Rams: LA must learn from its mistakes and run Todd Gurley in week six

The Rams were brought back down to earth with a 16-10 loss against the Seahawks. In order to get past the Jaguars, the Rams must learn from their mistakes.

47. That is how many times Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw the ball in the Rams’ 16-10 loss last week. With a scramble and two sacks also in the game, Goff very well could have thrown the ball 50 times. Against a lockdown Seattle secondary, this obviously did not work out well for the Rams.

Goff completed just 22 of the 47 passes for 288 yards and two interceptions. For the first time all-year, Goff again looked human. Those that are ready to write Goff off as a bust were chomping at the bit after this performance. However, this was not the young quarterback’s fault.

The Seahawks have one of the best passing defenses in all of the NFL. Seattle allows the seventh least passing yards per game; their weakness? The run defense. We said before the game last week that the Rams must run Todd Gurley to be successful. They did no such thing.

Instead, the Rams handed the ball off to Gurley just 14 times for 43 yards. A fumble on the first drive, that originally was called a touchdown, seemingly caused the Rams personnel to lose faith in Gurley. Gurley had 21 of his 43 yards on the first drive.

Los Angeles cannot afford to make that same mistake against the Jacksonville Jaguars and their dangerous pass rush. If head coach Sean McVay does, the inexperience will come out and the Rams will move to 3-3 when they easily could have been 5-1.

The Jaguars arguably have the best pass defense in the league. Jacksonville has allowed the third least passing yards per game; while leading the NFL with 10 interceptions and 20 sacks. The only other team to have 20 sacks is the Carolina Panthers, who have played one more game than the Jaguars.

If the Rams continue to drop Goff back for passes, he will look alarmingly green and he will get eaten up by this defense. This is the same defense that picked a veteran Ben Roethlisberger off five times. Imagine what they will do to the second-year Goff.

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Like any team, the Jaguars have an Achilles’ Heel. Well, that may be the play of Blake Bortles, but their defense has it’s weakness too – stopping the run. Much like the Seahawks, the imbalance from passing defense and rush defense is huge.

The Jaguars trail only the Los Angeles Chargers in average rushing yards allowed per game with 146.4 yards per game. Jacksonville also has also allowed the most yards per carry this season, allowing 5.4 yards every time a running back touches the ball. While Bilal Powell’s 163-yard game certainly sways the stats, this is the one hole in the Jacksonville defense.

Los Angeles has the better offense and a defense that should be able to keep Leonard Fournette at bay. A win in week six will all come down to the offensive play calling. Will the team lose faith early and continue to try and throw over the top? Or, will they learn from their mistakes and pound the rock until the Jaguars submit to the pressure?

Next: Rams waive Maurice Alexander

We will have to wait and see until Sunday to see what the Rams do on offense. At the end of the day, though, Los Angeles should be calling Todd Gurley’s number often if they want to take home the victory.