Just re-watched the Bronco game…

[Rams43]

Here’s some observations that I missed when watching live and that haven’t been all that well covered by the media…

First, this was McVay’s best schemed and play called game all year. He constantly demonstrated that he had self scouted and made desperately needed corrections. Great to see.

His usage of both Higbee and Hopkins was devastating both in receiving and blocking. This is a whole different Ram O when McVay incorporates both of his TE’s. Broncos never had an answer.

I watched both Aboushi and Skura live and thought that they played well both in run blocking and pass pro. I watched them live because those 2 were my biggest concerns on O at the time. But this time I focused on Nsekhe and Shelton. Guess what? They both had outstanding games and Akers and Mayfield were the beneficiaries and got all the glory.

This current OL already has sufficiently gelled together that they can do a pretty darned good job. They just devastated the #3 scoring D in the league. Pretty impressive for mostly 3rd-5th stringers that were constantly being re-shuffled every week until recently.

Nsekhe, in particular, should be strongly considered for extension as a backup LOT. He looks like a borderline starting LOT, imo. Brilliant Snead signing just when Rams really needed it.

I’m now convinced that our ‘23 OL will be just fine with the addition of one high draft pick as a OG/OC or a solid LOT that might fall to us in the 2nd.

Akers seems newborn. He’s now once again looking like an above average starting RB. I still advise drafting a RB from this rich draft but Akers and Williams would be very good backups at the very least.

Why, oh why has it taken McVay this long to rediscover his 12 personnel sets? Gawd…

Mayfield is thriving with McVay. It’s beyond obvious. Sure hope he sees the wisdom of signing here as a brief backup to Stafford. Would be a definite win-win-win situation long term.

I love our projected ‘23 WR room of Kupp, AR, Jefferson, Atwell, McCutcheon, and Trammel with either Stafford or Mayfield under center. No need to devote draft picks to THAT room.

I was pleased to see numerous flashes from youngsters in that front 7. Emphasis numerous.

Hoecht
Murchison
Williams
Brown IV
Keir Thomas

Hate to say I told you so about Durant… But I did tell you so. Lol. Polish him up on some things and we’ve got ourselves a real ballhawk to complement Ramsey. Those are hard to find. Hot Damn! Again, what took Morris so long to see the obvious?

It’s possible that Broncos caved in too easily because they’d lost confidence in Hackett and Russell Wilson. I dunno. But I will say this. Rams seemed well prepared and fired up after that Lambeau humiliation so it might not have mattered WHO Rams were playing that particular day. Rams players and coaches both seemed to want to vent their season long frustrations on whoever showed up. I’ve seldom been more proud of a Rams team effort. Btw, that’s twice I’ve claimed that in the last 3 games, both times with Mayfield’s at QB. Just saying.

Hopefully, we will see more of these youngsters getting their snaps in the final 2 games. It’s both fun and very enlightening.

I will say this. Rams seem to have a deeper bench at WR, OL, TE, Edge, DL, and CB than I had previously thought. Might have to revise my needs priority list. Lol.

Thoughts?

 

[den-the-coach]

I will say this. Rams seem to have a deeper bench at WR, OL, TE, Edge, DL, and CB than I had previously thought. Might have to revise my needs priority list. Lol.

Thoughts?

I would temper the enthusiasm as the Rams were playing a bad football team that had given up on their Head Coach and everything came crashing down on Christmas Day. Their defense had kept them in games, but that side of the ball finally self destructed with help from the multiple interceptions from Wilson.

As to the Offensive Line I believe they still need to draft two OC/OG & a LOT to develop too. I concur that Ty Nsekhe has played well, but he will turn 38 come October of 2023, but as a backup the Rams could do worse, I just feel with Jackson, Boom and a Draft Choice the might be better served.

I do like Shelton at Center and the Rams seem to run better with him at Center. Maybe they can draft Edge first and then look for a LOT and C/G combination later in the draft, cut Allen and look to extend Shelton if he does hold up well as the starter.

What concerns me is a fans, we all have been clamoring for the 12 personnel double TE's to aid in the run game along with benching Derion Kendrick and playing Cobie Durant. It took far too long IMHO for the coaching staff to realize this, so that is concerning.

