Turf Show Times
In a heart-breaking overtime loss, the Los Angeles Rams fell to the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers 26-23 on the Thursday Night Football national stage. L.A.’s was driving for the win and in the red zone when the ’Niners defense stoned a 4th and 1 run by Kyren Williams at the 11 yard line.
While the pass defense was objectively poor, it was also an up-and-down evening for the Rams offense. They had no problems moving the football and three of four scoring drives ended with touchdowns, but watching, I couldn’t help thinking of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde’, the central theme of which is where change (particularly negative) becomes involuntary. The Rams offense has been showing signs again, not of being stopped by others, but rather, held back by some internal struggle. In simpler terms, shooting themselves in the foot.
Let’s examine the Rams offensive drives.
Mr. Hyde: Alaric Jackson
L.A.’s first possession starts with a first down. Hyde’s rears his head on the next series of plays, on 2nd and 10 from their own 44, Alaric Jackson appears to be confused about the snap count. He’s looking towards the center, Coleman Shelton, but doesn’t receive. He’s still peering over when the ball is snapped and the San Francisco defensive end runs right by him, virtually untouched for the sack. Boom, 3rd and 20. As is his wont, McVay decides against trying to convert and instead chooses to run the ball.
Would they have scored without the unforced error? Who can say, but they were already nearing midfield.
Mr. Hyde: Blake Corum
After a pair of short completions, the Rams run the ball five straight plays, pounding the middle for 26 yards down to the 49ers 24 yard line. They go for a sixth on a quick pitch to Blake Corum, but he takes his eyes off the ball and it doinks of his face mask. S.F. collects the loose ball.
Knocking on the door of the red zone, points were quite likely left off the board.
Dr. Jekyll: Mathew Stafford
Trailing 14-0, McVay puts this drive on Stafford’s back and he delivers. After the Rams and 49ers trade five yard penalties, L.A. eschews the ground game and Staff goes six for eight through the air, driving the offense 85 yards to a touchdown. He targeted five different receivers, including a cameo by rookie TE Terrance Feguson. The rookie made a nice 21 yard contested catch to convert a 3rd down. On the touchdown pass, the ’Niners blitzed, L.A, held them off, and Stafford found a wide-open Kyren Williams.
Mr. Hyde: Jordan Whittington and Kyren Williams
To open the second half, L.A. quickly moved into 49er territory on a pair of pass completions. The drive stalled at the S.F. 35 on back-to-back dropped passes. On 2nd and 6, Jordan Whittington clanked one in the left flat and on the very next play, Kyren Williams...
