First Three Drives of the Game

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LACHAMP46

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And it's not Jared hate either, still think the kid is a great young QB. IMO that's where you're veering off the road man, in linking this early playoff game in his career with what you think his ceiling is.

Go back and watch the Patriots playoffs in 2001. Their defense made stop after stop when needed, in true Belichick fashion, while Brady did a good job of not turning the ball over/hurting his team. Brady was no tractor in that playoff series, but look deeper. That team gave up 13 to the Raiders, 17 to the Steelers, and 17 to our Rams en route to a Super Bowl win. And now everyone looks back at the magic of Tom Brady and how he won that Super Bowl with that last drive to allow for a game winning FG, when in truth had the Patriots defense not been able to keep us down as much as they did he would have looked positively Goff-like with his 20 ugly points (Goff threw 2 shoulda-been TDs at the end) in a losing affair.

It's about defense man.
Finally....

Merl....our defense played pretty good...considering....we're NOT dominant...probably several drafts away to become top 5 in a 3-4.....I thought they played fast...and did the bend but don't break thing...I hate that, but with our speed at corner thats all we could hope for. Tree is playing with one arm...Barron isn't an ILB....I know son of bum know more about football than my grandma...but putting Barron at ILB is asking for problems. I still wonder what did Joyner and Johnson do in this game to receive such high grades from PFF??? Oh well....

I barely remember what Brady did....in the Raiders game....or ours....but....BUT I do remember what he did in that last drive...that led to the FG...that beat one of the GREATEST RAMS TEAMS EVER!!! Lost a lot of money on that game...real money...it why I like using ROD$$$ now...LOL...Clutch as hell....throwing dimes...outs....lasers....It made me go and try and find tape on him at Michigan....don't think draftbrakedown was around....but when I did see some film, I saw a winner....Brady was so good in Michigan films, that I'd assumed chad henney would be the next Marino...LOL....Brady had always...ALWAYS...worked magic and won BIG GAMES....for my secret haters in here, when I was listening to QB interviews, I heard how Wentz said, "I'm a winner....:blah:" and I believed it when he said it....Goff said something like, "I turned around a losing program...." Sounded unbelievable....fake...rehearsed...Anyway, Brady has always SHOWN...IN THE CLUTCH...HE'S A MONEY PLAYER....I looked at his combine....I was always into the combine...think he ran a 5.2....built like a...he was more cheerleader than player...but the guy has always won....at Michigan...he won...winning matters....against REAL TEAMs...don't beat Air Force and tell me, you're a winner.

Defense needs to get a lot better to carry a guy that's missing throws....yeah, some were completed, but had they been put a lil further in front...YAC....lil more out there TD....need someone that FEEDs the best players on the team...not best "friends" on the team.

Belicick is a great defensive coach...I remember how he turned that wr into a cb & in a week the dude was making plays...Belichick is better than son of bum, he can get more outta marginal players...he's an expert in game planning...they always make great, in game adjustments....he plays players to their strength, not where they seem to fit...he loves power players....big linemen...huger lbs....speedy corners....old school....you find me a Barron on Belichick's defense...he aint gonna be a LB....he gets LB's....Jamie Collins was one(loved his combine)....and makes positions for them...Turned Willie Mac into a stud...Vrabel....Teddy Bruski....Can we get a dominant defense? Had one it 2000....haven't SEEN a dominant Rams defense in almost 20 years....I think we have too many small guys....mixed with too many slow guys behind them...son of bum is doing his best, but we need strength up the middle, then more speed on the edges and corners....JMO
 

rdlkgliders

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Intelligence can be acquired without experience
Wisdom seldom is
Give McVay Time
 

WarnerToBruce

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Go back and watch the Patriots playoffs in 2001. Their defense made stop after stop when needed, in true Belichick fashion, while Brady did a good job of not turning the ball over/hurting his team...And now everyone looks back at the magic of Tom Brady and how he won that Super Bowl with that last drive to allow for a game winning FG, when in truth had the Patriots defense not been able to keep us down as much as they did he would have looked positively Goff-like...

