he plays. The Center is out. Brady is in friggin trouble, because Von is on fire and AD is ready to eat Him alive…..
Yeah they were talking about how the Bucs have changed. The Rams are the most fucking improved team in the playoffs. I mean since that first game the Rams found a good punt returner. They found a plus RB in Michel. They received a windfall with Akers' return. They found an elite WR in Odell. Higbee has found his rhythm with Stafford. And their defense is night and day different up front with the addition of Miller on the edge and Gaines on the interior.

Our DL is gonna eat that offense. Only way that doesn't happen is if Tampa can somehow run the ball.
 

Spider2YB

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That's what I want to know. How the hell do we keep that ball from getting out by 2 secs??
In order to knock them out of their quick game the only thing you can do is make sure the D line is getting their hands up, and making sure everyone else tackles. Brady is going to be spraying the ball around the LOS to their backs and tight ends all game long, and if we make tackles, we give ourselves a tremendous chance to win. But if swing passes to Fournette turn into 14 yard gains because we are tackling like hell, it could be a really long day.
 

Q729

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In order to knock them out of their quick game the only thing you can do is make sure the D line is getting their hands up, and making sure everyone else tackles. Brady is going to be spraying the ball around the LOS to their backs and tight ends all game long, and if we make tackles, we give ourselves a tremendous chance to win. But if swing passes to Fournette turn into 14 yard gains because we are tackling like hell, it could be a really long day.
Dammit. The last thing we need is for ole Tommy boy to be spraying all over the field.
 

CGI_Ram

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First Look: Rams clash with Bucs in Divisional Round of playoffs​

The No. 4 seed Rams are Tampa Bay-bound to take on the No. 2-seed Buccaneers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, with the winner advancing to face the winner of Packers-49ers. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. is scheduled for 12 p.m. pacific time (NBC, Peacock, Universo).

In advance of the contest, here is your First Look at Rams-Bucs, presented by Audi.

Notable Buccaneers additions

Signed WR Breshad Perriman to the active roster on Dec. 3: Although Perriman had a quiet playoff opener with just one catch for five yards, he showed in the regular season that he must be accounted for – look no further than the speed shown on his walk-off 58-yard touchdown catch in Tampa Bay's 33-27 overtime win over Buffalo in Week 14.

Signed RB Giovani Bernard to a one-year deal on April 14: Leonard Fournette has carried the bulk of the load for Tampa Bay's backfield both as a runner and receiver, but with him dealing a hamstring injury over the last few weeks and backup Ronald Jones an ankle injury, Bernard was asked to do much more in their playoff opener against the Eagles than he did all season and showed an ability to do both while splitting carries with Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

Top performers in Wild Card Round

QB Tom Brady completed 29 of 37 pass attempts for 271 yards and two touchdowns in Tampa Bay's 31-15 win over Philadelphia.

RBs Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard effectively split the backfield work, Vaughn posting 17 carries for 53 yards and one touchdown while Bernard tallied 13 carries for 44 yards and one touchdown.

WR Mike Evans was Brady's top target, hauling in nine catches for 117 yards and one touchdown.

The Bucs defense caused three Eagles turnovers, an interception each from S Mike Edwards and OLB Shaq Barrett, plus a forced fumble by NT Steve McClendon (although that was recovered by the Eagles).

On special teams, K Ryan Succop made his lone field goal attempt plus all four of his extra point attempts, while P Bradley Pinion averaged 48.7 yards per punt across seven punts.

Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams

The personnel changes have been significant for both teams since facing each other in Week 3 of the regular season.

The Buccaneers became the first team in the salary cap era to bring back all 22 starters from a Super Bowl-winning team, but attrition late in the season has tested them, with, notably, wide receiver Chris Godwin sustaining a season-ending torn ACL and wide receiver Antonio Brown's highly-publicized departure from the team in Week 17. Fournette was placed on Injured Reserve late in the season with a hamstring injury, and while he returned to practice last week, he still has not been moved to the active roster yet.

Meanwhile, the Rams traded linebacker Kenny Young, acquired outside linebacker Von Miller and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, lost wide receiver Robert Woods to a torn ACL, placed defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and cornerback Robert Rochell on IR, and saw running back Cam Akers return five and a half months after suffering a torn Achilles.

In other words, the rematch will look much different on Sunday, and not just from the usual adjustments implemented after the first time facing a team.

For the Rams specifically, the biggest impact will likely be the approach their secondary takes. While Brown did not play in Week 3, the Bucs still had Evans and Godwin healthy. This time around, the Rams secondary primarily has to worry about Evans and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
 

A.J. Hicks

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Just rewatched the week 3 matchup.

Rams defense is certainly going to be different (I have read Bucs fans saying they are healthy on the backend now but I don't know that team that well).

