Five interesting stats from the 2019 season for the Los Angeles Rams

[Riverumbbq]

Let’s take a look at the offense’s performance throughout the season.


By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP Jan 14, 2020, 11:26am CST

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports


The 2019 season didn’t go as planned for the Los Angeles Rams, but with the help of in-depth statistics, we can begin to see where things went right, and where they went wrong.

With the help of a great resource such as Pro Football Reference, I’ve gathered five interesting offensive stats from the 2019 season.
Here they are:

YAC City
If you’re looking for the best support system for a quarterback — at least in terms of receiving, there probably isn’t a better situation than the Rams. The team is absolutely loaded with weapons ranging from receivers, to tight ends, to running backs. If you don’t believe me, well, look at their ability to create yards-after-catch (YAC). The Rams led the league in YAC yardage with 2,106 yards, clearing the next-closest team by 50 yards.
WR Robert Woods led the team with 576 YAC, with Cooper Kupp (538) and TE Tyler Higbee(396) rounding out the top-three.

Poor Throws
If you’re squeamish, look away. QB Jared Goff (and the Rams as a whole) was 2nd in the league in “poor throws” with 124 of his attempts registering in this category, trailing only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions by one attempt.
Clearly, the year didn’t go as planned for the signal-caller that just recently led his team to a Super Bowl, but that can be attributed to a myriad of factors. Goff’s regression is at the forefront, though his offensive line’s ability — or lack thereof — to pass protect and the inactive state of the running game provided little help.
For reference sake: Goff only had 93 “poor throws” in 2018.

On-Target Throws
The raw number of on-target throws (would have hit the intended receiver) for Goff seems like a great amount as he had 438 on-target throws — which was good for 5th in the league, but he only registered 71.2% of his throws as on-target throws, a figure that places him at 28th in the league.

For an offense that was built on staying ahead of the chains and routinely picking up chunk plays, this figure isn’t great.

Pass Pro
Even though most would agree the Rams didn’t have optimal pass protection, they were tied for 2nd (with five other teams) for the average time the QB had in the pocket between the snap and throwing the ball or pressure collapsing the pocket with an average of 2.6 seconds per throw.
Now, that figure doesn’t necessarily mean the pass protection was good, but it does make you think twice about why the Rams weren’t more successful offensively. Some of the teams tied with the Rams were rather successful throwing the ball, though a lot of teams in the league do employ mobile QB’s who are capable of maneuvering pockets, scrambling, and buying time/space to create different launch points at a superior rate to a prototypical pocket-passing QB like Goff.

RPO’s
RPO’s — or run-pass options as they’re formally called — are exactly what they sound like. The QB receives the snap in a shotgun formation, and then has the option to either hand the ball off to his running back or to pull the ball out of his RB’s gut (sort of like a quick play action) and then throw a quick pass. The offensive line blocks the play as a running play regardless, which means the onus is on the QB to pull the ball and release the pass in time prior to offensive lineman working too far downfield.
There are different ways of deploying RPO’s, such as pre-snap box-counts or post-snap reads, but it doesn’t really matter at this juncture because the Rams ran the 2nd least amount of RPO’s (5 plays) in the league this season. The Rams topped only the last-placed Minnesota Vikings by one RPO.
Now, this offense will never evolve into an RPO-based one, and it shouldn’t, but with how much success some teams have had around the league using RPO’s, why not at least incorporate them more? It becomes much easier to run an RPO if you have an RB threat and WR’s who can create YAC (the Rams have both).
For comparison’s sake, the Oakland Raiders ran the 4th least amount of RPO’s with 22 and the San Francisco 49ers ranked 7th least with 34 RPO’s. The reason these two teams were singled out? Well, Head Coach Sean McVay’s scheme was based on the Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan trees.

Five interesting stats from the 2019 season for the Los Angeles Rams

Let’s take a look at the offense’s performance throughout the season.

www.turfshowtimes.com

 

[Riverumbbq]

5 reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020
Cameron DaSilva

4 hours ago

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
After reaching Super Bowl LIII last February, the Los Angeles Rams regressed and became just an average team in 2019. The offense wasn’t close to what it was in 2018, while the defense found absolutely no consistency.

It isn’t all doom and gloom for the Rams, though. There are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the 2020 season, even after they went just 9-7 this past year.
The Rams have the potential to be a Super Bowl contender next season if their top players perform up to expectations, and if the front office is able to replace potential departures in free agency.

Here are five reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020.

