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Passing Game Analysis-
1999 Season

by BamaRamFan (1/7)

The following stats are from USA Today web site.  I compared the stats of the teams in the playoffs for passing defense. I know that some have expressed a concern of the Rams pass defense. I decided to use the team passing rating approach, since that is the best way I can find to integrate all the components of the passing game. If it is good enough for indiviual passers, it should be good enough for team passing.

Ranking the passing offense of the playoff teams.

1. Rams____106.6
2. Skins ___89.5
3. Vikes ___89.3
4. Colts ___88.5
5. Lions ___83.9
6. Titans __83.1
7. Jags ___82.3
8. Boys ___80.0
9. C-Hawks _79.8
10. Bills __78.1
11. Bucs __76.5
12. Fins __74.5

Reviewing these shows a few things, the Rams are far above everyone else (Duh) and now you can see why the Bills benched Flutie. Since Flutie is 15/16's of his team's stats here, the Bills want to be able to match the Titans passing game.

Ranking the passing defense of the playoff teams.

1. Bucs ___60.1
2. Rams ___64.1
2. C-Hawks 64.1
4. Bills __68.2
5. Boys __68.4
6. Jags __71.0
6. Fins __71.0
8. Skins __72.5
9. Titans _82.3
10. Colts _83.9
11. Lions _84.5
12. Vikes _85.4

In this case the Rams are #2 overall, pretty darn good. However, the Bucs did play 4 games against the Vikes and the Lions. The Rams only played 2 games against the Lions and the Titans. So were the Rams benefitting from the weaker teams? Well, maybe.

Other teams offensive passing ratings on the Rams schedule.

Panthers 94.3
Falcons 76.7
Bears 76.6
Niners 76.7
Giants 73.9
Browns 73.5
Cinci 71.6
Eagles 61.4
Saints 59.6

Not overly impressive once you get past the Panthers, who were #2 overall after the Rams. Is this offset by games against the Eagles and Saints? (Remember Dallas LOST to both of them) But if you look at the other team's opponents, I'll bet you have several lower rated teams also.

Now for the Bama favorite, the difference between each team's offense and defense. (positive is better)

1. Rams __42.5
2. Bucs __16.4
3. C-Hawks 15.7
4. Skins __15.0
5. Jags __12.3
6. Boys __11.6
7. Bills __10.1
8. Colts ___4.4
9. Vikes ___3.9
10. Titans _0.8
11. Fins ___0.5
12. Lions _(0.6)

The Rams have an overwhelminmg lead in the differential. 2 and � times better than the next best team!!!! Maybe now you understand why the ex-jock media likes them so much.

Ah-Ha, you might say. What about the Running Game???

Running Game Analysis

Once again, the stats are from the USA Today site.

I decided to use the total yards from scrimmage, since there is no comparable efficiency number for the running game. I have only included the teams in the playoffs.

The top gaining teams.

1. Jags __2091
2. Rams __2059
3. Boys __2051
4. Bills _2040
5. Skins _1973
6. Titans 1811
7. Vikes _1804
8. Bucs _1776
9. Colts _1660
10. Fins _1453
11. C-Hawks 1408
12. Lions 1245

Once again, the Rams look preety good at #2.

Now the rush defense rankings.

1. Rams __1189
2. Bills ___1370
3. Bucs __1407
4. Boys __1442
5. Jags __1444
6. Fins ___1476
7. Lions__1531
8. Titans__1550
9. Vikes __1617
10.Colts __1715
11.C-Hawks1934
12.Skins __2039

As you know, the Rams lead here, but now you can see by how much. Quite a bit, once you get past the #6 spot.

Once again, the Bama favorite, difference rankings.

1. Rams __870
2. Bills ___670
3. Jags __647
4. Boys __609
5. Bucs __369
6. Titans__261
7. Vikes __187
8. Fins ___(23)
9. Colts __(55)
10.Skins _(66)
11.Lions _(286)
12.C-Hawks(526)

Quite an impressive showing by the Rams. To see that 5 of the playoff teams have negative yards is really eye opening. And the fact that the Rams lead the reknowned "tough running D and tough running O" of teams like Tampa and Dallas is really interesting. Also, what the heck is Seattle doing in the playoffs?

So where does that leave us?

1. In a tough, grind-em out, low scoring, run oriented game, the Rams look to be in good shape. They can gain and defend with the best of them.

2. In a high scoring, pass-happy, move up and down the field game, the Rams can also keep up with any team. In fact, they look to be even better at that time of game the other!!!

Maybe now you understand why the ex-jock media likes them so much. And the odds makers, and the no nothing reporters like Pompei and others. No matter how you slice it, the Rams look to be able to stay with any style of game that can be played. Factor in home field, the dome for the Super Bowl, and WOW!

Not to say that the Rams WILL win it all. Injuries and turnovers can derail any team. But it is clearly theirs to win or lose.

And we all think there is room for improvement!!! Where? The #2 pass defense and #1 run defense!! The #1 pass offense by far, and the #2 run offense!! Well, I guess they COULD be #1 in all the areas on both side of the ball. But special teams have been solid and sometimes spectacular (although not so lately). But still, what a team.

GO RAMS!!!!!!