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Rams struggling on third down
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_384fa6f3-9b8e-5a31-bba0-0d6d7dd9e732.html
With only four touchdowns and 34 points scored over the past three games, there’s no doubting that the Rams’ offense has bogged down.
That obviously was one reason behind this week’s quarterback switch from Austin Davis to Shaun Hill as the starter. But no matter who’s at QB, nothing figures to change for the better unless the Rams get better on third down.
“The big thing right now is our third-down conversions,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “We converted one third down (against Arizona), and that doesn’t give you a chance to accumulate the touches you want.”
The Rams have been unable to keep the chains moving lately. Over the Arizona, second San Francisco, and Kansas City games, the Rams have converted only eight of 33 third-down opportunities. That’s a conversion rate of only 24 percent. To put that in perspective, the league average so far this season is 40.8 percent.
Because of some strong early-season performances, the Rams’ overall conversion rate is 38 percent on third down, but even that’s only good enough to rank 25th in the league.
“We’ve got to make plays,” Fisher said.
And that means better blocking, receivers getting open more consistently, and better quarterback play — be it more accurate throws or having the vision to recognize when receivers are open and getting the ball out quickly.
“We have to do potentially some different things scheme-wise,” Fisher said. “We’ve had a couple games where we were productive.”
But not enough games like that. The Rams have been above that 40.8 percent league average only four times in nine games this season, and only once since Oct. 5 (the Philadelphia game).
“The most important thing with third down is what happens prior to that,” Fisher said. “The longer the down-and-distance is, the harder it is to convert. We’ve got to keep manageable down-and-distance situations.”
Against Arizona, for instance, only three of the Rams’ 10 third-down plays on offense came when it was less than third-and-7. Six of those third-down plays against the Cardinals came when it was third-and-10 or more.
Three weeks ago during the Rams’ second-half collapse against Kansas City, the Rams faced third-and-10, third-and-14, third-and-15 (twice) and third-and-16.
Penalties, sacks, running plays stopped for a loss, and just plain old incompletions can dig a third-down hole for an offense.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the staff has looked at basically everything in an effort to increase third-down efficiency.
“We look at what formations are we using,” Schottenheimer said. “What passes are we doing? Are there play calls (that can be better)? Can we mix in some runs?
“Things like that. Some of it comes down to execution. We’ve given up quite a few sacks on third down. Quarterback holding the ball a little bit, (blockers) getting ‘edged’ in pass protection, and sometimes receivers not getting open.
Against Arizona, four of the six Cardinals sacks came on third down. In Kansas City, three of the seven Chiefs sacks came on third down.
“We’ve made some adjustments, but nothing that would be glaring to anybody,” Schottenheimer said.
As Fisher mentioned, the lack of third-down success means fewer plays and less time of possession. Against Arizona, San Francisco (Nov. 2) and Kansas City, the Rams ran a total of 31 fewer offensive plays than the opponent. That’s the equivalent of about four long drives.
“When we’ve been at our best early in the games, we’ve put together some really nice drives,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, part of that is getting into third down-and-manageable, converting third downs, and sometimes avoiding third downs with explosive plays.
“It’s a rhythm thing. The big thing for us this week is going to be running the football, throwing completions, because of time of possession. I think we’ve got a chance to hit some explosive plays, but they won’t come easy against this group.”
Possession time is important against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, Sunday’s opponent in a noon kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome. That’s because not one of Manning’s NFL-record 520 touchdown passes has come while he was standing on the sideline watching his defense.
But that’s easier said than done against a Denver defense that is first against the run in the NFL.
“Obviously, an excellent front seven,” Schottenheimer said. “They get the added benefit that they’re up big in most games, and teams have to throw it. They’re built the right way. They’re real big inside. Linebackers are downhill, fast ‘fill’ players. Probably one of the best tackling defenses we’ll go against all year. They don’t miss many tackles.”
And one other thing: The Denver defense is the league’s best when it comes to forcing three-and-outs. Nearly 33 percent of the Broncos’ defensive series end up in the opposing offense going three-and-out.
