[Elvis]

Thanks for that.

I suppose it depends on how you look at it. Trailing the entire game. Young D played inspiring. Young O came through. Not only did they have to beat the Seahawks, they had to overcome a slanted, flag happy officiating crew AND their own head coach! I heard his explanation about needing the 7 points more than eating the clock but that's bullshit IMHO. It's a mistake he's repeated many times by not staying committed to the run.

Had we ran the ball instead of passing on 2nd and goal, even if it gained 0, Seattle would have called their 3rd time out with 1:42 left and we were only on third down. Run it again and we're kicking the FG with under a minute left....at worse....perhaps we're into the end zone on two runs. It was his mistake that made the game an ugly win on a missed GW FG. We come out in empty on 2nd and 7, no hint of a run? Hell even if we pass with a RB behind Stafford it would have been better than empty.....at least as far as stressing the defense and making them defend both the run and pass. Yeah, that's water under the bridge. We won. Period. But it was a lot uglier because of the play calling.

At the game i thought they should've run on 2nd down too but i think it was defensible either way and McVay's answer on this was very smart and direct especially considering how much he engages in coach speak:



He thought a TD was more important than the time. I can't argue that. Geno ran the play that got them in FG range with :41 on the clock and we've seen teams move the ball down the field quickly in situations like that many times. So like i said, i think either decision would've been defensible.

As for the defense, they were generally bad when Geno was in and excellent when he wasn't so not entirely sure what to make of that.

But man was i happy to get out of there with a win...

[actionjack]

At the game i thought they should've run on 2nd down too but i think it was defensible either way and McVay's answer on this was very smart and direct especially considering how much he engages in coach speak:



He thought a TD was more important than the time. I can't argue that. Geno ran the play that got them in FG range with :41 on the clock and we've seen teams move the ball down the field quickly in situations like that many times. So like i said, i think either decision would've been defensible.


As for the defense, they were generally bad when Geno was in and excellent when he wasn't so not entirely sure what to make of that.

But man was i happy to get out of there with a win...

Def a fugly win. But I dont agree with the goal line play calling/thinking. I def think you go for the TD, but you can also take the clock down as well by running the ball still on 2nd down. We had run the ball well on that drive and in the red zone all year. Also if you are trying to score a TD, maybe throw it in the endzone?!?

As far as the defense, they had issues with Geno at times by overall we still didnt let them score much. Its our offense that is broken. Once again we can even put up 20 points, it feels like every drive is going through quick sand.

[actionjack]

Also this is the draft the Rams draft their next QB, there are just too many good to very good QB's in this draft, unless you plan on the Rams picking very high in the next few years. It is very clear that Stafford's days at playing high level QB are nearing the end (2 more years max).

Get the future guy now to groom and add EDGE, OT etc in free agency and the rest of your high draft picks. I wouldnt hate for the Rams to draft a RB fairly high if he is dynamic. I LOVE LOVE Jayden Ott from CAL.

[ramsman34]

Agree with Pa in the play calling. I freaked when they came out in empty. There are times when you line up and run the ball no matter what. That sequence was one in my opinion. Going empty, without any motion in the compressed red area is just so risk/reward. Why not physically pound on them and try to score, eat a ton of clock. Or at least go play action if you want to throw. Hell a sack doesn’t even matter much down there that close.

Ugly and LUCKY win.

I get why those wanting a high draft pick are not all that excited about the win/our record. This team looks like one that will have to get lucky to get into the playoffs. And the summarily get smoked in the first round. So we do lose a lot of draft slotting for that “honor”.

I want the learning to win factor getting to the playoffs presents. But the team actually has to learn and improve week to week. They seem to be the same thing over and over. The D played pretty damn well yesterday for the most part

With Kupp probably out a while, Staff once again will be forced to distribute the ball more - that is just so weird - if you stop focusing on Kupp, per haps even HE becomes more effective. The O needs to figure some things out. The play caller REALLY needs to figure things out. The OL needs to improve. And can we see some other TEs and maybe some more 12-P please. Everyone has figured you out MCV. You are getting by with the savvy and on the arm of your vet QB.

[actionjack]

Agree with Pa in the play calling. I freaked when they came out in empty. There are times when you line up and run the ball no matter what. That sequence was one in my opinion. Going empty, without any motion in the compressed red area is just so risk/reward. Why not physically pound on them and try to score, eat a ton of clock. Or at least go play action if you want to throw. Hell a sack doesn’t even matter much down there that close.

Ugly and LUCKY win.

I get why those wanting a high draft pick are not all that excited about the win/our record. This team looks like one that will have to get lucky to get into the playoffs. And the summarily get smoked in the first round. So we do lose a lot of draft slotting for that “honor”.

I want the learning to win factor getting to the playoffs presents. But the team actually has to learn and improve week to week. They seem to be the same thing over and over. The D played pretty damn well yesterday for the most part

With Kupp probably out a while, Staff once again will be forced to distribute the ball more - that is just so weird - if you stop focusing on Kupp, per haps even HE becomes more effective. The O needs to figure some things out. The play caller REALLY needs to figure things out. The OL needs to improve. And can we see some other TEs and maybe some more 12-P please. Everyone has figured you out MCV. You are getting by with the savvy and on the arm of your vet QB.

