Rams Week 2 report card: Grading every position vs. 49ers
The Los Angeles Rams came away with a loss in Week 2 after starting the year with a victory, falling to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon, 30-23. The team should still feel good about its potential heading into the third week of the season, knowing it can hang with even the top contenders in the conference.
We already went over PFF’s grades from the Rams’ loss to San Francisco, so now it’s our turn to hand out grades on the Week 2 report card. The Rams played well enough to win this one but a few mistakes on each side of the ball proved costly.
Here’s how we graded each position group in the loss.
Quarterback: B+
Stafford completed 22 of his first 26 passes in Sunday’s game. Then he threw a pick that went through Kyren Williams’ hands it was all downhill from there. Even still, he had a decent game because only one of his two interceptions was his fault, and just as he did in Week 1, Stafford made a number of really good throws. The protection just broke down late in the game.
Running back: B+
Kyren Williams turned his 20 total touches into 100 yards, 52 of which came on the ground. He also found the end zone twice again, becoming the first player in Rams history to score multiple touchdowns in each of his first two games. Williams may not be the biggest or fastest player but he knows how to get the job done as a runner, receiver and pass protector.
Wide receiver: A-
Another week, another eye-popping performance from Puka Nacua, who caught 15 passes for 147 yards. Tutu Atwell was really solid again despite not making a catch over 20 yards, hauling in seven of nine targets for 77 yards in the loss. Van Jefferson continues to struggle and he had only one catch for 9 yards, dropping another pass like he did in Week 1.
Tight end: C
Higbee only caught three of his seven targets for 12 yards, the longest of which went for just 6 yards. It was an unexciting day for the Rams’ top tight end, and while he was good as a blocker, he simply doesn’t look like much of a threat as a receiver right now. His backup, Brycen Hopkins, wasn’t targeted in the game and played just nine snaps.
Offensive line: B-
The offensive line was excellent in the first half, and then when Joe Noteboom went down with a shoulder injury, things fell apart a little bit. In total, the offensive line allowed 26 total pressures to the 49ers, but that was on 61 pass-blocking snaps. Considering how good the Niners pass rush is, it wasn’t a bad day for the Rams’ big men.
Defensive line: B+
Kobie Turner might be slightly undersized for a nose tackle but that’s not stopping him from disrupting things on the interior. He had one pressure and two solo stops in the loss and graded out as the Rams’ best defender, according to PFF. Aaron Donald added three pressures and Bobby Brown III had one so the defensive line as a whole did its job from a pass-rush perspective.
Inside linebacker: B
Missed tackles were a problem all game long for the Rams, including Ernest Jones. He missed two of his own and Christian Rozeboom missed one, as well. Jones allowed 41 yards in coverage on just three targets, but Rozeboom finished as the team’s second-highest-graded defender in the game.
Outside linebacker: B
Here comes Byron Young. The rookie had three pressures and a sack in the loss and he also didn’t miss any tackles on the 49ers’ shifty ball carriers. He’s really coming into his own already, using that athleticism to generate pressure off the edge and hold up against the run.
Michael Hoecht could be better after missing another tackle, but he did have three pressures to tie for the team-high.
Cornerback: C
Derion Kendrick shined in Week 1 but he struggled a little bit in Week 2, committing two penalties that helped the 49ers score a touchdown – including pass interference in the end zone before halftime. Cobie Durant gave up four catches for 75 yards in coverage, so it wasn’t his best either. Ahkello Witherspoon was only targeted once and didn’t allow a reception.
Safety: C
Jordan Fuller missed two tackles and Russ Yeast missed one, so they didn’t always do their job as the last line of defense. John Johnson III was also pinned with a missed tackle and two catches allowed in the measly four snaps he played, which is disappointing to see.
Special teams: A-
Hard to blame the special teams unit for this loss. Brett Maher made all three of his field goal attempts and two PATs, Ethan Evans had a 72-yard punt and the 49ers had one punt return of 13 yards.
