Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Identifying The 19th-Best Team In Baseball

Rams run defense missing Will Witherspoon?

The St. Louis Rams run defense is taking a beating this week on the field and in the media. Today's Post-Dispatch features an article discussing the run defense, or lack thereof, in the Rams most recent loss. In that piece Spagnuolo says it's not the scheme, but stops short of pointing to a specific issue. Yesterday, PD columnist Bernie Miklasz had another change of heart about the Rams and asked, "is there any acceptable rationalization for the Rams' pitiful run defense?"

Well, actually, there is an explanation, but it's not one the head coach can publicly pronounce without incurring a locker room mutiny and it's not related to the effort of the team as Bernie suggests. The explanation: the Rams lack talent at outside linebacker and defensive tackle. It's as simple as that. For this post, I want to get into the OLB issue, specifically, the loss of Will Witherspoon, something I think has had a pretty substantial impact on the Rams ability to stop opposing rushers.

The Rams traded Witherspoon after week six, and have now played five games without him at OLB. When the move was made, lots of people, myself included, saw the long-term benefits of the move and thought that the Spoon had been relatively quiet. In those five games without Witherspoon, it's looking more and more like the Rams miss his services. Check out these stats:

Total rush yards YPG YPC
Weeks 1-6 795 132.5 4.28
Weeks 7-12 839 167.8 5.68

 

 

 

 

First of all, it's worth noting that the Rams run defense was hardly elite in the six games before the Witherspoon trade. However, they had shown some real progress limiting San Francisco and Minnesota to less than 100 yards on the ground in weeks 4 and 5. In week 6, Jones-Drew gouged them for 133 yards of Jacksonville's total rushing output of 166 yards. Since week seven, the Rams run defense has, well, gone down hill. Even the lowly Lions ran for a total of 127 yards in the Rams only win of the season.

I think what's happening to the run defense, in part, is due to teams making an effort to take Laurinaitis out of plays and not have to worry about the backups playing OLB. Witherspoon may not have had the tackles that Laurinaitis had to that point in the season, but opponents had to account for both players, especially the known commodity in Witherspoon. Nothing personal Paris Lenon, but it's just not the same.

Of course, that's not the only factor at play here. The defensive line still stinks, etc. But I don't think you can discount the impact of losing Witherspoon. The numbers certainly lend some credibility to that notion.

Thinking long term, the decision to trade Witherspoon isn't necessarily a bad one. Spagnuolo has a documented approach for making good linebackers out of guys who aren't among the top tier at their position, i.e. the kind of guys that would command the big free agent contracts. Right now, though, the Rams are trying to make it work with role players, deferring the acquisition of "their guys" for next season. Good decision or bad, that remains to be seen. Right now it means some suffering on Sundays, and that's really driving the criticism and making it tough for even the true believers to see something positive on the horizon.

Comment 17 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Vobora

I think Vobora has been playing OK and probably has a future as one of those unheralded LBs in a Spags scheme.

However, something needs to be done about the strong side (Lenon and Grant are not getting the job done there.)

Future Redbirds! www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab! www.ramsgab.com

by jroman on Dec 1, 2009 3:29 PM CST reply actions  

Looking to '10

If I were running the show and looking to next year….

I’d trade our Top 3 pick for a lower-1st rd. pick and high 2nd rd. pick and take LB Kelvin Sheppard from LSU (Rd. 1) to compliment Laurinaitis and TE Aaron Hernandez from Florida (Rd. 2) and the best available DT (Rd. 2).

I’d then trade our high Rd. 3 pick to Philly for QB Kevin Kolb, who knows Pat Shurmur’s offense and is still a young guy who has shown glimpses of a bright future already (not a complete unknown).

With Jackson and our much improved o-line, and developing WRs Avery, Robinson, Gibson, and Amendola, I’d really like our offense, and I think our defense would continue to improve.

by bigwood25 on Dec 1, 2009 3:47 PM CST reply actions  

not a bad proposal

it’s hard to trade those top three picks though, unless there’s a “must have” guy for teams.

Turf Show Times

by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 1, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions  

Whatever happened to the big number 1 bust WR from Detroit?

Maybe we should give him a chance. Mike Williams, I think. If he’s been keeping in shape. In addition to what you proposed. But I’d rather not trade our 3rd rounder for Kolb. We might be able to get Kolb for less or if not, Ainge could be had for maybe a 6th or 7th rounder.

Can't think of a good sig

by Carneros on Dec 1, 2009 11:02 PM CST up reply actions  

Maybe if you reverse the order...