And don't forget. If the worst non-call in the history of all Super Bowls doesn't happen, Brady loses that game after he panics and gets called for intentional grounding. Instead of being the hero, he starts his career as a guy who lost the big one. Maybe Bledsoe comes back and we never hear of Brady again?

One can only wonder what could have been...
 

Jacobarch

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You can play that game in every way imaginable, questioning playcalling. Bottom line is the Rams didn't execute well enough on offense or teams, and the defense got gassed. And the Falcons played well, had a great plan, and ate that clock up along with taking advantage of Brock bein out. Ballgame.

Them's the playoffs man.

how could anyone have a different opinion of what actually transpired at the game? lol. Fans are mind boggling at times.
 

FarNorth

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Opening play Gurley gets 4 on the ground. Two incomplete passes followed. Punt.

Next drive, Gurley gets 8 on first down on the ground. Two incomplete passes followed. Punt.

Third drive, Gurley caught a pass on first for 3 yards. Two incomplete passes followed. Punt.

McVay is a HELLUVA coach, and we are lucky to have him. But he’s gotta learn. His inability to either establish the run or stick with the run cost us most of the games we lost this year.

Agree with the OP, and for what it's worth my real time impressions watching it unfold were the same with a couple of additional factors.

What seemed critical to me first was that McVay did not give the O a chance to get in a rhythm early on. He did not adjust for the playoff atmosphere, bad turf, excellent defense, etc. Both D's predictably had the advantage early on, but McVay did not see this coming. He was too greedy, too overeager, and yes too predictable. He defaulted to the pass every single time, and in particular to the downfield pass. It didn't work. The Falcons were ready for it, since that's what McVay always does, and with a good D in a high pressure game these were probably the lowest percentage plays to try to make.

My objections (again real time) go to McVay ignoring these principles in his play calling:

Rhythm and timing first: Get the QB and the O line into a comfort zone first in a high pressure game.

Get the ball into the hands of your best players: in particular Gurley. He could have given the ball 6 times in a row to Gurley on any of those drives and likely gotten two or three first downs and a couple of big plays.

Run the damn ball: especially when you have the best runner in the last decade, the D can't stop him, and he's ready to win the game for you.

Pe patient: it's ok to play possession football at least as a tactic and at least part of the time. A game like this would have a been a good opportunity to go back to a Bill Walsh playbook of runs and possession passes, at least to begin with, until we got rolling.

Be truly unpredictable: have a game strategy of patience for a change, at least for a couple of series. That can change in a flash if the O is rolling, but there was time for that. Don't put yourself in a hole by doing exactly what they expect. How about running the ball six times in a row? when was the last time we did that?

What's disappointing is that these are mistakes repeated from earlier games as well.

Good as he is, McVay needs to review his strategic play calling principles IMO. He is not yet using all the cards on the table or balancing his attack properly. Despite the creativity, he also needs patience and additional strategic flexibility in his overall game plan.
 

So Ram

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I did see The Rams get stuffed a couple plays , but McVay talked all week about Falcons speed.

When Gurley got The Rams 60 yards downfield on 2 plays shows how dominant the Left Side is on Offense.

Falcons established the run first. Turn overs were huge. Goff got sacked in one of the first 3 possessions after a nice Gurley gain.

Was that a sack Goff took when Gurley left the game after those Gaines ? Predictable.
Malcom Brown almost got the first down on 3rd.
The Pass interference on last play with Sammy ?
False start at end of half ?

The question was if The Rams played Goff,Gurley,Sullivan, & Whitworth is the offense rusty ? Play Calling ?

Kevin Petterson has to come up with that fumble.

I have to quote off myself after just watching the first 2 series.
After going 3 & our ?? On the first to start the game.Gurley had a 8 yard gain to start the 2nd series.McVay will forever remember not giving Gurley the ball again.

