What we learned from LA Rams win over Buccaneers

Lesson I: When the Rams play well in all three phases, this is a very good football team

After the Indianapolis Colts game, Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis participated in the post-game press conference.  Sharing a bit of his sage wisdom, he stated as he approached the podium

"“Usually when something rough happens, that’s when I’m asked over here. So that’s good. It’s the same all over baby.”-Rams ST Coordinator Joe DeCamillis in Week 2 post-game press conference"

DeCamillis did not inherit a very good unit. The Rams’ special teams have declined for several seasons, and he is here to turn it all around very quickly. Why so immediately? Simply put, the LA Rams intend on being the winning team in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium, and that cannot happen if the special teams are playing like hot garbage. In Week 2, the special teams flashed an appearance of hot garbage. So DeCamillis stepped up to the media to reassure everyone that the special teams unit will get better.

Or as he so eloquently put it: “We’ll get better as we go.”

In Week 3, the LA Rams special teams got better. Much better. The punts averaged just 39.3 yards per punt, but all were within the 20-yard line of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers returned those punts just four yards. A distinct improvement.

Placekicker Matt Gay was his normal dominating self.  Two of two whenever he lined up to kick field goals. Four of four on extra points. Ten points. That’s ten points in one game. A nice tidy sum. The margin of victory.

Even rookie punt returner Tutu Atwell showed up and got a nine-yard return on a punt. Not great. But not bad.

These tiniest of improvements in special teams’ play showed up in the final score of 34-24.  That’s the beauty of improving everywhere. It doesn’t show up on the highlight reel. But it does so show up on the scoreboard.