Cloud in the sliver lining: Rams run defense

by VanRam on Oct 13, 2008 3:38 PM CDT Comment 5 comments

Not to take any of the sheen off the moment, but it's worth noting that the Rams front seven struggled with the run this week. Clinton Portis put up 129 yards and 2 TDs on just 21 carries. LaDell Betts had 32 yards on 7 carries.

Looking back over the play-by-play, two trouble spots stand out: right end and left tackle. Of the 28 running plays carried out by the two running backs, 15 came through those two spots, 8 at LT and 7 at RE. The Redskins picked up 66 yards running through the left tackle and 50 yards running through the right end. (These are my own unofficial calculations based on the play-by-play). At one point, during the Skins' last drive of the first half, Portis had consecutive runs through the LT for gains of 11 and 12 yards. In that case, the damage was easy to overlook since that was the series that ended with Atogwe returning a fumble for a TD and the lead.

Those spots were particularly troublesome in the 4th quarter. On their possesion that bridged the 3rd and 4th quarters, the Redskins pick up gains of 11, 9 and 12 yards on three rushes that occured within 4 plays. For their biggest run of the day, Portis' broke off a 29 yard run through the left tackle to get the Redskins to the Rams 40. You can see that play on the NFL.com game highlight reel. Go back and look at it, you can see everyone in the Rams front it occupied with a blocker. In fact, I can't tell who's playing end on that play, but he winds up on his but as Portis goes by.

Anyway, it's area they need to work on.

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Just to point out

Clinton Portis is the league’s leading rusher with 643 yards and he’s done that against the Giants (84 yds), Saints (96 yds), Cardinals (68 yds), Cowboys (121 yds), Eagles (145 yds) and now the Rams (129 yds). By far, the worst defense on that list is the Rams.

While I agree the Rams need to continue to shore up the run defense, I just wanted to point out they were going against the best running offense in the league who hasn’t been padding those stats against doormats.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 3:48 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

true

could have been a lot worse. i just though it was interesting to see the two spots get exploited to such an extent

by VanRam on Oct 13, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it Portis?

No. It’s Washington’s O-line. That’s why Portis leads the league in rushing and why Jason Campbell is yet to throw a pick. Their O-line pounds every play.

by 3k on Oct 13, 2008 4:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's why

later in my comment I said “running offense” instead of “running back”. I’d be curious if the areas they exploited with the Rams is typical of where the Skins like to run. Maybe they’ve just got some absolute road graters over their and tend to favor those lanes? Frankly, I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about the Skins or their offensive line.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs