Some thoughts on ‘the morning after’…

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WestCoastRam

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I don't know what to think of Morris at this point. He has a young core of players that would benefit from the continuity at DC. But in a season where we're supposed to be doing a lot of talent evaluating AND self scouting, he hasn't changed much of anything. This is the year to be experimenting with a bunch of different things including blitz packages and overall more aggressive defense. The way we've let games slip on defense is all too familiar.

I would live with a 3rd and 17 conversion if we showed more aggressive play calling. This soft zone is infuriating.
He's doing a lot of things different this year. As far as talent evaluating, there's only so much change that can happen with as little depth/talent we have on D.

We've seen some changes though since the bye, JJ elevated to starting safety, Yeast moved to dimebacker. But there's just not enough guys (and Tomlinson is a DPI waiting to happen) to change things up more.
 

Kupped

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He's doing a lot of things different this year. As far as talent evaluating, there's only so much change that can happen with as little depth/talent we have on D.

We've seen some changes though since the bye, JJ elevated to starting safety, Yeast moved to dimebacker. But there's just not enough guys (and Tomlinson is a DPI waiting to happen) to change things up more.
Yeah.. I was a little confused by that. He's thrown the kitchen sink this season and mixed things up.
He's got a Vet min castoff and 6th rounder starting at corner. What are we talking about, again?
 

Kupped

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One more thought on this "morning after"...

This season has been a HUGE success, imo.

We know they were looking at a reset/rebuild.. and have exceeded expectations.. in some cases, significantly.
Most important to me, they have their offense figured out. There's no overhaul needed.. no big changes and they are in a position to make the few additions/improvements needed.

The defense is actually in much better shape than I expected.. but needs a significant talent infusion and that's where this year's plan comes into play. They have a full draft next season and can open up a SHIT TON of money to throw at that side of the ball.

The plan is coming together.
 

JimY53

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One more thought on this "morning after"...

This season has been a HUGE success, imo.

We know they were looking at a reset/rebuild.. and have exceeded expectations.. in some cases, significantly.
Most important to me, they have their offense figured out. There's no overhaul needed.. no big changes and they are in a position to make the few additions/improvements needed.

The defense is actually in much better shape than I expected.. but needs a significant talent infusion and that's where this year's plan comes into play. They have a full draft next season and can open up a SHIT TON of money to throw at that side of the ball.

The plan is coming together.
I predicted 6 wins, give or take, so they have exceeded my expectations. I didn't think they'd have this many wins with 4 weeks to go.

I think those who said Rams were tanking see how wrong they were, that's for sure.
 

WestCoastRam

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One more thought on this "morning after"...

This season has been a HUGE success, imo.

We know they were looking at a reset/rebuild.. and have exceeded expectations.. in some cases, significantly.
Most important to me, they have their offense figured out. There's no overhaul needed.. no big changes and they are in a position to make the few additions/improvements needed.

The defense is actually in much better shape than I expected.. but needs a significant talent infusion and that's where this year's plan comes into play. They have a full draft next season and can open up a SHIT TON of money to throw at that side of the ball.

The plan is coming together.
Whether they pay Witherspoon or not will be really interesting for me on D next year. My guess is they'll have a number but Spoon might be able to get an even better contract in FA with how he's played.
 

Kupped

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Whether they pay Witherspoon or not will be really interesting for me on D next year. My guess is they'll have a number but Spoon might be able to get an even better contract in FA with how he's played.
I think he's very replaceable and they'll have money to do it, if they don't keep him.
 

Curt760

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Okay so I didn’t expect the Rams to win and was just hoping they show better than the Seahawks and Lions did. Young roster and not a whole lot behind the starters we shouldn’t be surprised the special team unit suffers. Yes push in the back could have been called on punt return so could have a bunch of holding calls which allowed Lamar to escape the pocket. Rams plan looked to be to contain Lamar thus he had tons of time to sit back and throw.
Overall, Rams showed up well.
But only if…
 

So Ram

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I think he's very replaceable and they'll have money to do it, if they don't keep him.
The Rams are more than far with there contracts.IMI there’s more to it than money. Like I’ll always say we’ll see ?

Right now it’s a win win & The Rams need to win these next 3 games.They let a few get away.They’ve put themselves in a tougher spot than they should have.These are all winnable games.The question will be if The NINER’s are going to player there too players the last game of the season!
 

Allen2McVay

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... a blown coverage is when someone fails to play the coverage, the blow it, they leave someone unguarded.

Lack of execution is when you play the coverage but get beat.

I agree. That's why I edited my post to try to remove the question before your response.
I was not reading your post correctly, as I did not properly interpret the use of 'executed'.
 

So Ram

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Okay so I didn’t expect the Rams to win and was just hoping they show better than the Seahawks and Lions did. Young roster and not a whole lot behind the starters we shouldn’t be surprised the special team unit suffers. Yes push in the back could have been called on punt return so could have a bunch of holding calls which allowed Lamar to escape the pocket. Rams plan looked to be to contain Lamar thus he had tons of time to sit back and throw.
Overall, Rams showed up well.
But only if…

I wanted to post how bad I think Chase Clayburn has done as a special teams coach ? Just not happy with some of his outcomes.

I’d say the return game might be a plus though ?

