In yesterday's loss, I felt that Matthew Stafford was, at times, forcing the ball to Cooper Kupp (though he did miss on one that should have been a TD).

Statistically, we're seeing a different level of ball distribution this year as opposed to last year.

Cooper Kupp has been targeted on 46 of 134 passes, which is 34.3%.
Robert Woods is second with 25 targets, which is 18.7%.

Last year, they were nearly identical. Woods had 129 targets (23.0%) and Kupp (who missed one game) had 124 (22.1%).

So, last year, we had an even distribution between the top 2, and they represented only 45.1% of total targets.

This year, Kupp is far and away the most targeted receiver, and he and Woods represent 53% of total targets.

Is this a problem? Time will tell. If Kupp is getting open, he should be a primary target. When he's not, though... we have many good options.

https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/58561/LA_Gamebook.pdf

Off


Def


ST

Cardinals Vent Thread here: LINK

Looking forward to the Seahawks here:

We don’t have time to mess around… Big Thursday Night Football match-up… Rams at Seahawks!

Buckle up… It’s a short week! Rams need to turn the page and get ready!

Monday Night Football: Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers​

None of us are old enough to remember the vitriolic rivalry that took place between the Chargers and the Raiders back in the old AFL days. Yes, we’re talking the Mad Men days of the '60s. Coaching gunslingers Al Davis and Sid Gillman provided offensive innovation and fireworks for the new league.

Well, that level of explosion is back again between these two left coast rivals. Both teams come in with improved defenses as well, buoying hopes for their first playoff appearances in a number of years. The Chargers haven’t been to the postseason since 2018 and the Raiders since '16. And get this, division titles have been even rarer, 2009 for the Chargers and '02 for the Raiders.

It was an ugly start last week vs. the Dolphins, but the Raiders rallied for a 31-28 win in overtime, despite facing Miami’s second-string QB. This is the Raiders' first 3-0 start since 2002. The Chargers just got done taking down two-time defending AFC champion Kansas City in Arrowhead Stadium 30-24. In other words, the Bolts just got a huge shot of confidence going into this one.

Monday Night Football: Las Vegas (3-0) vs. Los Angeles (2-1)

Kickoff: Monday, Oct. 3 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Chargers -3.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Let’s start with the obvious — QB play

Looking at how things sit right now, Derek Carr is playing at an All-Pro level and was just named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month. Meanwhile second-year phenom Justin Herbert just out-dueled Patrick Mahomes. That means this will be a real marquee game for the field generals of both teams. Carr is leading the NFL with 1,203 passing yards and looks strong to get to the 4,000-yard mark once again by the end of the season. Last week, six different receivers had at least five targets from Carr, so he definitely spreads the love. The Raiders' receiving corps will be tested here as the Chargers rank seventh in the league in both scoring defense (20 ppg) and in passing defense (202 ypg allowed). But nothing will come easy for Herbert either as a much improved Raiders defense awaits him. Last year the Raiders were 30th in the NFL in points per game allowed (29.9) and are currently 15th (24.0 ppg). They also were 30th in third-down conversions (at 48.8 percent) but are now sixth (33.3 percent). Though there are plenty of viable options, watch for emerging go-to guy Mike Williams (7 rec., 122 yds., 2 TDs vs. KC) to continue to grow into a bigger target for that Charger passing offense.

2. Fundamentals boys, fundamentals

Both teams have benefitted and been hurt by turnovers and penalties. The Raiders got off to a horrible start vs. the Dolphins, including an interception returned for a touchdown and a turnover on downs, digging themselves a 14-0 hole in the first quarter. On the flip side, the Chargers bolted out to a 14-0 lead vs. the Chiefs by getting a few oskies off of Mr. Mahomes. The lead could’ve been even more if not for a few bad-timed penalties. In fact, L.A. is one of the worst teams in the yellow flag department, ranking 30th in penalties (8.7 per game) and 32nd in penalty yards (81 per game). The Chargers must cut that number down significantly this week.

