Did McVay go vannila after clinching playoff spot

[Ehardo]

For some reason I just believe McVay went very vannila with his play calling starting with the Lions game. The games from the Lions thru the Eagles the offense was very bland. Hardly no Gurley usage(maybe because of injury), no jet sweeps, same formations that everyone is saying is predictable now. But I remember Robert Woods saying after the Viking game that we have not seen anything yet and that they was only using like 1/4 of the playbook. Also McVay always say your tape is your resume so why so more if you don’t have too. When we played Chicago in week 14 I think McVay knew their was a good chance in couple of weeks he was going to be playing the Bears again. In my opinion we held back in that game just so we did not have to put anything on tape. Curious I am the only one that feel this way.

 

[Big Game]

Good theory, we shall see Saturday what they showcase verse the Cowboys.

 

[-X-]

Thought the same thing. Seems like he didn’t go any deeper in the playbook once we were guaranteed a playoff spot. I expect to see a few wrinkles Saturday.

 

[Ellard80]

Honestly they have ran a lot of the same plays for the past 2 years.

Mcvay's concept is that the formations are the same but the defense is not sure what is coming from that formation.

Like when you play madden against a human opponent... when you have one formation with a bunch of different plays off of it - it's hard to defend.

Just having a bunch of different formations isn't necessarily better. More formations and more plays also means that the execution of those plays are not going to be as precise (because of sheer volume).

so yeah he probably will have some new stuff.. but I don't think there was any intentional "vanilla."

 

[ramsplaya16]

I thought the same, seems after the bye the really stopped running as much of the jet sweeps and the things that made us so successful, maybe to give our opponents more tape on other things to focus on in hopes that we can catch them by surprise?

 

[LARams_1963]

I've been thinking since the start of the season that he was going to have a "Playoff" playbook if we made it. Of course we're not talking a whole playbook, but I would be surprised if we don't see some new stuff.

 

[badnews]

To me its seemed obvious that both the O and D played pretty vanila in terms of game planning and that was ok because we were winning anyways.
Once we KNEW we were in the playoffs, we stepped it down even more.
Personally I think this entire season has been about getting a playoff game - and then WIN THAT GAME.
Kroenke, McVay, all of them had 1 goal. Get the LA Rams a playoff WIN.

We were easily the best, most complete team in the NFL -right up until we pulled back a little.

 

[Ehardo]

What are the chances that the Rams and the Saints struggle at the end of the season after they both made the playoffs after week 11. So McVay and Payton two of the best offensive minds in football all of sudden had trouble scoring.

 

[Malibu]

Weird this angle on vanilla gameplaga came up I thought about this last night. I saw less up tempo, less gadget motions etc. My thoughts were McVay was holding back because the offense looked less tricky and way more predicable.

Why: .Honestly not sure - maybe to re calibrate towards what others started doing and testing what was working against those looks. Maybe working on Goff's confidence. Maybe I am over thinking this, but it did feel a little vanilla especially no up tempo and way less motions. Hardly any any trick type plays. Less screens - all this is a reference to the first 12 games after that things felt different.

I called my shot with 13-3 and it was a layup and it was. I am calling my shot that the Rams smoke the Cowboys. The Cowboys are really injured on the offense side of the ball especially at WR and the Oline. We get up on them they can't come back.

 

[rking4441]

That might be true but I think that is partly due to the injuries to Brown and Gurley. Remember that the Rams were the #2 rushing team in the NFL and the injuries to our RB tandem really effected the way our offense operated. This changed how defenses attacked the Rams, with no threat of a running game, and the effects were obvious. With CJ Anderson being added you saw that teams had to change their approach and the offense look much more like it did earlier in the year. If Gurley really is healthy I think Dallas fans, and others, will be shocked that the explosive Rams offense is back! Factor in that the Defense has been play much better since Talib returned and you have a recipe to see a version of the Rams no one has seen this year, explosive offense with a dominating defense.

 

[dang]

I don’t believe this to be true other than the fact they committed to the pound and ground offense the last 2 games.

 

[Mackeyser]

I think it was both things.

I think they went vanilla a bit... AND McVay committed to pounding the rock because as we've seen in every game thus far, at some point, you have to be able to do that or you can't close out the game and the Rams have struggled to do that a bit.

So looking forward to this win.

 

[Hey Man]

Great post, I'm not crazy, thanks for posting the same thing I was thinking but thought I was stupid for thinking it.
Can't wait for Saturday night !

 

[RamFan503]

I’ve brought this up before to mixed responses. I think it’s not only possible but likely.

 

[Karate61]

That might be true but I think that is partly due to the injuries to Brown and Gurley.

Agreed! But, I think it's more then partly, but rather significantly. Rams were down to one injured back at one time. With TG3 limping along, I imagine that affected Mcvay's play calls. Things sure changed upon the arrival of C.J.

Our field goal kicker issues really affected the Rams last season, just like the RB injuries has this last half of this season.

Heading into the playoffs, apparently healthy as heck, I expect the Rams to once again, tear it up on offense and open up that playbook!

 

[Rmfnlt]

Not sure if this theory holds any water but...

If that was the game plan, I hope they can just "flip the switch" to the expanded game plan. Sometimes, that backfires.

That being said, I have confidence in McVay holding strong practices to ensure the change in plans is executed right.

 

[Ram65]

Interesting theory. Seems early with five games remaining to circle the wagons on play calling. Have to admit the lack of Jet Sweep motion was puzzling. The injuries to TG and MB had to have some effect on play calling. I could see McVay not wanting to show new plays or seldom used plays late in the season. He also got the TEs involved more using a two TE set one week. You have to think he has plays he never or seldom used ready for the playoffs.

 

[Merlin]

It's hard to imagine Coach McVay doing anything half @$$. Even going vanilla after clinching and in preparation for the playoffs.

He's going to have some new stuff in store for the Cowboys. More plays branching off the same old looks. But I don't know that new plays mean he was going vanilla, seriously doubt that.

 

[TheTackle]

We had three losses, one was on the defence. The reason we lost to the Bears and Eagles was because we did not do a good job executing, not because of the play calling or designs....

My biggest fear is that McVey calls too many passes, we have some 3 and outs and then do not get the ball back for long periods. Once Goff and the O get in rhythm we look unbeatable, but last year that formula led to our demise

 

[majrleaged]

I dont think he went vanila. I think he made an adjustment in play calling do to injuries to the RBs.Turns out it affected the blocking which affected everything else. They went out and got a legitimate RB and all is good.