[69RamFan]

That's the call that boggles my mind. 16 first half runs for 79 yards (4.9). Why empty at our 25 to start the half? That pick was the turning point in the game and the 7 points that beat us. We can bitch about the missed FGs and PAT (though we made up for the latter with a 2 pt conversion); we can bitch about the lousy calls by the zebras...the DPI on Witherspoon which if not called (correctly) they punt....and the sneak that was marked wrong.....but that pick hurt more than all of them.

As far as "going conservative"......running the ball at a 4.9 clip is not conservative. It's effective and actually makes our offense tougher to defend. IMHO, we need to do more of that. I'd dress all 4 RBs and use them all. I realize Evans may not be ready for all the protections in the passing game but he can run. And if it's evident when he's in there that it's going to be a run, a roll out or quick screen (either WR, TE or RB) would screw up that theory.

Freeman really surprised me. In 12 attempts, he didn't have a negative run all day. He had 4 runs that gained minimal yards (1, 1, 1 and 0) and 6 that gained chunks (9, 11, 6, 5, 15 and 9).

When I mention conservative, I'm not talking about not running the rock,
Its more like the play calling, McVay called some plays to run it,
when there were 8 or 9 D-men in the box on first down,
they were expecting a run.

Or when it was five yds to get a first down,
there were 7 on the O line with the middle open,
like there were blitzing.
you get your RB & TE to help block
then a quick pass to slant in the middle would of gotten a first down.

It was the type of plays and timing of those plays McVay called that went conservative to me.

I was like during the game,
what the hell are you calling when we are only up by a TD,

It was like Steelers HC knew what McVay was going to due.

Its like when I see like KC, Buffalo, or the Eagles, or other teams,
they have a 3rd and long, like 20yds,
you don't see them concede to take a draw play and run it.

Its just a head scratcher sometimes in how McVay thinks,
he is sometimes too nice and conservative with his play calling.

[RAMMAN76]

The biggest fail was the defense in the 4th; giving up 170 yards isn't going to end well.

Once this team learns to cut down on the mistakes and play 4 full quarters of football they will start to win more consistently.

[69RamFan]

[snackdaddy]

After reviewing the tape:

To add on with McVay's mistake:
1st qtr, third and five, on the steelers 35yd line,
Why did he call a run play with the D using seven man front on the line,
did he think the D would fall for a pass play and trick them with a run?
Looking at that pre snap,
McVay could called a quick slant passing play with Puka crossing the middle,
there was no LB in the middle to gain five yds.

Then in the start of the 3rd qtr, he calls a pass play,
empty back field at our 25yd line.
Why not a play action if you want to pass it?
Make the D think you are at least running it.
You had the D playing pass and out of the box,
in which Staff throws a pick,
Then it cause for the Steelers to get an easy TD on offense.

Then after we went up by 7 in the 3rd qtr,
I can tell McVay started to go conservative,
with his play calling, nothing fancy.
on the first play of the serie, Freeman picks up a first down,
Then they tried another run play,
but the OL blocked the opposite direction from the last play.
The D was waiting for another run play.
But the rams get a first down on a passing play.

Then next play, the D have 9 in the box on first down,
Thats where McVay should of called a passing play,
He could of called a post route with Tutu,
Tutu lined up on the left side, and fly down the seams,
then turn to the post was open
he would of fly by his man and beat the safety in the post area.

But Staff gets a first down in that serie with his feet.

Then again, 9 in the box, and the rams run with a 12PG,
perfect for another post play, but they run it.

Hig drops a pass that would of been a first down.

McVay should know that his kicker is not to accurate over 50yds,
Up by seven, punt it into the corner inside the 20yd line.
Make them go 80+yds.

Too many mistakes by our team,
We should of won that game!!!!

All I know is losing teams to losing things. We find ways to lose rather than ways to win. That the benchmark of a team who loses more than wins. Hence, our losing record.