7 overreactions to avoid from LA Rams opening loss

Overreaction VI: Fire Raheem Morris

The 17-game season is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. The Rams emerged from this one with a lot of questions about their defense, but let’s just stop, look, and listen in this one for just a second. This Rams defense created four turnovers in the game. Four. This Rams defense had two sacks. Last season, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was sacked just 26 times.

What about the run defense? Well, the Rams’ defense allowed 65 yards on 15 carries (an average of 4.33 yards per run), 0 touchdowns, and two forced fumbles against the Buffalo Bills running backs.

The LA Rams’ defense played great defense throughout the playoffs. But many of the lessons taught by Von Miller a year ago to the Rams’ young outside linebackers were not on display against the Buffalo Bills. The Rams did not get a great push from the outside, and the angles chosen by the edge rushers were far too shallow, allowing a certain someone to bootleg to the outside and make incredible throws.

Who?

LA Rams’ defense allowed Allen to dictate terms

The difference maker was Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who truly had a helluva game.  He completed 26 of 31 passes for 297 yards, three touchdowns to two interceptions. He also ran for 56 yards and a touchdown.

There are no excuses for this one. The Buffalo Bills had the perfect game plan to defeat the LA Rams. But they also had Von Miller, a player who opted for the Buffalo Bills contract over that of the Rams, who had a lot to do with that.

The Bills were unstoppable on third downs, making nine out of ten opportunities. The Rams kept everything in front of them in the first half. But after falling behind in the second half, the Rams’ defense was forced to change gears. But it was too late.

LA Rams DC Raheem Morris has years of NFL defensive experience. The secondary played Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill at cornerback, Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott at safety, and rotated in David Long Jr. and Jordan Fuller for nickel and dime packages. Robert Rochell, Cobie Durant, Terrell Burgess, and Russ Yeast never saw a defensive snap in the game.