Kelvin Sheppard will be available in the 3rd round for us and we really have no need for another TE to be drafted so high. Besides, we have two aging and probably retiring DL members and we need someone to step in and make an impact. Sheppard is a beast and would compliment Lauranitis nicely, and if picked in the 3rd could be a value.

by RamsFan1979 on Dec 1, 2009 11:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Run Defense

Actually when Gary Gibson got injured in the Minnesota game the run defense started it decline

by CGSuddeath on Dec 1, 2009 4:22 PM CST reply actions  

You could also point to the loss of Ah You as the last respectable run-stopping cog up front. We’ve been absolutely gashed since they both went down.

RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion

by taiko on Dec 2, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions  

When Will left

Not much difference in the stats when Will left, and if Gibson had left instead, still no change. But when pairs and threesomes leave, it shows. Plus-how much of a factor is it when the D has not had more than a few games together as a unit? Same with the OL. Good progress was being made, even with backups that went thru training camp, but not with late imports. I can’t wait for a healthy training camp next year. Just kick ass and take names!! GO RAMS!!

by Knoxfan on Dec 1, 2009 4:51 PM CST reply actions  

Just Draft Suh or Gerald MCcoy with the first pick.We neeeed! a big dt.

by jesus72 on Dec 1, 2009 4:53 PM CST reply actions  

I agree more and more everyday...

both look like they will be starters from day 1. The only concern I have is if Hall and Little retire… we have Long, Adeyanju, & Ah You on the roster at DE. A big problem is no DE is worth a top 5 pick, IMO.

by RamsFan1979 on Dec 2, 2009 12:48 AM CST up reply actions  

I see your point...

the Rams have 10-11 guys on IR and taking away one more of the few quality players we had on the team had to hurt. Heck, Pisa’s starting to look good…

by edpjr on Dec 1, 2009 7:41 PM CST reply actions  

Not enough big bodies...

 i saw a difference even when hollis thomas left… the rams were much improved at stopping the run the first few games… its really gotten away from us

by PCarn on Dec 1, 2009 9:31 PM CST reply actions  

well

you can start by not creating holes like trading witherspoon

by NICKSC on Dec 2, 2009 7:56 AM CST reply actions  

Medicine tastes bad sometimes

Losing Witherspoon hurts us this season, but not much in the next two or three as he is entering the “highly overpaid for his production” era of his contract. His salary doubles next season, and while he was having a bit of a resurgence this year, was he going to get twice as good next year?

RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion

by taiko on Dec 2, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions  

i see your point but

 i think when you are trying to make young players better the lack of tallent around them will slow the process.
  like the d line i think 1 good veteren DT would make the other three better.

by NICKSC on Dec 2, 2009 11:56 AM CST reply actions  

that is a good point

The linebackers really only have one key talent to worry about, and that’s Laurinaitis. Whether or not Paris Lenon or David Vobora or Larry Grant turn into big-time players, we can say pretty easily that’s a “not.” These guys are not long-term solutions either.

So I think you have to wonder, is Witherspoon’s absence affecting JL’s play? Certainly not his tackle numbers, but JL has been out of position on run plays, and is still struggling in pass coverage (though he did help shut down John Carlson last week).

There’s been times where I think this team does need a few key veterans in place. Losing Spoon from that unit has definitely been a factor. I still think that long-term, it will calculate to being a good move. And then we have to look at how the Rams are going to address their OLB hole this offseason. Spagnuolo’s teams never spend a lot of money there, but there may be guys out there that can be had for reasonable amounts.

RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion

by taiko on Dec 2, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about St. Louis Rams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Jackson_medium_small
TST Community Mock 2012: Trades
Stewie_small
Why We Must Draft Blakmon
Images-1_small
2012 NFL Draft: Stickum
Small
Why Super Bowl 46 is bittersweet for Rams fans
Small
If I Were GM

Recent FanPosts

Small
Multiple trade Mock draft?
Small
Rams dissed by Groupon (goofy Rams news)
Small
All offensive draft
Dsc01844_small
Join the Rams and help build 35 homes for Joplin tornado victims
Images_small
Oujia Board First Round Mock
Small
Draft RGIII

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Cover the web with Turf


Managers

71523_170793669601439_100000124211145_596632_5713708_n_small Ryan Van Bibber

Baby_drinking_becks_small 3k

Editors

Jackson_medium_small Eric Nagel

Peter_small VTramsFan

Bugs_bunny_pose_small Douglas M

Authors

Wildcat_small Tackle Box

Dsc03827_small CoachConnors

Mardygilyardsig_small Tevin T. Broner

Bradford_draft_small buckeyefan55

Tst_small T.Ram

Images_small Brick Top

Small EddieP

Profile_pic1_small Mike Dietrich