Kavorka!
By Joe Torosian —
“There are rules here? No, there are no rules here. ”—Terence Mann
Kick it!
For the first time, Kyler Murray was terrific against the Rams…but he had a lot of help from the defense…The Rams defense.
Before getting to that, think about this. The Cardinals came into SoFi—so much for home-field advantage—and routed the Rams 37-13. Yeah, I know it was 37-20…but all the touchdown pass to Robert Woods did at the end was help my fantasy team.
If told, your team’s offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. If told your quarterback wasn’t sacked and hardly touched…would you believe your team would got blown out at home?
Los Angeles HC Sean McVay is brilliant, but sometimes he suffers from being the smartest guy in the room. Arizona couldn’t stop the run, but the Rams stopped running the ball.
The Cardinals’ defense recovered a fumble and caught an arm-punt. But there were no sacks, no tackles for losses, and only three hits on the quarterback. Stafford was hit only three times on 41-attempts.
McVay abandoned the run too soon. Stafford was off target, and Cooper Kupp had some bad drops. Also, any offense can have a bad day, but this offense and Stafford cannot be so Kupp-centric. Robert Woods, Tyler Higbee, Darrell Henderson, and Van Jefferson were each targeted six times. Kupp was targeted 13-times. Kupp’s great, I love Kupp, but that’s ridiculous and unimaginative and even easier to scout and defend.
What happened defensively was what I expected against Carson Wentz and the Colts. It didn’t, the Rams won, and amen. I expected it against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. It didn’t, the Rams won, and amen. But the bill came due against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Your offensive line dominates, your running game’s fantastic, and your quarterback is hardly touched…and you get blown out at home. Preposterous.
This game’s on the defense and DC Raheem Morris’ scheme. And it better get better fast. On Thursday, the Rams play Russell Wilson, who is Kyler Murray on steroids. So they don’t have to wait half a season for redemption when they go to Phoenix. They’ve got an opportunity to figure this out in the next 72-hours.
Besides the failure to wrap up, finish plays, and limit yards after initial contact—they didn’t stay in their rushing lanes or maintain the edge and contain Murray. Rams defenses have contained Murray since he came into the league, but not yesterday.
The defense—broken record—is too passive. Bend don’t break, soft-shell–whatever you want to label it–it reacts it doesn’t dictate. There hasn’t been a moment this season besides the pass rush where the defense has forced the issue. I have no confidence or expectancy a month into the season that they’re going to make a big play.
This season the Rams have three interceptions. One was a tipped Andy Dalton pass that David Long Jr. snagged in the end zone. The following two came in Indianapolis, where Jalen Ramsey made a great play, but the other was a gift from Wentz to Troy Reeder at the goal line.
No picks since Week 2, and two of the three were hardly the result of aggressive play. A year ago, four weeks in, the Rams had four (Darious Williams 2, Troy Hill 1, John Johnson 1).
The Rams have two of the best cover corners in the league in Ramsey and Williams, and Long is as competent as Hill was. But entire games are being played, and we don’t even know Williams is on the field.
The defensive philosophy is nothing over the top, and A.J. Green blew that up. Green scored the touchdown—with Long in coverage—by getting inside. But it sure seemed like Long should have inside help from the safety. (I’m open to correction.)
Also, zero adjustments. Zero.
You need some good news? Sunday was wake-up alarm for the Rams, or they hit snooze. If they hit snooze, then Thursday, the Seahawks will burst in banging frying pans and trashcan lids, declaring the defense doesn’t work. They could fall to 3-2.
Too much talent to fail, it’s not the end of the world, but that defense is not being schemed to win a Super Bowl.
In the: “It was a bad call, Ripley. It was a bad call.”
You’re running the ball day. The Cardinals can’t stop the run. In Friday’s “From The RamCave,” we said that they were soft up the gut…but late in the game with a flicker of hope still burning…McVay has Stafford run a sneak on fourth and goal at the one. Bad call…It was a bad call, McVay.
The Cardinals win “The Ollie Matson Trophy.”
***
Around The NFL:
Jimmy Garoppolo getting hurt is like clockwork. And because it’s a calf, and those things are tricky, it’s going to get real interesting in Santa Clara.
The 49ers in the next five weeks get the Cardinals (twice), the Rams, Colts, and Bears. If Trey Lance can win three of those five and play respectably—I don’t know how Jimmy G. comes back into the lineup.
The injury demonstrates the brilliance of San Francisco’s front office in making a move up to get Lance. Now they’re going to find out real quick if the guy they took after making that move is the right one.
I don’t want to beat anybody while they’re down, but I told you Baltimore would take Denver. The Broncos hadn’t been in a real fight. And the Ravens have been facing the broken end of a bottle since the start of the season.
