By Joe Torosian
Sunday, I like the Rams over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—37-30.
(Updated: 9/25/21–6:46 AM Pacific: Typo read: 38-31. Corrected.)
I didn’t come to this conclusion until 10:PM Friday night. All week I was leaning Brady and the Bucs…but then something clicked.
The Rams offensive line (and yes, center Brian Allen) is playing very well. Not great, but very well. The three linemen that grade out the best are left-guard Dave Edwards, right-tackle Rob Havenstein, and Allen. Put that with established veterans Andrew Whitworth and Austin Corbett and you’ve got something.
The Buccaneers’ front seven is not getting to the quarterback, and their secondary is weak. And, ultimately, I don’t think even Tom Brady can overcome that.
Where should Rams fans be concerned? DC Raheem Morris’ bend-don’t break (“Soft-Shell”) defense. They got an easy win against an average quarterback (Andy Dalton). Against a better quarterback (Carson Wentz)—with some help from the Rams special teams—the game in Indy was still in doubt late into the fourth. In Week 3, how will they do against the GOAT?
The philosophy is don’t get beat deep, keep it in front of you, no big plays. I saw this scheme employed against Brady in Super Bowl 34 and the Rams lost. I saw this—under Wade Wilson—in Super Bowl 53 when Brady “dinked & dunked” 16 of his 21 completions to Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski–and the Rams lost.
This is not Dalton or Wentz, this is Tom Brady, and the defense needs to be more aggressive. Brady’s not going to turn the ball over in a goal-to-go situation.
The good news was last year, the Rams defense pressured him, and Jordan Fuller got two picks. This year they need to pressure him, and someone needs to get a second-half pick.
As of now, Tampa’s Antonio Brown is out.
Rams safety Taylor Rapp needs to step up (I’m thinking of Gronkowski).
Rams corner Darious Williams needs to come alive.
Did you know that the Rams defense has produced four turnovers on downs and three inside-the-ten shutouts?
Offensively, if this isn’t the game DeSean Jackson gets a significant number of snaps, then something is off. They need to work him in against this Tampa secondary and stretch the field.
Shaquil Barrett and Ndamukong Suh don’t scare me. Defensive tackle Vita Vea does scare me. So do linebackers, Lavonte David and Devin White.
The Rams will have to be balanced and run the ball, and Jake Funk is going to get touches. Expect Tampa DC Todd Bowles to blitz a lot (duh) which means Funk and Sony Michel will have to pick them up to keep Matt Stafford on his feet. This is something Darrell Henderson (rib injury) does very well.
If Stafford quickly gets the ball out of his hands, I like the Rams by a touchdown, and they take “The Ivory Sully Trophy.”
Last Add Offense: Beware of an over-dependence on Cooper Kupp. Yes, Kupp is terrific…but he blew out his knee in 2018 and had a non-contact knee injury in the playoffs last season. In a 17-game season, plus playoffs, he needs to be paced.
Where have you gone Robert Woods our offense turns its lonely eyes to you…
Keep an eye on:
1.) Brian Allen (center) versus Vita Vea (defensive tackle).
2.) Darious Williams (cornerback) versus Scotty Miller (wide receiver).
3.) Jalen Ramsey has been taking the bulk of his snaps inside (slot corner), but I imagine Morris will bump him outside to counter Mike Evans (wide receiver)—who is due for a breakout game.
The Rams lead the Buccaneers head-to-head: 17-9-0 (including two NFC title wins)
This is the third consecutive year these teams have met. In 2019, Tampa exposed the Rams at the Coliseum in 55-40 disaster. That was the day Jared Goff attempted 67 passes and it became clear there were issues.
Last season the Rams went into Tampa and took it to the Bucs. Brady was never comfortable, and it likely led to former DC Brandon Staley getting the Chargers’ HC job.
Les Josephson (1964-1974)
Days & Numbers of Future Past:
Jackson #1—(From 1982-1990, Mike Lansford kicked for the Rams wearing #1.)
Funk #34—(Elvis Peacock (#1-1978), Les Josephson accumulated 3,407-yds rushing and another 1,970-yds receiving from 1964-1974. He was pretty special in 1967.)
