Identity Crisis: Defense

by holtfan on Oct 8, 2011 10:36 AM CDT

The overall play of the defense has been lacking in many areas. They have failed as a unit to be productive and do what they are suppose to do. What are they suppose to do? Based on Coach Spagnuolo's blueprint, the defensive line is suppose to excel at rushing the passer and contain the run. The linebackers are suppose to be physical and stop the run. The secondary is suppose to be physical and stop the run. The defense is suppose to be physical. Let's take a look at how this defense has been built.

The Defensive Line:

The defensive ends are interesting. The bulk of James Hall's career suggests he is more of a running stopping DE then pass rushing, although last year he played out of his mind. Chris Long is an active run stopper and pass rusher, but does not excel at either. Robert Quinn is obviously a pass rusher. The rest of the DE's are role players. The middle of the defensive line is built to stop the run. Robbins last year got decent pressure up the middle, but I believe age is catching up to Robbins and Hall.

I'd say the defensive line has no identity. The players who need to stop the run are not getting it done up front. The Rams have one pure pass rusher, but he is young. They need to develop an attitude and play with some confidence.

The Linebackers:

All three of the Rams' starting LB's are built to stop the run. They aren't very vast, but have good size and are physical. Coach Spagnuolo has the linebackers he wants for his system, but they cannot stop the run. The back up linebackers are more of the coverage type and are role players.

So the linebackers have an identity: Physical, downhill, run stoppers.

The Secondary:

When the cornerbacks were healthy, the Rams' starting lineup had big, physical corners. They are built to punish the wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and stop the run should it come to them. If you have noticed, none of the corners, this includes Bartell, Fletcher, Murphy, and actually all of the safeties, have ball awareness skills. They have enough to get by, but Coach Spagnuolo does not put a premium on guys who come up with picks. Every single safety on this team is pretty solid in run support. Where are they lacking? Pass coverage. None of them are better then average at covering opposing players.

Therefore, it looks as though the secondary is built to be physical and stop the run.

The Identity:

The Rams' defense doesn't have one. They are built to stop the run and have fail miserably so far to do that. How is the defense suppose to have attitude/confidence/swagger if they don't no who they are? Opposing offenses have had their way with them. Every game the defense has been out-muscled. These players need to find out what kind of defense they want to be and start playing as a whole.

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Comments

Let me be the devils advocate here...

The Defense’s problem is the Offense at the start of games this unit is nastily dominating their opponent (with the exception of the Ravens game because of justin king) I think in the beginning they are doing a great job stuffing the run and getting off the field. Even late in games, the Rams hold their opponents to field goals.

The problem is the game wears on and the offense is dropping passes and going 3 and out then turning the ball over on fumbles to put their gassed defense right back on a short field.

The most glaring example of this was the Redskins game. Shanahan didnt just accidentally put Ryan Torrain in the game who is now the Redskins 3rd string back and he blew the game open. The Redskins could easily see the Rams were tired and Mike just needed to put in a bigger hammer to bust the gate wide open.

Actually I think run stuffing is much improved this year as the Rams are getting skunked much less on the misdirection runs and bootleg stuff. Remember the 49er game last year!

If there is anything that is worse about this defense vs last year, I would say they are not nearly as good at generating turnovers. Some of that is because throughout the course of the game the defense gets tire and isnt able to generate pressure. The second reason is the style of gameplay between Mikell and Atogwe.

- And here's the Rams' 2010 season in a series. Incomplete pass, 18-yard run, incomplete pass, 7-yard run, 5-yard pass, 3-yard run, sack, incomplete pass, punt. Shoot me. - 3K

by leadhead on Oct 8, 2011 2:45 PM CDT reply actions

James Hall

He is tied for 19th among active players in sacks. I’d say he is more a pass-rushing DE than run-stopping.

Remember the great 2004 and 2005 Rams teams...

by Marmie is the best on Oct 8, 2011 6:45 PM CDT reply actions

And Chris Long

ranked as the 2nd best pass-rushing DE in the league by Football Outsiders.

Remember the great 2004 and 2005 Rams teams...

by Marmie is the best on Oct 8, 2011 7:36 PM CDT reply actions

D-Line

We seem to be having a very hard time rushing the passer with our front 4. I feel like the QB can just sit back there all game long and pick us apart.

I expect Spags to ease up on the blitz to compensate for our shitty corners. Either way I am not looking forward to the Green Bay Game.

by ramsrule on Oct 8, 2011 11:27 PM CDT reply actions

staying in there gaps

My understanding is that the DTs are to take up blockers and try and make the tackle if they are any good. And the linebackers are supposed to make the tackles sideline to sideline. Besides JL how many tackles are Poppinga and Leber getting per game? I am guessing not enough.

by sacramentoramsfan on Oct 9, 2011 1:50 AM CDT reply actions

some injuries and personnel decisions are hurting us

The loss of Ron Bartell and Jerome Murphy is killing us. Our corner depth is being exposed and teams are exploiting that. I think letting OJ Atogwe and George Selvie go hurt us also. Togs just knew how to create turnovers and Selvie in my opinion is a DE that Spags should have kept to use in the Justin Tuck / Mathias Kiwanuka role that he used in New York.

I also believe that Jabara Williams needs to be given a chance to startt. He has speed and he’s a tackle machine. When he is on the field, he always seems to be involved in the tackle.

Our offense not being able to sustain drives is also wearing out the D. Why does that sound so familiar.

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Oct 9, 2011 3:44 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Everyone can put up stats and try to make something out of our defense. But in the end it's all fruitless.

A defense that allow 200 or more rushing yards per game is simply no good. Damn hard to argue that point.

by DeltaRam on Oct 9, 2011 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

The main problem

with our defense is our OLBers miss or over run gap assignments and miss tackles. Honestly, we have had this problem for years. If we ever acquire OLBs that can actually tackle it would be a HUGE upgrade.

by ZamRam on Oct 11, 2011 5:42 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs