• A Masterclass in anticipation and timing: Stafford efficiently attacked within the deep and intermediate areas of the sphere whereas defending the ball, resulting in his season-high 10.5-yard common depth of goal and 0 turnover-worthy performs.
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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams pulled off an exciting comeback in Week 3, scoring 10 factors in underneath 3 minutes to stun a San Francisco 49ers that regarded in full management for a lot of the sport.
The Rams have been hit laborious by accidents early this season, with key gamers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined for the foreseeable future and 11 gamers already taking snaps on the offensive line. Despite the upheaval, Stafford discovered a approach to handle the chaos on Sunday, delivering a powerful efficiency and guiding the workforce to a much-needed win.
Stafford’s efficiency was a masterclass in taking part in with anticipation as a result of circumstances surrounding him. He efficiently attacked within the deep and intermediate areas of the sphere whereas defending the ball, resulting in his season-high 10.5-yard common depth of goal and 0 turnover-worthy performs.
In Sunday’s recreation, we noticed Stafford pull off strikes solely he can — whether or not it was firing passes from inconceivable arm angles or squeezing throws into home windows that appeared fully shut.
Here, he dropped his arm angle to create a throwing lane most quarterbacks wouldn’t even think about throwing into, one thing we have come to anticipate from him over time.
Stafford was again in his bag pic.twitter.com/mLDenyNeSX
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 23, 2024
On this play, the Rams ran a drive idea. Stafford is aware of that the primary crosser shall be open due to the blitz and man protection behind it. However, it’s a rapidly collapsing window as a result of 49ers bringing six move rushers and the Rams having six move blockers. He makes it look simple, however it’s a ridiculously laborious throw, and he hits the receiver completely in stride for a big achieve.
Another signature play we have seen from Stafford all through his profession is the no-look move. It’s a transfer that constantly catches defenders off guard, and he executed it once more with precision on Sunday.
Another no-looker from Stafford, in a good pocket, attending to the bottom crosser pic.twitter.com/5SVZSeYz7a
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 23, 2024
I’m undecided how Stafford constantly pulls off performs like this, however what makes it much more spectacular is that he does it inside a good pocket whereas working by way of his progressions to the bottom learn.
In this play, he audibles out of the unique name and will get the Rams offense into a greater look. Starting by studying the flood idea to the boundary facet, Stafford rapidly identifies the center linebacker selecting up the working again within the flat, signaling that the degrees idea on the bottom shall be open. Stafford nonetheless manages to ship the throw with the pocket collapsing, including in a slight no-look — simply because he can.
This subsequent play highlights the anticipation Stafford has been pressured to develop as a result of his offensive line’s struggles this season. With the Rams’ pass-blocking grade sitting at a league-worst 33.5, Stafford merely doesn’t have the posh of ready for routes to develop. Instead, he has to throw based mostly on what the protection suggests shall be open.
Anticipation with a capital A pic.twitter.com/hvCL8B0k47
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 23, 2024
On this play, the 49ers dropped again into a fairly normal Cover-3 look. Stafford, recognizing the protection, is aware of the play-action pretend will drive the linebackers to drop rapidly, leaving a window for the deep in-cutting route.
Stafford then launched the throw whereas the receiver was nonetheless on the numbers and delivered it in stride proper on the hashes. And with 98 bearing down on him, he had no alternative however to launch the ball early, making this a textbook instance of anticipation underneath stress.
Matthew Stafford: Performance underneath stress by way of three weeks
After the 49ers missed an important area purpose that may have prolonged their result in two scores, Stafford wasted no time. He instantly led the Rams downfield, making his greatest throw of the day to place them within the purple zone and arrange the game-tying landing.
Stafford reads out this mills idea completely and rips the deep put up earlier than the protection even acknowledges what’s occurring pic.twitter.com/nZbI0BZNLt
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 23, 2024
This play mirrors the earlier one, coming from the identical formation however in opposition to a special protection. The 49ers have been in quarters protection this time, and Stafford rapidly acknowledged the change, which altered his learn. In the sooner play, when going through a Cover-3 protection, Stafford focused the in-breaking route as a result of the deep put up was lined by the deep third defender and an beneath defender carrying the route.
Because it was quarters protection, Stafford knew the protection would step as much as cowl the in-breaking route, leaving the deep put up in a one-on-one scenario. While the intermediate route may nonetheless have resulted in a giant achieve, Stafford acknowledged the deep put up was the best choice given the protection. He delivered the ball completely, establishing the Rams for the game-tying landing.
The Rams will want this degree of efficiency from Stafford in the event that they hope to stay aggressive amid their damage struggles. Fortunately, the star quarterback has proven no indicators of slowing down. If they’ll maintain regular till key gamers return, the Rams may change into a harmful workforce later within the season.