By John Turney
Sunday night was a bloodbath for the Los Angeles Rams' defense. At the end of a 37-30 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saqaun Barkley had rushed for 255 yards—the most ever by a Rams' opponent—and the Eagles runners rushed for 314 yards—the fourth most ever allowed by a Rams defense in the regular season and sixth most if you throw in playoff games.
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| Includes playoffs |
Source for both charts - Pro Football Reference
More than half the damage Barkley inflicted came on two plays—a 70-yard touchdown run to open the second hard and a 72-yard with just under two minutes in the game.
The first play was an inside split zone that popped on part because inside linebacker Michael Hoecht run-dogged and got turned out of his gap. Hoecht is new to the inside linebacker position this year. He was an outside linebacker last year after being converted mid-season from the defensive line the previous year.
He still plays edge, but in the Rams' nickel defense he has been playing essentially where traded inside linebacker Ernest Jones played -- an inside linebacker who more often than not blitzes, either on pass downs or run downs. Here it didn't pay off—
Once Barkley got to the second level the Rams other inside linebacker got blocked to the ground and the final line of defense missed tackles or took angles that didn't get them to Barkley.
Yikes.
The second long touchdown run was a G-H counter play, not unlike the Gap 47 play Eric Dickerson ran for many big plays in the mid-1980s. Imagine the Eagles' right guard being Dennis Harrah and the H-back coming across the formation as being Mike Guman.
The Rams rookie sensation Jared Verse slanted inside, going for a big play, and the pulling right guard wheeled around him on a log of "wall" block. The H-back kicked the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMOL) outside and with neither of the Rams' linebackers scraping to the hole, Barkley just motored by the remaining defenders to ice the game.
Double yikes.
But as we mentioned it wasn't the worst-ever game in defending opposing rushing attackles. That distinction belongs to the November 25, 1951 games against Washington. Then the Rams allowed 352 yards but none of their backs that day went for over 200 yards. They didn't have any 70-yard touchdown runs, either. Pro Bowler Rob Goode, a 6-4, 225-pound fullback, did run for 148 yards, though. But his longest was 33 yards—nothing close to 70 yards. he did score two rushing touchdowns, though—for one and three yards
Here is his long carry for the day—
In the 1980 NFC Wild Card round matchup between the Rams and Dallas Cowboys the Rams run defense was its second-worst game in getting run on. The Cowboys pounded on the Rams for 338 rushing yards in 34-13 win over the Rams.
Hall-of-Fame running back Tony Dorsett ran the ball 22 times for 160 yards to lead the 'Pokes' runners.
Video credit: CBS Sports
The third-worst was more recent. That was opening day, 1980 when the Detroit Lions thumped the Rams in Anaheim.
it was Lions' rookie Billy Sims' first NFL game and the number on overall pick in the draft that year rna for 153 yards and the the team ran for 330 yards.
That summer four Rams pro bowlers held out -- Jack Youngblood, Larry Brooks, Jim Youngblood and Dennis Harrah. Three of them were defenders who were not ready to play. Youngblood would later recall that his legs felt like they were stuck in cement as he tried to chase down Sims.
Here is Sims's longest run of the day—a 41-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 41-10 win in the Big A.
Video credit: CBS Sports
It was ugly.
Next on the dishonor roll? The game when Cleveland Browns rookie Jim Brown set the NFl single-game rushing record on November 24, 1957. The future Hall-of-Famer and 1957 NFL Player of the Year ripped off several long runs -- the longest a 69-yard scoring run on a play that he should have been tackled for a loss—
Film credit: Los Angeles Rams/NFL Films
Rounding out the bottom five is the 2004 NFC Divisonal Playoff game (game date January 15, 2005)between the Rams and the Falcons in Atlanta. Onthree three Falcons players carried the ball and two of then went for over 100 yards.
Quarterback Michael Vick gained 119 yards on 8 rushes, running back Warrick Dunn gained 142 yards on 17 carriers and running back T.J. Duckett added 66 yards on 15 carriers.
The Falcons drubbed the Rams 47-17 to advance to the NFL Championship game.
