This article is for the true football geeks.  The guys who need to know why something works or why it doesn't.  Each week I will take a look at 5 plays that were important to the Rams game and give my best interpretation as to what happened.  When you watch a game it is difficult to tell sometimes why big plays happen or why plays don't work.  That is why coaches always say the eye in the sky never lies.  When you go back and look at the tape most plays can be broken down to one great move or one mistake.  I have examined five plays that helped decide the Rams fate in Seattle....

Play One: Julius Jones 62 Yard Touchdown (3:52-3rd Quarter)

This play was a case of two linebackers making critical mistakes and O.J. Atogwe taking a horrible angle all of which caused Julius Jones to break free.  Linebacker Will Witherspoon made the correct play in filling the opening hole that Jones was going to run through.  Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Griffith gives a nice block and forces Witherspoon to miss by just a little bit.  This is where it goes downhill quick.  Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis does not fill the hole and allows Seahawks Guard Rob Sims to get his hands on him and Sims manhandles Laurinaitis out of the way.  Then the two critical errors on the play happen when linebacker David Vobora completely runs past the hole while trying to run away from guard Max Unger instead of taking him on.  Then for whatever reason O.J. Atogwe takes an incorrect angle and Jones is gone.  62 yards later the Seahawks are up 28-0 and any chance for the Rams is gone.  Bad angles are the reason why yet again the Rams give up a huge run in a game in Seattle.

Play Two: 3rd and 6 on Rams 23.  Hasselbeck to Houshmandzadeh for First (8:55-2nd Quarter)

This play is not the type of play that will ever show up on Sportscenter but it is exactly the kind of play that wins football games.  There is no score at this point and the Seahawks are driving.  A stop forces a long field goal attempt.  A first down keeps the drive alive and gives Seattle a chance at a first.  The Rams decide to go with a zone defense dropping all three linebackers into coverage.  T.J. Houshmandzadeh is given a 5 yard cushion by Jonathan Wade at the snap.  Houshmandzadeh heads straight downfield and then cuts off his route at 8 yards and curls under.  James Laurinaitis cannot drop back fast enough to cover the curl route and it is an easy first down for the Seahawks.  The question is why do the Rams not have Wade play tighter in that situation when you have the safety over the top.  Without knowing the call I can't tell you that Wade was playing in the right or wrong position but from a scheme standpoint the Seahawks made a great call and Matt Hasselbeck clearly saw that they could get the first on that play.

Play Three: John Carlson Touchdown (5:50-2nd Quarter)

When I watched this play live on Sunday I originally thought this was a well designed play.  After further review I realized that it had more to do with James Laurinaitis not following his keys.  At the snap Matt Hasselbeck gave a weak fake handoff to Julius Jones.  At that point Laurinaitis had already committed his mistake.  Tight End John Carlson, who has to be one of his keys at the snap, had blown by him into his route.  At that point it was only a matter of time for the touchdown.  The play continued and it was as simple as Hasselbeck flipping the ball into the back of the endzone for the touchdown.  The NFL loves to pick on rookies and Laurinaitis is not the first one to ever get beaten on that play but it shows you how the NFL will try to exploit every weakness a team has.

Play Four: 3rd and 12 on Rams 24 Bulger Sacked By Tatupu (4:53-2nd Quarter)

As much as people are ticked off at Richie Incognito for his ridiculous personal fouls, Marc Bulger should be upset that Incognito hung him out to dry on this play.  The play was an obvious pass call and much like last season the Seahawks decided to blitz seven focusing on the interior part of the Rams line.  The Rams were attempting to run a screen pass.  For the play to work though the offensive line has to hold up the Seahawks defenders for a little bit. Richie Incognito and Jacob Bell did not even give a token effort to stop the blitzing linebackers and it was open season on Bulger.  Lofa Tatupu and Aaron Curry were running free to the quarterback and they finished him off.  A screen pass would have worked there because Steven Jackson was standing all alone in the middle of the field but because the line didn't do their job the play was doomed to failure.

Play Five: John Carlson 33 Yard Touchdown (5:08-3rd Quarter)

This was one play of many that you have to tip your hat to the Seattle Seahawks.  After making a big gain on the previous play the Seahawks dialed up John Carlson's number again.  The Rams were in a zone defense and Carlson was running a straight route.  Carlson went past David Vobora's zone and into James Butler's area.  The problem was that the play was designed for T.J. Houshmandzadeh to force Butler's attention away from Carlson, which worked, and it left Carlson all alone for the touchdown and made it an easy decision for Matt Hasselbeck.  The shame is, if your a Rams fan, the Rams defense did everything right and they still failed.  It happens that way in football sometimes.  The right play is called against the wrong defense and it kills you.

I will continue this tape breakdown each week.  Hopefully it will allow you some greater insight into why things work or don't work and please feel free to comment or ask questions.  I will try to get the answers to any play questions as best I can.

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