What did the Rams do that gave the 49ers fits this year?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Rams have played well lately but overall they are a very mediocre team

However,They have played the 49ers better than almost all Niners opponents this year and better than any other division opponent from the NFCW and should have beaten them both times.

The Patriots on the other hand blew these same Rams away from the beginning until the end,both offensively and defensively.

Was it just the familiarity of a division opponent?or what did the Rams do special in these games that almost swept the series to what arguably is the best team in the NFC?

 

[PatsSox363804]

I'm sure they're reviewing film of those games moreso than the others. Normally I would chalk it up to division matchup/knowing each other but this being the first year of a new coaching staff in StL I'm not sure how much it applies. Hopefully the answer is "Amendola killed them in the slot" because that plays into our hands with Welker.

 

[Big-T]

Danny Amendola.

The 9ers tend to stay in the base 3-4 so a slot receiver with the skills of Amendola & some guy called Wes Welker will cause havoc.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Danny Amendola.

The 9ers tend to stay in the base 3-4 so a slot receiver with the skills of Amendola & some guy called Wes Welker will cause havoc.

My guess would be a combination of Amendola and Jackson playing well and perhaps the blocking scheme was good to keep the 49ers fierce pass rush off of Bradford's back.

I just checked the box scores from those games,and it appears that Frank Gore struggled in those games,the Rams defense apparently bottled him up.


I do agree that Belichick will pay close attention to those 2 games to see where the 49ers could be exploited.

 

[mayoclinic]

As far as their offense goes, consider the following:

Kaepernick faced at least five pass rushers on 24 of 40 (60 percent) dropbacks against the Rams. That is the highest percentage of pressure the Rams have sent in a game over the last two seasons. With fewer defenders in coverage because of additional pass rushers, the Rams provided the 49ers with plenty of cushion to sacrifice underneath throws rather than big plays. Specifically, their cornerbacks gave 49ers wide receivers at least five yards of space with no jam coverage on 33 of Kaepernick’s 40 dropbacks.

The Rams also bottled Kaepernick up when he escaped pressure and left the pocket (excluding his 50-yard scramble in the fourth quarter). When outside the pocket, Kaepernick failed to complete any of his three passes, was sacked twice and was flagged for intentional grounding that resulted in a safety.

How the Rams contained Colin Kaepernick - Stats & Info Blog - ESPN

It could have been the absence of Kendall Hunter, but for some reason San Francisco was unable to get anything going on the ground. The team finished with 148 yards total rushing, but the majority of that was Kaepernick running for his life. Frank Gore was handed the ball 23 times and managed only 58 yards, while Brandon Jacobs, in his first real action, had four carries for six yards. Outside of Gore’s first quarter touchdown, the backs had no impact on the game, which left it up to the receiving core to save the day. Colin Kaepernick and the passing game were unable to carry the load, and in fact Kaepernick did something that Alex Smith does not; Kaepnernick made a costly mistake (twice).

St. Louis Rams Stun San Francisco 49ers In Defensive Struggle « CBS San Francisco

I think the trick is first to limit the run. As Mike Lombardi said, the 49ers are a run 1st team, and they use Kaepernick to create the illusion of being a downfield passing team while actually increasing their versatility as a running team. They'll get yards, but don't let them beat you with big running plays and string series of 1st downs together. Second, if you can get pressure while not losing contain. 3rd, guard against the deep pass threat, even if it means giving up stuff underneath. Not easy to do all 3, but it essentially makes them a toothless offense without enough firepower to hurt you. And if they get impatient they'll make mistakes and force turnovers.

On the other side of the ball, every team that has done well against the 49ers has maintained commitment to running the ball and has done so reasonably effectively, even if the YPC wasn't particularly impressive. The Rams did that, particularly in the first game.

 

[PP2]

IIRC, Bradford was in the shotgun for the majority of his snaps vs. the 49ers and I expect the same from Brady.

 

[JMC00]

Amendola only played in the game that ended in a tie. Although had it not been an illegal formation by a tackle he would have had 170 yards and the Rams would have won

 

[JMC00]

I think the trick is first to limit the run. As Mike Lombardi said, the 49ers are a run 1st team, and they use Kaepernick to create the illusion of being a downfield passing team while actually increasing their versatility as a running team. They'll get yards, but don't let them beat you with big running plays

If there is one thing this Pats defense has excelled at, it is not giving up big play runs. Here are all the 15+ yard runs allowed.

15 yards to Ray Rice
15 yards to Shonn Greene
15 yards to Arian Foster
16 yards to Reggie Bush
17 yards to Patrick Peterson
18 yards to Vick Ballard (4th quarter Patriots were up 45-17)
19 yards to Isiah Pead (4th quarter Patriots were up 45-7)
20 yards to Daryl Richardson (4th quarter Patriots were up 45-7)
20 yards to Vick Ballard
20 yards to Delone Carter (last play of the NE/IND game)
23 yards to Ben Tate (3rd quarter Patriots were up 28-0)

5 of the 11 runs were when the Pats were up big and in that garbage time. (btw i've seen the replays of the Tate run Wilfork was borderline chop blocked. The o-lineman just hits the ground and takes his knees right out)

Patriots held Marshawn Lynch to his lowest rushing total in a game this season. Also the longest run they allowed to Lynch was 7 yards. That is the season low for Lynch as it pertains to his longest run in a game.
Marshawn Lynch Game By Game Stats and Performance - Seattle Seahawks - ESPN

New England is right now the only team that hasn't given up a run over 23 yards.