Category: Latest Rams news

Rams film room: How Jared Goff has become one of NFL’s worst play-action QBs

Jared Goff has been a mess on play-action passes, and while it’s not all his fault, he deserves plenty of blame.

A staple of the Rams offense the last two years was play-action passes. They were one of the best teams in the NFL in that department in Sean McVay’s first two seasons, but things have changed dramatically this year.

The Rams have tried to utilize play action this season, but Jared Goff has suddenly turned into one of the worst quarterbacks in the league after play fakes. According to ESPN, Goff has a passer rating of 71.0 on play-action passes – the worst mark in the NFL.

For most of the 2018 season, Goff was among the top quarterbacks on play action, posting a passer rating well above 100. That’s a troubling trend and it’s a huge reason Los Angeles’ offense has taken a monumental step backward from last year.

The reasoning is fairly simple, too. It’s not that wide receivers are dropping passes or their routes aren’t good enough. It primarily falls on the shoulders of Goff and the offensive line – with a dash of an ineffective running game mixed in.

Because the Rams aren’t running the ball well right now, defenses aren’t biting on play fakes. They don’t buy the fact that Los Angeles is going to hand the ball off and aren’t exactly threatened by Todd Gurley or the other tailbacks. When you’re 19th in rush attempts and 20th in rushing yards, teams aren’t going to pay much attention to the ground game.

That’s a small part of the problem, but the primary issues are with the offensive line.

Even the most casual football fans know play action doesn’t work without the quarterback getting time in the pocket. If working under center, Goff has to turn his back to the defense to fake the handoff to the running back. The offensive line has to give Goff time to execute the fake and allow the routes to develop down the field.

Currently, the O-line is not getting the job done. To make matters worse, neither is Goff.

Even when he does get time in the pocket, he can’t hit open receivers downfield. His accuracy has regressed this season at every level of the field, which is why his completion percentage is down from 65% in 2018 to 60.3% this season.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of Goff simply making bad decisions and throws.

This was ruled defensive pass interference, but Cooper Kupp was open and Goff underthrew him – badly. If Goff throws the ball when Kupp comes free initially, it has a chance to go for a big gain.

He waits too long and the defender closes the gap with the ball coming up well short.

On this play-action pass, he wisely avoids throwing into double-coverage and decides to check down to Josh Reynolds in the flat. But he throws an embarrassingly bad pass that went backwards for a fumble; if he hits Reynolds, it likely goes for a big play.

Finally, here’s another example of Goff getting enough time after a play-action fake to find someone open. Instead of seeing Cooper Kupp release off his block and come wide open on the weakside, Goff stares down his primary target (Tyler Higbee) and forces the ball into double-coverage.

It was easily intercepted by Joe Haden, ending what could have been a fairly promising drive.

Without the benefit of play action working, the Rams offense is stalling like crazy. Some of it falls on the offensive line playing as poorly as any in the NFL right now, but Goff isn’t doing anything to make up for it – which is something the better QBs in the league can do.

This regression is alarming, and it has to change if the Rams are going to get things back on track. It starts with running the ball consistently, getting better play from the offensive line – which is decimated right now – and finally, some improvement from Goff.

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Rams promote OL Chandler Brewer and CB Donte Deayon from practice squad

The Rams added two players to the 53-man roster, while signing another to the practice squad.

Sean McVay hinted that the Los Angeles Rams might fill the voids left by Brian Allen and Bryce Hager by calling players up from the practice squad, and on Wednesday, they made two moves official. They promoted offensive lineman Chandler Brewer and defensive back Donte Deayon from the practice squad, taking the spots of Allen and Hager on the 53-man roster.

Additionally, the Rams signed center Nate Trewyn to the practice squad.

With all the injuries the Rams have suffered lately, from Brian Allen to Rob Havenstein to Brandin Cooks, roster moves were bound to be on the horizon. There were two openings on the active roster and not enough depth on the offensive line.

