[ramsman34]

A season long and evolving observation. Not gonna get X and O technical here. Feel free if you all want to do so.

The special teams and the defense have been evolving, progressing, growing and gaining confidence and continuity. All year long. I “trust” them. Not that “I” matter.

The offense has been like playing in a blind person shuffle board tournament. Each week has some new weird failure - with the exception of a couple games. Sadly, I think this is a 70-30 ratio of responsibility. 70% of this is on design, game plan, preparation- and in-game adaptation and adjustments. All of that is on MCV and his staff. 30% is execution. Some of that is on OL continuity or lack thereof. Some of that is the other defense making timely plays. The rest is on Stafford just not being consistently “right/on/in the zone”. I can live with the 30%. The 70% part bugs bc it is more within their control. And it has a correlational effect on the 30%

I am not sure which of resting or having to beat the Hawks is what this offense needs and this staff needs to get really ready for the playoffs.

It’s very frustrating to watch. I guess if they keep winning, who cares about the offensive issues. I simply think those issues will cost this team a W when it matters the most. And that is a bummer to feel as a fan. For now, they keep finding a way to win. In the moment, that’s as good as it gets.

That’s my take on the pulse of this team.

[ziggy]

Agreed. Almost cost us tonight. Tonight’s win did not come by skill, but by luck and a bit of talent in Ahkellos INT catch.

[Indrid Cold]

No one seems to be getting open downfield. Stafford has been an issue but in these recent putrid output games, the OL hasn't. (Except for Noteboom, who deserves his own thread as the worst waste of money ever on the Rams.) Perhaps an aging Kupp and Drob aren't the answers in creating more explosives. Play design and play calling factor in, and McVay seems to revert to screens and quick outs and the like when we fail early in looking for plays with 10 or more air yards.

[RedAlice]

Not a secret. It's known.

this is not a team that is fun to watch as a fan.

[Dare]

My take is a bit different. The Cards did their homework and watched Stafford's poor performances in the previous two games. His struggles without the support of a strong run game was obvious. So the Cards sold out to stop the Ram run game which they succeeded in doing. True to form Stafford struggled. They made enough plays to win but only because of defensive heroics.

Expect the Seahawks to also take note of how to beat the Rams. In fact every NFC playoff team is noting it. It's not an aberration but a symptom of an offensive weakness. So why all of a sudden is Stafford so inconsistent? IMO he and the Rams are hiding his sore arm. He throws like a guy with tendonitis in his throwing arm. He can do it in spurts by gritting his teeth through it but it's why he can't do it consistently. Look at how many of his throws are off target, even to Kupp which never should happen. When Stafford misses they are consistently too far in front or behind the WR.

He was best after the bye week. So if the Rams lock up the division on Sunday I expect them to start Jimmy G to rest Stafford for the playoff run. If they do that, it will be an admission of his condition. If they don't he could get worse during the playoffs.

This is the third consecutive week Stafford has thrown for under 200 yards. What more proof do you need to suspect an ailing arm?

[ziggy]

Have you seen the QB play around the league? I’d take a MS with “tendinitis” over most other qbs out there. But he’s not hurt.
Noteboom playing with poor technique? Yes it’s on tape and there were penalties called.
Over reliance on Kupp with no separation and covered all night? Yes.
Corum playing poorly and costing us a 3 downs? Yep.
I think there are issues on offense, but it’s not 9.
Also I think it is fixable and will be fixed by next week.

[PARAM]

Paralysis by analysis.

We have terrific special teams. Have all year.

We have a young defense, that has improved over the season.

We have an inconsistent offense, that has shown flashes of good.

Over the first 5 games (1-4) we allowed 26.4 PPG and scored 17.6 PPG
Over the last 11 games (9-2) we've allowed 21.9 PPG and scored 21.8 PPG

I think the working theory is "keep it close and find a way to win it".

Is that going to work in the postseason, should we get there? Not for long IMHO. Most of the "experts" have claimed "the Rams are a draft away". Most fans didn't predict a division championship. So what's the problem? House money.

[actionjack]

Not a good offensive game again. Thank gawd our defense carried the water.,

McVay
Noteboom
Stafford
Kupp

They all were not close to good enough.

McVay - ran Kyren 13 times ( 4.3 ypc) against a at best average run defense. Even worse with our defense on the field so much. Run the ball in the red zone , my fing gawd.

Noteboom- terrible , 3 holds and tons of pressures given up

Stafford- are you hurt? We have never seen you this inaccurate? Trying to throw INTs , not on same page with the WR’s? Just weird. Has to snap out of it NOW.

Kupp- dude you can’t get open like you use too , you got to catch the ball. I think we are watching the last games as Kupp as a Ram. He just looks old out there unfortunately. We need more Atwell, DRob and TJ.

[ramsman34]

In the playoffs they need to do everything personnel wise to make sure the run game gets off and they can stay ahead of the sticks. More 12P, and more rotating in Tutu and even J Whit in the pass game as they are the only really fast WRs. They have to add significant wrinkles to what they can actually do in order to manufacture yards and chunk plays.

Look at the defensive match ups in the playoffs. If whomever we face has a great run D, we could be one and done.