Each weekday, theRams.com will be taking a look around the internet for the top Rams headlines of the day. Here's a look at what's out there for Thursday October 11th about your Los Angeles Rams.
HOW TO STOP THE RAMS?
The Rams offense is yet to be slowed down in 2018, and ESPN's Jeff Legwold set out to discover how it can be done.
In his Thursday article, Legwold consulted defensive coaches around the NFL and came up with these five keys to halting L.A.'s high powered offense:
"It starts and ends with Gurley'' Over and over again, that was the sentiment: Todd Gurley II makes it all go. The Rams' zone-run scheme has its roots in the Mike Shanahan playbook that help put Terrell Davis is the Pro Football Hall of Fame and two Lombardi trophies in the lobby of the Broncos' complex.
Three choices Early success with Gurley also kicks the Rams' play-action game into gear. And most of the play-action plays give quarterback Jared Goff three options in the passing lanes: a deep crossing route, an intermediate crossing route of some sort and a checkdown, often away from where Gurley is moving.
Show 'vanilla' for as long as possible And McVay, by the formations and motion that the Rams use, is consistently able to get defenses to show Goff what they're playing before the snap. The teams that have had some success, hold the basic, "vanilla" look as long as possible, even as the Rams move the pieces.
Attack vertically The Rams' run game and many of the route combinations off their play-action game are designed with the hope of a defense moving horizontally. To combat that, the front seven has to attack up the field to disrupt the play's beginnings.
Get the double hitch A defense has to force Goff to take the "double hitch," in which he pulls the ball down to work through progressions. Athletically, Goff isn't nearly as good if forced off his spot or out of the rhythm; think of the kind of damage Patrick Mahomes did on the move against the Broncos when they chased him out of the pocket.
To view the full article, click here.
JOSH REYNOLDS
NFL.com's Adam Rank picked 10 "sleepers" that could come up big in Week 6 for fantasy football GMs. Rank says that if WRs Cooper Kupp or Brandin Cooks are unable to play against the Broncos, Reynolds could see a lot of action.
"I'm going with Reynolds if either Cooper Kupp (concussion) or Brandin Cooks (concussion) is unable to go. I'm not saying the Rams are so good that you can just add any player and expect similar production (looking at you New England). But, Reynolds will see enough volume if neither Cooks or Kupp are active. When you consider the Rams go three-wide 97 percent of the time -- guaranteeing a full-time role for Reynolds -- I'd feel comfortable starting him as a low-end WR3. At press-time, both Cooks and Kupp are expected to be available, but I just want you to be prepared."
Reynolds caught 11 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in 2017.
To view the entire article, click here.
'START 'EM, SIT 'EM'
NFL.com's Michael Fabiano also offered some fantasy football advice heading into Week 6. In his weekly 'Start 'Em, Sit 'Em' feature, Fabiano suggests starting Rams WR Robert Woods and K Cairo Santos, and sitting the Broncos defense.
Robert Woods vs. Denver Broncos
The Rams lost Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp to concussions last week, leaving Woods to see more of the target share in Seattle. Even if both players are cleared to return, I still like the USC product to be a big part of the offense against a Broncos defense that allowed 547 yards and four scores to opposing receivers split out wide.
Cairo Santos vs. Denver Broncos
Listed as a start 'em last week, Santos produced a solid nine fantasy points in a win over the Seahawks. As long as Greg Zuerlein is out, he's a terrific streamer in fantasy leagues. Santos has a nice matchup against the Broncos, who have surrendered nine field-goal conversions and nine fantasy points a game to kickers.
Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams
Denver's defense put up a huge stinker against the Jets a week ago, and an upcoming home matchup versus the Rams is anything but favorable. Defenses have surrendered an average of 34.6 points and almost 470 yards of total offense per game to Jared Goff and crew, and teams have averaged one fantasy point against them.
For Fabiano's full 'Start 'Em, Sit 'Em' for Week 6, click here.
