The Los Angeles Rams were riding high heading into their Week 10 game against the Miami Dolphins, who were decidedly on a low swing. But the Dolphins’ defense found a new gear when their backs were against the call and forced six field goals and zero touchdowns.
As the old saying goes, we learn more from losing than we do from winning.
What We Learned: Los Angeles Rams vs. Miami Dolphins
The Defense Is Good But Needs To Grow Up
The Rams’ defense came out firing on cylinders. The first half was a master class in quarterback pressure and even the secondary was able to force Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to hold on to the ball for a season-long average of 2.57 seconds. In the first half of that game, the Rams had the best pass defense in the league and the third-best defense overall by EPA per play.
But that was the first half.
But the second half was a whole different story. The Dolphins offense found just enough rhythm to put the Rams ever so slightly on its heels. The secondary fell to pieces and the pass rush dried up. Only one of Jared Verse’s team-leading five pressures came in the second half. The defense dropped to the 6th worst defense by EPA per play in Week 10. They were particularly bad on crucial third downs, which of course resulted in more points on the board, but it also allowed them to bleed the clock.
This is particularly an indictment of the young defensive line, who in addition to only being effective in the first half committed two of the game’s most avoidable miscues in the form of two penalties. One was on rookie Braden Fiske, whose illegal blocking moved an intercepted pass from the Miami 14-yard line to the Miami 43-yard line. The other penalty was called on Bobby Brown III, who headbutted an offensive lineman resulting in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call. While it wasn’t as immediately consequential, as it happened on a first down in Miami territory, it shows the lack of leadership and a play style that verges on being out of control.
Rams Offensive Line Was Not Ready For Prime Time
The Rams getting center/left guard Steve Avila and center/left guard Jonah Jackson back was one of the most exciting storylines heading into this game. The team has invested so heavily in those positions in recent years, and this was supposed to be when we saw the investment payoff.
It didn’t pay off in this game.
Since both Jackson and Avila were on injured reserve they could not practice with the team, until they open their 21-day return window, which the Rams did early last week. But to jump right into a full-speed NFL football game after one week of practice, not to mention not playing together save for one half of football two and half months ago was a tall order.
Stafford was pressured 17 times, second-most behind only the Detroit Lions game.
Jackson, who played center, had a rough day. He allowed three pressures and had the team’s worst PFF run-blocking grade on the team. He also launched a snap about 2 feet over Stafford’s head on a third and seven from the Miami 23, which resulted in a 12-yard sack forcing the Rams to kick a field goal.
Avila fared better, allowing no pressure, but also struggled in run blocking. Joe Noteboom, who was filling in for the injured Rob Havenstein, allowed a team-high six pressures.
The offensive line relies on itself as a whole body, not individuals. It takes time for consistency and continuity to build. The Rams tried to rush that and it failed. Now they face a short week, flying across the country to play the New England Patriots
McVay Needs To Change
Despite the moniker of offensive play-calling genius, Sean McVay is both conservative and at times predictable. Draw plays on third and long, over-reliance on individual playmakers, and a skittishness when in the red zone were all on display; all of his worst tendencies were on display in this game.
It is the consequence of how McVay sees football and how he built this team and coaching staff. He brought Mike LaFleur in to help his rushing attack, yet only ran the ball 17 yards, despite his running back, Kyren Williams arguably being the team’s most consistent weapon.
Furthermore, it is as if he doesn’t want to put pressure on his squad to go out and make a play, despite having years of proof that Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua can do just that.