Run Game needs to take a leap this year.

[Merlin]

The run game has always been one of McVay's greatest weaknesses and it's part of the reason we didn't win that Super Bowl in 2018. He had the QB to overcome that last season but there was nothing there on the ground to support Stafford in the biggest moments. So it remains something he needs to improve on.

What I find interesting about this topic, as well, is the high regard with which he holds his ex-RB coach Brown. Brown got screwed last year by Akers going down and being left with his dick in his hand re: the roster. But for all the love of the guy the production from the unit was not special. This year he moved to the TEs and what happens? We keep only 2 of them. Again this is something I find interesting.

Same with the OL. As good a job as Carberry did with the pass pro, where the OL got better and better as the season progressed, they were shit in the run game for a deep playoff contender.

Philosophically can he keep winning Super Bowls without a run game? Maybe we're going to find out. Because I don't think he did enough on that front to fix what has been a weakness of his and I also think it contributes to his TD rate in the redzone being lower than you would think it would be given his acumen with offense.

My own guess on this is that the run game is what gets sacrificed by McVay's insistence on above the neck focus and keeping players fresh. They simply do not hit and work pad intensity like some other teams do. But I might be wrong there, and admit this is my assumption, as I do not watch all the practices around the league to compare.

 

[Kupped]

The run game has always been one of McVay's greatest weaknesses and it's part of the reason we didn't win that Super Bowl in 2018. He had the QB to overcome that last season but there was nothing there on the ground to support Stafford in the biggest moments. So it remains something he needs to improve on.

What I find interesting about this topic, as well, is the high regard with which he holds his ex-RB coach Brown. Brown got screwed last year by Akers going down and being left with his dick in his hand re: the roster. But for all the love of the guy the production from the unit was not special. This year he moved to the TEs and what happens? We keep only 2 of them. Again this is something I find interesting.

Same with the OL. As good a job as Carberry did with the pass pro, where the OL got better and better as the season progressed, they were shit in the run game for a deep playoff contender.

Philosophically can he keep winning Super Bowls without a run game? Maybe we're going to find out. Because I don't think he did enough on that front to fix what has been a weakness of his and I also think it contributes to his TD rate in the redzone being lower than you would think it would be given his acumen with offense.

My own guess on this is that the run game is what gets sacrificed by McVay's insistence on above the neck focus and keeping players fresh. They simply do not hit and work pad intensity like some other teams do. But I might be wrong there, and admit this is my assumption, as I do not watch all the practices around the league to compare.

Couldn’t really disagree more on the overall perception of McVay & run game.
McVay and Goff got exposed in SB.. not the run game.
When the Rams needed to get back to basics with the run last year, they could.
The Super Bowl showed they would’ve blown the Bengals out of the water with a healthy OBJ.

Top 5 run teams last year did nothing… and much of the Bills run success was because of Allen.

Rams held Niners to 50 yards in NFC title game.. hammering home that if you don’t have the QB, your run game simply won’t matter in the playoffs.

 

[Corbin]

Yea I know. I mean how many man hours and expertise would it take
to actually come up with something accurate.
Probably not the best example I could have used for
a we need to improve run game post.

Man hours and expertise?

This fucking is the biggest GenZ BS stat I’ve ever heard of. It’s subjective as all hell. You’re fucking telling you’re going to guess a quantifiable number based on The field location, speed and direction of blockers?

 

[Merlin]

Couldn’t really disagree more on the overall perception of McVay & run game.
McVay and Goff got exposed in SB.. not the run game.

The run game was not there. Goff is a QB that requires play action to do his thing and the Patriots knew that.

Oh and congrats on the big avatar improvement.

 

[AvengerRam]

What the Rams need is a CRT.

No, not the hot-button academic philosophy that causes sharp divides across the political spectrum...

I'm speaking of a CREDIBLE RUN THREAT.

We don't need to be at the top of the league in rushing yards. Heck, the last 3 Super Bowl Champs all averaged below 100 yards/game on the ground.

But, the Rams need to be effective enough in the run game to keep opposing defenses a bit off balance, to run clock on occasion, and in short yardage situations. Hopefully, with a stable of healthy (for now) backs who fit McVay's system, we'll see this level of success.

 

[Kupped]

Man hours and expertise?

This fucking is the biggest GenZ BS stat I’ve ever heard of. It’s subjective as all hell. You’re fucking telling you’re going to guess a quantifiable number based on The field location, speed and direction of blockers?

I don’t think you read his post correctly, based on your response.

And.. a lot of that Gen Z bullshit is what the Rams embrace and is a reason why they’re so good.

