[RedAlice]

This is a solid post by a Vikes fan over at Purple Pain.

Thoughts on their assessment of how the teams match up?

--

Let's start with the obvious: LA is not Detroit. They aren't going to suddenly play Man Coverage and Blitz like crazy just because the Lions did it successfully. Why not? Personnel.

The Rams are right near the top in Zone Coverage usage for the same reason the Vikings are: to protect their CBs. Detriot had been playing Man all year. They didn't change at all.

And LA can generate pressure with their D-Line, both from the Edge AND the Interior. So why should they blitz like Detriot? Too much overreaction here expecting the Rams to 'copy the blueprint' from last week. Why should they? Didn't LA already beat Minnesota by doing it their own way?

The key to this game is Running the Football. For the Rams, McVay sticks with the run even when the YPC isn't good so he can keep Defenses honest. Stuff it and Stafford is now in 2nd & 3rd and Longs instead of having managable distances. That can lead to more opportunities for pressures or missed throws.

And I want to be clear: getting as many stops as possible is crucial. LA is going to be able to move the ball. Nacua and Kupp are kryptonite for older CBs like Gilmore and Griffin and inconsistent guys like Murphy. Young speedsters that run sloppy routes are actually easier to cover for veterans than lethal route runners like Puka and Cooper.

The Rams WRs are going to get theirs. They will also serve as a substitution for the rushing attack via screens and sweeps and taking short passes and attacking cushions. Tackling is paramount. Because Flores is going to continue to allow the Dink & Dunk stuff underneath in order to protect his Secondary from giving up Explosives.

Stop the run. Tackle (especially Nacua, dude is like a freaking wildabeast). Get pressure without having to blitz too much.

Even if the Defense plays great the Rams are still likely to score at least 24 points simply because of the mismatch between their Pass Catchers and the Vikings Secondary.

Minnesota must run the ball. Quick Passing too, but nothing backs off a pass rush happy D-Line like getting run on. Turner and Brown are beasts but Braden Fiske is undersized and a liability. Run at him. Verse is also tough but Byron Young is not. Run at him. Rozeboom at ILB is also not good against the run. The Safeties aren't fiercesome either.

It's a challenge given that Detriot had more players on their Line vulnerable to the run than the Rams, but that is simply the task at hand. Which will allow Play Action.

Unlike the Lions, I don't think LA has the ILBs or Safeties to handle Hock, Oliver and Jones. The short and intermediate middle of the field should be vulnerable.

Run the ball well enough to keep Verse, Young, Fiske and Turner honest. Attack the short middle of the field. Then start to go to work on their beatable CBs with Jefferson, Addison and Nailor. Long, time consuming drives that result in TDs instead of 3 or 0 Points. Make the Rams Offense 1 Dimensional.

The Rams are a good football Team. But when they beat the Vikings Cashman wasn't there on Defense to help the Secondary control the intermediate middle of the field. And Hockenson wasn't there to attack the short intermediate of the field.

This game is eminantly winnable. I don't think the Vikings will do it because Risner and Brandel are terrible run blockers, the CBs are old and the IDL can't generate any pass rush. But there is a clear path to not only success, but possibly even a fairly easy victory.

https://purplepainforums.com/thread/830 ... up?page=11

[Mr. Sparkle]

Just got the info on the busses and its free. They are doing everything reasonable for us STMs I feel. Sure people will complain but Kronke is taking a bath on this one. Very cheap tickets, free bus rides, and a lot of emails!
I signed up. I am assuming they are gauging the interest and will arrange accordingly.

[AltiTude Ram]

Just checked and no busses from Denver.

I'm feeling pretty good about the opportunity to just get inside the stadium for a playoff game. I've been to SoFi once. It was 2021 against the Titans. The Rams lost that game but won the Lombardi that season. I've been to the LA Coliseum (Thanks Elvis for 1 trip).
I was at the last home game at Anaheim stadium in '94 .