It is hard to have much confidence in this team when the offense continues to flounder.
I think the offensive issues are many hence why it looks ugly.
1. O-line pass pro not good
2. WR note getting open consistently
3. Stafford holding the ball to long at times
4. McVay playing calling
5. Over using an injured TE (Higs played 66 of the 70 snaps)

I think they all have a hand in it, but I think the solution starts with running the ball effectively and better overall pass pro. Hopefully Kyren can come back and help the running game immediately, though I think they have been ok with Hendu and Foreman.

[ramsman34]

Updated to include Thanksgiving games

STANDINGS

Philly 9-1
Detroit 8-3
SF 8-3
NO 5-5

WC - Dallas 8-3
WC - Minn 6-5
WC - Seattle 6-5

8. GB 5-6
9. Rams 4-6
10. Atlanta 4-6
11. Tampa 4-6
12. Wash 4-8
13. Chi 3-8
14. NY 3-8

DRAFT WATCH

1. Carolina (Bears)
2. Arizona
3. New England
4. Chicago
5. NY Giants
6. Tennessee
7. Washington
8. Atlanta
9. Tampa Bay
10. NY Jets
11. LA Chargers
12. LA Rams
13. Green Bay
14. Las Vegas
15. Indianapolis

So Detroit messed things up for us a bit.
Dallas put Washington further behind.
SF wins sending Seattle to 6-5.
With a Win we are 1 game back but need to have a better record than GB

Rams clearly need to beat AZ and see how everything shakes out with the Saints Sunday and Vikings Monday.

Basically, as of now it’s a 7 team race for the last 2 WC spots and for the NFC South title. Vikings, Seahawks, Packers, Rams, Saints, Falcons, and Bucs are all fighting for the playoffs. One of the South teams will win the division. The other two are in the hunt with us and the rest.

So, those are the teams to watch as we move forward. Seattle is in trouble as PA laid out in another post. They have a brutal schedule the next 3 weeks - Cowboys, Niners, Eagles. The Vikings have the Bears, Raiders, and Bengals.

Not gonna list the rest but there should be a lot of shuffling over the next 3 weeks. And by the time we take on the Commanders week 15, things could be a lot clearer. Or they could be a mess like they are now. I think the Vikings will jump up while the Seahawks fall. Packers play the Chiefs, Giants, and Bucs. We could be tied with them after week 15.

So damn many what ifs. But the reality is; keep winning and let the chips fall.

[ramsman34]

It is hard to have much confidence in this team when the offense continues to flounder.
I think the offensive issues are many hence why it looks ugly.
1. O-line pass pro not good
2. WR note getting open consistently
3. Stafford holding the ball to long at times
4. McVay playing calling
5. Over using an injured TE (Higs played 66 of the 70 snaps)

I think they all have a hand in it, but I think the solution starts with running the ball effectively and better overall pass pro. Hopefully Kyren can come back and help the running game immediately, though I think they have been ok with Hendu and Foreman.

I agree. A step further - they need to have a consistent lineup while working some of the TEs into the mix; Allen and Hall. If Kupp can’t go, I want to see more DRob and Trammel so Staff can create more chemistry with both. The OL and MCV using more 12P should help the passing game from an alleviating pressure standpoint.

I hope he runs the ball more bc Staff is pretty damn good off play-action.

[snackdaddy]

Playoffs are definitely possible. But it will be an uphill climb with the offense struggling like it is. We know the defense will have their struggles.

So if they think they make a run at the playoffs the offense has to be better than they have the last 6 games where they've average 16 points per game. The defense is giving up over 22 points per game in that stretch.

The first 4 games the offense was scoring 24 and a half points per game while the defense was giving up 19 and a half. They're gonna have to get closer to those numbers if they want to make the playoffs.

[PARAM]

@Ramsman34.....I posted something similar in another thread but expanded it here.

It sure seems like Dallas has a WC spot all but wrapped up. The teams we're watching for the #2 and #3 Wild Card spots are Minnesota, Seattle, Green Bay, N. Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa. One of those last 3 will win the NFC South, so that's one team vs who we won't have to have a better record.

Minnesota (6-5): v Chicago, @Vegas, @Cincinnati, v. Detroit, v. Green Bay, @ Detroit

Seattle (6-5): @Dallas, @San Fran, v. Philadelphia, @Tenn, v. Pittsburgh, @ Arizona

Green Bay (5-6): @Det (W), v KC, @ NYG, v Tampa, @ Car., @ Minn, v Chicago

N.Orleans (5-5): @Atl, v. Det, v. Car., v. NYG, @RAMS, @ Tampa, v. Atlanta

Atlanta (4-6): v. N.Orleans, @ NYJets, v. Tampa, @Car, v. Indy, @Chicago, @N. Orleans

Tampa (4-6): @Indy, v. Car., @Atlanta, @Green Bay, v. Jax, v. N.Orleans, @Carolina

First and foremost, the Rams have to win at least 5 games. That looks like an uphill climb. But, it's not a stretch to see Seattle 9-8 at best, so with just 2 more losses we own the tiebreaker. We play N.Orleans and a win there creates another tie breaker. The red indicates a game between teams on that list; a guaranteed loss for one of them. Tough games vs teams not on that list are underlined. If we can win enough, it's possible we can sneak into the postseason. Again, it is a huge uphill climb though.

[ramsman34]

Thanks for reposting that here. Ya, it’s gonna continue to be a hard road. But that will teach these young guys a lot about themselves and what it takes to win consistently at this level. All of which sets them up for the future.