That’s not exactly an elixir for a Rams team struggling on third down.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_384fa6f3-9b8e-5a31-bba0-0d6d7dd9e732.html
With only four touchdowns and 34 points scored over the past three games, there’s no doubting that the Rams’ offense has bogged down.
That obviously was one reason behind this week’s quarterback switch from Austin Davis to Shaun Hill as the starter. But no matter who’s at QB, nothing figures to change for the better unless the Rams get better on third down.
“The big thing right now is our third-down conversions,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “We converted one third down (against Arizona), and that doesn’t give you a chance to accumulate the touches you want.”
The Rams have been unable to keep the chains moving lately. Over the Arizona, second San Francisco, and Kansas City games, the Rams have converted only eight of 33 third-down opportunities. That’s a conversion rate of only 24 percent. To put that in perspective, the league average so far this season is 40.8 percent.
Because of some strong early-season performances, the Rams’ overall conversion rate is 38 percent on third down, but even that’s only good enough to rank 25th in the league.
“We’ve got to make plays,” Fisher said.
And that means better blocking, receivers getting open more consistently, and better quarterback play — be it more accurate throws or having the vision to recognize when receivers are open and getting the ball out quickly.
“We have to do potentially some different things scheme-wise,” Fisher said. “We’ve had a couple games where we were productive.”
But not enough games like that. The Rams have been above that 40.8 percent league average only four times in nine games this season, and only once since Oct. 5 (the Philadelphia game).
“The most important thing with third down is what happens prior to that,” Fisher said. “The longer the down-and-distance is, the harder it is to convert. We’ve got to keep manageable down-and-distance situations.”
Against Arizona, for instance, only three of the Rams’ 10 third-down plays on offense came when it was less than third-and-7. Six of those third-down plays against the Cardinals came when it was third-and-10 or more.
Three weeks ago during the Rams’ second-half collapse against Kansas City, the Rams faced third-and-10, third-and-14, third-and-15 (twice) and third-and-16.
Penalties, sacks, running plays stopped for a loss, and just plain old incompletions can dig a third-down hole for an offense.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the staff has looked at basically everything in an effort to increase third-down efficiency.
“We look at what formations are we using,” Schottenheimer said. “What passes are we doing? Are there play calls (that can be better)? Can we mix in some runs?
“Things like that. Some of it comes down to execution. We’ve given up quite a few sacks on third down. Quarterback holding the ball a little bit, (blockers) getting ‘edged’ in pass protection, and sometimes receivers not getting open.
Against Arizona, four of the six Cardinals sacks came on third down. In Kansas City, three of the seven Chiefs sacks came on third down.
“We’ve made some adjustments, but nothing that would be glaring to anybody,” Schottenheimer said.
As Fisher mentioned, the lack of third-down success means fewer plays and less time of possession. Against Arizona, San Francisco (Nov. 2) and Kansas City, the Rams ran a total of 31 fewer offensive plays than the opponent. That’s the equivalent of about four long drives.
“When we’ve been at our best early in the games, we’ve put together some really nice drives,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, part of that is getting into third down-and-manageable, converting third downs, and sometimes avoiding third downs with explosive plays.
“It’s a rhythm thing. The big thing for us this week is going to be running the football, throwing completions, because of time of possession. I think we’ve got a chance to hit some explosive plays, but they won’t come easy against this group.”
Possession time is important against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, Sunday’s opponent in a noon kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome. That’s because not one of Manning’s NFL-record 520 touchdown passes has come while he was standing on the sideline watching his defense.
But that’s easier said than done against a Denver defense that is first against the run in the NFL.
“Obviously, an excellent front seven,” Schottenheimer said. “They get the added benefit that they’re up big in most games, and teams have to throw it. They’re built the right way. They’re real big inside. Linebackers are downhill, fast ‘fill’ players. Probably one of the best tackling defenses we’ll go against all year. They don’t miss many tackles.”
And one other thing: The Denver defense is the league’s best when it comes to forcing three-and-outs. Nearly 33 percent of the Broncos’ defensive series end up in the opposing offense going three-and-out.
That’s not exactly an elixir for a Rams team struggling on third down.