Kendrick is not good and really should be behind others like Shaun Jolly & Grant Halley moving forward. I would not be shocked if the Rams traded Alan Robinson, but that is another thread for the offseason, they will have to make a decision on Van Jefferson and many others, but I hope they keep playing Hopkins because he seems like he has good hands and has improved his blocking too.

Next two games will be an excellent barometer as to the growth of the team as the Chargers are heading to post season and the Seahawks in Seattle are always a good road test.

 

[fearsomefour]

The refusal to make the change(s) is strange to me.
Durant has to be on the field. As I posted on another thread, he has been targeted 13 times with passes and 3 pics and leads the league in return yardage.
He is a ball hawk.
Hopkins can play and has shown that on the rare occasions he gets to play.
He was rated pretty highly coming out of college and I, along with others, thought he was a bit of a steal where he was drafted. Why the team has refused to incorporate him, esp with Higbee being injured this year, is beyond me.
Resigning both Ty (who is starting to string together good games) and Skura should be done this offseason for depth.

 

[fearsomefour]

I do like Shelton at Center and the Rams seem to run better with him at Center. Maybe they can draft Edge first and then look for a LOT and C/G combination later in the draft, cut Allen and look to extend Shelton if he does hold up well as the starter

I could see letting Allen go, move Shelton to C and signing a vet G.....Jenkins from GB or someone in that price range.
Best case Bruss is ready to go at G, but, that is probably not likely.

 

[TexasRam]

We definitely need a big back like an AJ Dillon to go with Akers. Akers just lacks that power for short yardage and wearing down a defense. Need a physical back vs strong defenses. But I do love Akers out of the backfield and for the big play factor he offers.

Some Olineman are making cases for consideraiton next year but need to see them more. Shelton should be in line for starting center however.

Great to hear your take on the Oline on the rewatch, not sure one good game from Skura justifies his bad play but Obashi deserves more looks, hopefully we beats the suspension. I might resign Edwards if we can get him cheap and push out the cap hit. I know a lot are not high on him but we won a Super Bowl with him and when not injured he is solid in my book. Rather him then or rookie.

Not sold completely on Durant yet due to his lack of size in the run game, but as a cover guy it is mind blowing why he hadn’t replaced Kendrick until now.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Nsekhe, in particular, should be strongly considered for extension as a backup LOT. He looks like a borderline starting LOT, imo. Brilliant Snead signing just when Rams really needed it.

Nsekhe was fun to watch. To me it's the first time I've felt we had a legit starter over there since Whit; he seemed to just handle everything comfortably. His age might be less of a factor because he hasn't started much. With him in the mix our "committee" of LTs might allow us to focus on bringing in a G or C (or both).

 

[dang]

The FA market will be flooded with good RBs. Pick up someone like D’ERnrst Johnson, Depnte Foreman or Jeff Wilson for reasonable price.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I could see letting Allen go, move Shelton to C and signing a vet G.....Jenkins from GB or someone in that price range.
Best case Bruss is ready to go at G, but, that is probably not likely.

Jenkins signed an extension with the Packers last week.

 

[OldSchool]

Durant was a good choice in my one mock this year. Not writing off Kendrick’s yet but I’ll still take a CB and FS as well in this mock.

 

[snackdaddy]

Allen was signed to a 3 year deal in the offseason. I don't them cutting him. I think they stubbornly stick to him. But its nice to know Shelton can come in and even be an upgrade with Allen's injury history. I do think they need to keep Nsekhe. Noteboom is injury prone. Jackson has potential at LT but after going down for the year we don't if he is the same. Nsekhe is a nice insurance policy. We do have Bruss waiting in the wings after what feels like a redshirt year for him.

If this game was springboard for Akers to return to his rookie form, that may reduce the need to draft a running back early. Two more games will tell us more. The rookie Akers had the look of a high end running back. He looked like that the other day.

Durant is playing well. And getting valuable experience. The first interception was impressive. The second was more a gift from the backup QB. At least we know he can catch the ball. Some DB's have lousy hands.

 

[den-the-coach]

Some DB's have lousy hands.

