Looking a capital cost with fit: I continue to come up with Keenan Allen as big short area target for Stafford.
My other option is Ferguson in a 12P that you can consider as as a hybrid 11P and 13P. My preferred grouping would be:
Parkinson as the Y (Inline): Parkinson sets up attached to the offensive line, executing a chip-and-release block or a short flat route. This pulls the underneath linebacker or safety toward the line of scrimmage. Also slows down the pass rush.
Ferguson as the F (Flexed/Slot): Ferguson lines up in the slot. He runs a vertical seam route or a deep crosser right behind Parkinson's underneath draw, giving Stafford an open window over the middle against a compromised secondary.
WR1-Puka The Intermediate Enforcer
Because Parkinson's chip-and-release pulls the flat defender down, and Ferguson’s vertical seam route pulls the deep safety backwards, a massive intermediate void opens up between numbers 10 and 20 yards downfield.
WR2-Tutu Atwell The Over-The-Top Constraint
Atwell's primary job in this specific look is to force the deep safety into a zero-sum decision, preventing them from sinking down to help double-team Nacua or squeeze Ferguson's seam route.
This is the framework. McVay can create options from this grouping. Back in 2020 McVay went to 12P at the end of the season with Higbee and Everett. They used it as much as 69% of the time. I'll post the link that explains how it helped the offense. This season the defenses have been blitzing Stafford and the Rams at a much higher rate. The Rams have struggled with the blitzes and stunts. This formation gives the Rams the option for greater protection by keep Parkinson in to block or chip and release.
12 Personnel allows Stafford to read numbers in the box and exploit defensive packaging instantly:
- Against Heavy Base (3-4 / 4-3): Defenses crowd the box to respect the tight ends. This leaves Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell in pure 1-on-1 isolation outside with zero safety help, giving Stafford easy passing windows if linebackers bite on the run.
- Against Light Nickel: Defenses substitute linebackers for smaller defensive backs to stop the pass. Stafford immediately audibles to an inside run, allowing Parkinson and Ferguson to physically overpower the lighter defenders for Kyren Williams.
i did post a new thread with a view of the all 22 from a Youtuber. It shows some of what's happening with the WR group and how Tutu can open up the field for others. Also shows how Stafford is feeling the pass rush. Other pass plays against the Raiders were short to Puka. TE and RBs not shown. it got 0 comments in 4 hours. i found it the film very interesting.
I wanted to dive into the All-22 film from the Raiders game to look at what's really happening with our passing game. There's been a lot of speculation about Stafford's execution, the WRs and protection. I didn't know what I would see in this All-22 review from the Raiders game. What I saw was how much Tutu opens up things for others. My main takeaway from the film is the ultimate car analogy: Stafford is the driver, while Puka is the engine and Tutu can be the turbocharger.
I broke down the timestamps from a great film review video (link at the bottom) to show what the tape is...
