When a runningback runs for 255 yards you never know if it’s thanks to him, his offensive line or the demerit of the defense that gives him the monstrous performance. In the case of Saquon Barkleywho on Sunday night of the twelfth day set the record for rushing yards in a game in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles is a concentration of all three factors.
If you have a dominant offensive line like Philadelphia’s, you encounter a defense that until now this season had never had to deal with a mismatch of this magnitude and that in one way or another had always managed to put a makes up for their shortcomings, and there is a phenomenon like Saquon Barkley carrying the ball, the historic performance is only at the mercy of chance. In the sense that only a fortuitous event can prevent it from occurring.
The Los Angeles Rams got off to a great start in attack, as they hadn’t done since last season, having collected a series of horror-gallery first quarters and first halves in general, and also in defense Chris Shula’s choice to return to a more classic 4-3 front
Defensive front that includes four linemen (two defensive tackles and two defensive ends) and three linebackers.
At first the strategy seemed to work. A field goal
Place kick taken by the attacking team, if the ball passes between the posts it is worth 3 points. If the kick is not converted, the ball passes to the opponents from the spot of the kick (NFL) or from the point from which the action started (NCAA). A short field goal may be recovered and advanced by the defending team.
Then, as if a switch had been turned on, suddenly the attack in the green and white jersey settled down, and night fell for the Rams, also thanks to an Eagles defense that rose in level and began to make itself felt especially on the line, bringing pressure on Stafford and winning many one-on-one duels, especially with right tackle Warren McClendon, often imitated by his left tackle Alaric Jackson, who suffered the aggression of Graham and Williams. When things went well Stafford took the hit and was forced to quickly unload into thin air or throw very dangerous balls into the middle of the opposing defence. When it was bad, the Sack came
When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
But the Eagles weren’t just Saquon Barkley. It was also Jalen Hurts being Jalen Hurts, meaning he drove the Pass Rush crazy
The pass rush is the pressure that defenders try to put on the quarterback in a passing action. Usually it is the defensive linemen and linebackers who carry out the pass rush and if they manage to tackle the quarterback before he throws the ball they will achieve a sack.
The imaginary transverse line, parallel to the short side of the pitch, which passes through the ball at the start of the action and delimits the areas of the pitch where the attacking and defense players take their positions. Before the action begins (with a hand snap, a shotgun, a kick) players cannot invade the area where their opponents are positioned. It is not possible to pass the ball forward if the player holding it has his feet beyond the ballline of scrimmagebut only backwards.(Wikipedia)
Each offensive team has four downs to travel the 10 yards needed to stay on the field. Depending on the field position, a punt or a field goal can usually be kicked on fourth down.
In the second half the gap between the Rams and Eagles became even more evident, and Philadelphia had no problem taking the lead, controlling the game and further increasing the distance with Barkley’s runs.
It’s difficult to say what didn’t work in Los Angeles, because the conditions at the start of the game were certainly different. Kyren Williams author of two fumbles
When a player in possession of the ball (offending or defending) loses control of it. The fumble can be recovered by any player on the field with the exception of some particular actions.
Absurdly, the Rams should always play fourth downs, looking at the conversion percentages: 3 out of 3 versus 0 out of 8, but it is clear that this is a stretch which, however, is useful to underline that not even converting a third down throughout the match it is certainly not the best way to play an efficient attack.
While Philadelphia’s defense managed to adjust after conceding a little too much in the first half, Los Angeles’ defense was never able to find an adequate countermeasure not only against Barkley’s runs, but in general against the opponent’s game plan, once the Eagles understood how to attack it after the initial indecisions.
If for the Eagles it is a decisive step towards the division title and the confirmation of having now overcome the problems of the beginning of the season, paradoxically for the Rams it is not a defeat that should cause despair.
The situation of the division is so balanced (Cardinals and Seahawks at 6-5, Rams and 49ers at 5-6) and none of the other three teams seem to be unbeatable, that the playoff chances are still absolutely on the table. Of course, if there’s one thing this game told us it’s that the Rams aren’t equipped to get to the end, and that the postseason run would probably be very short, but still playing in January beyond the end of the season is still a goal that McVay can and must pursue to continue the work of reshaping the Passing Tracks team
Receivers (y receiver and z receiver), tight ends and runningbacks have a hard-coded system that tells them which routes to run on a passing action. What you see in the image above is the so-called standard tree with the tracks indicated with name and number for the different roles. Obviously all of this is adapted to each team’s playbook.
Considering the Eagles’ dominant defensive performance and Barkley’s impact on the game, how do you assess the Rams’ current defensive strategy and what adjustments might be necessary to counter similarly potent offenses?
Here are some open-ended questions focusing on key topics in the article, designed to encourage discussion and diverse viewpoints. They are divided into thematic sections:
**1. Offensive Performance and Strategies:**
* The article mentions the Rams’ early offensive struggles and a shift to a more classic 4-3 defensive front. How significant do you think this defensive change was in influencing the game’s outcome?
* The Rams struggled to convert on third downs. What factors might have contributed to this, and how could they address this weakness going forward?
* Despite the loss, the Rams started strong. Do you think this performance signals any potential for the team moving forward? What are the pros and cons of their current offensive strategy?
**2. Eagles’ Success:**
* How did the Eagles’ defense adapt to the Rams’ initial offensive momentum? What specific adjustments did they make, and how effective were they?
* Saquon Barkley’s performance was highlighted. How crucial was his contribution to the Eagles’ victory? What makes him such a difficult player to defend?
* Jalen Hurts is described as “driving the pass rush crazy.” What are his strengths as a quarterback, and how do they challenge opposing defenses?
**3. Playoff Prospects:**
* The article suggests that theRams’ playoff chances are “still absolutely on the table.” Are you convinced by this argument? What are the biggest challenges they face in making a playoff run?
* Do you think the Rams have what it takes to contend for the Super Bowl this year? What areas do they need to improve upon to reach that level?
* The article mentions the “reshaping” of the Rams. What are your thoughts on their long-term direction as a team?
**4. Broader Context:**
* The article contrasts the Rams’ situation with the Eagles’. How do you see the Eagles fitting into the broaderNFC landscape this year? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
* This game took place in Week 11. What do you think are the most important storylines to watch for as the NFL season progresses?
Remember, these questions are designed to spark discussion. There are no right or wrong answers, and diverse perspectives are valuable. Encourage analysis, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement.
