Behind Enemy Lines: Cardinals face Rams in London

All week long, we’ll keep you updated on what’s going on with the Rams as they prepare to face the Cardinals at Twickenham Stadium in London Sunday.

It’s Behind Enemy Lines…

Saturday, October 21

• Debunking the myths of the Rams in Los Angeles (ESPN NFL Nation)

What will it take for L.A. to truly rally behind this team again, the way it appeared to when the Rams first returned last year? What will it take for the Rams to carve a space in this robust market; a market that basically forgot about them while they stumbled?

Only time will tell.

• Todd Gurley now is an all-downs threat for Rams, unlike last year (Los Angeles Daily News)

To put it simply, the Rams trust Gurley now. Not just him, but his ability to run behind an improved offensive line and pick up yards in crucial situations. In six games this season, for instance, Gurley has had 15 carries on third down plays. Last season, he had 16 third-down carries in 16 games.

• Rams vs. Cardinals is a critical game — and a sign of London’s increasing relevance in the NFL (Los Angeles Times)

For the past decade, the NFL has been playing regular-season games in London, with the 20th of those taking place Sunday when the Rams play Arizona at Twickenham Stadium.

• Rams’ top offense is a bit of an illusion, considering it hasn’t been scoring lately (Los Angeles Times)

While the Rams might be averaging a league-best 29.8 points a game, coach Sean McVay’s offense has, of late, not been part of the show — at least when it comes to reaching the end zone.

Friday, October 20

• Rams’ Todd Gurley not just kidding around when it comes to pleasing fans with his running prowess (Los Angeles Times)

Gurley is gaining new fans and reclaiming others with his performance through six games.

Todd Gurley rushes in front of Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)
After failing to rush for 100 yards in a game last season, Gurley has done so three times in the last four games.

The NFL’s 2015 offensive rookie of the year is fourth in the league with 521 yards rushing. In Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Jaguars, he ran for 116 yards in 23 carries.

• Todd Gurley has ‘nothing but respect’ for Adrian Peterson (ESPN NFL Nation)

Gurley faces Peterson while in the midst of Peterson-like production. In Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Gurley topped 100 yards on the ground for the third time in four weeks — immediately after going 20 straight games without amassing triple-digit rushing yards. On the heels of a disappointing 2016 season, Gurley now leads the NFC with 766 scrimmage yards (just 446 shy of his total through 10 more games last year) and is tied for the NFL lead with seven touchdowns (one more than he scored in all of 2016).

• Rams’ Todd Gurley praises international fans of NFL, but has beef with scheduling logistics (ESPN NFL Nation)

“Terrible,” Gurley said after Thursday’s practice from the University of North Florida, when asked if he has been able to get into a routine with an unconventional schedule. “They need to stop this, all this stuff. This London, this Mexico City stuff, it needs to stop.”

• Aaron Donald is in the midst of his best season yet (ESPN NFL Nation)

“I’m just playing football right now,” Donald said after Wednesday’s practice at the University of North Florida. “That’s all I’m worrying about. I’m letting my agents handle that. I’m just playing football.”

• Rams off to London after wrapping up Jacksonville road show (Los Angeles Daily News)

And with that, the Rams six-day business trip to Jacksonville had come to an end. Awaiting them were four large buses that would eventually deliver them to the nearby Jacksonville airport for their 9-hour flight to London, where they will host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday before scattering for their bye week.

• NFL Week 7 in the L.A. TV market: London calls on Rams again, without the daybreak kickoff (Los Angeles Daily News)

We could call it Strange But True No. 1, considering everything going on:

It didn’t seem to matter that the Dodgers-Cubs NLCS Game 2 reached its climax Sunday evening with Justin Turner’s walk-off home run. A large chunk of the L.A. TV viewership was well invested in this — a 12.3 rating and 25 share, translating to 1.14 million viewers for TBS.

Yet somehow, there was also very decent slice of Southern California watching an otherwise generic NFL game at the same time.

• Los Angeles Rams Vs. Arizona Cardinals: What The Rams Need To Do To Win (Turf Show Times)

Since the new alignment of the division, the Rams and Cardinals have been splitting lopsided wins against each other. However when both teams are really good, one of these two teams usually winds up sweeping the series.

Thursday, October 19

• Practice Report: Adjusting the Schedule, Cooper Earns an Honor (therams.com)

The Rams began their practice week at the University of North Florida on Wednesday afternoon. The club will hold a session there on Wednesday and Thursday before heading to London on a red-eye flight Thursday evening. Here are a few notes from the day’s session.

