The St. Louis Rams tried some trickery against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Normally, this would be an exciting thing for a team that isn’t all that exciting — the Rams’ offense has been touchdown averse all season. What the Rams actually did was about just about as representative of the Jeff Fisher era as any trick play could be, however.
Rams tried to draw the Dolphins offsides when it didn’t make any sense
Jeff Fisher was really hoping he could face fourth-and-4 instead?
Facing fourth-and-9, the Rams appeared to line up in a punt formation, then motioned into a pseudo-shotgun formation with punter Johnny Hekker as the quarterback.
Instead of attempting a play, however, the Rams just tried to draw the Dolphins offsides in hopes getting 5 free yards. It didn’t work. The Dolphins stayed where they were and the Rams ended up absorbing a 5-yard delay of game penalty.
This play was very head-scratching for two reasons:
- It was telegraphed so badly that the Dolphins kept their defense out on the field.
- A 5-yard gain would have still given the Rams a fourth-and-4 ... which, Fisher and the Rams could have tried to convert, but given his track record was just as likely to result in another punt attempt.
Trying to draw the defense is usually done when the 5-yard penalty can give you a first down. Doing it to give yourself a slightly better fourth down is ... just kind of weird. Hekker was at least able to get off a decent punt, pinning the Dolphins at their own 12-yard line.
Anyway, the Rams still appear to be about that 7-9 bullsh*t.
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