[Joe Pendleton]

really cool read on the QB

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/590987 ... d=14307036

[azramsfan93]

I will have to take your word for it. It’s behind a paywall.

[Dare]

My problem with Stafford is his lack of mobility. I don't want a running qb but one that isn't a sitting duck in the pocket.

Again that lack of mobility requires tremendous OL play consistently to be successful. I don't think this is lost on Kroenke, Snead, and yes even McVay needs to accept this. It's why the Rams may resort to play Avila back at center. But it's only a bandaid, because the Rams know that Jackson is no long term starter at either center or OG.

So the Rams need to choose between an aging QB or spending money and draft captial on building a top OL which doesn't make sense. Stafford's poor performance in this game contrasted with Tua who played behind a lesser OL but lead his team to a win.

[T3rry]

^^Agreed. How many batted passes were there this game?
The D-Line can just sit back and play patty cake with the OL, wait for Stafford to get into his throwing motion and get their hands up to deflect the ball because they know he's not a flight risk. It takes away an extra element defenses have to account for.

Save for maybe 1 or 2 teams-- the TOP 2 teams in each division all have QBs who are AT LEAST a mild threat to scramble for yards if need be.

[Dare]

I don't need to know what Trotter says. I lost respect for the man years ago. But I believe what I see on the field. Sure his arm may be fine....something I doubt. But he's even more immobile now than in 2021.

Thank you for the Lombardi Matt. But it's time for the Rams to move on into the new and more competitive NFL. If Matt could move maybe he would have bought time to see Williams wide open for a TD. But he can't and that play simply highlighted the problem. They have moved on from players for a variety of reasons so why is Stafford immune?

Tua isn't nearly as talented as Stafford but he could move enough to beat a better D that he faced. The Niners are relevant this year because their QB is still on his rookie contract so they can afford all the expensive players.

Time to look at Riley Leonard. He's a fit for McVay's scheme. Excellent length, arm strength, plays in the pocket with excellent accuracy but is a legit threat to run. Because the defenses know Stafford is a statue that is why the Rams can't score in the red zone. They simply sit back and wait for his throw or the D front to get him.

That is the book on Stafford. So you get a guy with good arm talent and the ability to run and is adept at playing from the pocket. This could be a case of waiting a year too long. There were other QBs they could have gotten and developed, but McVay's Achilles heel is he lacks the patience to develop a rookie QB. So they will overpay for Darnold IMO. His mobility makes him a clear upgrade to Stafford.

[Joe Pendleton]

agreed, MS is simply getting "long in the tooth".. a truly great gun slinger, he just can't escape the pocket like he used to (which was always at a minimum).. hoping the best for the cat, but yeah.. we're about to venture into the QB "unknown" lol

[Dare]

I know they won't do it but I don't understand why they wouldn't hire Stafford as a QB coach and mentor for a young talent they draft. Can you imagine how good someone like Riley Leonard would be with Stafford teaching him how to read defenses and all the tricks of the trade Stafford had to learn through the years on his own?

Do you know what makes Wendell so good with the OL? It's because he played it in the NFL. I have no doubt that is why Limmer as a rookie is playing so well.

It worked with Nacua who was mentored by Kupp.

Stafford knows this offense inside and out. He knows what McVay wants and needs to run his offense. Coaches get SB rings too so Stafford could potentially get his second as a coach/mentor.

[/zn/]

that lack of mobility requires tremendous OL play consistently to be successful.

The D-Line can just sit back and play patty cake with the OL, wait for Stafford to get into his throwing motion and get their hands up to deflect the ball because they know he's not a flight risk.

he just can't escape the pocket like he used to (which was always at a minimum)..

IMO? This is all just a heavy dose of recency bias. It's aftershocks from the MIami game.

With the Rams, when Stafford is in his groove, he has never had "tremendous" OL play. He has had good OL play.

The Miami game was actually the bane of every single qb in the league, mobile or not--subpar OL play. That was because for whatever reason the Rams took a stable OL (as seen after the bye) and replaced 3 positions with guys who were just coming back from long injuries. That OL was out of sync and lacking good communication, and one of the 3 new guys was iffy as a player in the first place (Noteboom, in case that has to be spelled out). There was no rush to replace 2 guys who were playing well at the same time Hav was out. If it were me, I would have at least kept Limmer in for one more game. It just wasn't a coherent unit.

Like the idea that DL can just bat down Rams passes at will. That's actually a very rare occurence in Rams games, even the (many) games where they played with injury reduced OLs, but it happened a couple of times Monday night so all of a sudden it's this "thing" that routinely plagues Stafford?

Stafford doesn't require "tremendous" OL play, he requires solid and stable OL play, and instead this season, a few times he got badly subpar OL play (like a couple of times before the bye because of injuries, and then Monday). When that happens he can struggle as much as any qb in the league struggles with poor OL play.

Ah but here's the thing. The magic qb who can play well behind that kind of subpar OL? That has rarely if ever happened, and I mean in the entire history of the NFL. If you doubt me, name all the qbs who have played consistently well behind extensively broken, multiple injury replacement OLs. Or just plain subpar OLs playing as poorly as the Rams OL did Monday (because for some reason they replaced 3 spots overnight with guys who were all coming back from long injuries, and it predictably didn't work).

[Dare]

The loss to Miami was a classic case of a coach shooting himself in the balls. IMO the biggest factor in the OL decline was trusting J. Jack when it was clear before the season he wasn't as good as they had thought. IMO it's not so much his blocking, but his piss poor OL calls that caused chaos on the OL.

Why do you think with 2 rookies starting they outplayed the starting OL by a huge margin? Stafford regardless of what he says was in panic mode. What explains his getting his own self sacked by moving in front of his blocker? What explains why he completely missed Williams open for a TD and tried to force the ball and missed badly?

The OL must play as a unit and they simply didn't. This game highlighted the need for a center to make the proper OL calls. Jackson simply didn't. So do they double down this week and compound the issue by hoping Jackson improves?

It was so obvious that even a fan (not a coach) could see it before the game. They should have held Jackson out until this Pat's game to give him time to acclimate to coming off of weeks of inactivity. Avila wasn't the problem. Will the Rams admit their mistake or will their pride not allow them to?

McVay's Achilles heel is how he will dig his heels in regarding his decisions.

Regarding Stafford, he's a sitting duck target and unless his OL plays well he's toast. The Ram defense outplayed the Fin's D and Tua is a good QB but hardly elite. Yet Tua made the plays that Stafford couldn't. The difference is Tua isn't a running QB but he can move enough to buy time unless the pass rush simply gets there too fast like it did on many occasions. But Tua kept his composure and made enough plays to win.

This game highlighted the issue with Stafford that the Rams have glossed over. Stafford is only as good as the OL in front of him. If they struggle he will struggle. Why are they paying him the kind of money they are for that? If I was Kroenke I certainly would be asking that question and I think he is.

All I'm saying is that no matter how this season ultimately turns out don't be surprised if the Rams have a new QB1 next year. Remember, this is the guy who demanded more money before the season. I said then he was betting against himself in doing so. If I was Stan I wouldn't be happy with this effort at all. Kroenke IMO is far more involved with this team than most seem to think.

[Joe Pendleton]

now i can see the logic in the sudden demand for more cash "up front" (lol), which kinda surprised me to be honest.. as a former wannabe athlete (prob a few on this board) , we all know instinctively i believe (that you've peaked).. it's a sad "gut wrench" but it's life mate!
i agree @Dare it's a self admission that you're on the decline, i'm afraid