 

[Jacobarch]

It’s players and scheme. Years ago defenses struggled with the zbs. It’s not as tough to beat anymore. So, if you run that system you need a few guys that excel at it. The Rams lost their best run blocker in Whitworth. It’s likely to be just as bad if not worse this year.

Id argue that Hav is a better run blocker than Whit.
I agree tho with everything else you stated.

 

[Merlin]

Corbin right now...

 

[Kupped]

The run game was not there. Goff is a QB that requires play action to do his thing and the Patriots knew that.

Oh and congrats on the big avatar improvement.

I guess where we disagree is that I just don’t think you can count on play action in the playoffs. Too many good defenses.

And… thanks!!! Matches the username now, too!

 

[OldSchool]

Sticking with my Jay Gruden theory.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Top 5 run teams last year did nothing… and much of the Bills run success was because of Allen.

I haven't heard anyone asking for a top 5 running game, but some balance to our already superior passing game can take us to the next level overall.

 

[Corbin]

I don’t think you read his post correctly, based on your response.

And.. a lot of that Gen Z bullshit is what the Rams embrace and is a reason why they’re so good.

I read it correctly. I’m not criticizing analytics which are very integral into what we do but just like in Sports News/Regular news where the trend is to be first and not necessarily accurate the trend with sports sites/companies is trying to create a new BS statistical equation to try and bring more people to your site/company as a trusted and innovative leader in sports. 90% of them go nowhere and are useless BS.

 

[Merlin]

I guess where we disagree is that I just don’t think you can count on play action in the playoffs. Too many good defenses.

We don't disagree on that. I think that is true and the numbers probably support it. There are certainly teams that could dictate the run game even in the playoffs but they're pretty rare because as you observe the defenses are very good and also modern DCs will sell the F out to stop the run and make the QB beat them.

Since that game I think McVay has been trying to improve his run potency but there is a philosophical problem there, which is to say he only sticks with it when he has early success. I just think the issues run very deep with him.

 

[AvengerRam]

I haven't heard anyone asking for a top 5 running game, but some balance to our already superior passing game can take us to the next level overall.

Kansas City (2019)
Passing Yards: 5th/Rushing Yards: 23rd

Tampa Bay (2020)
Passing Yards: 2nd/Rushing Yards: 28th

Los Angeles Rams (2021)
Passing Yards: 5th/Rushing Yards: 25th

Balance is a bit overrated, no? I think, as I said earlier, its more about being situationally competent in the running game.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Kansas City (2019)
Passing Yards: 5th/Rushing Yards: 23rd

Tampa Bay (2020)
Passing Yards: 2nd/Rushing Yards: 28th

Los Angeles Rams (2021)
Passing Yards: 5th/Rushing Yards: 25th

Balance is a bit overrated, no?

We overcame that lack of balance last year, obviously, ... but are you suggesting that improving the run aspect of our offensive attack won't or can't be beneficial ?

 

[AvengerRam]

We overcame that lack of balance last year, obviously, ... but are you suggesting that improving the run aspect of our offensive attack won't or can't be beneficial ?

Improving any facet of the game is beneficial, so that's a straw man that doesn't really help advance this discussion.

My point is that you don't necessarily need balance. Recent history has shown that its fine to be pass-heavy, as long as you can run the ball situationally.

 

[Ram Ts]

Need better OL/run blockers

 

[Riverumbbq]

My point is that you don't necessarily need balance. Recent history has shown that its fine to be pass-heavy, as long as you can run the ball situationally.

OK, and our 'situational' run game was on life support.
The top teams are getting better, and the Rams are facing the toughest schedule in the NFL this season, so time will tell whether our team has improved enough at this newest level to win it all again.
With what we have, which is good, I don't see how improving our rush can hurt our chances. jmo.

 

[AvengerRam]

OK, and our 'situational' run game was on life support.
The top teams are getting better, and the Rams are facing the toughest schedule in the NFL this season, so time will tell whether our team has improved enough at this newest level to win it all again.
With what we have, which is good, I don't see how improving our rush can hurt our chances. jmo.

Well, we got only 13 combined games out of a possible 34 from Akers/Henderson last year. I'm hoping for a lot more than that, and a lot more productivity (K.Williams could help too!)

 

[Kupped]

I read it correctly. I’m not criticizing analytics which are very integral into what we do but just like in Sports News/Regular news where the trend is to be first and not necessarily accurate the trend with sports sites/companies is trying to create a new BS statistical equation to try and bring more people to your site/company as a trusted and innovative leader in sports. 90% of them go nowhere and are useless BS.