Dahl says the Rams’ D could “differentiate between run and pass early” against the 49ers last season

SANTA CLARA – Craig Dahl, a former St. Louis Ram, spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon. He was asked how the Rams’ defense played the 49ers’ offense so tough last season. Here’s what Dahl said.

Q: You were on the Rams’ defense last season. Why did you guys play the 49ers’ offense so well?

DAHL: We had a few tips off of film. We were able to differentiate between run and pass early. That kind of gave us an added benefit on defense. In St. Louis, the mentality was we always looked up to the 49ers as the staple of the NFC West. They had the target on their back, and we were out there gunning for it.

Q: The tips on film, did you relay those to the coaching staff here?

DAHL: Yeah, definitely. It’s been corrected. It’s just them discussing what kind of things we prepared for when I was in St. Louis last year, as far as scouting and the different things we saw game planning against the 49ers. Working with the offensive coaches on that aspect, and then giving them tips and tendencies about their offense.

Q: What were the tips?

DAHL: It was a few different things. Different personnel and different alignment stuff really were the big keys as far as give-aways.

Q: They’ve fixed the issues?

DAHL: It’s been addressed. They knew most of it before I even got here. They were just reconfirming. It’s just on-going self-study and self-scouting.

Q: Did you notice this stuff yourself or did the coaches tell you on the Rams?

DAHL: It was something that had been brought forth originally by the coaches. We studied it as players.

 

This confirms my feeling that the Rams knew what the 49ers were doing last season and outcoached them with inferior players.

What do you think?

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