Rams defense committed to stopping Pats run game

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Rams defense committed to stopping Pats' run game   Published: Jan 31, 2019 at 11:00 PM           Around the NFL Writer   NHL Minnesota Wild Kids Jersey                             While the world focuses on how Los Angeles a quick-triggered , defenders are zeroed in on first stopping the ' deadly rushing attack.     "I think first and foremost you want to stop the run," defensive tackle said of slowing the ' offense. "Make them a one-dimensional team, where they have to pa s the ball. Hopefully, from that particular standpoint, we've got a great set of DBs, secondary and linebackers and whatnot. And it's our job to either get balls tipped or knock the quarterback down or whatever it may be to get those turnovers and eliminate them from moving the ball down the field."     The ' run defense has done an about-face during the playoffs.     During the regular season, L.A. ranked 23rd in the NFL, allowing 122.3 yards per game on the ground, and dead-last in the league in yards per carry allowed, 5.1. The only team to allow more yards per carry than the in a season (5.1) and make the was the 2006 (5.3) -- won XLI.     In two postseason games, L.A. has smothered , and , allowing just 49.0 rushing yards per game, on 21.5 carries, and a minuscule 2.3 yards per tote.     The difference for defenders has been attention to detail.     "I think it's a thing where we've always been capable of stopping the run, we were just inconsistent with it," linebacker told NFL.com. "But I think right now we have a lot of guys that believe in each other and we trust in each other more than we ever have at this point in the season."        In the postseason, L.A. stacked the box, filling gaps that were otherwise open during the regular season, and Suh and have been masterful at squeezing holes at the line of scrimmage. The have sealed off previously devastating interior runs. L.A. allowed 4.8 yards per rush inside the tackles in the regular season (third-most in NFL). In the postseason, they've given up just 3.0 YPC on interior carries -- a lower figure than any team allowed in the  Greg Pateryn Women Jersey regular season.     "It's no different than what we plan to do with any other team," Ethan Westbrook told NFL.com of facing the ' run game. "You study the run offense, who they've got in, formations and whatnot, and just try to capitalize on that. Just try to pack as many people where they want to go, so they're not able to go there every time."     The Pats' run game, however, brings a different beast. While Brady garners the deserved overwhelming attention, New England has been at its best this season when pounding away on the ground.     The can utilize a diverse three-headed backfield with rookie , and . Fullback James Devlin also brings a bruising, gap-bursting blocking element. The multiple-back formations make New England difficult to corral. According to Next Gen Stats, the have used two-plus RB personnel groupings on 37.8 percent of plays this season (second-highest in NFL) and have scored 22 TD in these groupings (most in NFL).          The Pats' diverse ground attack utilized each back in a unique way to puncture defenses.      "I feel like that's kind of what they've always done," Barron said of the ' attack. "They've always used their personnel wisely. They've got a good trio of backs so they're using them, they're putting them to work. You could say it's kind of old-school physical football type of game."       safety noted the way the ' offense has evolved makes it dangerous because they can switch up at any moment.         "It's hard, I've seen the from watching the film over the course of the season transition from three different offenses," he told NFL.com. "Early on they were attacking guys with the pa Christian Folin Men Jersey  sing game. Then when you look at their season, how they were able to get the ball to in the run-game and get him one-on-one with safeties and linebackers. And now you see , the way he's toting the ball with the gap scheme, with the way they're getting gaps open for him. So it's like 'how do you prepare for these guys?' You just learn their talent, their skill sets and that's the only thing you can go off."      Specifically slowing Michel has become a problem for defenses, particularly on inside runs -- a place where the struggled during the regular season. Since Week 16, on inside the tackle runs, Michel has gobbled up 337 rushing yards on 68 carries with five touchdowns and 20 first downs.      When Michel is on the field he's likely getting the ball, or it's a fake.      According to Next Gen Stats, the have run on 76.5 percent of plays with Michel on the field this season (highest run percent with a skill player on the field, minimum 300 snaps). When both Michel and Devlin are on the field together, the run rate jumps to 84.2. Per Pro Football Focus, New England has either run or faked a run on a whopping 91.9 percent of snaps with Michel on the field -- used play action on 22.6 percent of dropbacks without Michel.      The biggest danger for the in selling out to stop the run: Becoming vulnerable to 's lethal arm.          The allowed a 132.9 pa ser rating versus play action in the 2018 campaign, highest in the NFL. Barron noted that the linebackers and  Jason Pominville Men Jersey safeties must be constantly cognizant of play-action pa ses from Brady.      "Us as linebackers we've just got to make sure we're smart and have some awarene s and read our keys and have great eyes," he said. "As a defensive player there are just things that will tell you whether it's play-action or not, whether that's the linemen, or it  Zach Parise Women Jersey can be anything, a specific formation you pick up on, you've just got to be disciplined and have great eyes."         If the second-level defenders sneak too far up, Brady will kill them with cro sers over the middle and quick strikes.      "We have a big trust on this defense. So you know , , , we're expecting those guys to handle that along with and Corey Littleton, and we can focus on the pa s," Joyner said. "Because if you get nosy as a secondary guy in the run-game, Brady will eat you alive."     To slow the ' potent run attack, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips must trust his defensive backs in man-to-man situations so he can commit more bodies to the box. One thing the veteran DC knows is whatever scheme he deploys in the he won't deceive Brady long.      "You don't fool the great ones, you've just got to outplay them," Phillips said.      Outplaying Brady first starts by the caging New England's ground attack.        This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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