Falcons 20, Rams 13: Lessons from a hard loss
by Ryan Van Bibber on Aug 22, 2009 7:56 AM CDT
in 2009 St. Louis Rams preseason
Email
PrintIt's cheesy, but somebody has to say it: deja vu all over again. Missed tackles, poor run blocking, passes thrown away...it was a very familiar sight for, a little too familiar, as the St. Louis Rams flopped in their preseason home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Ok, one more analogy, the curtain came up on the Ed Jones Dome facelift, but things on the field looked exactly the same (huh?).
Lessons learned
You can't be a power running team, if you can't run block
The Rams can run block better this. They did so just last week. Jason Smith struggled to move defenders off the line and open lanes. At times, it looked like the Falcons linebackers could just sit and wait for the run, with the DL easily tying up the Rams front five. FB Mike Karney was out there, but he's there to burst through the lane and remove LBs. You can't do that if there are no lanes to burst through.
Everyone's talking about Jason Smith because he's a first round pick, but I'm bothered more by the fact that runs up the middle were such a problem. The Falcons just stacked the box, taking away the middle to an extent. Still the starting three of Setterstrom, Brown and Incognito should have been able to make some room and get to second level better than they did.
When the offensive line gives you time in the pocket, you have to complete passes
If there's a ray of hope in the offensive line's night, it was that did well in pass protection. That might signal that the run blocking can improve, like the grievous errors in pass protection we saw last week that were noticeably absent last night. Boller reminded everyone watching last night of the knock on his decision making. He connected nicely with Laurent Robinson, who already looks to be quite a get for Devaney and Co., but missed some sure things. And was he just getting a game feel for his arm again after shoulder surgery last season, or was he overthrowing receivers like he used to? Bulger looked sharp last week, and you can see the drop off the Rams will face if he's not playing.
Aside from Boller, our receivers look good, not at all like the big red flag they were projected to be. If the running game had been working, they could have had an even better night. I'll be anxious to see what Bulger can do with them. Once Donnie Avery returns, this could be a unit that surprises many...of course, the running game will have to get working for that to truly happen.
Tackling matters
Sounds easy enough, right? Rams defenders missed tackles all over last night, which made the run defense even worse. It wasn't just the rookies either. Veterans like Will Witherspoon (who otherwise had a good night) whiffed. There's another lesson in the run defense's poor showing, and I'm not sure how to put it. Besides some bad tackling, or complete lack thereof, the Rams defense found itself out of position and/or misreading plays. Turner's 43-yard run came between the end and a gaggle of Falcons blockers tying up the front seven. Where was the safety? The CB? Why were they all bunched like that?
Whatever Spagnuolo is putting in the Kool-Aid, the second teamers and beyond are drinking it
The starters may have been a little lackluster, but the guys rotating in and competing for the future once again impressed. Yes, there's the caveat that they are not playing against starters. However, these guys are playing really tight, tough, and mostly mistake free football. I particularly like Larry Grant and David Vobora. Grant had 4 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Vobora had five tackles and continued to look tough as nails. And, hey, how about that sack from Darell Scott? Nicely done rookie.
Cornerbacks need more than speed
Very rarely do our cornerbacks get out run. They got beat time and again by not knowing where the ball was and misreading the receiver. Then, of course, there's just the plain mismatch, like Tye Hill on Tony Gonzalez. Back to the tape guys.
More later...
31 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I have to say I was disappointed with the playcalling
Offensively, we were too predictable. The run packages were obvious, and the Falcons just loaded up the box, bringing all kinds of bodies. Then in the pass, we picked up the blitz packages they were throwing very well; I have to say, Boller missed some big, big throws. At least we can be pleased with the play of Burton and Robinson; they were great targets last night.
On the defensive side, I’m eager to see more blitzes. Our rush is to reliant on the front four, and it gives QBs too much time. They just have to wait until one of the CBs softens up.
Your uncle molests collies.
Good game
You’ll need Bulger healthy, but I do think that offense is going to gel nicely this year. Best of luck on your season.
Sign up for a free account today to join the discussion about all things Atlanta Falcons!
If you played us 12 times a year
you’d have a 1st round bye. Here’s to hoping your WRs find their hands. You really could have opened things up if they were catching Shockley’s passes.
