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BART Scott not impressed

Was watching first things first this morning and Bart Scott was on saying that the Rams offense was a lot of window dressing and that it’s not that complicated and can be neutralized. He said they will run into a team that can shut them down, maybe this week. Hopefully McVay learned something from the Viking and Falcon games last year where the offense was shut down and he has a plan.

What did you learn from week 3?

I've just watched the game and there are lots of positives again this week, but quite a few more negatives IMO.

1. Goff, the dude is just so cool, he threw that INT and he didn't look fazed by it, it was a risky throw, to the same corner as last weeks INT and again didn't come off, but it did not affect his game.

2. Our Offense: it sure looks like we can score on any drive, Goff is moving the ball beautifully, these WRs are simply amazing!

3. Gurley: was a marked man yesterday, which may have opened up the passing game, but he NEVER gives up.

4. Brown: what a back up to Gurley! He's definitely explosive and the O didn't take a back step with him in there.

5. Oline Penalties: A few of those looked bogus to me, and I heard Big Whit's name called a few times, which definitely seems out of character and the call on Blythe was ridiculous, he was called for holding when he actually didn't touch a single defender (bogus calls?) But I'd like these penalties to stop.

6. Dline: we're getting pressure on, but those sacks are evading us at the moment, our edge rush needs to improve so that we start rattling opposing QBs - don't get me wrong I know Rivers is a great QB and have always respected him, but we should have got to him more.

7. LBs: IMO by far their worst game, the looked tired and flat - they'd better get their asses in gear for Thursday night.

8: CBs: I hope all is well, I have faith in our backups, but losing both would be a huge hit to an elite unit

9: The pace of the game. It looks like McVay really mixes up the pace of the game which I love, keeps opposing Ds on their toes.

10: PR/KP: We're not getting any luck in this department this year! Who do we throw in now? Someone new? Countess or K.Hodge maybe?

Pursuit of Perfection

As we suffered through all the losing seasons in the 90’s then basked in the GSOT, and are now in the second year of the McVay era after all the 7/9 BS, the joy we feel today is even more gratifying. To have such a talented and well coached team is a dream come true for us die-hards. Because of this, it’s difficult for me to just enjoy it without a critical eye that still has genuine concerns. In no particular order, here are mine.

Our edge rushers are not difference makers. They get home when they are schemed as free runners. This is my greatest concern and yet it’s not the only one.

This defense has been vulnerable to good tight end play. I’m not sure if it’s a scheme issue or our linebackers and safeties are simply getting beat by better players but when we allow Jared Cook to look like an All Pro and Antonio Gates look like he’s 28 years old again, you can bet our future opponents will look to exploit the opportunity.

Injuries are the great equalizer in the NFL. One of the greatest keys to a Super Bowl run is the health of the roster’s key players. I won’t even breathe the names I’d hate to lose the most so I will leave that thought unwritten here.

The GSOT didn’t care about turnovers. The mentality was to attack without caution or hesitation. While McVay is far more vigilant than Martz about taking care of the ball, I feel every fumble and interception that occurs. It could cost us games against better teams.

While this team hasn’t been plagued by an abundance of penalties, each time we stall on O or extend drives on D, it seems like a penalty was to blame. Also, I literally hold my breath on every kick and punt return and don’t sigh in relief for at least 15 seconds after the play is completed.

Am I the only one starting to see cracks in the run defense? While statistically this defense doesn’t look as bad in this area as last year, I still don’t get the sense teams will be afraid to run on us as an effective strategy.

While this team has a perfect record, the best point differential in the NFL so far, fewer glaring weaknesses than any other team, superlative coaching, an efficient and balanced offense, a handful of Pro Bowl level defenders, the best overall special teams in league, and a national media who is beginning to recognize greatness, all I want to know is how well this team will perform next week against the Vikings. I’m grateful we have a head coach who sees it this way too.

Jared Goff quietly leads Rams to perfect 3-0 start: Silver

Jared Goff quietly leads Rams to perfect 3-0 start

By Michael Silver
NFL.com columnist
Published: Sept. 24, 2018
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LOS ANGELES -- The black Range Rover pulled toward the road connecting the northwest corner of the Coliseum to the City of Angels, creeping up alongside what was left of the friends and family section at the end of the locker-room tunnel.

The man in the passenger seat was clearly in a hurry Sunday evening, what with a short week officially having begun, but suddenly the car came to a stop, and the tinted window on the driver's side slid down to reveal the face of the NFL's hottest young coach.

"Your son balled today," Sean McVay said, gesturing toward a smiling man standing alongside an adjacent fence.

And as Jerry Goff accepted the coach's praise of his son, Jared, the Los Angeles Rams' third-year quarterback, the proud papa felt compelled to pay his respects to the play-calling prodigy who is the NFL's reigning coach of the year.

"He's lucky to have you," Goff told McVay.

"I feel that way about him," McVay replied.