McVay said the Rams would look into claiming someone off waivers if that opportunity arose, but they clearly feel more confident in Brewer than any outside free agents currently available.

As for Deayon’s promotion, it comes on the heels of Darious Williams being out at least one week with an ankle injury. He was the No. 4 cornerback behind Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman.

With Williams out and Deayon promoted, it’s likely the team will elevate David Long Jr. to the No. 4 CB role. He’s been a healthy scratch for some of the season and played very sparingly, but he was a third-round pick with good potential.

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Kurt Warner explains why he sees himself more as a Cardinal than Ram

Kurt Warner won a Super Bowl with the Rams, but he associates himself more with the Cardinals.

Kurt Warner helped deliver the Rams their most recent Super Bowl while the team was still in St. Louis. He was a cog in turning the offense into the “Greatest Show on Turf,” teaming with Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Marshall Faulk on offense.

As good as he was with the Rams for those three years as the starting quarterback, he identifies himself more as a member of the Cardinals. He led Arizona to Super Bowl XLIII and was a Pro Bowler in 2008, playing at a very high level late in his career.

He was asked by Dan Patrick this week whether he sees himself as more of a Cardinal or Ram, and his reasoning for picking the Cardinals makes sense.

“I would probably say a Cardinal. As strange as that is with as much success and maybe the best years of my career being with the Rams, but I think a lot of it has to do with just where I ended,” he said. “The fact that I ended with the Cardinals, I’m still more connected with the team and the front office and stuff there. I still live in Arizona. Hard to say because I love both organizations and both of them were about equal for my career. I would probably say a little bit more with the Cardinals.”

Warner is a Hall of Famer, but he likely wouldn’t have made it to Canton if not for his Super Bowl with the Rams. Considering he lives in Arizona and still has ties to the Cardinals, though, it’s easy to understand why he associates himself with the last team he played for.

With the Rams, he threw 102 touchdown passes and only 65 interceptions, going 35-15 in 50 games as the starter.

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Robert Woods knows a big raise is in his future: ‘It’s coming’

Robert Woods commented on his contract situation, having two-plus years left on his deal.

In terms of annual salary, Robert Woods is 37th among all wide receivers in the NFL. He’s currently making $6.8 million per year and his contract runs through 2021. His five-year, $34 million deal signed back in 2017 now looks like a bargain after he posted 1,219 yards and six touchdowns last season.

The Rams technically don’t have to re-sign him until after the 2021 season, but as we’ve seen throughout the history of the NFL, contracts are often ripped up and players are given raises before their deals expire. That could be what happens with Woods, given how much he’s outplayed his current contract.

He brought up his deal and future payday when talking to TMZ, saying he sees a raise on the horizon if he keeps up his steady play.

“What do you think about my contract?” he asked the cameraman, flashing a big smile. After being told “I think you need a raise, you’ve been killing it,” Woods agreed.

“Oh yeah, it’s coming. The work will take care of itself. I’ve been grinding, been trying to let it pay off. The money will be there when its time,” he said.

The timing of it all remains a huge mystery. The Rams already have Brandin Cooks on a big contract, which will carry a cap hit of $16.8 million in 2020. Cooper Kupp will need an extension after next season, too, with his contract expiring.

Woods could be the odd man out if the Rams don’t move on from Cooks in the coming years, which would be a huge disappointment. He’s been their most reliable receiver the last three years and can do it all at wideout – from running good routes to blocking.

If it’s not Los Angeles that pays him, someone certainly will.

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Mic’d up Aaron Donald called safety vs. Steelers: ‘Watch this’

Aaron Donald was mic’d up for Sunday’s game and provided some fun moments on camera.

Aaron Donald put on a show in his hometown on Sunday, recording five tackles, a half-sack, a safety and three quarterback hits against the Steelers. It was his first NFL game ever in Pittsburgh and he certainly didn’t disappoint his friends and family who were in attendance to watch the two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

He was mic’d up for the game, which only makes watching him work that much better. He loves hyping himself up, as well as his teammates, even chirping at the opponent after the whistle.

