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Should the Rams be more aggressive on 4th down?

Let me set up the situation for you. It's the middle of the first quarter, and  the St. Louis Rams have the ball back after the defense picked up its second turnover of the game, which is still tied with no score.

The fumble, forced by Will Witherspoon and receovered by James Laurinaitis, gave the Rams their best field position so far, at the Seattle 38-yard-line. On two prior drives, the Rams never made it across the 50. The resulting drive is looking just like the last two. An incomplete on first down, and an 8-yard run by Jackson is wiped out thanks to a Donnie Avery 10-yard holding penalty. 2nd-and-12; the Rams get five freebie yards thanks to an Aaron Curry offsides.

That's followed by more keystone kops routine. An incomplete pass, and then a fumble recovered by Bulger and thrown away for an imcomplete. 4th-and-7 on the Seattle 35-yard-line. The Rams punted it down to the 4-yard-line, showing off Donnie Jones' stellar leg, but was that the best call?

I'm inclined to think it was not. This study from Advanced NFL Stats breaks down the recommended options on 4th downs, and the Rams, in that situation, were right between going for it and kicking a field goal.

Going for it might have been a little bit of a problem, since the Rams offense was not exactly in prime form. (Had they run the ball more than once on that drive, that might not have been the case). Had I made the call, I would have brought the field goal team out to make the score 3-0.

That's risky, since it would have been a 52-yard attempt. Before you point to Brown's missed 37-yarder, remember that was later in the game. Josh Brown is no stranger to kicking field goals at Qwest Field, and has nailed his share of long ones there too. He hit a 43-yarder there last season, his first with the Rams, and in 2007 he nailed a 52-yarder against the Saints. The week after that, he hit 48-,45- and 43-yard three pointers to help bury the Rams. Over his career, Brown is 19-for-30 on FGs of 50 yards or more.

Hitting a FG there wouldn't have been a sure thing, but even if it hadn't worked, the defense was still playing sharp enough that keeping Seattle out of the end zone after turning the ball over at their 35-yard-line was not such a daunting task at that point.

Teams like the Rams have to play more aggressive football, and that means squeezing every chance they can out of every down, including 4th. They'll need to be against Washington this week.

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Um yes, they should be more aggressive. It’s like soccer or hockey, you need to get shots on goal to score.

by 81 Witness on Sep 17, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions  

Um no.

Not in that situation.

If we’re talking about this in real time, it’s the first quarter and the defense has been playing great. Plus, it’s a 4th and 7. No f’n way do you go for it there.

If we’re talking about this after the fact, you still don’t do it becausde it’s still 4th and 7!!!! and we all saw how the Rams performed on Sunday in 2nd and 3rd and long situations. Why would a 4th and long situation be any damn different?

And fwiw, football is a little different than soccer and hockey which are both fluid sports. COMPLETELY different.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 17, 2009 12:36 PM CDT reply actions  

The article indicated the choice was to go for a field goal—which would have been my choice. 4th and 7? nope-

by Knoxfan on Sep 17, 2009 1:02 PM CDT reply actions  

Right, and i think you got the jist of what I was saying.

When I hear “aggressive” I don’ t think “field goal”. Right? So, my point above was more directed towards being aggressive (i.e., Go For It!!!).

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 17, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

But if u go for the field goal and miss you actually give up worse field position

than you would if you just went for it. And you have a chance for 6 not 3. From the 40-30 yard line, going for it should always be an option in my opinion, unless its is really long. 7 is reasonable but then again, we are the Rams, but I think we should have gone for it.

Incognito needs to go
Shurmur needs to go

by Carneros on Sep 17, 2009 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

Maybe in the 4th quarter

Not in the 1st quarter of the 1st game of the season.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 17, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

a field goal would of helped

by b2cute20 on Sep 17, 2009 2:44 PM CDT reply actions  

Try the FG

I tried telling Spags “Go for the field Field Goal”, but I guess he couldn’t hear me.

by moy on Sep 17, 2009 3:00 PM CDT reply actions  

In All Honesty

I was shocked to not see Brown walk onto the field… the guy has the ability to do it… 52 yard field goals are not out of reach… even in the 80’s Mike lansford made a living out nailing nailing 50+ yarders…

I think this just goes to show how bad the coaching really was Sunday as well.

What has 22 legs and can't move? The Rams offense.

by VTramsFan on Sep 17, 2009 3:36 PM CDT reply actions  

It was a poorly called series

     So we just as well punted and try again calling it better next time. More running plays.

by dbcouver on Sep 17, 2009 5:43 PM CDT reply actions  

I find it kind of Ironic everyone thought he could hit it at that range and then blows it 15 yards closer…

Spagamania is in full bloom

by Eric Nagel on Sep 17, 2009 7:29 PM CDT reply actions  

So are you saying Josh Brown can't be trusted to hit 40 yarders, let alone 50 yarders?

Because if you are, you have no idea who you’re talking about.

For fuck’s sake, he missed a field goal. It doesn’t mean shit.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 17, 2009 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions  

He's right

        It is ironic. Please don’t cuss at me. I still love Brown. Both kickers are great.

by dbcouver on Sep 17, 2009 9:35 PM CDT reply actions  

Once again Tackle Mouth...

put his mouth in motion before his brain was in gear.

by edpjr on Sep 19, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

Um, it's not like

he made every FG attempt during preseason and just finally missed one in the Seattle game. He’s been off the mark most of the preseason as well. He seems to be going through a rough patch right now, and there’s no use taking a gamble when your kicker is off his game.

by andyrose on Sep 17, 2009 10:52 PM CDT reply actions  

Here's my take....

Field Goals are good for one thing; winning a tight game in the last few seconds. For years the Rams have excelled in getting into the Redzone and settling for FG’s. I absolutely hate a score of 6-0 or 9-0 early on. All it shows is that your team had a chance to rack up some real points but couldn’t get into the endzone. I’d rather gamble and get a TD one out of three times than settle for FG’s. 7-0 is much better to me than 6-0 or even 9-0. Every FG from the redzone is a moral victory for the defense. How many times do you see successful teams like NE, Pitt or Indy kick 5-6 FG’s per game? Run the ball, pound the ball, go for it! And, even if you turn it over on downs you not leaving the other team with very good field position.

by edpjr on Sep 19, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions  

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