A few seconds later, McVay's girlfriend, Veronika Khomyn, pulled the Range Rover out of the lot, leaving behind a 35-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers that pushed the Rams to 3-0 and decided the Fight For L.A. by unanimous decision.

If you're inclined to assume this was nothing more than simple pleasantries being exchanged in the ebullient wake of the team's best start in 17 seasons, you're missing the message behind McVay's glowing assessment of his quarterback: Goff is not the product of his system. He is the pulse of it.

"Saying he's a system player -- that's just disrespectful," McVay told me after the game, still steamed over a question suggesting as much that he'd received in a press conference last Wednesday. "It's a total discredit to a great player.

Those who know, know. Flip the tape on. People who know what it looks like to play the quarterback position at a high level know what they're seeing."

"I know this: I wouldn't want to be working with anybody else other than Jared Goff right now."

Flip on the tape. Go ahead. Start with the third-and-8 shotgun snap from his own 47-yard line that Goff received with 12:51 left in the third quarter and the Rams up 21-13.

McVay had called a play anticipating zone coverage, but the Chargers went with a man-to-man alignment, and the designated man-beater target (receiver Robert Woods) wasn't able to run the route of his choosing.

As second-year wideout Cooper Kupp patiently explained to me later, "Robert had bad leverage on the route. He wanted to go inside, but (the defender) was inside. I was maybe the third or fourth read, but it all broke down, and I just tried to keep it alive."

With pressure closing in, Goff slid forward in the pocket, and slightly to his right. Defensive end Issac Rochell was coming from Goff's left; defensive end Melvin Ingram swooped in from the right.

And closing in quickly from behind Goff, blitzing linebacker Uchenna Nwosu dove into the back of his legs.

"I had gone through all my reads, four or five of them, and I was completely off schedule," Goff said later. "Then Cooper flashed -- that was just him being a football player -- and I was able to get it there."

Said Kupp: "It was 100-percent off schedule. Like, double off-schedule. But he got me the ball, and that definitely doesn't happen if Jared's not willing to hang in there as long as he did."

What happened was that Goff zipped a glorious dart toward the right sideline that Kupp caught in-stride at the Chargers' 30.

Cornerback Trevor Williams, who trailed Kupp by a step, grabbed the receiver from behind, but Kupp kept right on churning forward, and by the 20 he had shed Williams completely, continuing on his way to a 53-yard touchdown pass.

It was one of many, many impressive throws by Goff on a day when he, and the Rams' offense, but up some strikingly prodigious numbers.

Goff completed 29-of-36 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns, with another scoring throw overturned by a replay review that ruled receiver Brandin Cooks had been stopped at the 1-yard line.

He did get dinged for an end-zone interception, with Chargers rookie safety Derwin James making a nice read on a corner throw intended for tight end Gerald Everett.

No worries: The Rams' Cory Littleton responded by blocking a Drew Kaser punt in the end zone, with teammate Blake Countess recovering for a touchdown.

And Goff, after a Chargers touchdown drive, responded by completing his next six passes to set up Sam Ficken's 46-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

"This guy's a total stud," McVay said of Goff after exiting the locker room long after the game. "I think people don't realize how calm he is.

On the touchdown to Cooper he has four guys on him, two guys practically hanging on him, and he makes a play.

He's fearless, man. It's hard enough to make plays in rhythm, and when things look the way you want them to look. But when things break down and he can still keep plays alive and make big-time throws... well, that's a whole different level of good."

It's early -- and the Rams have the sure-to-be-peeved-in-the-wake-of-a-brutal-home-loss-to-Buffalo Minnesota Vikings coming to town for a stiff Thursday Night Football test -- but McVay's offense, the league's best in 2017, appears to be even better this year.

On Sunday, Goff and friends put up 521 yards of offense, the most by a Rams team since an overtime game in 2006 -- and the most in four quarters of football since 2000, the heart of the Greatest Show On Turf era.

Additionally, L.A. had 33 first downs, the most by any NFL team since the Saints midway through the 2015 season.

Goff became the third quarterback in league history to complete consecutive games with at least 350 passing yards and a completion percentage of 75 or above. And the Rams, not coincidentally, are 3-0 for the first time since 2001.

So yeah, the system is tremendous. Goff, however, is far more than a nondescript administrator.

"That dude's a freaking monster," said Russell Okung, the Chargers' veteran left tackle. "And I think what makes him a monster is he's incredibly consistent. Consistent players do the best in this league. You know what to expect every time.

He takes the easy throws when they're there, and then when he does go over the top, those (receivers) make plays.

"In this league, that's a winning formula. Don't give me the flashy guy; give me the guy who you can depend on every time."

Right now, the metaphorical flashbulbs seem to be focused on a slew of other prolific and promising young quarterbacks, from Patrick Mahomes, to Carson Wentz, to Deshaun Watson -- and to Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and the other members of the current rookie class.

