Steve Smith provides explicit evaluation of Jalen Ramsey’s brutal blown coverage

Steve Smith definitely brings the shock factor to TV.

Steve Smith seemed to stun his fellow analysts during a postgame show after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31, in Week 16.

Smith was describing a blown coverage on a 49ers’ third-and-16 conversion in the final minute of the game. Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey meant to hand off 49ers receiver Emmanuel Sanders to safety Taylor Rapp. But Rapp wasn’t there. That left Sanders wide open for an easy 46-yard reception. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was getting pressured as he threw, but he delivered a strike to Sanders. That put the 49ers in field goal range, and kicker Robbie Gould hit it the game-winner a few plays later.

Smith was in disbelief. Here’s what he had to say about the play.

Here’s a look at the play.

Ramsey explained how the courage broke down so severely.

“It wasn’t me and Eric. E-Dub was on the other side. It was me and Rapp,” Ramsey told reporters after the game, via ESPN’s Linsey Thirty. “We as in a form of two-man. We had an adjustment check to it because they was condensed splits. I played my technique, trusting that he was going to be over the top. And he wasn’t. That’s just what happened.”

The play — and ensuing game-winning field goal — knocked the Rams out the playoffs. And it’s ironic that it should come at the hands of Ramsey, even if he wasn’t entirely at fault. L.A. traded two first-round picks to land Ramsey in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It seemed to be their all-in effort to make the playoffs this season, while working toward acquiring more stars for the future. Alas, Ramsey’s efforts weren’t enough to get the Rams past the 49ers, so L.A. will miss the playoffs after making a Super Bowl appearance last postseason. The Rams’ stock is falling.

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