3. The Raider pass rush

Without a doubt, the Chargers will be the stiffest test of the season on this Raider pass rush. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has gotten really good pressure on opposing QBs (a 44 percent pressure rate) despite rarely blitzing (an NFL low 9 percent). It all begins with the ends, where Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby have been taking advantage of Swiss cheese O-lines through the first three weeks. Although they only have two sacks between them, Ngakoue has 15 pressures in his three games and Crosby leads the league with 25. Herbert has only been sacked five times so far this season, so this will be a big challenge for the Raiders' pass rush.

Final Analysis

This should be a really entertaining game, so make sure all your rowdy friends are there on Monday night and ready for some wide-open football. These two division rivals are obviously very familiar with each other. In their two games last season the Raiders won in Sofi Stadium by five points and the Chargers won in Allegiant Stadium by a field goal. Everything points to another close shave here too.

While the two high-profile QBs will certainly put on a show, don’t sleep on whichever team gets the running game going in this one as the Raiders got 111 yards on the ground from Peyton Barber (filling in for Josh Jacobs, who could return) and the Chargers' Austin Ekeler is a potential breakout runner averaging nearly five yards per carry so far this season.

Whoever gets the dual-threat offense going and can maintain some time of possession, gets the advantage here. Not sure if the Raider running game will make lightning strike twice on the ground again. Gimme the Lightning Bolts at home here. And yes, close. As usual.

Prediction: Chargers 31, Raiders 28

Please don't merge this thread thanks

Jared Goff went against two strong passing defense in the Ravens and Bears and threw 0 interception. It took a horrific missed delay of game penalty and a 66 yards field goal to beat Jared Goff and the Lions. Despite the lost, Goff had 2 touchdowns and 0 interception versus the Bears. There was one interception and fumble in this game and none was on him. His center has an interception snap LMAO. Goff also had a strip fumble but it was one of those under 2 second one where any other QBs would have got it stripped.

Lions fans are complaining but I'm actually impress with Jared Goff. Sure he missed some throws but his receivers are the worst in the league by a country mile. I mean compare to his 2019 and 2020 season on the Rams, Goff is actually exceeding expectation. He is 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions on the season. His LT Sewell had his worst game today as Mack went by Sewell in under 2 seconds to strip Goff.

According to PFF, Goff is on pace for a 5000 yards passing season! Goff is also moving more around in the pocket, he has a nice play where he was escaping pressure by juking and and hit a reciever for 13 yards and a first down. It look like going to Detroit was what Goff needed because hard time build strong men. All that being said, the Lions also have the worst defense I have ever seen.

P.S: Really wish we had Goff vs Cardinals. Cardinals fans call him "Mahomes" everytime they have to play him. What I gathered from Cardinals and Lions forum is that Stafford always struggle with the Cardinals defense. Cardinals fans are happy they faced Stafford instead of Goff who always shredded them.

What are your thoughts on Jared Goff season so far? Are you surprise by his stats, is he doing worst or better than you thought he would do with the Lions?

The loss was not the beat down, changing of the guard some will make it out to be. That long pass to Jackson for the int, was a touchdown if not under thrown.
It was Staffords first sub par game as a Ram, he was out of sinc with Kupp and the rest of them. Passes looked weird, funny. Multiple missed wide open shots.
The turnover by Michel, the fumbled return = points for Arizona.
14 point swing easy if a couple things go differently. Then we have a ballgame.
I mean, for the CHUNKS of yards Henderson was tearing off for Stafford not to be able to use it to help the passing game, something was wrong.
It did not really look like Arizona could stop us early in the game. I was waiting to blow them out.
Their midget QB reminded me of Seattle,s midget QB early in his career before we figured him out.
The division is still ours to have. McVay will have them ready.
Just a weird game.

IF, You were Sean McVay what changes would you be considering making to the your Offense and Defense (If, Any)? While, I don’t think a coach needs to over react due to one loss BUT to me this loss was quite disturbing!! I really think he needs to consider making some DB adjustments and hopefully try to find the Matt Stafford that he traded for and not the QB that played today (Let’s hope he got his BAD GAME FOR SEASON out of his system today!!)!!