Goff, for whatever reason, seems to get lost in the wash, even as he cleans up in Tinseltown.

"People don't talk about him," said Andrew Whitworth, the Rams' All-Pro left tackle. "From the start, people were saying he was overdrafted, and now I think they're sitting there waiting for the opportunity to say that maybe they were right.

Yet he's done nothing but continue to prove them wrong, and he's getting better and better.

"You feel the command, and his poise is what blows you away. Week after week; good play, bad play; he comes back, explains to us what happened and tells us what we need to do next.

He can literally communicate so calmly in the moment, and it's mind-blowing how relaxed he is on the football field."

Not surprisingly, Goff had a relaxed response to the notion that he's getting less hype than some of his contemporaries.

"No idea," he replied. "Look -- with a great running back (Todd Gurley, who ran for 105 yards and a touchdown Sunday) and a really good defense, that can happen. I don't know if they're talking about me. I also don't care. If we're 3-0, it's all good."

Moments after McVay's Range Rover pulled away from the Coliseum on Sunday evening, Goff's mother, Nancy, took her son's indifference a step further.

"We love it," she said of the relative lack of attention her son's exploits are generating. "That's the best-- because then you can sneak through the back door.

The worst is when they do the whole 'Mr. Perfect' thing, like (when Goff was a Cal junior) before (the Golden Bears played) Utah -- and then, five interceptions.

Right now it's quiet, and we're winning, and it couldn't be better. This is exactly where he wants to be."

Soon Jared emerged from the locker room, and he and his parents headed out in the L.A. twilight. Nobody followed. Rest assured, they like it that way.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...d-goff-quietly-leads-rams-to-perfect-30-start

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After 3 weeks

Rams offense: #3 overall points per game at 34 ppg
Rams defense: #1 overall points per game at 12 ppg
Rams: #1 point differential 54 points or 18 ppg

We don’t know which Vikes team will show up, but this team doesn’t have that magic they had with Keenum.

I think a lot will depend on if we can protect Goff and put pressure on Cousins.

You know Zimmer will be blitzing like crazy.

I like where we are and what we’ve done and think we are still capable of a dominant win over the Vikes.

What Vikings fans are saying

Sorry @Prime Time for jumping the gun, just so excited now and it's only a few days away, thought I'd help you out!

https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Board/102855/Contents/Rams-122414123/

are going to kill this pathetic team
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Yep. Not going to watch
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Yes, the Rams will feast on the Vikings. This team is pathetic.
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I can’t argue with that. Can you imagine what Donald and Suh are going to do?
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Trolls like I said go to GB packer board you folks are are the worst band wagons jumpers ever It was 1 game.
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Lol same folks who thought this would be a cakewalk game for the Vikings will think it is a slam dunk for the Rams. It wont be.
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No doubt, Frosty has a better chance of surviving in hell than the Vikings have if competing with the Rams.
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And here comes the Vikings apologists. Sugar coating a turd.
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F*cking embarassing. I dunno what else to say
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Zimmer sat Cook and Griffen even though they could have played if it was a playoff game.

He saved them for the Rams game which was a mistake. That sent a message to his team that the Bills didn’t matter. Buffoonery.

This team is going nowhere this season.
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I agree Zim is such a fucking turd.
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The same Rams who got their ass kicked by us last year? Its 1 loss. Better to do it now rather than later.

We'll be fine.
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Something tells me we will be ready/more prepared on Thursday. Zimmer has had some stinkers but his squads usually follow up with a good performance. Remember the 2015 season opener against the miners? Got our ads kicked on national tv, ended up going 11-5 and going toe to toe with Denver (SB champs that year) and Arizona (went 13-3), that year. I've go faith in this team but obviously the Rams will be tough.
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Our o line can't block the Bill's, simple analysis says Rams will kill us.

I know we’re 3-0 but......

I hate to bring up the only negative thing that’s in my mind but come on Sam ficken!!!!!!!!! This guy is gonna cost us a game. I don’t have confidence in him and I just feel like when you’ve got a team like ours who is competing to win every week that we could find a better kicker....I’m not down on the kid but to me I feel it’s better suited for a team like ours is to have an experienced nfl kicker who has experience....kai forbath.....Blair Walsh....teveccio?..Connor Barth??? I just feel we need someone who has kicked more then 3 career field goals

Rosen to start, Bradford benched

There's never been a more controversial Ram in the last 10 years,
Maybe ever.
The guy was controversial before we even picked him.o_O
Suh.
Foles.
Injuries.
Is he a quality quarterback?
Believers.

He's on a short chain today and could get yanked for the kid.

I've always thought athletically he was good enough.
I never really had a problem with the injuries because you can't really blame him for those and he toughed it out and came back from them.

To me I just never saw the fire in the belly like you see even with an Austin Davis or Case Keenum.

Anyway, he's going out very rich one way or the other.

Chargers at Rams - Week 3

ITS GAME DAY!

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.

Go Rams!

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