St. Louis Rams Game and Strategy

St. Louis Rams Game & Strategy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Offensive Key Players

10 Marc Bulger QB

60 Jason Brown C

79 John Greco G

39 Steven Jackson RB

+ Jason Brown... The Rams 6-foot-3, 320-pound Offensive Center...

Center... Most defenses use 4-3 Defense. So for the most part, the center must hit, block what is called moving targets. A moving targets is the middle linebacker. Some defenses will make their defensive tackles play in what is called shade, between the guard and center. The center must step up and block on angles. Some defenses will make their tackle [4-3 defense] play during the game right over the center, to create bull rush up the middle. So the center must have the strength to take - over his head massive defensive tackles. Jason Brown is the player that fits this roll.

Jason Brown Center a key signed/unrestricted free agent from the Baltimore Ravens. The highest-paid center in the NFL. Five-year, $37.5 million deal.

Jason Brown brings leadership to this Rams offensive line.

John Greco... The Rams 6-foot-5, 314-pound Offensive Guard...

The Guard, Bell... a have massive bulk in the middle. He will create lanes for the interior running game. He locks on a defensive player, and overwhelms the defensive lineman. He gets under a defensive lineman "pads" - that defender is finished. He drives his legs and finishes his blocks. He takes blocks to the second level. For playing a guard position you must be fast to lock on middle linebacker. During the games he must show the quickness to block a linebacker at the second level.

77 Jason Smith T Jason Smith can play both left and right tackle. The Rams want Smith to play primary the left spot. Because the QB is right-handed, the left tackle protects his blind side on passing downs and the right tackle does most of the drive run blocking. These two positions are important on the offensive line.
Smith is an excellent run blocker.

Smith has quick feet and football smart to pickup blitzes and stunts. Smith also has good speed to lead, pull off tackle.

+ Steven Jackson is a strong north and south running back. Jackson is not fancy, just strong inside runner. He hits the holes very quick. Jackson picked up lots of yards after contact. Jackson style is similar to a Rams - running back Cullen Bryant and more like Lawrence McCutcheon. He will erode a defensive line down. Jackson could be used to catch passes out of the backfield or used for screen plays left or right.
Jackson Real Strength... pounding the ball between the tackles!

Rams Game Strategy

17 Donnie Avery WR
84 Randy McMichael TE

Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur talks
with Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo.

The core of the Rams offensive strategy... Ball control offense. The Rams will still attack on offense with the pass. They use a 4 wide set of receivers. The Rams like to spread the ball around to different receivers, backs and tight ends.
When teams play deep zones, Rams receivers will run crossing patterns - speed across the field and find the soft spots in the zones. The Rams use a legion of screen passes to receivers, backs and tight ends. The tight ends will be used for setting up receivers, and for finding soft zones in cover 2 that most teams use. Also the Rams use shuffle passes.

Other Rams offensive notes listed:

Rams now use or run on offense the West Coast Offense. The Rams will be running the ball, and the QB will be doing a lot of rolling to his right and left.

The Rams may use a "unbalance line" during the game.

The Rams may "stretch the defense during the game.

If the opposing defensive uses schemes to control the line of scrimmage, by loading two-gap tackles. The Rams will run the ball either left or right away, to stretch the defensive line. This will tired, drained and wear down a defensive linemen [tackles].

If the opposing defensive uses deep coverage schemes to stop and shut
down the receivers. The Rams will their tight ends to find the soft spots in the zone and to stretch the defense.

The Rams Offense on third or fourth down and inches might bring an extra linemen or tight end in the game, the line is called a "jumbo line". The Offense have used this on the goal line, note one of the linemen becomes eligible receiver for that play.

The hurry-up offense (optional): The Rams can do this because they are athletic with speed. Defenses will tire and be confusion, then the Rams go back too that - familiar 4 wide out receivers and it's over.

Ball control offense with a running game scheme: When defenses are playing zones, the Rams use a power-running game, bring them up front. The running game will also wear out a defensive line. The Head Coach will use a ball control offense, a mixture of runs and passes.
The Rams will use a two back set; full back and a tail back.

If two running backs in the backfield are over 200... Bull Elephant.
If two running backs in the backfield are under 200... Pony.

The full back is the lead blocker for the tail back. He is like [guard in the backfield]. He must be fast and strong to pick-up the moving linebacker. Also he must be very quick to turn the corner on power sweeps. On passing downs used to pick-up blitzing defensive backs or help on pass blocking. On short yardage, he could be called to run the ball to pick-up the first down.

+++