Your uncle molests collies.
blah
i was so disappointed in this game last night. Hell we looked worse than last season against the falcons. Granted the falcons will be superbowl contenders this season its still no excuse. Im not so sure about the blocking as i am about the running back. I think gado has promise but come on 12 carries for 5 yards. Against a better 1st string d, jackson had 10 on 3 carries. I think with bulger back it really opens up the passing game so we arent as predictable. but none of this is a defensive fix. No freaking discipline, all our guys were just going thru the motions. for crying out loud Spags needs to call the plays and flajole needs to condition our guys better, way better, this is ridiculous. After all that, I’m kinda glad that happened now so spags and crew can confront it now and hopefully fix it before the regular season. Lets face it, Seahawks are the first real game we have and they cant run the ball even if our d wasnt on the field
Gado looked awful
Even when he had space, he looked unconvinced. I thought Darby looked much better.
Defensively, there is plenty to work on. Tackling seems to be first and foremost, but some more inventive pressure defensively would go a long way.
Your uncle molests collies.
I said it in the game thread
Gado averaged .41 yards per carry
The poster formerly known as JoeyBombs.
Gado
couldn’t have done much worse. I agree with 3k that “even when he had space, he looked unconvinced.” It was like he didn’t have any interest in running the football for positive yardage. Darby had a good night, which I was happy to see after last week.
by BruinFanBaby on Aug 22, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Poor Tackling, Again!
Don’t quite understand why the Rams have have such a hard time tackling. Other teams seem to get it right from the get go but the Rams are attrocious. Don’t the coaches teach opening your eyes in pratice???
The scrubs looked decent and we seemed to have matched the Falcons on turnovers so it’s not a lost cause. What is of concern is that the combination of Setterstrom, Brown and Ingognito just couldn’t open holes up the middle. Are the Falcons really that gooD? Maybe so.
They're solid
but not world beaters. I’d generally give them a somewhere between a C+ to a B, but last night we struggled.
Your uncle molests collies.
"...but the guys rotating in and competing for the future once again impressed."
Couldn’t agree more. You’d think ALL the Rams players would be playing a bit ticked off and fighting for their lives. I’m getting the impression the starters are sort of complacent and not buying in fully for whatever reason, particularly on defense…
Almost looks like computer AI in Madden 2010 instead of live football. Payers afraid to move because “.. coach says I gotta stay here” etc… or something!
We were SO out of position, unfocused and just mentally deflated last night in several areas… like watching robots.
I sincerely hope it was just a small glitch because I won’t be able to deal with another Linehanish type year…
Where the hell is the Tylenol.
Part of the positioning problem appears to be by design... ???
There were several plays where the entire linebacking unit was shifted over one whole position, where the Sam is basically out in no-man’s land. Occasionally, Butler would come in and fill the other spot, effectively creating a 4-4 front, but none of those LBs or safeties were in any position to apply pressure. It was a weird, weird look, and one that the Falcons took advantage of all night long — but running a cutback to the empty hole where the WLB should be, or by passing beyond the reach of the SLB, who is rushing back toward the inside.
Schematically, the whole thing was just … fucked. I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion
Yeah, the players were not as at fault as it would seem
Without a blitzing package last night, you would have thought we would have pressed harder on middle pass coverage, but we were thin in the middle and thick outside. It was a strange night for the D.
Your uncle molests collies.
by 3k on Aug 22, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
and why isn't this team blitzing more?
isn’t that like the whole thing with Spags?
Turf Show Times
by Ryan Van Bibber on Aug 22, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Not necessarily
Spagnuolo’s defense was known more for creative D-line packages that saw defensive linemen in multiple positions running multiple attack routes. We saw this to a degree when Chris Long lined up at defensive tackle, and I expect to see more of it.
Still, while Spagnuolo made his name in that regard, the Giants still used effective blitzing packages that the Rams are yet to employ. I’m not sure how much of that is attributable to Spags and how much to Flajole, but the contrast between what we saw the Jets and Falcons bring on defense and how we’ve played is numbingly blatant.
Your uncle molests collies.
It's not the loss, it's the performance...
But I know what you mean.. there are positives but a lot of negatives. Hope we work it out.
Laurent Robinson
had an impressive night. He made a strong case to be the team’s No.2 receiver, meaning he’d be No.1 until Avery comes back. He’s got speed, good hands and he’s the tallest WR on the team.
laurent was outstanding. i think he has earned the No.2 job by now. derek stanley also had a great td catch. burton needs to have 2 great games other wise its looking like No.4 for him
Totally agree..