Michel #25—(T.J. McDonald—2013-2016, Jerry Gray—1985-1991, the infamous Eddie Brown—1978-1979, Bernie Casey—1967-1968, and Norm Van Brocklin was wearing #25 when threw a 73-yd touchdown pass to Tom Fears to secure the Rams 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in the 1951 NFL title game.)
Panthers 24, Texans 9:
***The lovefest for Houston HC David Culley was non-stop. I was left with thinking, “I know he can get the job! But can he do the job?”
***Brandin Cooks is a stud, massive respect for him. This guy has bounced from four different teams, but he’s only missed nine games in eight NFL seasons, and six of those were in his rookie season (2014).
***I knew Christian McCaffrey was a bad fantasy football choice this year after I got stuck with him last year. McCaffrey had 926 touches (rushing & receiving) in his first three NFL seasons (2017-2019). That’s 308 per year for a guy who weighs 205-pounds—not sustainable.
***Former Rams/Current Panthers defensive lineman Morgan Fox is currently graded 14th out of 117 interior defensive linemen by Pro Football Focus.
Note: Former Rams/Current Seahawks tight-end Gerald Everett has scored a touchdown, caught three passes, but has only four targets. PFF grades former Rams safety John Johnson III 72nd out of 78 and slot-corner Troy Hill 75th out of 100—both are with Cleveland.
***I understand the dislike Dodgers fans have for Fox’s Joe Buck. But Buck last night did something no other sports anchor, radio personality, or prominent reporter has done. He mentioned Deshaun Watson and spoke about the two dozen sexual civil and criminal lawsuits filed against him. He also inferred the NFL’s hypocrisy of Watson never being suspended or placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list. And now Buck is taking heat for it.
Buck never used the word hypocrisy, but by mentioning the lack of action in the Watson situation, he exposed it. It’s funny because the NFL made it a point last June to tell us the NFL was gay, straight, trans, and every color of the rainbow. But their lack of action on Watson (based on the quick, simple, easy conclusions organizations & corporations jumped to these days) makes me wonder if they’re anti-women.
Week-3 Picks
(Winners in Bold)
Chargers-Chiefs—After Week 1, I thought the Bolts could win in KC. After Week 2—nope!
Cardinals-Jaguars—I don’t think it’s going to happen against the Jags, but the Cards are do for a let down. #StillDontBelieve.
Bears-Browns—Bears are playing for survival, Browns are playing for much much more. Justin Fields is going to struggle.
Washington-Bills—Close game for three quarters, Buffalo pulls away late.
Colts-Titans—Who are the Titans? Easier solution is we know who Indy is.
Buccaneers-Rams—LA takes “The Ivory Sully Trophy.”
Saints-Patriots—Saints aren’t bad, New England is just better. MacMania rolls on.
Falcons-Giants—Oooh, this game, take it away, take it away. Go with the G-Men.
Bengals-Steelers—Pittsburgh won’t let Joe Burrough breathe, and win ugly—20-10.
Ravens-Lions—After being competitive for two weeks, Detroit requires an identity check blowout.
Dolphins-Raiders—Las Vegas, answer the question? Are you for real?
Jets-Broncos—Denver’s a bit overrated, but the Jets aren’t. I see a 30-burger being delivered by the Broncos.
Seahawks-Vikings—Two teams, two lousy losses. I don’t even want to make a pick…but since I have to. I go with the team Russell Wilson plays for.
Sunday Night
Packers-49ers—I’m rooting for the Packers…but as Quint said to Hooper: “You’ve got soft hands Mr. Hooper. You’ve been counting money all your life.” Green Bay is soft. San Fran is far from pretty, but they’re tough—and tough is enough.
Monday Night
Eagles-Cowboys—Will Philly give the game to Dallas like the Chargers did a week ago? I’ve picked against the Cowboys twice, I’m picking against them here.
Joe T. is the author of “Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” … “Temple City & The Company of The Ages” … “The Dead Bug Tales” … “The Dark Norm” & “FaithViews for Storm Riders”…all five available through Amazon.com.
www.JoeTorosian.com
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
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