To think back at the end of the game where Gurley had 2 carries along with the personal foul for 60 plus yards total.

You have to establish the run game first.I love play action, but you have to establish the run !! There are so many times it’s just methodical and doesn’t keep the run defense obey.

Just crazy to have just looked at the pro bowl roster.
Greg the Leg, Pharoh Copper , & Johnny

Wow - to loss the special teams battle & was predicted the Falcons has the better special teams going in.
 

So Ram

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QB's have the power to win or lose games...the ball is in their hands on every offensive possession. The dude was off yesterday....and again...it's something he's done since college...come up small in big games...he did have help...but many of his throws were off...even his completions...especially with guys on the move...were behind the targets...not in front of them.
It was a poor game..in the most visible time...I'm here all the time...just not as much lately...I try to reply with any direct comment. With my opinion...sorta like now.
Ignore me...all you want...

As bad as you think he plays. He does keep you in games.There were a few drops.
The Sammy Watkins thing ?? I dislike him personally as a player this season. Truly was upset at his play.

Tavon vs Sammy ? Sammy is a true WR with #1 WR ability. Tavon has to go , Pharoh aced him out. Tavon can’t even play on special teams.His supposedly bread and butter.Who needs a 155 pound RB at 5’6.

Sammy & Goff can grow together.Kupp showed his lack of speed to separate.You put Kupp in Watkins body ??
 

Tano

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So did Case and Nick....tell me again why we traded up for a trailer, errr, game manager? Why not grab the once in a generational talent?
Game Manager = 28 TDs 7 INTS 3800 Yards in 15 Games in basically his rookie season (I don't count his first year with the worst OC in the history of the game)

Okayo_O:thinking::confused:
 

LACHAMP46

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Game Manager = 28 TDs 7 INTS 3800 Yards in 15 Games in basically his rookie season (I don't count his first year with the worst OC in the history of the game)

Okayo_O:thinking::confused:
yep....offensive scheme is a mutha....very little pressure, with wide open targets....when the windows got tight...against good comp.....Game manager....nothing wrong with that...look at Case, Nick, and Blake....and even Tom Brady in his first couple years...

You don't trade up for case management....err...game manager type play...from a rookie....2nd year...whatever. Draft picks are valuable. Check out the Jags....watch what Cleveland does in a years...
 

Loyal

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yep....offensive scheme is a mutha....very little pressure, with wide open targets....when the windows got tight...against good comp.....Game manager....nothing wrong with that...look at Case, Nick, and Blake....and even Tom Brady in his first couple years...

You don't trade up for case management....err...game manager type play...from a rookie....2nd year...whatever. Draft picks are valuable. Check out the Jags....watch what Cleveland does in a years...
3800 for 15 games...Dude would have gotten 4000 yards plus almost guaranteed vs the Niners. Wide open targets was probably just because he was a savant in going through progressions, making it SEEM they were always open! Goff did throw at least one game winning throw that was dropped by Kupp. C'mon Champ! You know this kid is the best since Andrew Luck!
 

Tano

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yep....offensive scheme is a mutha....very little pressure, with wide open targets....when the windows got tight...against good comp.....Game manager....nothing wrong with that...look at Case, Nick, and Blake....and even Tom Brady in his first couple years...

You don't trade up for case management....err...game manager type play...from a rookie....2nd year...whatever. Draft picks are valuable. Check out the Jags....watch what Cleveland does in a years...
You point out that Tom Brady was a Game Manager in his first couple years. My thinking is that with stats like that, he could easily become a mini Brady or even as some others have said - a mini Peyton Manning.

I wouldn't mind trading up for either of those two players even if I only get a somewhat mini version of those two.
 

LACHAMP46

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You point out that Tom Brady was a Game Manager in his first couple years. My thinking is that with stats like that, he could easily become a mini Brady or even as some others have said - a mini Peyton Manning.