Only if they stopped or made the 2 point conversion.The final play wouldn’t have played out? Rams win
 

Elmgrovegnome

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The secondary was completely outmatched.
I think the Rams defense started out very concerned with the Ravens running game and the Ravens plan was to pass because:

1. The Rams had been stopping the run against other teams.
2. They figured the young secondary would be indecisive.
3 They knew they’d be able to neutralize the pass rush once they realized that the refs would allow AD to be blatantly held on every single pass play.

Harbaugh’s little ‘in your face’ celebration at the end, was disgusting, because he knew the refs helped them win that game from start to finish.
 

RamWoodie

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Fuller was too aggressive on one TD. Last one he got froze and got beat. That happens... I won't hate on him for that. A WR runs at you gives you a fake and you are on defense it's hard to make a play like that when QB is on the money.

The blown coverage? Not sure who it was---Johnson or Fuller. One of the two had that route ... same as last week.

Not knowing the their rules ... hard to know for sure. I have my suspicions but without asking them cannot be sure.

this is first one..the motion guy becomes the 3rd vertical, someone has that 3rd vertical ... cannot be the CB he's locked to #1.
so there is confusion as who has #2 and #3 (motion guy)



View: https://x.com/53_jim70721/status/1734074514034638881?s=20

I'm with you. My thought is the split safeties split the field. I simply think no one picked up on the guy in motion. A safety has to look before he leaps and he never looked back until it was too late
 

JimY53

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I agree. That's why I edited my post to try to remove the question before your response.
I was not reading your post correctly, as I did not properly interpret the use of 'executed'.
No biggie. I didn't see the edit... but I wasn't clear enough originally
 

JimY53

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I'm with you. My thought is the split safeties split the field. I simply think no one picked up on the guy in motion. A safety has to look before he leaps and he never looked back until it was too late
In this case it was rare MOF look ... Rams usually in shell --- here Fuller in MOF, Johnson in slot, Spoon in press. I don't know if Johnson or FUller should have the 3rd vertical... Spoon had #1, Johnson took #2 ... Fuller? should Johnson have passed the #2 and taken #3? Or did Fuller misread and not get over to the #3?

I suspect something but don't know for sure.
2023-12-11_11-14-17.jpg
 

Zodi

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Am I wrong or was the majority of the Rams blitzes right up the middle? In that instance, you're almost telling Jackson to go ahead an run. With the defensive line playing as well as they have, I would've liked to see more blitzes coming off the edge.
 

Da-Rock

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I know a lot of people look at talent alone, but I can't help look at our last Super Bowl win and think.......that is more than just talent.

Teams need three things to go all the way:
1 - Talent
2 - Chemistry
3 - Luck - (yeah I know, no one likes this to be true)

Dropping players who have average to above average talent seems easy, but does losing team chemistry mean more? The Rams Defense on paper looks so average to below average, but they are a strength this year! It can't be just talent.
 

Ellard80

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People can have own definitions, but a blown coverage is when someone fails to play the coverage, the blow it, they leave someone unguarded.

Lack of execution is when you play the coverage but get beat. So, I could have been clearer -- lack of execution is when Fuller bit on a double move and let someone get behind him. He took a chance -- and didn't execute/

On the first TD someone let the motion guy run free----that's blown.

I can see my verbiage was confusing ... because if someone blows a coverage, it is also lack of execution.

So maybe, blown vs gotten beat would have been better.

Bottom line, there was one blown coverage and two where someone got beat for TDs
that's the difference
yeah some people don't seem to know what a blown coverage is.

A blown coverage is when a player messes up their assignment.

We had two blown coverages in the past two games - after I'd not see any all year long.

Example of Blown Coverage - We are in Cover 2, but LCB thinks we are in man and follows receiver across the field, leaving one side wide open.
 

Jacobarch

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One more thought on this "morning after"...

This season has been a HUGE success, imo.

We know they were looking at a reset/rebuild.. and have exceeded expectations.. in some cases, significantly.
Most important to me, they have their offense figured out. There's no overhaul needed.. no big changes and they are in a position to make the few additions/improvements needed.

The defense is actually in much better shape than I expected.. but needs a significant talent infusion and that's where this year's plan comes into play. They have a full draft next season and can open up a SHIT TON of money to throw at that side of the ball.

The plan is coming together.

Great post.

I think we're seeing McSneads vision come to life. The Rams really are a couple of pieces short of becoming a legitimate contender. I still think LT & Center is a need on Offense. DE/OLB and CB are needs on Defense. If we can fill those holes with upgrades this next offseason and if young players make that 2nd and 3rd year leaps we're going to be good to great for seasons to come. Of course not counting the eventual departure of Kupp, Donald & Stafford. Things are looking up.
 

HE WITH HORNS

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Great post.

I think we're seeing McSneads vision come to life. The Rams really are a couple of pieces short of becoming a legitimate contender. I still think LT & Center is a need on Offense. DE/OLB and CB are needs on Defense. If we can fill those holes with upgrades this next offseason and if young players make that 2nd and 3rd year leaps we're going to be good to great for seasons to come. Of course not counting the eventual departure of Kupp, Donald & Stafford. Things are looking up.
I think next year we have to go "all in" again. Might be Stafford and Donald's last season. Let's go out with a bang.