Coming off a definitive win in their first game back in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Rams will have an entirely different kind of offense coming at them with Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week three. Though momentum is on their side, head coach Jeff Fisher will need to smooth over several areas with his team to see them get above .500.
Los Angeles Rams Week Three Keys to Victory
Blocking the Second Level
The offense in Week two was once again underwhelming, though much improved from the previous week. Case Keenum capitalized on some great reads, and the passing game finally started to show some progress. However, Todd Gurley was still held to far too few yards for a back of his caliber.
The main reason that Gurley has been severely limited is because the blocking in front of him, both at the line and outside from his receivers, has been very sloppy. Every defense is going to stack the box when they see number 30 in the backfield. The Rams offensive line will need to step up to open up lanes for the All-Pro running back. Week two saw a major improvement with standouts like center Tim Barnes exploding off the ball and clearing out defenders. Rookie tight end Tyler Higbee completed vital trap blocks all game long.
Where the Rams looked thin was at the second level. In order for Gurley to rush for more than three yards per carry, they need to engage linebackers to allow him to penetrate into the deeper levels of the defense. This will allow Gurley to use his speed and evasiveness to move the ball down the field quickly and efficiently. Accomplishing this will be difficult especially with a nationally-recognized threat like Gurley. But as long as defenders like Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner and San Francisco 49ers NaVorro Bowman beat linemen to the line of scrimmage, the Rams will have little to no run game and thus struggle to set up any kind of effective offense.
Consistent Coverage
The Rams did an excellent job defending the pass against Seattle, pressuring Russell Wilson and keeping threats like Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse all but neutralized. Trumaine Johnson played his normal stingy style, and young players like Lamarcus Joyner, who excelled despite playing with a broken toe, and rookie Troy Hill stepped up in a major way to accomplish this feat (a feat that must continue against the Buccaneers).
With top receivers like Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson running routes, the Rams will need tight coverage through four muggy quarters of Florida football. Jameis Winston has been very inconsistent in his first two games the 2016 season, and when his receivers are having trouble gaining position, he tends to make more mistakes. If the Rams exploit this weakness and stay in step with the pass threats, they can force the second-year quarterback to make desperate throws that can be promptly converted into turnovers. In addition, cornerback E.J. Gaines was practicing early this week, so they may have another weapon, or at the very least some relief, to combat Winston’s arm and his receivers’ speed on Sunday.
With star running back Doug Martin inactive, Charles Sims will get the call against the unforgiving Los Angeles defensive line, forcing the Bucs to rely heavily on their passing game. If the Rams secondary can shut that down, it could be another long Sunday against an NFC West team for Tampa Bay.
Finishing Drives
The Rams showed some new life on the offensive side of the ball last week, but they still failed to score a touchdown. As the only team in the league to not yet reach the end zone this season, they have a major chip on their shoulder that they can use to coerce a defense that just gave up 416 yards and 40 points last week. To do this, Los Angeles must finish drives. Offensive coordinator Rob Boras must put some more work into their game plan and build upon the team’s accomplishments from last week.
A big part of this will be getting Keenum to show a little more confidence and poise in the red zone. Keenum missed key throws last Sunday that had Los Angeles settling for field goals. Receiver Kenny Britt has played at an exceptional level so far this year, and he could be joined by the rookie preseason sensation Nelson Spruce and fourth-round pick Pharoh Cooper, both of whom returned to practice this week. Hopefully, with the increase in quality targets, Keenum will have more confidence in his precision throws and lead the team to its first touchdown(s) of 2016.
Conclusion
The Rams bounced back in a big way last week, but they still have a lot of work to do to compete in their talented division. They will need to repeat their defensive showcase against a dangerous Tampa Bay passing system, enable Todd Gurley to gain yards on the ground and take their long drives all the way into the end zone. If they can build on the strong home stand and take it on the road for the next two weeks, they can put themselves firmly into the race for the NFC West.
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