Game balls: LA Rams vs Seattle Seahawks Cory Littleton from linchao's blog

It may seem funny to give a game ball to the Rams “mike” linebacker in a game where the opposition rushed for 190 yards Samson Ebukam Jersey , but here we go. Littleton came up big when it needed most.During Seattle’s final push to get back into field goal range at the end of the game, Littleton made two stellar plays. The first was when he leapt with both arms in the air like he was playing volleyball in Hermosa Beach, and swatted down Russell Wilson’s pass attempt.The next play Littleton blitzed up the middle, but didn’t over commit, and consequently remained in front of Wilson as he scampered backward and to the sideline, only to toss the ball away. The Rams were a completion and field goal from losing the game, and thanks to Littleton they escaped. Oh yeah, plus he blocked another punt. Robert WoodsWith Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp out of the game due to concussion protocol, Robert Woods valiantly carried the load with a little help from Josh Reynolds at times. At times Woods really looks like a throwback from the Greatest Show on Turf, silky smooth like Isaac Bruce and always in the right place. Woods finished with five receptions for 92 yards, to go with a 56-yard jetsweep.Jared GoffIt was fun to see Jared Goff have to play with some adversity in the form of losing two of his favorite targets and facing a bit more pressure. Though circumstances changed, his poise seemed the same. Sure a ball slipped out of his hand and he threw another red zone pick, but he just kept battling. He ended up 23/32 for 321 yards. His rating was low, 76.0, but that was partly due to his Hail Mary interception at the end of the first half. Goff seems officially ready to play in hostile environments. Cooper KuppThough Kupp only played in the first half, he had six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Coming into the season I wondered if Kupp would improve much since he already seemed so polished coming out of Eastern Washington. But Kupp seems to have become an even more reliable target for Jared Goff Authentic Austin Blythe Jersey , and is currently on pace to end up with 76 receptions for over 1,100 yards and about 13 touchdowns.Todd GurleyYardage-wise it wasn’t a monster day for Gurley, but he seemed in control when tapped and netted three more touchdowns. At times the offense leaned heavily on the pass, but Gurley was ready to roll and extend plays at plenty of critical junctures. When you look at how running backs often hit an early wall in their careers, perhaps “under-usage” isn’t the worst thing in the world. McVay knows dude.Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers: 10 deep dive observations Ten observations from Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. 1.Spreading the ball around, but not too much. The Rams have had only three receivers catch a pass this season between Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp. Extenuating factors like injuries to Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas have probably forced the team’s hand, but the lack of variety is interesting. 2.Robert Woods takes the lead. Woods has now been targeted 29 times this season and has at least nine targets per game - hauling in 10 receptions on 11 targets against the Chargers. Woods continues to feast on matchups manufactured by Sean McVay and from the focus of defenses on Brandin Cooks.However, Cooks is still tops in average yards per catch and total yards. 3.Is measurable pass rush becoming a concern? The immeasurable pressure and impact created by Los Angeles’ fearsome defensive tackles is obvious, but the Rams again generated just one sack against the Chargers. Ndamukong Suh got his first in a Los Angeles uniform, but overall, the team is fifth from the bottom of the league in sack rate per pass attempt. Still, Aaron and Donald and Suh were credited with “at least five quarterback pressures” each by Pro Football Focus.4.A high scoring rate, but on sustainable drives. Los Angeles is tied for third in the league with 34 points per game, but is also holding the ball for 32:18 per game, higher than the two teams above them in scoring average (Kansas City and New Orleans.)5.Corey Littleton is quietly one of the league’s most impactful linebackers. Where have you gone Youth Jared Goff Jersey , Alec Ogletree? Littleton turned in another big performance against the Chargers, recording 10 combined tackles and his punt block in all 52 defensive snaps. Littleton is 13th in the league with 24 combined tackles.6.The Rams most common offensive lineup is stunningly balanced. With Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Woods, Cooper Kupp, Cooks, Tyler Higbee and the five original offensive line starters, Los Angeles has run 138 plays. 69 passing plays and 69 rushing plays. Of those plays, a huge 38 percent have gone for first downs.7.Sam Shields in the spotlight. After a slowly increasing diet of snaps, Shields will be thrust into duty between the injuries to Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Shields led all corners and had his most snaps on defense with 37 (71 percent of the total) this week since Week One of 2016 when he played 62 snaps with Green Bay against Jacksonville. 8.Higbee’s longest play of the season. The tight ends are still on the backburner in the passing game’s plans, but Tyler Higbee still played 75 percent of the snaps and caught both of his targets for 35 yards. 9.Lack of preseason play rust is gone. After missing a few deep connections to Woods in the first game of the season, Goff’s deep ball is back. According to Pro Football Focus, he completed 9-of-11 pass attempts of 10-plus yards downfield and 2-for-2 for 75 yards and a score on throws 20-plus yards downfield in an overall monstrous day.10.Blythe continues to impress. Jamon Brown may be sitting for a long time. Austin Blythe didn’t surrender a pressure in 38 pass blocking attempts again on Sunday. He also received a 77.2 run blocking grade from PFF.