Jared Goff showed he can be a top QB in 2018

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

There were a number of factors that led to Goff’s disappointing 2019 season. His offensive line was constantly undergoing changes due to injury and it struggled all year long. The Rams’ running game was almost non-existent, partly due to Todd Gurley’s reduced workload and his ineffectiveness in most games.
Goff, himself, deserves plenty of blame for the way he played, too, but he’s also shown he can be a top quarterback before. In 2018, he was an MVP candidate until the Rams’ Week 12 bye, after which he regressed. In the first 11 games of that season, he threw 26 touchdown passes and six interceptions with a passer rating of 113.5.
If he returns to that level of play in 2020, the Rams will look more like the team that made it to the Super Bowl than the one that missed the playoffs. A lot of their success hinges on Goff, and while his 2019 campaign was concerning, his 2018 season is reason for hope.

Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald are defensive cornerstones

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to two-player tandems on defense, the Rams might have the best in the NFL. Donald is undeniably the top interior defender in the NFL, while Ramsey is among the league’s elite cornerbacks. Having two players of their caliber is a huge advantage for the Rams, especially with the defense potentially losing a few starters in Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler Jr.
The best way to build a top defense is by having a shutdown cornerback and a consistent pass rusher. Los Angeles has both, which is a recipe for success on that side of the ball. Even if Fowler and Littleton leave, Donald and Ramsey will remain as cornerstones of the defense. They make everyone around them better.

Sean McVay is learning to adapt

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

This past season was McVay’s most difficult as a head coach. The Rams faced a great deal of adversity, from injuries to midseason trades to the uncertainty surrounding Todd Gurley. McVay did his best to adapt to the circumstances, though you could argue he should’ve done it sooner than he did.
Toward the end of the season, McVay called more bootlegs and rollouts to protect Goff from pressure and help out the makeshift offensive line. He also used more 12 personnel, getting two tight ends on the field at once. The offense still wasn’t as consistent or explosive as it was in 2018, but it found a rhythm late in the year – specifically Goff.
McVay will come back in 2020 with a better game plan and a more diverse offense. He likely won’t be as reliant on 11 personnel as he has been, which teams have found ways to combat. The Rams are in good hands with McVay.

Rams’ pass catchers are as good as any in the NFL

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Between Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, the Rams may have the best corps of pass catchers in the league. Kupp is a top slot receiver, Woods is vastly underrated as an all-around receiver and Cooks should bounce back from a letdown in 2019 that was partly due to him suffering two concussions.
Higbee’s emergence in December adds another wrinkle to the offense, too. He became Goff’s favorite target late in the year, gaining big yardage after the catch and working well on off-script plays. Everett missed part of the season with a knee injury, but he shouldn’t be forgotten about, either.
With a great cast of receivers around Goff, the Rams offense should perform at a higher level next season if everyone stays relatively healthy.

Offensive linemen have one more year of experience

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Though the Rams allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL this past season, the offensive line did not perform well as a whole. Goff was under pressure frequently, and the running lanes opened up for Gurley were few and far between.

The line could lose Andrew Whitworth and Austin Blythe in free agency, but the rest of the unit will have an added year of experience in 2020 than it did last season. David Edwards was thrust into a starting role at guard despite never playing there before, and he performed well. Bobby Evans took over at right tackle when Rob Havenstein got hurt, and while he got a lot of help on the edge, he wasn’t a complete disaster.

Brian Allen and Joseph Noteboom missed most of the season with injuries, but they should come back even better in 2020 after getting their first taste as starters in the NFL. It’ll still take a lot for the Rams to have one of the best lines in football next season, but at the very least, it shouldn’t be any worse than it was.

5 reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020

The Rams have the talent to be a Super Bowl team, but they must put it all together.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Mojo Ram]

Toward the end of the season, McVay called more bootlegs and rollouts to protect Goff from pressure and help out the makeshift offensive line.

He also used more 12 personnel, getting two tight ends on the field at once. The offense still wasn’t as consistent or explosive as it was in 2018, but it found a rhythm late in the year – specifically Goff.

McVay will come back in 2020 with a better game plan and a more diverse offense. He likely won’t be as reliant on 11 personnel as he has been, which teams have found ways to combat. The Rams are in good hands with McVay.

 

[bubbaramfan]

All of that may be true, but the Rams aren't going anywhere until the OL improves. They did after the bye, but still need to get better.

Rams are a stud center away from challenging for another SB.

 

[Mackeyser]

All of that may be true, but the Rams aren't going anywhere until the OL improves. They did after the bye, but still need to get better.

Rams are a stud center away from challenging for another SB.

That's my take as well.

I dunno what the answer is (besides knowing that moving Corbett there isn't the answer), but when it comes to FA signings, that should be the ONLY one that matters.

Retaining our guys is a much tougher row to hoe...

 

[Riverumbbq]

That's my take as well.

I dunno what the answer is (besides knowing that moving Corbett there isn't the answer), but when it comes to FA signings, that should be the ONLY one that matters.