Stadium experience was actually pretty great compared to some of the horror stories I heard. Not sure I can add anything to what's already been posted except that you're gonna see this on the All-22. There were no rotations in the secondary as far as I could tell this game. Perhaps that's cause of all the no huddle that Arizona used but it really did not seem like we disguised anything.

I would have loved some rotation of the safeties with one of them playing robber on Murray at some point. I wanted to give Morris a pass so far (and he's not responsible for Stafford's lack of composure/accuracy) but he's just not doing a good job at all.

1. That was U-G-L-Y.

2. And we ain't got no alibi.

3. We all knew that there would be disappointments along the way, but... man, that was bad.

4. I can't escape the thought that the Number 1 problem today was a lack of effort.

5. On offense, it manifest in missed opportunities, poor execution (particularly in the Red Zone), and an inability to finish drives.

6. On defense, it was evident all day. The Rams were a step slow, and couldn't find a "splash" play all afternoon.

7. The coaching staff had a bad day too. McVay's play calling - particularly, again, in the Red Zone, was... I don't know... tone deaf? He just didn't seem to take what the defense was giving us.

8. On defense... this is not the first time we've seen Kyler Murray. And, yet... we didn't seem to have the kind of containment plan we've had in the past.

9. So frustrating to see the defense break down every time it had a chance for a key stop.

10. Burn the tape on this one.

11. Okay... any bright spots? I guess you can cite to Van Jefferson, who had a nice game.

12. That said, I do think Stafford was forcing the ball to Kupp today and ignoring Robert Woods.

13. Darrell Henderson had a nice game in his return.

14. Sony Michel... ugh, that's a one way ticket to the dog house.

15. Right now, the defense is pretty bad. I do think, however, that there is enough talent there that it can improve substantially as the season progresses.

16. What cliche should I use to swing this back to an optimistic note... "wake up call," maybe?

17. Well, we'll find out soon enough, with the Seahawks looming on Thursday night.

18. I'll say this about the Cardinals. They are improved, and are a quality team, but they don't scare me. I still think we beat them on a day that we play well.

19. Man, I hate losing.

20. Onward.

Some of them are paying way too much attention to their press clippings.

I am going to a Rams game on the 24th and I need to get a covid test for my son. I have been vaccinated. What type of test (documentation)) is required from the test, It will be required for my son to attend the game. I have my card what will my son need ?

I believe it is on topic because everyone who plans on attending a game will have to have either proof of a test or vaccination card ! -- the Fatboy

Oct 3 1971, I saw my first (and only) Rams game, at the Coliseum. I was visiting from Canada. I became an instant and life-long Rams fan that day.


Rams 17 Bears 3

My Uncle, who took me, bought me a bumper sticker. I guess QB Roman Gabriel #18 was under fire at that time. The sticker said SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL QUARTERBACK 18. BYE BYE BOO BIRDS.

Hopefully a good omen for today's game against AZ.

Anyone know what type of test is required ? I am vaccinated but my son is not. Can we buy one at the drug store do we have to go to the doctors office to get one ? Any help out there? -- the Fatboy

Sunday Night Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New England Patriots​

Eight years ago, Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots dismantled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. Brady orchestrated a run of 23 straight points, throwing for two scores to a rookie wide receiver named Kenbrell Thompkins in his 51st straight game with a touchdown pass. It was Brady at his finest, making limited weapons around him better in carrying the Pats offense on his back.

Who would have ever thought the next time these teams would play in Foxborough, it would be Brady on the opposing sideline leading the Bucs? Not as a head coach, but … as a quarterback?

So it goes, the Brady-Belichick saga entering a new phase the second they step on the Gillette Stadium field Sunday night. The two legends face each other as rivals after six Super Bowls and nearly two decades together, forging the type of modern-era NFL dynasty the likes of which we may never see again in a generation.

