The RAMS Forum

I have watched Verse specifically on our D and do not see the same effort or player this year. There are several plays where upon the snap of the ball he simply stands opposite the OT and does not power rush or speed rush to the QB ? Some have said it is a contain assignment (?) but it is a frequent move for him this year. I have not looked up his PFF grades recently but his pressures & sacks must be does. In a front 7 that now is basically Young & him as pass rush players the Ram pass rush is way down. Elite edge players attack at the snap and we have no sudden speed rushers with this currently in their game. This is not a jag about designed containment or bend but don’t break - this is about our lack of pressure / sacks in our D this year. In big games vs quality QBs this will compromise our D as our coverage group is nothing to write home about. Verse & Young ( he has done his part) need to provide more pressure than we have seen to date. McVay and his post game “stats are for losers” comment not withstanding the Rams are underperforming in this area and it is going to matter a lot as we go forward.

My only criticism of Jared is that I would rather his play doing the talking rather than the sh&t talking. The Rams are moving him around this year which is kind of interesting, he and Young even switched sides. His pass deflection at the end of the game can be underestimated.

We need more pressure on opposing QBs. Otherwise they will dink and dunk us to death. Opposing offenses Time of Possession appears to be increasing; their best defense is to keep Stafford on the bench.

We need to fix this; more blitz packages?

Interesting as the Rams have some intriguing guys with speed to get to a QB & the size to bring down today’s jumbo sized QBs. A related comment to this topic : Is there an injury or issue with Braeden Fiske ? His pass rush is non existent this season and it is really missed.

There have been a few times when they have gotten through and are about to pull the QB down, but he’s slipped away. (Young was on fire with sacks to start the season, but that’s gone away.) Last year, the QBs weren’t slipping away. Last year we also saw Verse run past the target and not contain the action.

There does seem to be a different kind of containment approach this year, and it’s awesome not seeing running backs have career games against the Rams. That was a fairly common occurrence before. There’s still pressure, as we saw yesterday, but a few sacks would be nice. Maybe they’re still finding a sweet spot for containment, pressure, and sacks.

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 7:27 am Interesting as the Rams have some intriguing guys with speed to get to a QB & the size to bring down today’s jumbo sized QBs. A related comment to this topic : Is there an injury or issue with Braeden Fiske ? His pass rush is non existent this season and it is really missed.

I think Fiske is just average and nothing more. solid player but not a stud. JMO

ocram23 wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 8:39 am

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 7:27 am Interesting as the Rams have some intriguing guys with speed to get to a QB & the size to bring down today’s jumbo sized QBs. A related comment to this topic : Is there an injury or issue with Braeden Fiske ? His pass rush is non existent this season and it is really missed.

I think Fiske is just average and nothing more. solid player but not a stud. JMO

Agree here. We have a solid DL, but nobody elite. Can't complain too much. Verse is much better at contain this year.

Could be right there - Do you remember Mike MaMula - perhaps the first Scouting Combine star who aced every test they had in his BVDs and was drafted high in Round 1 out of no where by the Philadelphia Eagles as a DE/OLB. He was a complete bust who just could not play. Hope we do not have a repeat here.

I think they tried to play more contain in the last weeks but as another poster said, the pass rush was there just didn't close the deal with sacks. I think the pass rush caused 3 of the 4 ints as well which is better than a sack.

Totally disagree on the Fiske being a jag comment. He is quietly having a very good season. At the end of the day we held Seattle to 1TD and that takes a strong defensive team effort.

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 8:56 am Could be right there - Do you remember Mike MaMula - perhaps the first Scouting Combine star who aced every test they had in his BVDs and was drafted high in Round 1 out of no where by the Philadelphia Eagles as a DE/OLB. He was a complete bust who just could not play. Hope we do not have a repeat here.

BC guy...I remember him. Yes he was a bust for the Eagles.

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 8:56 am Could be right there - Do you remember Mike MaMula - perhaps the first Scouting Combine star who aced every test they had in his BVDs and was drafted high in Round 1 out of no where by the Philadelphia Eagles as a DE/OLB. He was a complete bust who just could not play. Hope we do not have a repeat here.

oh I do and sadly the MM example still happens. there are multiple guys who are drafted higher because of their workouts vs actual game tape.

