 "On the Passing Defense"- by
ZackNeruda (1/1) |
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The Rams defense does real
well against the rush, on scores allowed, and on sacks. It is LOUSY on yards per completion. It is obvious they can't defend the pass and prevent TDs at the same time...so they elect to prevent TDs. That's good ... except for one thing. It IS possible to do both. Given that, given that some defenses do both, I can only say that there is a problem...and it has gotten worse since Lyle went out. The fact that the problem has not caused major damage DOES NOT MEAN the problem does not exist. There IS a problem. I am glad the Rams minimize it but there IS a problem. What I am NOT saying. I am NOT saying the Rams D is "bad." It obviously ISNT. I am not comparing the Rams to quote unquote "elite secondaries." That was someone else's issue and they foisted it off on me. It was never my issue. Rather, I am comparing ENTIRE DEFENSES cause they work together. So here goes. * On rushing defense: Rams are first; Balt 2nd; Buff 4th; JAX 5th; TB 6th * On scoring defense: Rams are first; Jax 2nd; Buff 3rd; TB 4th; Balt 5th * On TOTAL defense (yards): Buff 1st; TB 2nd; Balt 3rd; Jax 5th; Rams 12th * On Sacks: Rams & Jax tied for 1st; Balt 4th; TB 9th; (Buff not in top 12) OKAY HERE'S WHERE IT GETS SCREWY * On Passing First Downs allowed: Buff 4th; TB 5th; Balt 11th; Jax 12th; RAMS 28th * On Completion percentage: Buff 3rd; TB 4th; RAMS 6th; Balt 7th; Jax 12th * On Passing yards allowed: Buff 1st; TB 3rd; Jax 9th; Balt 10th; RAMS 25th (down from 18th before Lyle went out) *On Avg. yards per completion: Balt 1st; TB 3rd; Buff 4th; Jax 6th; RAMS 17th So. I included other teams if and only if they were top 10 or even top 12 in all categories. With one or two rare exceptions, Buff, TB, Balt, & Jax appear among or near the top IN EVERY SINGLE DEFENSIVE CATEGORY ABOVE. The Rams, meanwhile, are 28th in passing first downs allowed, 25th in passing yards allowed, & 17th in yards per completion. Other defenses can defend those three things (passing first downs allowed, passing yards allowed, and yards per completion)and ALSO rank high in scoring defense, total defense, & rushing defense. The Rams can't do ALL those things. In case someone gets the idea that that is because of the number of times teams throw on the Rams...wrong! Remember, first, that the Rams are 6th in passing completion percentage allowed...and more than that, BALTIMORE has more passes thrown on them than the Rams. Those things don't add up. Until you think about yards per completion. The Rams are BAD there---17th in the league. I will welcome any theories but mine is that the Rams are masking or covering up for problems at safety (AT LEAST at safety) and so have no choice but to trade yards for points. But a BIG reminder...the above analysis shows that if you are an elite defense YOU DONT HAVE TO TRADE YARDS FOR POINTS. At least 4 defenses can defense points AND yards per completion AND rushing yards. The Rams can't. They can't do both. So they don't try. |
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