"I think I've been on the record dozens of times saying there's no quarterback I'd rather have than Tom Brady. I still feel that way," Belichick said this week. "I was very lucky to have Tom as the quarterback and to coach him. He was as good as any coach could ever ask for."

The Bucs feel the same way with their signal-caller, at age 44, continuing to defy Father Time. The defending Super Bowl champs come in off a loss to the Los Angeles Rams but still look miles ahead of a Belichick-led team struggling on offense. They have nearly half the points (54) as the Bucs' league-leading 103, throwing just two touchdown passes in three games. (Brady, by comparison, leads the league with 10).

It puts Belichick in a rare position: underdog by a touchdown at home, something that never happened with his teams from November 2001, the early days of the Brady era, through Brady's departure in 2019. But the last time the spread was this high for the Patriots at Foxborough? Against the Ravens in November of last season?

The Patriots won. Add in the unparalleled drama surrounding this matchup and anything is possible between two teams that appear to be a mismatch on paper.

Sunday Night Football: Tampa Bay (3-0) at New England (1-2)

Kickoff: Sunday, Oct. 3 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Buccaneers -7

Three Things to Watch

1. Brady vs. Belichick

It's the conversation everyone is looking to see, especially after a week filled with revelations. A new tell-all book, It's Better To Be Feared by Seth Wickersham is claiming Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Belichick the "biggest f***ing a**hole in my life." It fueled speculation Kraft has privately sided with Brady in any potential rift, building on last year's comments where he insisted "It's not the way I want it to end" and claiming he loved Brady "like a son."

Belichick, meanwhile, reportedly turned down an in-person meeting with Brady before his departure from the Patriots. Belichick disputed that report, declining to specify why, while making clear he's not focused on the drama heading into Sunday night.

"I've heard a few things about this book," Belichick said, "And it sounds like a lot of second-, third-, and fourth-hand comments."

How these two interact will be the most talked-about moment of Sunday night, win or lose. Do either of them have an advantage on the field, if at all?

The case for Belichick: No one knows Brady's strengths and weaknesses more than someone who coached him for 20 years. Still armed with the NFL's fifth-ranked defense (plus senior football advisor/former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia), he'll find ways to put Brady in tough situations. And the quarterback could easily fall victim; Brady threw two interceptions against the Cowboys, a far worse defense, and has been sacked six times the past two games.

The case for Brady: No one plays better when they're a man on a mission. (Latest example: last year's run to the Super Bowl). The once every four years rotation means this game will likely be his last in Foxborough if he finishes with the Bucs.

Remember the last pass Brady threw here? A pick-six against the Tennessee Titans in a 2019 AFC Wild Card matchup? Chances are he wants to change the narrative to more of a storybook ending. You don't get that by losing to a weaker Belichick team on paper.

2. There's another former Patriot, too

Oh, yeah. That guy named Gronkowski. The five-time Pro Bowler is on pace for what would be a career-high 91 receptions this season at age 32. He's caught 80 percent of his targets, a haul that also includes four touchdowns.

Now, Gronk goes up against the Patriots D, yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this season. In fact, their passing defense is so stingy, they've allowed an average of just one touchdown pass a game. Brady himself is averaging 3.3.

There is a possibility that Gronkowski will not suit up, as he's doubtful to play after missing practice all week due to a rib injury he sustained last week against the Rams.

But if he does play, something's got to give here. Don't underestimate how motivated Gronk will be, out of all the supporting cast (even Antonio Brown) to step up after coming out of retirement to support Brady in Tampa.

3. Can Mac Jones play better?

On the Pats' side, no matter how good the defense plays, they need to score in order to have a chance. The rookie Jones is the key part to that equation, trying to turn his season around in a year where first-year starting quarterbacks are a combined 1-11 across the NFL.

"It's really just us against the other team," Jones said when asked about starting against Brady. "And that's how it always will be. It's not like one person versus one person."

Well, sure. But Jones has more interceptions (three) than touchdowns thrown (two) in his NFL career to this point. The offense is hardly inspiring, sitting 24th in the NFL at 317.7 total yards per game, those numbers beefed up somewhat by a 25-6 shellacking of the winless New York Jets in Week 2.