Reeder and Young were starters at line backer. And our secondary was Jalen, Darious, I saw quite a bit of Long jr., Rapp, Fuller.

So going into this game it looks like:

Reeder/Jones and Howard. Then Jalen, Darious, Long, Rapp (?), Burgess.

Not too mention our d-line adding Von Miller.
 

RAMSinLA

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Excluding the second half of the 49er game the Rams Defense has been lights out. Great weather in Tampa Bay makes me think the Rams offense will show up to play too.

GO RAMS! YES BABY LETS GO!!!!!!
 

payote75

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In order to knock them out of their quick game the only thing you can do is make sure the D line is getting their hands up, and making sure everyone else tackles. Brady is going to be spraying the ball around the LOS to their backs and tight ends all game long, and if we make tackles, we give ourselves a tremendous chance to win. But if swing passes to Fournette turn into 14 yard gains because we are tackling like hell, it could be a really long day.

And make sure we aren't playing 10 yards off receivers
 

The Ramowl

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But the thing is, who does Brady have for short, drop off passes, besides, Gronk and maybe a RB? Godwin is gone. AB is gone. Evans needs a head of steam to become really dangerous, and besides, we have the answer in Ramsey. Last time, we knocked Gronk the f*ck out. They had Fournette last time too, but was not used by Arians when we scored quick TD’s. Their all star RT Firth is injured and diminishEd even if he plays. The Center is out. Brady is in friggin trouble, because Von is on fire and AD is ready to eat Him alive…..
We've seen Morris give so much space for the short pass that anyone with a pair of hands could have an impact. I don't know how they will strategize, but if we leave them the room for short yardage it could be trouble, all I'm saying.
 

CGI_Ram

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Opposing View: Bucs head coach Bruce Arians on what he's seen from Rams since two teams played in Week 3​

Assessing the three months since the two teams last played each other, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians sees three variables that stand out about the Rams: New personnel additions, running the ball more and a defense playing as good as any unit in the NFL.

All of which is on his mind as Tampa Bay prepares to host Los Angeles on Sunday (12 p.m. pacific time; NBC, Peacock, Universo) in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

One of the (sort of) new pieces for the Rams added since that last meeting is running back Cam Akers, who returned from his torn Achilles injury in less than six months. He had 17 carries for 55 yards, plus a 40-yard reception, for 95 total yards in Los Angeles' Wild Card victory over the Arizona Cardinals Monday night.

"He can probably rehab a hell of a lot harder than I can," said Arians, who is dealing with his own Achilles issues. "It is amazing, sports science, what's going on in the world today, people coming back from ACLs in six months and Achilles (injuries), and things that were 16 months two years ago. I think it's just going to get better. With the things that we're inventing and different ways doctors are doing it, sports science amazes me. I wish I could do it."

Prior to Akers' return, the Rams lost wide receiver Robert Woods to a torn ACL the same week they signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. They also acquired outside linebacker Von Miller in a trade.

Between the regular season and playoffs, Beckham has scored six touchdowns in nine games as a Ram, while Miller has recorded at least one sack in five consecutive games.

All of that, of course, is in addition to a pass rush led by defensive lineman Aaron Donald and a passing offense with wide receiver and NFL triple crown winner Cooper Kupp as its most productive target.

"He's one of the best," Arians said of Kupp, who had nine catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3. "I think he and (Bucs wide receiver) Chris Godwin, to me, are the best all-around receivers in the league because they block, they do everything – inside, outside. They're very comparable, and you know how I think about Chris. Cooper, he's a challenge. You can't double team him all day, that's for sure – they have too many other weapons. You just have to own up your guy and fight him. He's a hard tackle just like Chris is."

Given the rate at which Miller, Donald, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, defensive lineman Greg Gaines and others along the Rams' defensive front are putting pressure on the quarterback, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady's well-known quick release on throws becomes more important, especially with starting offensive linemen Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs' statuses uncertain for Sunday.

"It helps a bunch, because they're going to be there sooner or later," Arians said. "That's for sure. You can only hold them out so long. You still gotta take some shots down the field. I mean, everything's not going to be dink-and-dunk. You just have to maximize how you're doing it and who you're blocking and who's got who. They're doing a good job. They bring five a lot so it's hard to double-team anybody."
 

majrleaged

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Yeah they were talking about how the Bucs have changed. The Rams are the most fucking improved team in the playoffs. I mean since that first game the Rams found a good punt returner. They found a plus RB in Michel. They received a windfall with Akers' return. They found an elite WR in Odell. Higbee has found his rhythm with Stafford. And their defense is night and day different up front with the addition of Miller on the edge and Gaines on the interior.

Our DL is gonna eat that offense. Only way that doesn't happen is if Tampa can somehow run the ball.
and if morris doesn't keep his DBs up close so brady can get rid of the ball quick.