Retaining our guys is a much tougher row to hoe...

What are your objections to Corbett at Center ?

 

[Mackeyser]

What are your objections to Corbett at Center ?

I'd like more beef. I know normally you have more of a technician at C and bigger at OG, but Corbett is already a little light for me and honestly, I'm tired of Goff seeing his Center's number flying in his face every dropback... I'd like a guy who can make the calls and can anchor.

Now, if we got someone like Saffold at LG, then I guess I'd be okay with Corbett at C, but we just need to be bigger on the OL. Yeah, they still need to be able to run the blocking scheme, but a lot of teams are stocking up on at least a pair of pocket pushers for DT/NT and rotate them. If an OL is inexperienced or light, that big DT/NT can really disrupt everything and take over the LOS.

When we had Saffold and when Hav was playing at a higher level, we blew teams off the ball.

If we're going to be successful, we need that again.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'd like more beef. I know normally you have more of a technician at C and bigger at OG, but Corbett is already a little light for me and honestly, I'm tired of Goff seeing his Center's number flying in his face every dropback... I'd like a guy who can make the calls and can anchor.

Now, if we got someone like Saffold at LG, then I guess I'd be okay with Corbett at C, but we just need to be bigger on the OL. Yeah, they still need to be able to run the blocking scheme, but a lot of teams are stocking up on at least a pair of pocket pushers for DT/NT and rotate them. If an OL is inexperienced or light, that big DT/NT can really disrupt everything and take over the LOS.

When we had Saffold and when Hav was playing at a higher level, we blew teams off the ball.

If we're going to be successful, we need that again.

Corbett is at 306lbs. and only 24 y.o., 8 lbs. over Blythe and 3 years younger, who's to say he can't put another 4-5 lbs of muscle on over the off-season, whether playing C or LG ? And Corbett didn't have the benefit of a Rams camp or early access to our training programs. Corbett was drafted #33 overall, Blythe was a 7'th rounder.

Same goes for our two 22 year olds, Evans & Edwards, another off-season & camp should be quite beneficial.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Rams are a stud center away from challenging for another SB.

If only that was true, this would be the easiest off-season ever.

 

[Mackeyser]

Corbett is at 306lbs. and only 24 y.o., 8 lbs. over Blythe and 3 years younger, who's to say he can't put another 4-5 lbs of muscle on over the off-season, whether playing C or LG ? And Corbett didn't have the benefit of a Rams camp or early access to our training programs.

Same goes for our two 22 year olds, Evans & Edwards, another off-season & camp should be quite beneficial.

I'm also allowing for the possibility that we may already have our OL and it's pretty good with Blythe returning to LG and Corbett moving to C and with some bulking up, they could be ready to go...

 

[Mackeyser]

If only that was true, this would be the easiest off-season ever.

I dunno. Most years there aren't many Centers coming available that are worth it. If they do, they're prime signings.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'm also allowing for the possibility that we may already have our OL and it's pretty good with Blythe returning to LG and Corbett moving to C and with some bulking up, they could be ready to go...

Wait ... what ?

 

[Mackeyser]

Thought Blythe was at LG prior to moving to C. Might have been RG.

I dunno. I got my Botox for my migraines today and I'm a little out of it...

 

[dang]

All of that may be true, but the Rams aren't going anywhere until the OL improves. They did after the bye, but still need to get better.

Rams are a stud center away from challenging for another SB.

What about LT and the defense?

 

[CGI_Ram]

5 reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020
Cameron DaSilva

4 hours ago

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
After reaching Super Bowl LIII last February, the Los Angeles Rams regressed and became just an average team in 2019. The offense wasn’t close to what it was in 2018, while the defense found absolutely no consistency.

It isn’t all doom and gloom for the Rams, though. There are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the 2020 season, even after they went just 9-7 this past year.
The Rams have the potential to be a Super Bowl contender next season if their top players perform up to expectations, and if the front office is able to replace potential departures in free agency.

Here are five reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020.

Jared Goff showed he can be a top QB in 2018

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

There were a number of factors that led to Goff’s disappointing 2019 season. His offensive line was constantly undergoing changes due to injury and it struggled all year long. The Rams’ running game was almost non-existent, partly due to Todd Gurley’s reduced workload and his ineffectiveness in most games.
Goff, himself, deserves plenty of blame for the way he played, too, but he’s also shown he can be a top quarterback before. In 2018, he was an MVP candidate until the Rams’ Week 12 bye, after which he regressed. In the first 11 games of that season, he threw 26 touchdown passes and six interceptions with a passer rating of 113.5.
If he returns to that level of play in 2020, the Rams will look more like the team that made it to the Super Bowl than the one that missed the playoffs. A lot of their success hinges on Goff, and while his 2019 campaign was concerning, his 2018 season is reason for hope.

Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald are defensive cornerstones

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to two-player tandems on defense, the Rams might have the best in the NFL. Donald is undeniably the top interior defender in the NFL, while Ramsey is among the league’s elite cornerbacks. Having two players of their caliber is a huge advantage for the Rams, especially with the defense potentially losing a few starters in Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler Jr.
The best way to build a top defense is by having a shutdown cornerback and a consistent pass rusher. Los Angeles has both, which is a recipe for success on that side of the ball. Even if Fowler and Littleton leave, Donald and Ramsey will remain as cornerstones of the defense. They make everyone around them better.

Sean McVay is learning to adapt

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

This past season was McVay’s most difficult as a head coach. The Rams faced a great deal of adversity, from injuries to midseason trades to the uncertainty surrounding Todd Gurley. McVay did his best to adapt to the circumstances, though you could argue he should’ve done it sooner than he did.
Toward the end of the season, McVay called more bootlegs and rollouts to protect Goff from pressure and help out the makeshift offensive line. He also used more 12 personnel, getting two tight ends on the field at once. The offense still wasn’t as consistent or explosive as it was in 2018, but it found a rhythm late in the year – specifically Goff.
McVay will come back in 2020 with a better game plan and a more diverse offense. He likely won’t be as reliant on 11 personnel as he has been, which teams have found ways to combat. The Rams are in good hands with McVay.

Rams’ pass catchers are as good as any in the NFL

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Between Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, the Rams may have the best corps of pass catchers in the league. Kupp is a top slot receiver, Woods is vastly underrated as an all-around receiver and Cooks should bounce back from a letdown in 2019 that was partly due to him suffering two concussions.
Higbee’s emergence in December adds another wrinkle to the offense, too. He became Goff’s favorite target late in the year, gaining big yardage after the catch and working well on off-script plays. Everett missed part of the season with a knee injury, but he shouldn’t be forgotten about, either.
With a great cast of receivers around Goff, the Rams offense should perform at a higher level next season if everyone stays relatively healthy.

Offensive linemen have one more year of experience

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Though the Rams allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL this past season, the offensive line did not perform well as a whole. Goff was under pressure frequently, and the running lanes opened up for Gurley were few and far between.

The line could lose Andrew Whitworth and Austin Blythe in free agency, but the rest of the unit will have an added year of experience in 2020 than it did last season. David Edwards was thrust into a starting role at guard despite never playing there before, and he performed well. Bobby Evans took over at right tackle when Rob Havenstein got hurt, and while he got a lot of help on the edge, he wasn’t a complete disaster.

Brian Allen and Joseph Noteboom missed most of the season with injuries, but they should come back even better in 2020 after getting their first taste as starters in the NFL. It’ll still take a lot for the Rams to have one of the best lines in football next season, but at the very least, it shouldn’t be any worse than it was.

5 reasons for hope for the Rams in 2020

The Rams have the talent to be a Super Bowl team, but they must put it all together.

theramswire.usatoday.com

Good read.

 

[FrantikRam]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

 

[fearsomefour]

I'd like more beef. I know normally you have more of a technician at C and bigger at OG, but Corbett is already a little light for me and honestly, I'm tired of Goff seeing his Center's number flying in his face every dropback... I'd like a guy who can make the calls and can anchor.

Now, if we got someone like Saffold at LG, then I guess I'd be okay with Corbett at C, but we just need to be bigger on the OL. Yeah, they still need to be able to run the blocking scheme, but a lot of teams are stocking up on at least a pair of pocket pushers for DT/NT and rotate them. If an OL is inexperienced or light, that big DT/NT can really disrupt everything and take over the LOS.

When we had Saffold and when Hav was playing at a higher level, we blew teams off the ball.

If we're going to be successful, we need that again.

Most centers become centers because they are a little small for the other spots.....but have good technique.
Like most bass players become bass players because the other guitar players around are better soloists.
It’s not glamorous but every great band has a great bass player.
The Rams need an upgrade at C.
Can they find one mid rounds (3rd) like the kid from Wisconsin? Then see if he can play at the NFL level or not?

 

[fearsomefour]

Top 5 in time to pass coupled with fewest sacks allowed.

Sounds like the pass protection wasn't the problem.

It got better as the year went on.
Early/mid year it was pretty bad.

 

[fearsomefour]

What about LT and the defense?

Yep.
Potential holes everywhere.

 

[fearsomefour]

I dunno. Most years there aren't many Centers coming available that are worth it. If they do, they're prime signings.

It would be a backup guy that can compete for a starting job.