All eyes will be on the Alabama rookie as the one Belichick specifically picked as the heir apparent. The Bucs' pass defense has been their biggest problem, dead last in the NFL at 338.3 yards per game allowed. It's why free-agent Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman was signed this week and is expected to play some Sunday night. The opening is there, but there also needs to be a major upgrade in performance for the Pats to take advantage.

For Jones, this matchup is all upside in that he's not expected to win. An upset here would put him on the map and help New England move on from clinging to their ex.

Final Analysis

Count me as one who thinks the pressure here is on Belichick. Brady's already won a Super Bowl with another team and has accomplished more than any NFL player at 44. Belichick is now 8-11 since Brady left the Patriots and has left himself open to critics who claim he's incapable of being successful "without Tom."

You'd have to think the Patriots, filled with starters that know Brady like the back of his hand, will give the Tampa Bay some trouble. I'd stay away from betting first-half lines and the Patriots could take an early lead due to their efforts defensively.

But you know who's arguably one of the most clutch NFL players of all time? Who's all but certainly going to surpass Drew Brees in this game as the all-time leader in passing yards?

Tom Brady.

When even Father Time doesn't bet against him, don't expect me to start.

Prediction: Buccaneers 21, Patriots 13

Sunday, Oct. 3

LATE GAMES
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, 4:25 pm(CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 pm (CBS)

SNF
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots, 8:20 pm (NBC)

EARLY GAMES
Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills, 1 pm (CBS)
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 1 pm (FOX)
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins, 1 pm (CBS)
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings, 1 pm (CBS)
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 pm (FOX)
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (CBS)

Monday, Oct. 4

MNF
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 pm (ESPN)

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, Sept. 30

Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

Sunday, Oct. 3

EARLY GAMES
Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills, 1 pm (CBS)
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 1 pm (FOX)
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins, 1 pm (CBS)
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings, 1 pm (CBS)
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 pm (FOX)
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (CBS)

LATE GAMES
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, 4:25 pm(CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 pm (CBS)

SNF
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Oct. 4

MNF
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 pm (ESPN)

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, Sept. 30

Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles;we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

———

ROD Chat Room;

Game Day Room

That go out to watch the games?

I go out every week and have been for years here, but only stumble upon another Tam fan every once in a while.

Would be awesome to find other fans to hang with on game day.

Maybe we should have a sticky dedicated to good Rams vids. Kinda like the media fallout after a win, but permanent. I see a lot of good stuff out there but would hate to post a thread every time. Anyhow, this is worth a watch...

Watch "How Sean McVay made Matthew Stafford the 2021 MVP" on YouTube
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/Juvt1_fL4Uk

What you see? Any games of interest?

I think Carolina at Dallas looks like my game of choice in the early slot. Will be nice to see these teams, as I haven’t yet.

Here is our lineup for week 4:

Sunday, Oct. 3

EARLY GAMES
Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills, 1 pm (CBS)
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 1 pm (FOX)
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins, 1 pm (CBS)
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings, 1 pm (CBS)
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 pm (FOX)
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (CBS)

LATE GAMES
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, 4:25 pm(CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 pm (CBS)

SNF
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Oct. 4

MNF
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 pm (ESPN)

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, Sept. 30

Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

If you cannot attend the game… How do you prefer to watch the NFL on TV?

I tend to prefer watching games by myself. I can pause and rewind. Focus on the game and the details.

How about you?

Alone?

With a small familiar group, family, friend, etc. ?

Bar scene, with a large sometimes random crowd?

At times we probably all enjoy all 3 of these… but; which do you prefer?

Some of you fine folk were kind enough to listen to the podcast we put out last week and be complementary about the content so I thought I'd be brave and share a link to the latest Episode

Login to view embedded media
View: https://anchor.fm/la-rams-uk/embed/episodes/EP54---Plundering-the-Pewter-e183sv0

Not our usual team this week as we are trying out a few guests every week throughout this season. I was surprised to see that around 15% of our listeners are from the US.