• Bonsignore: Rams are happy to be 4-2, but not content (Orange County Register)

At the risk of playing the clichéd game of after-the-fact rationalizing, it’s safe to say had you asked the Rams and their fans at the beginning of training camp whether they’d accept a 4-2 start to the 2017 season, a mass rush to click the “Absolutely” link would have ensued. And, with the Rams sitting in that precise place six games in, it would be a bit disingenuous not to express satisfaction as a result.

• Rams uniform changes are coming – but not before 2019 (Orange County Register)

On the flip side, the major changes the Rams have planned for a fresh new look representing their move back to Los Angeles won’t happen until 2019, at the earliest, and possibly 2020 to coincide with the opening of their new stadium in Inglewood.

• Inspired by J.J. Watt, Jared Goff hopes to aid wildfire victims (ESPN NFL Nation)

The wildfires that continue to devastate the Northern California region have hit close to home for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.

• Rams GM Les Snead looks to have made right moves — at the perfect time (ESPN NFL Nation)

The 2017 season has yet to reach its midway point, a thought that should temper excitement among even the biggest of optimists. But it looks as if Snead got it right.

• Cardinals vs. Rams: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 7 (Rams Wire)

• The Rams’ Aaron Donald is back to playing like a star, and he’d like to be paid like one (Los Angeles Times)

Donald, 26, is earning about $1.8 million in the fourth year of his contract and is due to earn about $6.9 million in 2018. The three-time Pro Bowl selection did not participate in offseason workouts or training camp because he wants a new deal that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player.

• Rams GM Les Snead looks to have made right moves — at the perfect time (ESPN NFL Nation)

The 2017 season has yet to reach its midway point, a thought that should temper excitement among even the biggest of optimists. But it looks as if Snead got it right.

• On the road again, and the Rams don’t mind (ESPN NFL Nation)

“I don’t even think we should play at home,” Rams running back Todd Gurley said, jokingly (one would think). “We’ve gotten all the wins on the road. That’s been a good thing for us.”

• Pharoh Cooper Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (TheRams.com)

Cooper returned the opening kick of Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Jaguars 103 yards for a touchdown to give Los Angeles a 7-0 lead. The South Carolina product used a spin move to evade a potential Jacksonville tackler before darting up the right sideline to pay dirt.

Tuesday, October 17

• Five Takeaways: Rams Defeat Jaguars 27-17 (therams.com)

After Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Jaguars, the Rams are 4-2 for the first time since 2006 and 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001. Though the club’s offense had trouble putting up points, special teams contributed two touchdowns, providing what head coach Sean McVay called the difference in the game.

• Lance Dunbar Eligible to Come off PUP List (therams.com)

Running back Lance Dunbar is eligible to return to the active roster this week after being placed on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury at the start of training camp. Per NFL rules, if healthy, a player on PUP is eligible to return to the field at the onset of Week 7 in the regular season.

• Gurley Efficient, Effective in Run Game (therams.com)

Through six games in 2017, (Todd) Gurley is No. 4 in yards rushing with 521. He’s rushed for at least 113 yards in three of Los Angeles’ past four games, and is currently on pace to finish the year with about 1,400 — after amassing just 885 yards last year.

• Rams understand Adrian Peterson is older but still a threat (Los Angeles Times)

Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday that Peterson is a good fit for coach Bruce Arians’ scheme.

• Column So far, the Rams appear to be a contender (Los Angeles Times)

There’s no hiding it from Rams players. They know it’s out there. People are waiting for them to fade, waiting for the lush mirage to transform into a bone-dry sand pit.

• Aaron Donald earns praise from Rams coach Sean McVay for his work ethic (Orange County Register)

If Aaron Donald remains frustrated about not getting a new contract with the Rams, he’s venting it in productive ways, most notably against opposing quarterbacks and a defenseless remote control.

• Rams tried to get a uniform waiver for Sunday, but NFL said no (Orange County Register)

With their offense struggling to put consistent drives together, let alone cross the goal line, the Rams turned to their special teams to save the day against the Jaguars.

Divisional matchups are almost always hotly contested – especially when played on international soil – and that’s likely to be the case this week, too. According to Vegas Insider, the Rams are just 3.5-point favorites over the Cardinals.

The Los Angeles Rams recorded the NFL’s longest play of the season Sunday thanks to Pharoh Cooper’s 103-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown. It was his second return of 65-plus yards, and he continues to look like one of the best kick returners in the league today.

In every aspect of playing the quarterback position, Goff has improved dramatically from Year 1 to 2. He’s increased his completion percentage, only thrown three interceptions and his pocket presence is far better than it was last season. That’s all well and good, but his deep ball still needs work, especially after watching the last two games.