This game is different because of venue and I'm glad to be one of many Rams fans representing for Wild Card weekend!

Let's go Rams!

[actionjack]

This is a solid post by a Vikes fan over at Purple Pain.

Thoughts on their assessment of how the teams match up?

--

Let's start with the obvious: LA is not Detroit. They aren't going to suddenly play Man Coverage and Blitz like crazy just because the Lions did it successfully. Why not? Personnel.

The Rams are right near the top in Zone Coverage usage for the same reason the Vikings are: to protect their CBs. Detriot had been playing Man all year. They didn't change at all.

And LA can generate pressure with their D-Line, both from the Edge AND the Interior. So why should they blitz like Detriot? Too much overreaction here expecting the Rams to 'copy the blueprint' from last week. Why should they? Didn't LA already beat Minnesota by doing it their own way?

The key to this game is Running the Football. For the Rams, McVay sticks with the run even when the YPC isn't good so he can keep Defenses honest. Stuff it and Stafford is now in 2nd & 3rd and Longs instead of having managable distances. That can lead to more opportunities for pressures or missed throws.

And I want to be clear: getting as many stops as possible is crucial. LA is going to be able to move the ball. Nacua and Kupp are kryptonite for older CBs like Gilmore and Griffin and inconsistent guys like Murphy. Young speedsters that run sloppy routes are actually easier to cover for veterans than lethal route runners like Puka and Cooper.

The Rams WRs are going to get theirs. They will also serve as a substitution for the rushing attack via screens and sweeps and taking short passes and attacking cushions. Tackling is paramount. Because Flores is going to continue to allow the Dink & Dunk stuff underneath in order to protect his Secondary from giving up Explosives.

Stop the run. Tackle (especially Nacua, dude is like a freaking wildabeast). Get pressure without having to blitz too much.

Even if the Defense plays great the Rams are still likely to score at least 24 points simply because of the mismatch between their Pass Catchers and the Vikings Secondary.

Minnesota must run the ball. Quick Passing too, but nothing backs off a pass rush happy D-Line like getting run on. Turner and Brown are beasts but Braden Fiske is undersized and a liability. Run at him. Verse is also tough but Byron Young is not. Run at him. Rozeboom at ILB is also not good against the run. The Safeties aren't fiercesome either.

It's a challenge given that Detriot had more players on their Line vulnerable to the run than the Rams, but that is simply the task at hand. Which will allow Play Action.

Unlike the Lions, I don't think LA has the ILBs or Safeties to handle Hock, Oliver and Jones. The short and intermediate middle of the field should be vulnerable.

Run the ball well enough to keep Verse, Young, Fiske and Turner honest. Attack the short middle of the field. Then start to go to work on their beatable CBs with Jefferson, Addison and Nailor. Long, time consuming drives that result in TDs instead of 3 or 0 Points. Make the Rams Offense 1 Dimensional.

The Rams are a good football Team. But when they beat the Vikings Cashman wasn't there on Defense to help the Secondary control the intermediate middle of the field. And Hockenson wasn't there to attack the short intermediate of the field.

This game is eminantly winnable. I don't think the Vikings will do it because Risner and Brandel are terrible run blockers, the CBs are old and the IDL can't generate any pass rush. But there is a clear path to not only success, but possibly even a fairly easy victory.

https://purplepainforums.com/thread/830 ... up?page=11

Solid take.... he forgets that we didnt have Higs in the first game. I think the key will be the running game. Rams shut them down after early success last game.

I expect Kyren to cause some problems for the Vikings and overall we will be more successful running the ball then the Vikings...

[Zen_Ronin]

"Braden Fiske is undersized and a liability"

Seem to remember hearing this about someone else once upon a time.

Also Braden Fiske's 8.5 sacks say hello.

[actionjack]

"Braden Fiske is undersized and a liability"

Seem to remember hearing this about someone else once upon a time.

Also Braden Fiske's 8.5 sacks say hello.