Well, that because if they had good hands, they would be wide receivers.

First art of coaching:

1. Small, Fast, can run, bad hands (defensive back)
2. Small, Fast, can run, good hands (wide receiver)
3. Big, Quick, feisty no so smart (defensive line)
4. Big, Slow, feisty, smart (Offensive Line)

 

[Kupped]

Durant has been hurt, so that's one part of the issue of his playing time, the other part is that he can't tackle. That's not going to work against a team like the 9ers. He's got great cover and ball skills, for sure. I also don't know if he wasn't picking up parts of the scheme needed to be on the field.

I've been on the sign Nsekhe bandwagon for a while. I'm staying.

I agree that they will have decent Oline depth next year.. they just need to learn the lesson and keep at least 9 on the roster and lose one of Allen or Noteboom or both because they seem to be automatic games lost to injury.

 

[Soul Surfer]

The FA market will be flooded with good RBs. Pick up someone like D’ERnrst Johnson, Depnte Foreman or Jeff Wilson for reasonable price.

D'onte Foreman is a beast and will get paid very well.

 

[Merlin]

That game was so good it is almost porn.

 

[Bootleg]

I wonder if the two TE sets had more to do with Skow being out, rather than McVay coming to a realization about the effectiveness of 12 personnel. Maybe McVay just needed another big receiver and Hopkins was the next man up. I hope not. Hopkins can do what Skow can only he's a size bigger and that helps the decimated OL. We'll see....

 

[Kupped]

I wonder if the two TE sets had more to do with Skow being out, rather than McVay coming to a realization about the effectiveness of 12 personnel. Maybe McVay just needed another big receiver and Hopkins was the next man up. I hope not. Hopkins can do what Skow can only he's a size bigger and that helps the decimated OL. We'll see....

Good question!

Maybe it’s a little of both.

 

[blackbart]

Durant has been hurt, so that's one part of the issue of his playing time, the other part is that he can't tackle. That's not going to work against a team like the 9ers. He's got great cover and ball skills, for sure. I also don't know if he wasn't picking up parts of the scheme needed to be on the field.

I've been on the sign Nsekhe bandwagon for a while. I'm staying.

I agree that they will have decent Oline depth next year.. they just need to learn the lesson and keep at least 9 on the roster and lose one of Allen or Noteboom or both because they seem to be automatic games lost to injury.

I haven’t watch Durant exclusively but, he’s had fewer than 200 snaps this year. He has 9 tackles and 1 sack 5 passes defended and 3 ints in that time. I didn’t see a stat for missed tackles.

Is there something out there to back up the he can’t tackle or is that just what you’ve picked up?

 

[Kupped]

I haven’t watch Durant exclusively but, he’s had fewer than 200 snaps this year. He has 9 tackles and 1 sack 5 passes defended and 3 ints in that time. I didn’t see a stat for missed tackles.

Is there something out there to back up the he can’t tackle or is that just what you’ve picked up?

Just the games.

 

[blackbart]

Just the games.

The only game I have recorded is the Broncos. I’ll have to take a look at him during fun support. Hate to lose that ball hawking speed but he will probably gain a little weight with a full off season in their program.

 

[Merlin]

Our best boundary corners are Durant and Ramsey. I would park both of them in those roles and leave them. Kendrick in the slot, either him or Hill. Whoever is not is the dime. That is a solid secondary in terms of cover ability IMO, and potentially can improve as the kids get experience.

Too much is being made of Durant's tackling. In order to threaten him outside the hash you need to run quick screens, and he's a threat to jump any pass that is out wide if it is late or poorly thrown. Just my take on this issue. Those types of cover threats get in a QB's head on those quick passes to the sideline, they make that pass something to dread instead of what it has been all season which is a guaranteed 5-10 yard gain. Durant is a guy who is comfortable 5 yards off vs a good wideout and ready to jump the route. He is not going to spot a dude ten fucking yards because he's not confident like Long, Rochell, Kendrick, even Ramsey at times.

The sorting of our secondary roles has been slow and poorly devised IMO. Been saying this for a while now. Slot is easily filled. We have multiple options to fill it. The problem is settling roles outside the hash and the guy who can help us out there is Durant.