You can also find a link to the LA RAMS UK website at the bottom of the ROD webpage.

Keeping mine simple, as I'm busy up to the game I'm not getting on TV here. lol I'll save that for another thread. Since we're playing the Dead Birds, I'm going with chickens with beer cans up the butt. I'll put them in crockpots after cooking to apply a good bbq sauce. Very simple but quite effective. Have a good harvest of spaghetti squash from this summer and will do in oven. Horse radish sauce and garlic on them when done, plus melted Provolone cheese on top. Next up is broccoli in a heavily based garlic white sauce (Alfredo).

Appetizers : Salami and cheese on crackers.. Hot peppers on them.

Beverages : Mich Ultra, BLP, and Reyka Vodka for shots when we score a TD.

Edibiles : 2 chocs I got from my local dispensary. Legal here and life is good. lol

Enjoy my fellow Rams brothers and sisters. I'm thinking this game will tell who is real. Should be a good game with us being victorious! Cheers!

I don't know anything about this writer except that he says he's been covering the Whiners for 11 years and he does make some assumptions in the article but still, I like the sound of any cracks forming in San Fran.

Dissension on the 49ers?​

Grant Cohn 7 hrs ago

© Provided by All 49ers on FanNation
I've never seen this level of dissension on the 49ers in my 11 seasons covering the team.


SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers have acted awfully strange following their first loss of the season.
In the politest, most professional tone possible, it seems the players blamed the coaches for the loss, while the coaches blamed the players. I've never seen this level of dissension on the 49ers in my 11 seasons covering the team.
Here's what I mean.
Why isn't the 49ers' running game working?
George Kittle immediately after the loss: "They were loading the box. Did all they could do to take away our double teams. They had set up the defense to let us get our double team, but then they're setting the edge with two guys, so there's not really much you can do there. I trust in [head] coach [Kyle] Shanahan and [offensive coordinator] Mike McDaniel, they’ll get after that and they'll figure out a way to avoid that next time. Because I'm assuming a lot of defenses are going to try to do that because they did a good job of eliminating our outside zone.”
Translation: We had no schematic answer for the defensive fronts the Packers showed. There was nothing more the players could do. The coaches need to find a solution.
Jimmy Garoppolo on Wednesday: "You scout things, the coaches do a great job all week of that and the game comes and you’ve got to react to what they deal you. So it's a bit of just executing the tough looks that maybe we didn't plan for."
Translation: The coaches aren't preparing the players for the defensive fronts they're facing during games. The players are surprised by the looks they're facing. The coaches primarily are at fault.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel on Thursday: "It also has to do with them executing stuff that the next day on tape. I know George sees stuff and he's like, ‘Hey, we could have done this, that or whatever."
Translation: It's the players' fault for not executing the plays better.
See what I mean?
The same thing is happening on defense. This past Sunday, the Packers eliminated Nick Bosa from the game simply by chipping him with a tight end. Not good for the 49ers.
Why can't the 49ers defeat the chips?
Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans this Thursday: "When you have a great rusher like Bosa, teams, they have to find a way to handle him. And that's what teams have been doing. They've been chipping him a lot and he's garnered a lot of attention because of the type of player that he is. Great players, you’ve got to handle them and that's what teams are doing against him. They're chipping him.”
Translation: The chips are inevitable for Bosa. He needs to expect them and find a way to beat them.
Bosa 30 minutes after Ryans: "(There are) certain chip-beaters that (defensive line coach) Kris (Kocurek) has used over the years -- we just have to get them called and execute them...there are other ones that we didn't get to. I'm not sure why, but we're definitely going to be better about it."
Translation: Ryans needs to call "chip-beaters," but didn't call them enough on Sunday, which means he didn't adjust and he's at fault.
I've never seen players point the finger so publicly at their coaches before. Sure, coaches always pass off blame, and the players usually accept it. That's the culture of football.
This 49ers team sure has a strange culture.