DVA_ram33 wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 9:06 am I think they tried to play more contain in the last weeks but as another poster said, the pass rush was there just didn't close the deal with sacks. I think the pass rush caused 3 of the 4 ints as well which is better than a sack.

Totally disagree on the Fiske being a jag comment. He is quietly having a very good season. At the end of the day we held Seattle to 1TD and that takes a strong defensive team effort.

Yup, the Durant and Williams interceptions were very much caused by the pressure. Watch Fiske and Young on the Durant int. Ford and Turner on the other.

Good point Big K - I think all 4 pics were with pass rushers near/around/ buzzing Darnold - he is getting tagged ( maybe correctly) as a clean pocket -open vision passer who does not like pressure. See Jared Goff last night ?

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 12:45 pm Good point Big K - I think all 4 pics were with pass rushers near/around/ buzzing Darnold - he is getting tagged ( maybe correctly) as a clean pocket -open vision passer who does not like pressure. See Jared Goff last night ?

Goff has ALWAYS struggled in these situations... that 2 for 16 in 3rd and 4th qtr last ngt was what we all witnessed his last year as a ram... thats the thing about Goff imo... he can be on fire, then fall apart... so up and down...

Que the Goff mommies now... here we go...

Rams are about as good as it gets regarding scoring defense. Also redzone D. As well as vastly improving the run D, TO's too. Sacks down a bit the last few games, ok, but pressure is still there. You have to look at the entire defensive production. Total yards against the defense? Who the fuck cares?

Verse is so much better in run support this year, as he works toward being complete. He's young still too. He's not rushing with reckless abandon. Regardless, the Rams don't like to blitz (currently). They can still pressure, and if teams want to run a quick strike offense to combat it, fine. Until it's a problem, it's not a problem. Sure 5 sacks a game is fun, but again look at the overall defense. Our 2025 schedule is not easy either.

I'm still trusting the process/coaching with the overall defense = impressive. Yes I think there is bend not break (pass game kept in front). Hard to score fast on the Rams. Hell hard to get into the endzone period - ask SEA and their scoring offense. That was a lot of FG's yesterday, just not enough to win.

We have to accept the D concept being applicable to the opponent we face - I get that but yesterday from the early second quarter to the early 4th this style turned the Rams O into spectators on the sidelines. O production was reduced greatly by lack of O possessions due to Seattle ball control. It can get to be a Rubic Cube scenario if our D does not get opposing O units off the field. Applying this to yesterday “s game, MS played a great game at QB with no sacks, no ints and 2 TDs. Our game vs Tampa Bay will likely play out very differently.

RonMac wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 4:13 pm We have to accept the D concept being applicable to the opponent we face - I get that but yesterday from the early second quarter to the early 4th this style turned the Rams O into spectators on the sidelines. O production was reduced greatly by lack of O possessions due to Seattle ball control. It can get to be a Rubic Cube scenario if our D does not get opposing O units off the field. Applying this to yesterday “s game, MS played a great game at QB with no sacks, no ints and 2 TDs. Our game vs Tampa Bay will likely play out very differently.

Agree

Cornell29 wrote: ↑November 18th, 2025, 9:05 am

Just think about this stat for a minute.. honestly... awesome. AND we have TWO of the TOP spots.

Cornell29 wrote: ↑November 18th, 2025, 7:56 pm

I keep reading here how we dont get enough "pressure".

Fans are confusing pressure with sacks. This D generates pressure at a very high rate. Opposing teams know this and are trying to get the ball out quick. The sacks don't always come. But the pressure rate is a big reason why we are 2nd in points allowed.

bigklein wrote: ↑November 17th, 2025, 7:29 am There have been a few times when they have gotten through and are about to pull the QB down, but he’s slipped away. (Young was on fire with sacks to start the season, but that’s gone away.) Last year, the QBs weren’t slipping away. Last year we also saw Verse run past the target and not contain the action.