One of the many highlights of the video came at the 3:21 mark when someone told Donald, “We can score right here” after the Rams backed the Steelers deep into their own zone.

Donald’s response? “Yes we can. Watch this,” essentially calling his shot before the ball was snapped.

A little bit later in the clip, at the 3:44 mark, Donald made a stop in the backfield on Tony Brooks-James. Donald picked the running back up and went to slam him to the ground, but Samson Ebukam helped break the fall.

After asking the official if the play was OK, the referee told Ebukam “thank goodness you were there.”

Donald: “Why, you would’ve flagged me?”

Official: “Yeah! He stopped you from slamming him.”

Donald: “He’s so little though!”

The whole video is entertaining, and he shared a fun moment with Clay Matthews after Matthews recorded a sack. Donald jokingly told Matthews “I hate you” for getting the sack.

The Rams unfortunately spoiled Donald’s homecoming, losing 17-12 to the Steelers.

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Rams had never lost a game with a safety and defensive TD until Sunday

Sunday was the first time ever that the Rams lost after recording a safety and defensive touchdown.

The Los Angeles Rams got a standout performance from their defense on Sunday, which was not matched by Jared Goff and the offense. They held the Steelers to just 17 points, but seven of those were scored by Pittsburgh’s defense on a fumble return.

The Steelers finished the game with only 273 yards of offense and 15 first downs, getting the benefit of short fields as the Rams turned the ball over four times. Los Angeles’ defense did everything it could to win the game, but the offense simply didn’t pull its weight.

This was a rare type of loss for the Rams, too. It’s just the first time in franchise history that they didn’t win a game in which they had a safety and defensive touchdown. The stat was uncovered by Pro Football Journal on Twitter.

Looking at Pro Football Reference, this loss becomes even more startling. The Rams were 13-0 in such games prior to Sunday, the best record in league history. Overall, teams with a safety and defensive touchdown in the same game were 144-47, good for a winning percentage of .754.

The last time the Rams had a safety and defensive score in the same game was in 2017 against the Colts, a blowout 46-9 win. They also did it in an overtime win over the 49ers in 2012, and again in a 36-0 win in 2003.

Prior to Sunday, only three such games resulted in wins of seven or fewer points. The Rams won every other game by at least 15 points.

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Rams’ postseason push made much tougher by brutal schedule

The Rams have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.

If the Los Angeles Rams are going to make the playoffs, they’ll have to earn it. With only seven games remaining and 1.5 games separating them from the sixth wild-card spot, the Rams have a lot of work to do.

It doesn’t help that their schedule is one of the toughest the rest of the way. They still have to face the Ravens (7-2), Seahawks (8-2), Cowboys (5-4) and 49ers (8-1), as well as the Cardinals (3-6-1) twice. The Bears (4-5) this weekend will be no cakewalk, either, with the defense that Chicago boasts.

According to NFL Research, the Rams have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule in the NFL with their opponents boasting a 38-26-2 record the rest of the way.

You might have noticed something about the five teams with the hardest remaining schedules. Four of them are in the NFC West, which is undoubtedly the best division in football this season.

The Rams got their favorable matchups out of the way earlier in the season when they faced the Falcons and Bengals, as well as the Buccaneers (and even the Browns). They went 3-1 in those games, but the Buccaneers were a team they should’ve beaten.

Now, it’ll be tough sledding the rest of the way – and America will get a good look at the Rams, too, with four of their last seven games coming in prime time.

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NFL announces Rams-49ers will be on Saturday night in Week 16

The NFL awarded Rams-49ers a prime-time slot in Week 16, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Rams are quickly falling out of playoff contention with each mounting loss, seeing their postseason odds drop to 16.5 percent after Week 10’s results. Yet, the NFL still wants them in prime time late in the season.

The league announced on Tuesday that the Rams-49ers matchup in Week 16 will be held on Saturday night. There were three time slots available on Saturday in Week 16 with five games to choose from, and the NFL decided to give this NFC West showdown was given a marquee spot.