Here Vick scampers for 47 yards on a 3rd and two scramble—
Video clip credit: Fox Sports
Number seven on the list of most yards a team ran for against the Rams? November 8, 1981 in Anaheim. That day All-Pro rookie George Rogers led the Saints with 161 rushing yards and the club ran 52 times for 307 yards and three rushing touchdowns (all of which were the work of Rogers).
Films credit: NFL Films
In 1950 the Eagles ran for 298 yards against the Rams on October 7th that year. So, sure, you're thinking "Steve Van Buren must have had one heck of a game." But he didn't. He didn't play.
Instead, the Eagles fielded runners Frank Ziegler (106 yards), Toy Ledbetter (98 yards) and Jack Myers (83 yards). The Eagles clobbered the Rams who would end up the year in the NFL Title game, losing to the Cleveland Browns. So it was a good Rams team, but not that day.
We could not locate any film from that game. Sorry.
But we could find a run by Ledbetter in a preseason game between the Eagles and Rams in which Rams' linebacker Don Paul rips off his helmet in a then-legal tackle.
Current Rams fans are surely hoping the 2024 Rams step it up. This defense has some positive aspects but they have struggled stopping the run overall and they would struggle in playoffs IF they can even advance to the postseason.
really interesting historical context John.....astute (and nearsighted) readers might note that #8 Steve Van Buren's 196 yards took place in the 49 Championship game......hey, technical qiuery: Rob Goode's carry looks to me like what used to be called a "quick opener" and more specifically, an inside trap with the right guard pulling and walling off the left RT....is it just my bleary eyes, or is this a type of play that no longer (or vary rarely) exists?....I've discussed this with coach TJ and asked whether the "pulling and grabbing" allowed in current rules is an issue, and/or lineman just aren't as agile due to modern massive size, and whether because such a large percentage of plays happen in shotgun, RBs don't get that "quick/immediate" running start.....so my question is a. am I wrong in my assessment, and b. IF the play is no longer in vogue, why? thanks in advance for your perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, quick traps even dive plays are not often used. Usually on shortyardage or goalline type of situations. Amother thing we don't see today much is RBs diving over the top for first downs our touchdowns.
DeleteLinemen don't cut block like they used to so the piles are probably higher with the defensive line not cut down and that is also connected to bigger size and less agility along with the bigger lineman. Probably see room to trap -- you'd need bigger splits to do it, too. And with bigger splits you'd get more penetration by the really quick linemen ... especially when they slant .
BW ...
DeleteThese young genius offensive coaches think theyre too good to use effective plays from the past, why last night, had O' Connell simply taken the snap from center rather than having a screwed-up shotgun snap, the Raiders would have beaten the Swift hoodoo Chiefs.
thanks for your thoughts John....now of course, those comments raise 2 other (related) questions.....1. I'm not sure your suggestion that piles are higher therefore making it more difficult for guys to jump over.....let me suggest that OLs for over a century have fought to get under the DLs in short yardage situations.....for the entire history of football (until the last few years) the "go-to" goal-line play is to have your lead blocker go right and the ball carrier jump over the pile at/around RT....of course I know lyou know this.....the Philly tush-push is a perfect example of OLs trying to get under DLs and root them out....perfect for backs doing a "Walter Payton jump, isn't it and if not, why not?...2. football as we know is a "copycat" sport tactically.....so why hasn't the "tush push" caught on universally in short-yardage situations? Surely Jason Kelce isn't the only center who can drive block in that circumstance......thoughts?
DeleteRight, OL try to get under the DL and DL try to get under OL. In theory. I don't always see them doing it and it becomes a pretty big pile. And it seems teams trying to get a hole rather than have a RB to leap over. I will ask a coach someday why it went away, but had to be because it was no longer working and they don't teach it.
DeleteAs far as the Tush Push-- I think part of it is the QB's legs strength. But their new center is pretty good. But you are right, you don't see a tone of teams doing it ... it may just be that Philly has confidence to do it and other teams maybe have tried, and it may not work any better for them because the QB is small or old or something