There does seem to be a different kind of containment approach this year, and it’s awesome not seeing running backs have career games against the Rams. That was a fairly common occurrence before. There’s still pressure, as we saw yesterday, but a few sacks would be nice. Maybe they’re still finding a sweet spot for containment, pressure, and sacks.

exactly

The Rams defense is becoming unpredictable. Sometimes Verse or Young drop into coverage and sometimes they don’t. Drives me nuts at times but the results have been pretty good.

Verse is doing a great job....come on people

according to PFF his pressures are down a little bit
14.4% drop backs snaps played in 2025
vs
15.9% in 2024

according to the eyeball test for me he just seemed more powerful last year, seems like at Will he could push to OT into the quarterback

Here is where I stand on this, I don't watch all 22 but to me I worry that teams are finding out the best way to try and beat the Rams is dink and dunk us to death. 9ers started this and and others are trying it now and Seattle was almost successful Darnold was 29-35 and 279 yards. Getting the ball out in less than a 2.6 seconds is hard to get to a QB.

I complain we don't blitz enough and we tend to rush 4 too much. The result is 29-35 and sure that's an accurate QB throwing the ball resulting in those stats but I contend he isn't pushed off his spot enough and can see the field clearer than if he was rushed with 5 or 6 and gets nervous and starts worrying about the rush instead of his initial read or 2nd and 3rd reads. Yes you guys will say it worked so far so why change because we almost lost the Seattle game thats why even with 4 ints if it wasn't for Evans spectacular punt we may have lost it. This defense is a prescription to lose in the playoffs. We won the turnover battle and that is partially why we won.

I feel play 7 in coverage versus 6 to me doesn't matter as much usually the ball will be focused on one side of the field (intended target) so half the field just needs to be covered one on one. I always say part of Belichecks success was his amoeba defense 7 guys line up like they are all rushing and 2/3 usually drop out but the reason why I like this style of defense it forces the qb and C to think about protections more. That extra second of uncertainty really can make a difference and when 7 are on the line when that extra man or 2 come you don't know from where. We tend to line up 3/4 or 4/3 presnap it feel comfotable for the QB and C and sure we can surprise them with a blitzer some times but not very often.

This is why Verse seems to have regressed. I don't think it's him as much as not putting him in the optimum scheme to win.

If teams are adapting to the Rams dominant pressure- and getting the ball out fast for the dink and dunk style......well then the focus needs to shift to our coverage. Their life is made easier with the pressure, but still cannot allow 5-8 yard passes all day. And sometimes, the qb is just playing lights out and tosses perfect short passes to move the chains. But usually- mistakes are made like what Darnold did, or we just wind up better in red zone and force fg...which never wins games.

JMO but some of you over analyze this way too much………..

Team is 8-2. A lot to do with D. You can look at any ranking you want they are in the top 10. NFL n perfection isn’t something said in the same breath.

NorCal RF wrote: ↑November 19th, 2025, 10:30 am JMO but some of you over analyze this way too much………..

Team is 8-2. A lot to do with D. You can look at any ranking you want they are in the top 10. NFL n perfection isn’t something said in the same breath.

Agree.

This is arguably the best team we've ever had in the McVay era. It really doesn't get much better than this. If you can't be content/happy with this team. You never will be.

That said, criticism is fine when warranted. But expecting perfection is expecting the impossible.

HellRam wrote: ↑November 19th, 2025, 1:11 pm

NorCal RF wrote: ↑November 19th, 2025, 10:30 am JMO but some of you over analyze this way too much………..

Team is 8-2. A lot to do with D. You can look at any ranking you want they are in the top 10. NFL n perfection isn’t something said in the same breath.

Agree.

This is arguably the best team we've ever had in the McVay era. It really doesn't get much better than this. If you can't be content/happy with this team. You never will be.

That said, criticism is fine when warranted. But expecting perfection is expecting the impossible.

For sure...and I have a hard time being unhappy with Jared Verse lol. People tend to vent during games, forgetting it's 4 quarters (hey I was doing plenty of cussing last Sunday). That's fine (I have friends totally like that), but I don't need to see it which is why I stay away from here on gameday