.png)
Deebo Samuel, 49ers roll over Rams, forge four-way NFC West tie
A thrilling game at the Coliseum ended all other possibilities in the NFL. The Chargers and Los Angeles Rams met again and produced a game of classic proportions. At 3:44 p.m., it was just more than enough time before Drew Lock kicked down an opponent’s throat. In fact, even before that final kick arrived, as if to confirm what we already knew, they would each be out with a score of 24 or less.
.png)
It’s been the most lopsided, epic and thoroughly entertaining way for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to put up two touchdowns and four interceptions over 14 seconds on three times this season. So much so that 49ers will have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of Sunday night’s contest, unless you consider that he is under perfect conditions for his passing game. That would mean running in against arguably the greatest pass rusher of our lifetimes in Aaron Donald.
He has already made some plays against him in recent years, but we can certainly expect his own best performance on that field this weekend. And we can also expect a solid defensive battle between Derek Carr and Donald. If both defenses are effective — they both look that way right now — then it will not only give us another chance at scoring early points, but will allow the offense to get into position.
I will simply say that, when I looked at last week’s results, I had an inkling that there would be a strong possibility that we may see things get turned around in favor of the Bills. This obviously makes me very happy, because that game has been coming closer and closer to its conclusion all year. We could finally see these sides in full bloom and maybe even take advantage of their talents. But no matter how many times you hear the words “Rams are going to lose!”, I have always thought that the Chargers would emerge victorious.
They simply do not need to be reminded yet again. When I look back at last week’s result, I can see why they aren’t a team willing to keep letting teams beat them by three. In any event, both defenses played well. On one hand, the Rams allowed five more first downs and managed to go three over the goal line. However, overall, the Falcons threw for over 300 yards and ran for more than 100. And while we won’t know exactly which defense actually gave up the touchdown, they did manage to get downfield on several occasions.
You can bet they were going to try and score on almost every one of those third downs. Their offense seemed like it could score on a regular basis. The Chargers’ defense on the other hand, took care of the ball on fourth and five and nearly every long fourth (it was a point in there). While the Rams scored on five of their 16 possessions, the Chiefs picked off seven passes and the Packers caught four passes for a touchdown, we will just be fine. Maybe the result should turn around quickly. Maybe after Monday Night Football. Either way, Sunday night’s game can be seen through this lens. Both defenses got plenty of opportunities but never came close. Ultimately, it will be a great matchup and likely a good reflection upon how talented both offenses were.
One thing has become really apparent in recent years: teams that don’t win with pure strength like the Rams and Cardinals and Giants and Cowboys and Eagles and Titans, tend to fail greatly. To prove that, they have to make sure that their ability to move around the field effectively is excellent.
With the clock winding down again, both matchups are looking equally appealing. Let’s hope this game gives us another glimpse at the potential of either quarterback. As I mentioned in my post about this weekend’s games, both quarterbacks appear to be a healthy mix of elite talent and decent executioners (at least from what is evident in the pre-season performances). Obviously, we cannot know what the future holds for this game and as such, neither side has any legitimate claim to the lead. With no shortage of options, only three questions remain: Who gets the nod? Will either defence stop us? How many points will we generate? My gut says that the answer is yes to all three.
I’m glad I don’t have to make this statement on who should be taken out-of-game. Not only has this game revealed the capabilities of each team, but also the capabilities of each player. Nowhere else can you see just how powerful the Cardinals offensive line is. They may not look like they are doing too bad but their ability to take away distance from opposing quarterbacks is just outstanding. They are making it feel effortless whenever they squeeze past opposing defenders.
Then there’s this group out here in New Orleans, who seem capable of taking away all of Justin’s targets. They are so quick up-and-downfield, that this offensive line can’t help themselves. If they can continue to stay on top of opposing pass rushers while giving us a chance to pick them off with their left and right foot, then I think Justin should be OK.
.png)
I can see myself cheering either QB for their respective teams. There are enough similarities between both to see the similarity in the game and to want to see them both succeed. But I cannot help thinking that there is something distinctly different between these quarterbacks. For example, Justin is so much more physically developed than Josh Rosen (despite having some questionable decisions during the pre-season), he looks capable of changing direction quite easily (despite the tight end situation). Despite what might sound odd for someone who is watching the game from afar, this guy is fast and smooth.
I can see him hitting a gap late in the game and being able to run for separation and gain some yardage along the way. Yes, with a bit more effort his feet will feel like they can cut through the air but he can definitely catch them well enough to find space. These quarterbacks certainly have similar athleticism but there’s clearly a difference between the physical differences. As for their ability to hit receivers downfield, Rosen does have that talent (I’ll admit it now). But for every receiver that Rosen can drop, Justin can easily find. All he needs is enough speed, enough timing and enough accuracy with contact to drop them downfield. That way it leaves Justin open to take advantage of where Rosen may miss.
While it feels like there are a lot of similar players (there is indeed a bunch of that) between Rosen and Herbert, it’s far from being the case. After a week with little to no preparation and limited time with him in the pre-season, Justin looked sharp when he faced off against the Steelers on Thursday. In addition to leading the Chargers in total yards, he had a positive trend in his overall play. I think it shows where he falls short however, that he was unable to generate enough speed and accuracy at the snap to secure two big gains.
So, you can argue with me on whether he’s an MVP candidate or not, but he clearly is not a complete athlete. Same goes for the rest of this squad. Look at Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton, they both do not allow this sort of possession. On top of that, both will be extremely dangerous for your QB if they can control the time and distance. Meanwhile, Herbert has the most efficient pocket to throw the ball.
While he is still getting used to his new team, he has shown that he is capable of throwing the ball a bit quicker than it usually takes for the majority of people to do it. Also, he is more accurate than his predecessor. Plus, he has a high completion percentage rate. The stats alone show the greatness of this man, especially this week, especially considering he entered the league 4th fewest starter to start a game in history. I believe that there is something special about Justin that shouldn’t be overlooked.
I know everyone is talking about Brady and Brees going head-to-head right now and so I’m not going to get into it. Neither player looks particularly good but both have their flaws. But Brady is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer with immense athleticism and power, while Brees is known for his leadership abilities. Additionally, Brady and Brees can run. But they do not run the pace.
I don’t think that means we shouldn’t respect both. Even though both guys are going for Brady’s record (he was going 4 for 4 in rushing this week but didn’t get a touchdown) I think that when the time comes to face off, both will be ready for whatever the task will be. Of course, I have a tendency to see certain trends in comparison to others. Take Mike Williams as an example: his size makes him more mobile, therefore his efficiency helps him be more successful on the ground. Michael Dixon is slightly taller than his counterpart.
He is also much better at anticipating and reacting to the opposition defence. If they really do want to attack, they will have some other options to worry about rather than relying solely on Michael’s strength, size or speed. Furthermore, each linebacker has their own strengths. Take Anthony Barr, he is a fantastic defender. He seems to have the confidence to press and get involved in the backfield all day. Take Calais Campbell, she can cover the entire field. She also possesses tremendous range. Lastly, while they have one weakness per linebackers, the other eight have their own strengths too.
The biggest point I think both men in question can improve on is their ability to anticipate. Each is aware of what’s happening around him while also using the same strategy for tackling. Unfortunately, none of us really saw these kinds of patterns in action until camp began. Hopefully both will start realizing that they are working a little differently each week
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)