Quick Observations For Every NFL Team From Week One

Los Angeles Rams – You can’t fall in love with the pass game

This is such a talented team. The Rams are loaded at pretty much every single position outside of linebacker. They made some enormous additions on the defensive side of the ball and the offense might be most fun to watch with playmakers all over the yard and Sean McVay’s creative play-designs. And while I thought their slow start versus the Raiders was more about the lack of live reps than anything else, as they sat most of their starters throughout the preseason, I couldn’t help but notice one element of their game in particular – they got pass-happy. The Rams started the game with a three-and-out before going down the field in consecutive pass plays and then putting the ball into the hands of Todd Gurley on a little touch-pass sweep for a 19-yard score. The following drive they threw it five times while Gurley only touched the ball twice to end the half with just eight-and-a-half minute of possession. Over the final 30 games they handed the ball off to Gurley 17 times, but at the start of the fourth quarter up 23-13 they went back to throwing the ball on eight of their nine plays. Todd Gurley is the engine that makes this offense go and they need to establish him to open up everything else.

---

Miami Dolphins – Adam Gase can elevate an offense with average talent

The Dolphins head coach got rid of guys like Jay Ajayi, Jarvis Landry, Mike Pouncey and Ndamokung Suh, who were all very good players but apparently didn’t fit in with the disciplined Gase. Instead he brought in locker-room guys like Danny Amendola, Frank Gore and Daniel Kilgore, who can help turn around the culture of his franchise. However, that lack of offensive firepower comes at a price when it comes to the talent-level. I think Kenyan Drake is a superstar in the making, but DeVante Parker has yet to show any consistency and Kenny Stills has been a very good number three receiver, who shouldn’t lead your team in yards. Outside of a badly placed ball on a fade route to rookie Mike Gesicki split out wide and an overthrown deep shot leading to interceptions I thought this offense moved the ball pretty well. They won with clever route-combinations and different alignments.