Rams Fans United - Los Angeles Rams Fan Discussion Forum

Rams vs Bucs game > trainwreck.

Also, one of the few positives from the game. Goff and the team never quit. That counts a LOT.

Dick84 wrote:Taking care of the ball is *the* problem.

It’s literally the difference between winning and losing in the vast majority of games.
Take 1 TO away & maybe it’s an OT game.
Take 2 away and you might win.

The game is weird... sometimes it’s high scoring.. sometimes it’s not.

Taking care of the ball is something you can be consistent with that makes a true difference.

And in this case taking care of the ball was an issue that came up because a heavily pressured qb was playing from behind against a top pass rushing defense that knew the Rams had to pass and also knew the Rams OL was struggling--and this time, it was all 5 struggling, including both OTs. I just think that aspect of it is inescapable.

All due respect, but it's just a thing of mine--I have always been adamant about any effort to isolate qb play and focus on it at the expense of the whole context. That's just something I always resist.

So DEs get through and swat at the passer from behind--something most qbs can do nothing about. Lord knows there are memorable Rams victories that turned on exactly that kind of defensive pressure. Like Quinn against Brees in 2013, when the Rams had no business winning. (Remember that one? Quinn's best game.) Or, Donald against Wilson in 2017 (Wilson throwing backwards while being spun around) or against Mahomes in 2018 (strip sack, score). Now maybe some people would question the qb in those 3 cases but really, that was the Rams defense getting the best of the opposing OL and taking the qb out of his game.

If that can happen to the best, it can happen to a still relatively young Goff.

The whole premise here is that if they had stable OL play (and weren't down by 21 in the first quarter) you see a better game by Goff. Or reverse that. Put most qbs behind a struggling OL down by multiple scores against a top pass rush, and they don't play their best.

...

aeneas1 wrote:so what do you think the outcome would have been if the rams defense held the bucs to their season scoring average through the first 3 weeks (20 points per game)? if they held the bucs to 27? to 30? i get it, it's all goff.

it's not all Goff, but two of his first half picks led to TDs, one on a 9 yard field. His fumble led to a defensive score when it was 48-40, so no, he wasn't good. But he threw for a bunch of yards because the Rams were down 21-0 and he threw the ball 68 x

Its easy to point the finger at Goff. 4 turnovers. But the fact is, one was returned and another gave them a short field in the redzone. The rest of the game Tampa started on their own side of the field. Marched down to the tune of 5 TD's and 2 FG's if you take away the two that resulted in easy TD's.

Goff coulda done a better job protecting the ball. The line needs to do better. Gurley needs to be better. McVay needs to be better. But when the offense scores 34 points they were not the major problem. Again, the defense. The whole team needs to be better.

36 first downs
7 scoring drives
34 offensive points
No running game

But Goff is the problem?
Hmmm.....

Dick84 wrote:4 turnovers leading to 28 points.
Not to mention that means you didn’t get points on those drives.

Yes, he’s A problem.

Not the only one.

Every drive but 2 ended in points for Tampa bay. And every turnover lead to a touchdown. 2 of the TO were recovered in TB territory so its not like they were all fumble 6's

Turnovers suck for sure, but that's what happens when teams are trailing and cant catch up.
TB answered almost every Rams score with a score of their own. 7 scores, TB came right down and scored 5 times themselves. Saved by the end of half one time

Sorry to say the team has too much invested in Goff and Gurley. Goff, like many have surmised, is a system quarterback. He needs a strong surrounding cast including and, maybe especially, a solid running game. When he has to win games the team is in trouble.

bremillard wrote:Sorry to say the team has too much invested in Goff and Gurley. Goff, like many have surmised, is a system quarterback. He needs a strong surrounding cast including and, maybe especially, a solid running game. When he has to win games the team is in trouble.

And that is what you have to offer for your first post?