A new more glorious dawn awaits for the Los Angeles Rams (4-9) with the flushing of Jeff Fisher. They just have to wade through this sewer of a season first. Tonight they will venture to the facilities of the Seattle Seahawks (8-4-1).
The Game: Los Angeles at Seattle (-16)
The Rams on Offense
You wouldn’t know it from the stats and points and, you know, those important things, but the Rams have a lot of talent on offense. Talent that this inept coaching staff has no idea how to use. The problem starts with the offensive line and coach Paul T. Boudreau. Boudreau has done next to nothing in developing a line with plenty of NFL talent including the consensus best offensive tackle from the 2014 NFL draft. A few weeks ago the Rams benched him. When people ask “What’s wrong with Todd Gurley this season?” This is problem No. 1. Boudreau. No. 2 is, of course, offensive coordinator Rob Boras who has designed what Gurley has mockingly referred to as a “middle school offense.” After that, of course, you have wide receivers coach Mike Groh who has yet to teach Tavon Austin how to block downfield. So, yeah, it’s been a shitshow.
The Seahawks on Offense
The Seahawks problem is much like the Rams’ in that their offensive line is under-performing. Unlike the Rams, the problem isn’t coaching. It’s lake of talent and this is where the Seahawks and they’ll need to address it in the offseason if they want to make another Super Bowl run. As it is, the offense is still dangerous as long as Russell Wilson is upright with Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham downfield making plays. Thomas Rawls’ return from injury has perked up the run game as he averages 4.1 yards per carry.
The Rams on Defense
With all the No. 1 draft picks and money invested in this defense, it’s no surprise they’re one of the top units in the league, currently ranked No. 10. What should frustrate everyone is this defense should be much better and since they aren’t, you can thank defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and his staff, especially Chuck Cecil and Jeff Fisher’s shitty son, Brandon. The Rams have two of the best defensive linemen in the league, Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn, but Quinn won’t play tonight. Donald will and don’t be surprised if he single-handedly keeps the Rams in the game for a while.
The Seahawks on Defense
Seattle’s defense comes in missing maybe it’s best player, safety Earl Thomas, who won’t play again this year after breaking his leg a few weeks ago. They still have Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor, so the defensive backfield remains one of the best in the league, even without Thomas. Up front the Seahawks are solid. I’ve often said defensive end Michael Bennett is one of the most overrated players in the league and that’s true. It doesn’t mean he sucks, just that he’s not the dominant force the NFL pundits like to act like he is. He’s an above-average starter.
The Coaches
Rams interim head coach John Fassel is the only employable man on this staff so it makes a lot of sense the team handed him the keys over an overmatched stooge like Williams. Pete Carroll has been the head coach of the Seahawks since 2010. In that time, they won a Super Bowl, went to another and made the playoffs every year except 2011. Advantage Carroll by a mile.
The Pick
There’s little doubt that Seattle is going to win the game. The only question is if they’ll cover that 16-point margin. For that to happen, you have to count on the Rams offense turning the ball over a lot. It’s an exciting time for the Rams with Fisher gone and that usually leads to a lights-out performance post-firing. The end result won’t change, but that spread will take a hit. The Rams have outright beaten Seattle in four of their last five games, so there are some match up issues that haven’t gone away, even if Fisher has. Seahawks 23, Rams 17
Last Week
Straight up: 9-7
Against the Spread: 7-9
Season
Straight up: 126-80-2
Against the Spread: 104-100
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