Suddenly, LA Rams QB Jared Goff cannot find the endzone

Offensive struggles beginning

We are not alone in this concern. Dylan Hernandez from the LA Times picked up on it as well. Yes, the LA Rams are winning. But they are doing so thanks to their far-better-than-expected defense. The offense seems to come in two flavors. When the Rams offense is in vanilla mode, it can move the ball, but the team struggles to cross the goal line. Without the inspiring play of veteran running back Malcolm Brown and his two touchdown-runs, the Seahawks game could have ended very poorly.

Of course, there is also the chocolate offense mode. That is the version of offense that passes 61 times for 355 yards and one touchdown against a strong pass defense, when running the ball would have made more sense. When that offense springs up, the Rams may have a great play, but also have a strong chance at creating a play where we wish we could take it back.

Lots of second-guessing

The Rams seem to run the ball when the defense is weakest against the pass. And the Rams seem to pass the ball when the defense is weakest against the run.  While there is a bit of contrarian logic in those decisions, the aftermath of the Rams’ decisions seems to allow plenty of questions.  And perhaps that is where the struggles begin.

Against a good Miami Dolphins pass defense, the LA Rams chose to run 29 times and pass 61 times.  Against a very good Seattle Seahawks rush defense, the LA Rams chose to run 29 times and pass 37 times. Was that simply the way it worked out by random chance? Or did the Rams game plan focus more on doing what the opponent least expected, and not focus upon what would work best for the Rams offense? That thought process can be a bit intimidating.