Pirate Life wrote: ↑Thu Jan 20, 2022 10:06 am
White jerseys and pewter pants again.
Rams defense is pretty bad outside of the big names. Linebackers and secondary outside of Ramsey especially. If the line and the game plan see Brady getting the ball out as quickly as last week, I like our chances. Offense did get over 400 yards through the air last time with no turnovers. Run game needs to show up - and play action to take advantage of the Linebackers and safeties. Their best remaining safety is the 37 year old guy they got to unretire.
If the Cardinals line was able to give Murray about 2.8 seconds to throw on average, I think the Bucs can at least do 2.5 with Stinnie at guard and Cappa at RT with a week of practice. Would definitely feel better with Wirfs, but it is what it is.
Agreed, it's why it will be interesting to see if the Rams Defense stays with 'who they are' in terms of playing a heavy zone scheme that have allowed opposing offenses to be very efficient in the short passing game.
That works well vs a young QB like Kyler Murray who is a young QB leading a dynamic offense that is trying to get big plays downfield, but when you're playing Tom Brady it historically hasn't fared well. Brady will paper cut your defense to death if your defense gives him those underneath windows/throws b/c you're in zone. For years Brady has used the short passing game to defeat some really outstanding zone defenses (like the great LoB Seahawks teams and again vs the Falcons in the SB where RB James White had 14 receptions on 16 targets).
How the Rams' second-level defenders (safeties and linebackers, excluding Jalen Ramsey) handle their coverage responsibilities flags as a potential source of concern, especially in the context of their defensive in-game adjustments ranking in the bottom third of the league, per Computer Vision. On short passes to the middle, the Rams have allowed the highest completion percentage (80.2) in the NFL and rank 28th in average gain allowed (7.9 yards). On short passes to the left, right and middle, the Rams have allowed at least a 68.2 completion percentage.
If I'm Raheem Morris/Rams DC and I want to leverage my 4 man pass rush vs a banged up Bucs Oline I would switch my scheme to alot more m2m that they've played this season, which would force Brady to hold the ball longer. Doing so opens your defense up to more potential big plays, but that's the trade off for greatly increasing your chance to pressure/hit/sack Brady which create big plays in your favor. It's also the only proven what to mitigate Brady's effectiveness b/c if he's comfortable and has a beat on what you're doing he'll get the ball out in under 2.5 seconds all day long.
I have all the respect in the world for that Rams defensive front with guys like Donald, Floyd, and Von Miller. But there is little evidence from the past 20yrs that you can play zone defense vs Brady for 4 quarters and prevent him from putting 30pts on you, especially when he's playing at home and able to communicate at the LoS pre-snap. He just knows too much and has seen too much.
I think you have to look at what the Saints do, which is play a ton of m2m (Brady is no threat to run) and let your front 4 hunt.
Have Ramsey follow Evans nearly every play and double Gronk. Make the Perriman, Brate, Johnson, Howard, etc type players beat you.