… with the take on WR thus far, but as usual, ahm, injuries, are slowing us down again. I would have liked to have seen Tim Carter play more and show us what he could do.
I'm not sure if that's fair to Burton
he was open multiple times and Boller either didn’t see him or didn’t deliver the pass. As for Robinson, I agree. He’s done very well thus far. But in terms of relegating Burton based on Boller’s inability to get the ball to him is unfair. Right now, I’d go Avery-Robinson-Burton-Curry
Your uncle molests collies.
by 3k on Aug 22, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Highlights
I thought Wade looked really good last night. So did Grant (when he was in position). Null looked solid again, but will have to learn how to handle NFL pressure.
Bajema had a good game as did Laurinitis.
Long has been struggling. As has Hill. Are they both busts??? Brown (the center) looked awful out there too.
Long got it going in the second quarter, after a bad start
First quarter, it was just as CoachConnors said in last week’s review of the tape — he was slow off the snap, just not effectual. It looked like he left the field for a series, maybe he ate his Wheaties or something because when he came back in, he absolutely terrorized Shockley. And the Falcons still had most of their first-string offensive line in at the time. The Rams were also lining him up a few different ways.
Hill was just mismatched against Gonzalez, and Gonzalez totally deked him on that TD catch. He didn’t have a bad night otherwise. That’s one where you have to tip your hat to the veteran receiver, he made an outstanding play.
RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion
tye hill..
i’ve never been one to jump on the “hate on tye hill” bandwagon. i think the kid shows flashes of brilliance. i’ve always heard the old “wish we would have taken cromartie” line.. so i went back to look at the 2006 draft on the whole, to see who else we missed out on.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but 2006 might be the worst draft class across the board of the last 20 years. Cromartie would’ve been nice, but Jesus. Whatta bunch of busts. This helps me sleep at night.
by mooseknuckles41 on Aug 23, 2009 4:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Null
The rookie once again looked good. Tight clean passes that were accurate. He was placing balls in a position where the wideouts could use their bodies to shield the defenders. He went through his checks very efficiently and made good use of the TEs. With the exception of that last play, he was solid. I think the 3rd job should be given to the kid over Brock.
I’ve been confident that Robinson would be an effective piece from the start. He has the intangibles that fit this system. I am still hoping to see more from Burton.
Scott showed some good things last night.
Grant impressed once again and I think he is starting to get more comfortable.
I was there last night
and it was extremely disappointing. No one can tackle. And I have no idea what Witherspoon was doing on the second play of the game when Turner got the long run. He had no blocker on him and was right in position to make the tackle. Then he decided to worry about a receiver over on the sideline and left his position. Turner ran right through where he had been two seconds before. Then he completely whiffed when Turner scored the first touchdown.
But he wasn’t alone. There were very few plays where the first guy there made the tackle. They would all grab for a shirt or try to make an arm tackle. What was the point of doing all the hitting in camp if no one learned anything?
The non-blocking by the offensive line was the most disheartening thing of the night. They couldn’t move anyone out of there. Time after time our running backs would get to the line of scrimmage and have nowhere to go. Even Jackson got virtually all his yards on one run. He got stuffed the other two times. What happened to all these wonderful linemen who were going to give us a much better OLine this year? I don’t think we can make any judgements on the running backs based on last night, since none of them had anywhere to go.
Unless Boller starts showing more accuracy than he showed last night, I don’t see how we can keep him as the number 2 QB. He was badly overthrowing everyone consistently. Berlin and Null both looked calmer and more accurate.
If there isn’t a big improvement before the season starts, it looks like we will have a top two draft choice again next spring. Nobody blocked, nobody tackled. They were pathetic.
I really have to wonder how secure Boller's job is, after last night
He finished 9-for-16, but that was as ugly and unproductive a 9-for-16 as I’ve ever seen.
RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion
Null for #2 QB
The poster formerly known as JoeyBombs.
judging the rams again
yes youguys are boller sucked the other night but your judging the team that you say you love when its only preseason. preseason doesnt mean a thing just tells you what players you should keep and the ones that you need to drop so judge when the season really starts and not now. yes the rams need a healthy bulger but wow hes out to weeks and think about it this way vick can still be the future of the rams if bulger doesnt do his job this year
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
