PFF grades: Is Kyren Williams holding Rams offense back?

Steve Avila was the weak link on Rams OL versus Eagles

Flat out: The Los Angeles Rams were not overall talented enough in certain spots to hang with a true contender in the NFC conference. The Philadelphia Eagles put together a resounding road win at SoFi Stadium. Philly led 37-14 before LA scored a garbage time touchdown.

This was a failed litmus test for the Rams. While they are still alive in the NFC West divisional race, they are falling behind in the wildcard projections and overall NFC playoff picture. Los Angeles is closer to mediocre than they are to contention—and this is especially clear after their performance on Sunday Night Football.

How did Pro Football Focus (PFF) assess the Rams’ performance versus the Eagles?

Top five grades on offense:

1 – Kevin Dotson, RG: 88.0

While LA struggled at left guard, center, and right tackle, Kevin Dotson was his usual reliable self at right guard. He earned an elite pass blocking mark at 89.8 despite the rest of the interior OL not holding their water. Dotson also fared well in the ground game with a run blocking grade of 83.1.

2 – Puka Nacua, WR: 83.9

Nacua caught nine of 13 targets for 117 yards. His average depth of target was at 7.4 yards, which can be explained away by the issues in pass protection. Matthew Stafford was unable to hang in the pocket in order to push the downfield. Nacua finished with four catches in traffic and one contested catch.

3 – Tutu Atwell, WR: 79.2

The Rams started Demarcus Robinson at WR#3. While Robinson came down with a short touchdown, he was only targeted three times (two catches for 15 yards) and wasn’t a real focal point of the offense.

Atwell hauled in all three of his targets for 30 yards, though most of his production game when the outcome was all but set in stone. Atwell may be LA’s best separator at the position, but the Rams seem unable to work him into the lineup in a meaningful way. Atwell is a good player, and the continued inability to maximize his skillset falls on the shoulders of the coaching staff.

4 – Matthew Stafford, QB: 72.4

LA’s veteran signal caller finished 24 of 36 (66.7% completion) for 243 yards and two touchdowns, though one of these scores came in garbage time to Cooper Kupp. PFF credited Stafford with three big-time throws and one turnover-worthy play, though he did not commit a turnover in this game. LA’s only giveaway came on a fumble by Kyren Williams, who lost the ball twice.

Curiously, Stafford did get sacked five times in this game. PFF tallied 13 total pressures, which means 38.5% of pressures turned into sacks. That rate, if extrapolated for an entire season, would lead the NFL this year. Will Levis currently leads the league in pressure to sack rate at 33.7%. Was this an outlier due to quick pressure by the Eagles, or is this something to be concerned with moving forward? Intricate pocket movements to evade pressure have been noticeable absent from Stafford’s game at time this season.

5 – Alaric Jackson, LT: 72.0

Jackson allowed two pressures and was LA’s second best lineman in this game. LA allowed 14 total pressures. Zero by Dotson. Two by rookie Beaux Limmer. Three by Warren McClendon and Steve Avila. Four by Kyren Williams.

Other notes on offense:

Kyren Williams had one of his worst individual performances I can remember. As mentioned above, he was an absolute liability in pass protection and allowed four pressures on Matthew Stafford. Williams also fumbled the ball twice, losing one deep in Philly territory.

Top five grades on defense:

1 – Braden Fiske, DT: 78.4

Fiske led the Rams defense, who had 14 pressures total, with four. He recorded LA’s only sack on Jalen Hurts. Fiske also notched three run stops and was generally the most consistent and productive member of the defensive line on Sunday night.

2 – Kamren Curl, DB: 69.3

Curl wasn’t targeted in coverage. He was fairly active across the field with six tackles, which was tied with Jared Verse and trailed only Christian Rozeboom who notched eight.

3 – Michael Hoecht, OLB: 67.9

Hoecht had two pressures though he stood out in PFF’s rushing grades where he earned a mark of 73.0 and had three run stops. In coverage he allowed one reception on his only target for six yards.

3 – Cobie Durant, CB: 67.9

Durant left the game early with cramping issues. Ahkello Witherspoon came in as his replacement. Durant played 43 snaps to Witherspoon’s 37.

Durant was LA’s best corner. He was not targeted though he was flagged for a coverage penalty. His tackling grade of 80.4 is encouraging because that is an area in which he normally struggles as a smaller defender.

5 – Ahkello Witherspoon, CB: 66.2

Witherspoon earned the Rams’ highest coverage grade at 74.5. Rozeboom finished second at 72.4. The veteran corner did not allow a reception and was targeted just once. His overall grade was lower because he missed his only tackle attempt.

Other notes on defense:

Darious Williams allowed four receptions on six targets for 86 yards and a passer rating of 109.7. He did record a pass breakup. Most of the receiving yardage seemed to come against AJ Brown.

Omar Speights struggled mightily in this game. He allowed catches on all three of his targets for 31 yards. He missed two tackles and finished with a defensive grade of just 30.9.

Missed tackles are something we’ve been paying close attention to with this defense. They finished with 14 misses in this game, which is a key explanation in how Saquon Barkley finished with over 300 scrimmage yards and multiple TD scores. All of Kamren Kinchens, Rozeboom, Speights, and Darious Williams had at least two missed tackles. Kinchens and Rozeboom had three apiece.