Ok maybe i went a little overboard with the Megatron thread(I don't think so but i digress). It's not my money.
Anyway, let's look at what has been successful so far this season for the Rams offense.
1. The Tavon jet sweep this-and-that formation. Ciggy has run a lot of various plays out of that basic set and there's been some very good success there. It has forced defenses to stay disciplined and "think" quickly.
2. Handing off to Gurley. Nuff said.
NFL defensive coordinators are good at what they do. It's week 5. Teams are going to adjust to what Ciggy is doing and right now IMO the offense(while showing signs of the occasional big play) is fairly one-dimensional still. Tavon fake, Tavon reverse, Tavon shuffle pass, Tavon the decoy behind the LOS....mix in handing it off to Gurley and that's great. It's effective but what's missing? NFL LB's and safeties can just sit back and read the formations, follow Tavon, Gurley BEHIND the LOS where all the action is and react. There's zero threat downfield(unless of course when Gurley/Tavon break one open).
I'm afraid that without a receiving threat downfield this offense could get stonewalled in a few weeks as teams compile film on the few things Ciggy's offense does really well.
"Cook? Britt? Bailey? Quick? Meh, not worried about those guys getting open or motioning out.....Let's just key in on what Tavon & Gurley are doing pre snap around the LOS."
I haven't been one of those fans who's been pleading for a #1 WR for the last 8 years, but based upon what we've got now with Gurley & Tavon destroying defenses in the short game i've changed my mind. This offense could be really really good with a legit vertical threat outside the numbers, giving defenses something to defend beyond 10 yards.
The Rams right now are like an NBA team that plays great defense, and on offense have guys inside who can score in the paint in a variety of ways....but have no one who can shoot the 3, or keep the opposition from just sinking inside and sagging off our perimeter guys.