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FRONT 7, INSIDE: The Rams in
the past the DTs have been very attack oriented and swarming like a poor man's Tampa Bay.
The DTs are geared for quickness, not size. Former MLB R Jones always made tackles 5 yards down field and because smaller, gap shooting DTs allow for OLmen to not have to move a DT out of a hole, allowing the OL to get a block on the MLB, they tried to go with the big blaster who could take on OLmen, E Hill, but he was terrible at getting off blocks, had no pursuit skills, and was a pass coverage liability, so they are going again with speed and quickness in the middle with a Tuggle/McDaniel/ZThomas mini-mite type in London Fletcher. In part this is OK, because Fletcher has much better range than Hill (who had no range). Fletcher is super, super fast and quick. Yet unlike Fletcher, Tuggle, ZThomas & McDanie have/had bigger DTs in front of them. This brings up a problem, mentioned this spring by DV, who said Fletcher will not be as strong as Hill at the point of attack, especially at anchoring in the hole. This means the DTs will may have to do more anchoring (sitting in a hole and clogging it up, so the back has nowhere to run) and less shooting through gaps, causing disturbances with penetration. However, since last year's starting DTs are still attacking type of players---Farr & Agnew (especially Farr)---Fletcher may be exposed to huge 6'5 300 lb. OLmen blocking him. The solution? Randy K. said the Rams will be rotating the DL. If true this will allow for a mixing of anchor-types intermixed with gap-shooters with the secondary shifting depending on if it is a quick-gap shooter or a strong anchor type. So the Rams might rotate DTs such as Agnew, Grasmanis & Zgonina to protect Fletcher on rush downs with quick DTs like Farr & Hyder who penetrate and disrupt. On most teams the MLB comes out on passing downs---although Fletcher is very good at covering backs, he is not as good as MJones and can not blitz, so he probably will come out. NOTE ON GRASMANIS: Things like stunts, blitzes, and dropping into coverage will cause some trouble, so they wouldn't do that with him until he learns what the coaches want and the terminology. But knowing gaps and where to line up, over C/G gap, G, which shoulder of G, etc. can be learned in a week. Plus, the LBs will yank you by the tailpad into the correct possition if you do line-up wrong. Since the Bears had many injuries this camp Grasmanis should be in excellent shape and he has enough experience to know mostly what to do. FRONT 7, OUTSIDE: Kevin Carter has been getting press because of his sacks, but he does a very good job at stopping the run. Teams tend to not run to his side (the offense's right). They ran twice as many plays to the left! Therefore, the Rams have a quick, fast OLB behind him that is weak at the point of attack (POA), but great in pursuit and pass-coverage in Mike Jones. Most teams would put a guy like Jones away from the TE side (weakside) because teams tend to run toward their extra blocker the TE. But I did a stat look at the direction of run plays against the Rams and 1/2 went toward Phifer/Wistrom/MJones-the-DE, 1/4 went up the middle, 1/4 went to MJones-the-LB & K Carter. That's why he plays on the leftside. He may be weak at the point of attack, but he is great at lateral pursuit. He is the classic weakside LB butt on the left Jones is a covered from the run by K Carter & R Agnew. Jones is great in pass coverage, so will stay in on passing downs. On the otherside is a second year guy at DE who draft pubs said would have troubles at the POA, Grant Wistrom, so teams are going to be running at him. Many people have said that he will do excellent at the POA, but still, offenses will not want to run to Carter's side, so to support him is Todd Collins, who has strong POA skills. He is also solid in pursuit and pass coverage. However, some say he seems slow. So Collins is a bigger, stronger, slower than Phifer and hence, better at the point of attack. Unlike Phifer Collins cannot blitz. Collins was considered solid and smart (few mistakes, understood role) by Patriot fans---I asked at their website--and by publications. But his body is held together with duct tape, bailing wire and bondo. On passing downs, people have mentioned concern, because Wistrom appears to be struggling at getting a pass rush and Collins is a terrible blitzer, although he can jam TEs, keeping them out of pass routes. Leonard Little will eventually replace him---Little is an awesome blitzer and does well at covering backs. Hopefully Collins will remain healthy until then. Charlie Clemons also has been doing well in camp. So for now the LB on pass downs will probably be Clemons, who can blitz, cover and maybe jam the TE? Also, I think, rotating Wistrom with a pass-rush role player could be effective in putting more pressure on the QB. One more note on Wistrom. Part of it is that he doesn't recognise very quickly, so he is always playing pass first, while someone like O'Neal can recognize a pass-block in a flash. I looked at who got sacks in the NFL and the leaders are old guys like Reggie White and Chris Doleman! I remember watching Doleman teach Pace as a rookie a few years ago. I think part of this is because they have the athletic tools (long arms, fast quick step), but also, a large part of it is because they know the tricks and how to move past a blocker. The old guys are kind of like bull fighters while Wistrom is still kind of like a bull. JENKINS: This year's change in D has to do with the responsiblities of the primarily the strong safety. In the past the Rams did some complex things with their safeties and nickelback. I think there will be less of the safeties cheating up to the line and acting like extra LBs, and fewer NB blitzes while the safety covers his man. If you recall last year the Rams would cheat Jenkins up close to the line, especially next to M Jones. This would allow for more of a look like Buddy's 4-6 D with Jenkins acting like Bell, but Jenkins struggled being in a too attack oriented D, thereby exposing others. Last season, B Jenkins made mistakes and had trouble in coverage. Then the Rams brought in D Bush to help, but he made so many mistakes with the Falcons, they couldn't let him on the field. By moving Jenkins back a few steps into a more conservative safety position, the team will be less open to big run plays and short passes and will not have Jenkins as the leading tackler, but also will not be as swarming against the run. The D will be more of a traditional 4-3. This will allow everyone else to be more aggressive, but will hurt stuffing the run (less 4-5 or 4-6 or 8-in the box defense) and in DB blitzing. IMHO the Rams will have give up fewer long runs and TE passes by playing the SS back, but will give up more 3-4 yard runs up the middle. |
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Notes on the Rams Defense- by HIPA.KANE
(Sept. 8)