The Los Angeles Rams had been trying to have fun their 2021 Tremendous Bowl victory, grasp up their championship banner and ring within the 2022 season with a victory.
The Buffalo Payments figuratively took that banner, put it on a desk, set it on hearth and jumped by it.
The Payments exploded within the second half, scoring 21 unanswered factors and cruising to a 31-10 victory. Regardless of the sport being considerably of a blowout, there are takeaways we will use from this recreation:
The Payments offense is a battle machine
My goodness, Josh Allen. The Payments sign caller went 26-31 for 297 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, and added 56 yards and a landing on the bottom. The numbers on the floor are spectacular, however if you take a look at how Allen gained it turns into clear that he has developed into one of many league’s greatest QBs.
Within the first half, Allen noticed a number of 2-high coverages, forcing him to take the beneath passes and checkdowns. That which was a problem for Allen (brief space accuracy and impatience) has seemingly develop into a power. Allen focused the brief areas of the sector with laser effectivity, firing in passes on time exterior of an interception that he threw within the first half.
When the second half rolled round, the Rams would start to get extra aggressive, taking part in man protection or blitzing. That is when Allen made them pay, both utilizing his legs to nice impact or doing issues like this, which shouldn’t be regular for an NFL QB however for Josh Allen it’s simply one other Thursday:
This can be a idea referred to as “Mills”, the place the within receiver runs a dig, after which the surface receiver runs a put up deep. The Rams ship a blitz to the overloaded aspect and crushed the pocket, however for Allen he throws the ball with anticipation, letting Gabriel Davis get underneath it for a 47 yard achieve. If Allen goes to proceed to be this environment friendly beneath and within the brief space whereas additionally having the ability to beat groups over the pinnacle with the deep passes, good luck.
As well as, the Payments had been capable of be a number of and diverse within the run recreation. Pulling proper sort out Spencer Brown on learn choice performs, utilizing fullback Reggie Gilliam on designed exterior zone tosses. Now that they will get into extra hole scheme runs and mash groups with a purpose to get them out of the 2-high shells they’ll see, it makes their offense extraordinarily harmful.
Von Miller is the straw that stirs the drink, however the Payments DL is deep and harmful
It was Von Miller’s return to SoFi Stadium, and he didn’t disappoint, notching two sacks within the win which can be an ideal encapsulation of what the longer term Corridor of Famer is.
On the primary sack, he units up Rams LT Joe Noteboom on the surface feigning a velocity rush, then makes use of a “forklift” method, lifting the sort out’s fingers and bull dashing him into Rams QB Matt Stafford. Then on the following sack, he dips proper underneath Noteboom’s fingers a flies previous him for a sack, a Von Miller particular.
Though Miller is clearly the large title man, the Payments defensive position dominated the Rams entrance, they usually did it in waves. Earlier than getting injured defensive sort out Ed Oliver was spectacular. Jordan Phillips overwhelmed the Rams inside, notching 1.5 sacks. Younger edge defenders Gregory Rousseau, AJ Epenesa and Boogie Basham mixed for 3.5 sacks. In whole, the Payments notched seven sacks and 7 tackles for loss. Free agent acquisition Shaq Lawson didn’t even play. This Payments defensive position is deep, versatile and harmful, and Von Miller is the star.
Matt Stafford won’t be a problem (but)…
So let’s speak about Matt Stafford’s efficiency. The Rams sign caller went 29-41 for 240 yards with one landing and three interceptions, however for many of the recreation he simply regarded…uncomfortable. Of his 29 completions 13 of them went to Cooper Kupp, and no different receiver caught greater than 5 passes. Free agent acquisition Allen Robinson solely caught one cross on two targets, and by no means appeared to seek out his method within the recreation. The traditional hi-lo routes with Kupp sailed much more than standard, and it simply regarded like a disjointed offensive efficiency.
Nonetheless, don’t fear about Stafford but. Not getting any snaps within the preseason in addition to being restricted in follow as a result of an elbow damage (which will or is probably not totally healed—additionally one thing to watch) positively performed a task within the offensive efficiency. If you herald a brand new receiver like Robinson, it takes time for the rapport to be constructed. Except the elbow damage lingers, I wouldn’t be frightened in regards to the Rams sign caller but.
…however the offensive line for the Rams is a serious problem
Man, this was a efficiency to neglect for the Rams offensive line. After dropping Andrew Whitworth to retirement and Austin Corbett to the Panthers, the Rams needed to change two of their high 5 linemen from an offensive line that was already round league common. Add in high draft decide Logan Bruss tearing his ACL within the offseason and also you no extra events in LA up entrance.
The Rams allowed seven sacks, and a number of the strain got here from the inside, the place middle Brian Allen and guards Coleman Shelton and David Edwards had been overwhelmed by the Payments defensive entrance. A key a part of Los Angeles Tremendous Bowl run was Matt Stafford having the ability to make performs and cube defenses from out of the gun, particularly in empty formations. The Rams tried that tonight, however Stafford was instantly underneath strain from the inside, nullifying any time to make a play. The Rams needed to go underneath middle to extra play motion passing recreation simply to purchase Stafford a while.
The Rams offensive line was a serious query mark getting into the 12 months, and primarily based on their efficiency tonight, that gained’t be altering anytime quickly.