I skipped over that, great point LMAO

[ramsman34]

This is a solid post by a Vikes fan over at Purple Pain.

Thoughts on their assessment of how the teams match up?

--

Let's start with the obvious: LA is not Detroit. They aren't going to suddenly play Man Coverage and Blitz like crazy just because the Lions did it successfully. Why not? Personnel.

The Rams are right near the top in Zone Coverage usage for the same reason the Vikings are: to protect their CBs. Detriot had been playing Man all year. They didn't change at all.

And LA can generate pressure with their D-Line, both from the Edge AND the Interior. So why should they blitz like Detriot? Too much overreaction here expecting the Rams to 'copy the blueprint' from last week. Why should they? Didn't LA already beat Minnesota by doing it their own way?

The key to this game is Running the Football. For the Rams, McVay sticks with the run even when the YPC isn't good so he can keep Defenses honest. Stuff it and Stafford is now in 2nd & 3rd and Longs instead of having managable distances. That can lead to more opportunities for pressures or missed throws.

And I want to be clear: getting as many stops as possible is crucial. LA is going to be able to move the ball. Nacua and Kupp are kryptonite for older CBs like Gilmore and Griffin and inconsistent guys like Murphy. Young speedsters that run sloppy routes are actually easier to cover for veterans than lethal route runners like Puka and Cooper.

The Rams WRs are going to get theirs. They will also serve as a substitution for the rushing attack via screens and sweeps and taking short passes and attacking cushions. Tackling is paramount. Because Flores is going to continue to allow the Dink & Dunk stuff underneath in order to protect his Secondary from giving up Explosives.

Stop the run. Tackle (especially Nacua, dude is like a freaking wildabeast). Get pressure without having to blitz too much.

Even if the Defense plays great the Rams are still likely to score at least 24 points simply because of the mismatch between their Pass Catchers and the Vikings Secondary.

Minnesota must run the ball. Quick Passing too, but nothing backs off a pass rush happy D-Line like getting run on. Turner and Brown are beasts but Braden Fiske is undersized and a liability. Run at him. Verse is also tough but Byron Young is not. Run at him. Rozeboom at ILB is also not good against the run. The Safeties aren't fiercesome either.

It's a challenge given that Detriot had more players on their Line vulnerable to the run than the Rams, but that is simply the task at hand. Which will allow Play Action.

Unlike the Lions, I don't think LA has the ILBs or Safeties to handle Hock, Oliver and Jones. The short and intermediate middle of the field should be vulnerable.

Run the ball well enough to keep Verse, Young, Fiske and Turner honest. Attack the short middle of the field. Then start to go to work on their beatable CBs with Jefferson, Addison and Nailor. Long, time consuming drives that result in TDs instead of 3 or 0 Points. Make the Rams Offense 1 Dimensional.

The Rams are a good football Team. But when they beat the Vikings Cashman wasn't there on Defense to help the Secondary control the intermediate middle of the field. And Hockenson wasn't there to attack the short intermediate of the field.

This game is eminantly winnable. I don't think the Vikings will do it because Risner and Brandel are terrible run blockers, the CBs are old and the IDL can't generate any pass rush. But there is a clear path to not only success, but possibly even a fairly easy victory.

https://purplepainforums.com/thread/830 ... up?page=11

Quality post right there. And pretty much spot on.

Play of our safeties and secondary as a whole is going to massive in affecting the outcome.

[ramsman34]

Except the Fiske take. lol. I have a feeling he and the entire DL/edge group are going to wreak havoc and mayhem.

[Zen_Ronin]

According to this article 52k tickets sold to Rams and Cards fans, 35k expected to Rams.

Looks like If the game sells out, crowd could be 50/50.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootba ... in-arizona

[Elvis]

Let's not forget, not every Rams SSL holder is a Rams fan, lot of companies, casuals and resellers in there.

I'm not really sure what to expect but i'm leaning towards thinking it will be a pretty good crowd for the Rams...