I wouldn't mind trading up for either of those two players even if I only get a somewhat mini version of those two.
I think Case and Nick have proven, game managers are everywhere...if you look hard enough...why would you trade up for a game manager?
 

LACHAMP46

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3800 for 15 games...Dude would have gotten 4000 yards plus almost guaranteed vs the Niners. Wide open targets was probably just because he was a savant in going through progressions, making it SEEM they were always open! Goff did throw at least one game winning throw that was dropped by Kupp. C'mon Champ! You know this kid is the best since Andrew Luck!
LOL.....I'm go smoke my....glaucoma medicine....and get back to you on that...

Case vs Nick for the superbowl....I'm sure MAnY in here said...Nick or Case would NEVER go to a super bowl....

Next year...the niners are gonna be hell to play...HELL! I damn near wanna cut every player that played in that one.
 

Tano

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I think Case and Nick have proven, game managers are everywhere...if you look hard enough...why would you trade up for a game manager?
I'm not.

I'm trading up for a Mini Brady or Mini Peyton - both heads and shoulders above game managers even if only the mini version of them.

I am probably overstating mini. I believe Jared can be 90% of what a Brady or Manning did with a few Super Bowl wins. I believe Jared has better support and coaching than Manning and that is why I am stating he will win more Super Bowls than Manning. Maybe my belief is way out there but until proven otherwise, I am sticking with that belief.

Go RAMS!!
 

LACHAMP46

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Get the ball into the hands of your best players: in particular Gurley. He could have given the ball 6 times in a row to Gurley on any of those drives and likely gotten two or three first downs and a couple of big plays.
Thread winner....

And the predictability of those screens....after the season we had using the screen...just amazing....would've been faking that play to Gurley all day.
I am probably overstating mini. I believe Jared can be 90% of what a Brady or Manning did with a few Super Bowl wins. I believe Jared has better support and coaching than Manning and that is why I am stating he will win more Super Bowls than Manning. Maybe my belief is way out there but until proven otherwise, I am sticking with that belief.
Ok....those are MVP, HOF-types you're listing there...so way out there is pretty accurate.

Manning had very good offensive talent....Brady didn't....
 

Loyal

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Thread winner....

And the predictability of those screens....after the season we had using the screen...just amazing....would've been faking that play to Gurley all day.
Ok....those are MVP, HOF-types you're listing there[Goff imitators!]...so way out there is pretty accurate.

Manning had very good offensive talent....Brady didn't....
Champ, ease up on the smokeable glaucoma medication!
 

Tano

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Thread winner....

And the predictability of those screens....after the season we had using the screen...just amazing....would've been faking that play to Gurley all day.
Ok....those are MVP, HOF-types you're listing there...so way out there is pretty accurate.

Manning had very good offensive talent....Brady didn't....
I was including Defensive talent and coaching as well for why I think Goff has a better supporting cast than Manning. I think the Rams will have a much better defense than Indianapolis in the long run.

Brady has Belicheat - end of story there. I may hate the guy but he is a damn good coach even if he cheats from time to time.

And I don't care if I am way out there. People at work thought I was way out there when I predicted a winning season for the Rams way back in March and that Goff was not a bust. I stuck to my guns and turns out I was right.

Maybe you can hope that I am right this time too. Who knows - stranger things have happened!!
 
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So Ram

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So did Case and Nick....tell me again why we traded up for a trailer, errr, game manager? Why not grab the once in a generational talent?

Well The Rams did , so yes the future looks bright for The Rams now.

My point was adding all those draft picks with Case under McVay could have alright as well.

I’m happy for Caae Keenum. He was put in between Goff & Foles. Nick wasn’t going to report , Case was great. Jared will tell you how much he learned.

Champ you might have been calling for Mannion over Goff ?
Keenum was 4-5 & switch Greg the legs misses to Goff instead of the other QB’s. I could also say Phillip Rivers & Chargers cold have won the AFC West if those b 1 FG losses didn’t