The RAMS Forum

Based on what I saw here are my observations of that game and what the Rams need to do in the Championship game.

Week 18 - Rams got up 17 - 3 in first half Rams looking good on both sides of the ball then the game turned near the halftime on a dumb McVay call. 3rd and 1/2 yard he calls a pass play that is long developing. Stafford gets sacked. This should've never happen we could have snuck it - it was 1/2 yard if we got it we could've driven down kicked a FG or punt with hardly any time left SF wouldve had to burn all their time outs leaving them no time to drive. Monumental mistake imo. Unexcusable.

All first half no success running ball.

Second half this is where really bad things happened: bad tackling by many, specifically Reeder and Fuller.

SF's key drive imo - they start really pounding and pounding the ball. All Rams players and fans should watch this SF drive starting 8:50 3rd quarter ends at 1:46 . We got totally dominated physically - they ran it down our throats.

4th quarter 17 - 17 SF doesn't believe we will run the ball. OL seemed tired.

Kupp almost singlehandedly bails out Rams on late drive with a huge over the shoulder catch, an end around and a TD catch. Kupp even lead blocks a big 14 yard run by Michelle - all in one series. Insane.

2:00 left - Another McVay F Up. We couldn't run all day, so why 3 straight runs?

OT - endless Missed Tackles on Deebo, Mitchell (3 big runs) capped off by Jennings catch - net FG. SF burned 7:30 minutes off the clock out of 10 minute OT period.

Keys to win the Championship Game (based on this game) we need to:

Throw to Kupp do not make him a decoy

Must have better Tackling - 19 missed

Biggest key to winning - Stouter Run D more AShawn, Reeder Jones we need 7 or even 8 in box with Rapp.

Tighter DB coverage - Jimmy G throws 5 - 12 yards - no 7 yard cushions by DBs. David Long sucked week 18 he needs to be our 4th DB not 3rd. DBs need to play closer to the LOS to take away all his short routes.

DBs our Dbs need to be way better on Jennings and Iyuk they killed us.

Priority #1 is to have Ramsey plus 1 on Deebo and 1 on Kittle. Or vice versa but we stop their two best and Jimmy will need to look more to Jennings, Iyuk or Mitchell out of backfied.

OL help - RB/TE stay in we don't need 5 in pattern all the time on long developing pass plays.

ST needs to block better on punts. Hekker was almost gotten to 3 times.

Don't run up the middle - mix it up with sweeps, different formations/schemes and maybe a FB type (TE)

Our DL has got to really focus on Compton their RT he is the weak link by far. I switch Von on him if Williams plays if Trent is out Von switches back to the blindside.

McVay needs to stop calling dumb low percentage plays: 3rd and 1/2 yard we throw, 3 straight runs with 1:50 to go and we couldn't run all day. Why throw to Skoronek deep he should never go deep and OBJ to end game no need we were driving.

There secondary is their weakness link by far - give Stafford time and he will pick them apart.

Their DLine is their strength, we must give the OL help - figure plays to slow them down. Screens, draws, quick slants, jet sweeps.

This is what I saw in the week 18 game all apply to this upcoming game.

Glad to hear your keys!

Nice break down. In all honesty I was fine with not running on 4th and one. Stafford isn't the best at a qb sneak. The problem I have is a empty set. At least have the threat of a run or sneak. At least put Stafford under center and run a play action. How about bringing in the heavy package and play action off of it.

With that said.

A couple of thing in the rams favor
1. Playoff Stafford > Regular Season Stafford
2. Akers is even healthier and has killed light boxes (niners run alot of light boxes with their 4 man rush)
3. Taylor "where is my safe space" Rapp, isn't starting. Nick Scott been lights out in the playoffs and Eric Weddle been in the mix (not covering grass like Rapp) and laying guys out.
4. AD is due for a breakout game vs the Niners. It's been a few years since he had one. He is due.

Cornell29 wrote: ↑January 29th, 2022, 4:45 am Nice break down. In all honesty I was fine with not running on 4th and one. Stafford isn't the best at a qb sneak. The problem I have is a empty set. At least have the threat of a run or sneak. At least put Stafford under center and run a play action. How about bringing in the heavy package and play action off of it.

With that said.

A couple of thing in the rams favor
1. Playoff Stafford > Regular Season Stafford
2. Akers is even healthier and has killed light boxes (niners run alot of light boxes with their 4 man rush)
3. Taylor "where is my safe space" Rapp, isn't starting. Nick Scott been lights out in the playoffs and Eric Weddle been in the mix (not covering grass like Rapp) and laying guys out.
4. AD is due for a breakout game vs the Niners. It's been a few years since he had one. He is due.

I just saw Akers was ranked 7th against light boxes… plus we didn’t have him…

OBJ, Higs and Jeff are all looking good…

Sometimes we are so aggressive that we over pursue on running plays, and plays to the QB. Relentless is good but maybe tone it down just a tad, we seem to get a lot of “close” ones in the backfield. I know that sounds redundant, but at times we lose a lot of chances.

Cooper Kupp on that last play, what a quadruple shake and bake he put on that DB… more of that…

I hate empty set too- makes me nervous. BUT. Their weakness is their db situation and if our OL can hold up, Stafford will find someone with these guys who run exceptional routes.

Run all over the place. Use screen. Play into the fact that their front 4 is always in our backfield.

Great job Malibu

1. tempo tempo tempo, slow down their pass rush, get them tired for a series or two

2. run/pitch out of the gun

3. throw out of heavy 6 lineman formation

4. 2/3 designed runs for stafford

5. roll stafford out

6. play 2 TEs throw to Blanton

7. blitz the A gaps

8. rotate DL for FUKKKKKS sake

9. bring 8 in the box a lot

10. press cover and bump Kittle a lot

11. play 3 lbers or 3 safeties, clog jimmy gs favorite passing lanes, the cut back lanes and have better leverage on the edge, our DTs penetrate, opening running lanes

Without sounding like Cleveland here [GULP] I have my suspicions that the week 18 game may have been thrown from HT. I think McVay has his reasons and didn't want to give too much away in case of a much more important 3rd encounter in the Playoffs.

I believe week 18 was a strategic move and the Rams will reap the rewards from it by annihilating the 49'rs on Sunday.

UK Rams Fan wrote: ↑January 29th, 2022, 8:40 am Without sounding like Cleveland here [GULP] I have my suspicions that the week 18 game may have been thrown from HT. I think McVay has his reasons and didn't want to give too much away in case of a much more important 3rd encounter in the Playoffs.

I believe week 18 was a strategic move and the Rams will reap the rewards from it by annihilating the 49'rs on Sunday.

Respectfully disagree UK, McVay was like a kid in a candy store for most of the first half, I don’t think he wants to lose to Shanny in a game of ping pong.

Shattering Niner dreams was the plan.

With that said I think with the better team and if McBay does this job we should win the game