Bills-Patriots will be at 4:30 p.m. ET, with Texans-Buccaneers taking place at 1 p.m. ET that Saturday. The other two games – Raiders-Chargers and Lions-Broncos – will be on Sunday.

This means four of the Rams’ final seven games will be in prime time, with two in a row coming up against the Bears (SNF) and Ravens (MNF) the following week.

When Week 16 rolls around, the Rams hope to be in playoff contention. If not, they’ll try to play spoiler against the 49ers and drop them down in the postseason seeding.

Rams place Allen and Hager on IR. Who could replace them on 53-man roster?

Sean McVay shared some insight on who could replace Brian Allen and Bryce Hager on the 53-man roster.

The Rams made two expected moves official on Tuesday, placing Brian Allen and Bryce Hager on injured reserve. Sean McVay said Monday that Allen is out for the year, and last week, he said the Rams were planning to place Hager on IR with a shoulder injury.

That opens up two roster spots for the Rams, which they’re expected to fill soon. McVay said on ESPN’s “The Coach McVay Show” Monday night that the Rams would like to add players who have taken the field recently – so that there’s tape available and they’re likely in better shape – suggesting that the Rams might claim someone off waivers and possibly promote a player from the practice squad.

“There’s a couple guys that we feel like in-house are possible candidates to pull up from the practice squad,” McVay said.

As for players they might add in free agency or off waivers, he had this to say:

“There’s always guys out there and Les (Snead) and his group do a great job of kind of keeping an open eye on what those things look like,” he said. “Ideally, you want to be able to find somebody that’s played recently so you have some tape to evaluate and they’re probably in better shape. But I think we’ll probably be more inclined to use, ‘All right, if somebody hits the waiver wire that’s maybe been on a roster recently comes available’ or just using our practice squad to upgrade somebody.”

Chandler Brewer and Jeremiah Kolone are the only offensive linemen on the practice squad, so they would seem to be the obvious candidates to be called up with the Rams lacking depth on the front five. Neither player should inspire much confidence, but at least they provide some insurance if another injury occurs.

As for a potential waiver claim, the Panthers did just release guard Bryan Witzmann, who the Rams might have interest in. He could come in and back up David Edwards and Austin Corbett at guard, who are expected to start in Week 11.

In free agency, John Sullivan would make some sense for the Rams. He was their starter at center last season and although Los Angeles moved on from him this year, that was with the belief that Allen would be a viable replacement.

With Allen gone, it’s possible Sullivan could return to L.A. and take back his starting job in the middle of the line.

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Rams’ playoff odds take big hit, drop to 16.5% after Seahawks beat 49ers

Week 10 was a disaster for the Rams.

Week 10 was not kind to the Los Angeles Rams. Not only did they drop a crucial game to the Steelers, but their competition in the NFC moved further ahead in the standings. The Vikings beat the Cowboys, while the Packers knocked off the Panthers. The Bears got a much-needed win, too, for good measure.

The biggest game of the week came on Monday night when the Seahawks and 49ers squared off in arguably the most important game of the season in the NFC. The Seahawks won 27-24 in overtime, moving just a half-game behind the 49ers for the division lead.

More importantly, they pulled 2.5 games ahead of the Rams for one of the wild-card spots. The ideal outcome on Monday night would’ve been a 49ers win, dropping the Seahawks to 7-3, but the Rams weren’t that fortunate.

According to ESPN’s FPI, the Rams’ playoff chances took a significant hit after Monday’s game. Their odds of making the postseason dropped from 23.5 to 16.5 percent just based on the 49ers-Seahawks finish. Even with the 49ers losing, the Rams’ chances of winning the NFC West sit at 1.6%.

It hasn’t gotten to “Dumb and Dumber” levels of “So you’re telling me a chance” desperation, but the Rams’ playoff hopes are on life support right now. If they don’t beat the Bears on Sunday night and the Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers and Vikings all win, the Rams can all but kiss their postseason plans goodbye.