Rams missed season-low tackle figures in last two games as they put together a win streak. Coincidence?
As the Los Angeles Rams string together back-to-back winning performances, the key to their improvement is obvious: They stopped missing so many tackles.
Week 1 at Detroit Lions: 10 misses; loss
Week 2 at Arizona Cardinals: 21; loss
Week 3 vs San Francisco 49ers: 27; win
Week 4 at Chicago Bears: 10; loss
Week 5 vs Green Bay Packers : 11; loss
Week 6 vs Las Vegas Raiders: 7; win
Week 7 vs Minnesota Vikings: 2; win
First off, it feels somewhat miraculous that LA was able to beat the 49ers after missing 27 (!) tackles. Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner tied for seven each in that game followed by Byron Young and Jared Verse at four apiece. Brock Purdy tossed three touchdowns and passed for 292 yards.
Coincidence or not?
The Rams are in the midst of a two-game win streak that also coincides with their two-best tackling performances on the season. LA missed only seven tackles against the Raiders while forcing Gardner Minshew to commit four turnovers.
On Thursday Night Football versus the Vikings, LA missed just two tackles. Despite allowing 14 points in the first quarter, the Rams held Minnesota to just two field goals over the second half—and LA recorded a game-winning sack for a safety on Sam Darnold.
Putting aside the seemingly odd game against San Francisco, in all other games this season where the Rams have missed more than 10 tackle attempts they’ve lost. Now, the offense hasn’t been as consistently productive as they’ve hoped—the struggles aren’t entirely the defense’s to bear—but this young defense is getting better right before our eyes.
Can this trend continue?
One confounding variable in this trend of fewer missed tackles could be the fact that LA has played less mobile quarterbacks of late. In two games defending Kyler Murray and Purdy, the Rams missed more than 20 tackles. They also had poor outings against the fairly athletic Caleb Williams and Jordan Love. Three of their better games came versus the likes of Jared Goff, Minshew, and Darnold who aren’t known to beat you with their legs.
So what does that mean for LA moving forward?
These are the next four QB’s on the Rams’ schedule:
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
The Rams really need a win this weekend in Seattle if they want to make the NFC West competitive. Smith is no easy opponent, as he can extend plays and find throwing lanes that don’t seem apparent.
Tua is probably the least mobile signal caller LA will face over the next month, but even he has his moments as a runner and creator.
Maye and Hurts can both beat you with their legs. If you can’t bottle up Hurts, the Eagles will throw the kitchen sink at you and it will be a long day. Between Saquon Barkley and the “tush push”, tackling will be imperative in order to earn a win over Philly.