Washington HC Ron Rivera needs to have a chat with his DC Jack Del Rio. The defense, the calling card of the team formerly known as the Redskins, is getting worse by the week.
I think Kansas City should employ a 2-3 Zone against Buffalo when they come to Arrowhead in Week 5. This game feels like a blowout and the first day in rehab. “Hi, my name is Andy Reid, and my team can’t play defense.”
I didn’t like the New England Patriots attempting a field goal on fourth and three last night in the rain. A lot of people are saying it’s because Pats HC Bill Belichick doesn’t trust Mac Jones. They also site the fact that few of Jones’ throws go downfield, and they have to keep the game safe for him.
Belichick did that with Tom Brady too. Yes, he would have gone for it on fourth and three with Brady, but they were seldom bold in Brady’s final years. As Belichick has aged, he’s become more and more conservative. Look at it with clear eyes, and you’ll see it’s more about coaching philosophy than a reflection on Jones.
Tampa Bay won the game, but I like the Patriots to be better moving forward. Still a believer in MacMania.
Regarding the Chicago Bears and Justin Fields beating the Detroit Lions–good for them. But heed the words of The Wolf and remember it was only the Lions, and Fields completed just 11-of-17 and threw a pick.
Was it enough to keep Andy Dalton on the bench? Yes, the Bears aren’t going anywhere, and Fields needs the experience.
I honestly thought I’d hear more about the Cardinals today, but instead, it’s all about the Dallas Cowboys and how they’re Super Bowl bound. That’s okay with me. When they fall in January, it will be that much sweeter.
***
College Football
Stanford 31, Oregon 24 OT—I don’t know how you lose to UCLA but beat Oregon. And I don’t know how you win in Columbus but lose in Palo Alto.
Cincinnati 24, Notre Dame 13—When a college quarterback starts 39 times, there’s going to be a benefit. Desmond Ridder might be a backup in the NFL, but he’s a star in the NCAA.
Georgia 37, Arkansas 0—If this had been a boxing match the TKO would have been announced at halftime.
Alabama 42, Ole Miss 21—The Tide is vulnerable, but they are still the Tide. Loved Lane Kiffin’s aggressiveness, but he’s short on tools.
TOP Four College Playoff Teams
(Strictly Based on Games I’ve seen)
1—Alabama (5-0): Bryce Young is good but we’re not going to know he’s great until he faces Georgia.
2—Georgia (5-0): Need a QB. Stetson Robinson is okay, and I’m just asking, is Bulldog J.T. Daniels different than Trojan J.T. Daniels?
3—Penn State (5-0): Iowa will be a monster this week.
4—Cincinnati (4-0): What do the Bearcats do for an encore? Ridder should keep them from having a let down.
(Outside Looking In)
5—Ohio State (4-1): Still not comfortable with this team.
6—Oklahoma (5-0): Texas beats them this Saturday.
7—Oregon (4-1): Terrible loss, and they’ll need more than wins but blowouts to get back into the national conversation.
8—Notre Dame (4-1): Why is Brian Kelly farting around with Tyler Buchner and Jack Coan? Start Drew Pyne.
9—Auburn (4-1): Maligned, battered, but the Tigers have won four of five. Bo Nix is the guy…don’t mess with Bo Nix. Play Georgia this week.
10—Arkansas (4-1): Not great. Exposed. Good, not great. Will struggle against Ole Miss.
11—Oregon State (4-1): How did this team lose to Purdue?
12—Florida (3-2): How do you scare Alabama, and then lose to Kentucky?
13—Ole Miss (3-1): This team is good and should take the Razorbacks at home.
14—Texas (4-1): This is the Longhorns shot at relevance. Sooners have more talent, but are very sloppy.
15—Stanford (3-2): Who are these guys? Well, we know Tanner McKee is an NFL quarterback. Everyone else?
16—UCLA (3-2): When all the laughter turned to sorrow.
17—Texas A&M (3-2): Nope.
18—Nebraska (3-3): If these shadows remain unchanged I see no future.
19—LSU (3-2): Another coaching change coming to LSU?
20—USC (3-1): Did SC move Raheem Morris’ application to a pile off the main desk?
21—West Virginia (2-3): This is a good team, should be playing better.
22—Minnesota (3-2): Hanging by a thread and still fighting.
23—Purdue (3-2): Kind of like West Virginia, should be better, but playing poorly.
24—Wisconsin (1-3): They need to jump around a little bit more in search of explosiveness.
25—Washington State (2-3): The going to look great in the first quarter against Oregon State…The Beavers are going to wake up.
The Dude abides…
1,194
2 Corinthians 10:5
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
Follow Joe on Twitter @joet13b
Instagram: @joet13b
Be sure to read:
College Hoops Breakdown—by Riley Saxon
The Urena Express—by Steven Urena (MLB)
From The RamCave—by Joe T. (Every Friday)
