Originally Posted by Warhammer
I think there are several reasons:
1) He lost his OC and QB coach from last year. I don't think it has shown until now, because it didn't need to when things were good.
2) McVay has not adapted as quickly as he did earlier in the year. Early in the year, if a team was taking something away, he adapted quickly. That has not happened since the bye.
3) Goff has no confidence in Reynolds. Reynolds has made some plays, but he is not the security blanket that Kupp was. Earlier in the season, if Goff was blitzed, he immediately got the ball out to Kupp. Reynolds has made a number of bone headed plays since he has replaced Kupp and Goff is second guessing himself before making the throw. That interception he threw in the first half was not entirely on him. It was not a great throw, but Reynolds should have had that, instead he essentially knocks it up for the CB to make the play.
4) There is no help from the TEs. Higbee is not bad, but he is mostly used to block. When Everett goes in, you know it is going to be a passing play. The problem is, he is not good enough. He has the physical skills, but he makes you pull your hair out because he does not put it all together.
That incompletion to Everett in the 3rd that Collinsworth said was on Goff, I put more blame on Everett. Most receivers run that route to the sideline, if he does that, the ball is not behind him, and he walks in for a TD.
5) Teams have adapted to the Rams attack with Kupp out. Woods goes to the slot, he is fine there, but one safety helps out with Cooks, on plays the middle zone and cheats to help out on Woods, and that puts Reynolds in one and one coverage on the outside. He does not create any separation, and lacks the killer instinct to beat his man for the ball (which goes back to #2 above).
When Kupp was in, you couldn't double any two of the WRs, because the other guy would kill you. Kupp and Woods are incredible route runners and are always creating separation in 1 on 1 matchups. Cooks is not quite to their level in route running, but he can blow by you.
When Goff has time, he will pick you apart. When Goff is rushed and Kupp is out there, he will make a hot read and get it to him or Woods. Take Kupp out of the lineup, and he just doesn't have anyone to get the ball to in that situation.
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