St. Louis Rams Find a Way to be Beat by the Seattle Seahawks

by John Morgan on Sep 17, 2009 3:50 PM PDT Comment 18 comments

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Don't let the doubters tell you the Rams found a way to lose by putting too many men on the field. Without that twelfth man, the Rams don't block the field goal attempt. Olindo Mare has converted 73% of kicks from 40-49 in his career. If he scores the field goal, the Seahawks have a 91% of winning.

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There is an old saying that good teams find a way to win and bad teams find a way to lose. Well, duh. St. Louis found a way to lose by committing a penalty that turned a blocked field goal for a touchdown into a first down for Seattle. Well, no.

The play seemed like turning point, but it wasn't. A 49 yard attempt isn't a gimme, but Olindo Mare has converted 73.4% of his kicks from 40-49 yards for his career. Had St. Louis not blocked the kick, Seattle would have most likely ended the half ahead 10-0. Had St. Louis not had 12 men on the field, they would not likely have blocked the kick. So the choice isn't 7-7 or 14-0, but 14-0 or 10-0 or 7-0. Seattle was up 14-0 entering halftime. They had a 95% chance of winning. The New York Jets were up 10-0 entering halftime. They had a 91% of winning.

The Rams didn't find a way to lose. They were beat.

Matt Hasselbeck overthrew three passes before the penalty. Three passes skyed in six attempts. All three were deep passes. The first targeted T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It was out of his reach, but Housh isn't a burner. He hadn't separated. If he had a little more speed, he would have burned Ron Bartell and reached the pass.
The second was on Hasselbeck. John Carlson was wide open after running a beautiful route, but Hasselbeck overthrew and Carlson couldn't catch up or even dive for it.
The final was reasonably accurate, but a bit high. Hasselbeck overthrew it because Nate Burleson couldn't separate. Burleson was supposed to high-point the ball. He almost did, but he jumped a fraction too early and that meant Burly was grasping for the ball just as Bartell was reaching to break it up. Seattle is committed to the deep pass, but Hasselbeck is not a great deep passer and only Deon Butler is a great deep threat. Butler is a speed threat, and that plays against Hasselbeck's arm strength. For now, the Seahawks are forcing safeties back by chucking it deep, but that won't last unless they start turning attempts into deep completions.
Justin Griffith blew a block and Julius Jones put a move on O.J. Atogwe to power through for the first. Jones has good speed and a bevy of supports skills, but he doesn't break or evade tackles very often.
Robs Sims has been Seattle's best offensive linemen. He has been very steady in pass coverage, as always, and has been impressive as a run blocker. He is moving to where he needs to be and getting good shots on defenders in the open field. This is a very positive development and bodes well for the Seahawks offense.
Sean Locklear has been Seattle's best cut blocker. A tackle must hit the deck from the time to time in Knapp's offense. A good cut block can stop multiple defenders and neutralize backside pursuit. Stretch plays are simple, but sometimes slow and the more time a running back has to find his hole and bolt, the more effective they are. So, what does Seattle do when Walter Jones returns? Does he cut block? Can he cut block?

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I was impressed with Sims and Unger on Sunday

Sims to me is a better run blocker than pass blocker. Just stay healthy please.

Julius Jones is sorta like MoMo some times. You know he has little ability to break tackles and burst open down the sidelines but he gets the job done.

BTW I had no idea how much of a cult figure Fearless Frog has become at Niners Nation.

"[Aaron] Curry is not a good pass-rusher" - Fearless Frog, 4/25/2009

by SSreporters on Sep 17, 2009 3:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He gives this forum flava

by jacobstevens on Sep 17, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also noticed Sims having a good game.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Sep 17, 2009 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

...Although, not so much about the NN thing.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Sep 17, 2009 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Willis cut block?

“A tackle must hit the deck from the time to time in Knapp’s offense. Stretch plays are simple, but sometimes slow and the more time a running back has to find his hole and bolt, the more effective they are.”

Are you sure he’s not just making use of Locklear’s ability to do so? I’m not sure I see why said purpose can’t be achieved from the RT position. The running plays would be varied slightly but isn’t that inherently true with Walter on the line?

I’m curious to see whether Unger is the starting Center with Walt back in the line-up. From a talent stand point it makes the most sense. But what would that mean for Spencer’s return. Personally, I say put the best football players on the field each week and if they start to gel then Spencer’s gotta wait his turn. There are always injuries somewhere down the line.

by Hawkhammer19 on Sep 17, 2009 4:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Carlson or Owens usually cut block when Seattle stretches left

Both tackles should be able to cut block, though. Locklear doesn’t innately have the ability, he learned it because it is essential in this offense. When a player can’t do something that is essential for the offense to work, he is no longer the best talent.

by John Morgan on Sep 17, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the TEs

And how have they performed on cutting?

by jacobstevens on Sep 17, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could Walter play RG?

Or is that total blasphemy?

by Hawkhammer19 on Sep 17, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or RT?

by Hawkhammer19 on Sep 17, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It won't happen.

I hate to say this about Jones, but I think he ends up being a bit of a burden this year and Seattle is just going to have accommodate him.

by John Morgan on Sep 17, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would expect more two tight end sets, and for Jones to be played to his strengths, but I also think it will be limiting.

by John Morgan on Sep 17, 2009 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps have Carlson line-up on the left more often?

I feel like this detail could increase our desire to draft an athletic tackle early in the draft. I just think Bryan Bulaga looks so freakin good (although he didn’t play last week). I also feel like Bulaga could play guard if asked to do so.

I was interested to hear you say you’re thinking we find a speed back this coming off-season. I’m remembering your dislike of Jahvid Best with a puzzled expression on my face. Who would be our goal line back if we don’t bring back Edge? Forsett? I saw Knapp run one play to Julius inside the 5 but it got stuffed pretty easily. I’m kinda thinking Charles Scott would be a perfect fit in our system as a power back and has our annual second-round-trade-up written all over him.

by Hawkhammer19 on Sep 17, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty sure

because Locklear hadn’t pulled it off well during preseason games. It’s a key element for the stretch. If you stretch left, then yes, your RT cuts. Willis showed as ineffective as Locklear during the preseason; I didn’t watch closely enough to see if he did it or how well he did, last week. But I don’t think he straight up lacks the ability to.

I expect Vallos to start until Spencer returns. He’s marginally more prepared as a Center and has been quite effective. I expect Unger to ultimately ride the bench, pending any further injuries. He seems ready enough but we’re blessed to not need to count on him just yet.

by jacobstevens on Sep 17, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's definitely the safer approach.

It just seems to be a shame leaving Unger on the bench in favor of Steve Vallos.

by Hawkhammer19 on Sep 17, 2009 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It won't be long, though.

Before he’ll be on the bench in favor of Spencer & Locklear/Jones. And Willis.

I mean, how great is that. The guy would probably be serviceable at three interior positions, more than serviceable at at least one, and we don’t even need him because we’ve got a better option each time. And we’ll have him for a few years.

by jacobstevens on Sep 18, 2009 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs