Sean McVay says Rams will adopt 49ers' running back strategy in 2020

[yrba1]

Blueprint looks good, execution by our linemen will be key though

 

[Merlin]

This was pretty obvious as they tried to implement the same type of gap blocking scheme used by the Niners late in the season.

Well the 9ers do run the classic Shanahan zone scheme (with some tweaks). Now that said Shanny will mix in power to keep defenses guessing and usually that takes the form of counters in order to keep defenders honest.

Another thing the 9ers do is use a FB and that's going against the grain against today's NFL too. The value of the FB is that he can clean up a blown block or seal a seam better than a pulling lineman can, drawback is if the FB isn't a threat in the passing game his placement on the field either gives away your intent to run OR lowers the threat of your pass catchers. McVay has tried to find a guy like that but they're not easy to find in today's college game.

Back to the Rams though it's a pretty simple deal wrt the zone run scheme. When defenses are cheating (either moving with anticipation laterally to stay ahead of blocks or loading the edge in a 6-1 type look to stuff up the run gap) switching to a counter/gap (or even an inside zone) approach will definitely keep them honest. I anticipate they'll use it the same way Shanny does just without the FB.

Just comes down to the Rams' linemen doing their jobs well enough at both. I also find myself wondering if Mundt is going to get more looks in the backfield in that FB type role. He's not particularly fast or agile but he's smart and executes his responsibilities and that is why he saw so many snaps last season (he was neck and neck with Everett in fact). IMO he would be capable of some short routes in the passing game in order to limit predictability when he's on the field.

 

[Ram65]

Just comes down to the Rams' linemen doing their jobs well enough at both. I also find myself wondering if Mundt is going to get more looks in the backfield in that FB type role. He's not particularly fast or agile but he's smart and executes his responsibilities and that is why he saw so many snaps last season (he was neck and neck with Everett in fact). IMO he would be capable of some short routes in the passing game in order to limit predictability when he's on the field.

Actually Everett 39.64 % was just over a 2:1 ratio snap counts over Mundt 19.01%. Everett didn't play but, 5 snaps after game 11 when he went out with the knee injury.

I was curious as I rewatched last year's Bears game yesterday where I notice Mundt lining up at FB. He started to get most of his snaps after the Steelers game when the Rams lost Allen and Havenstein It made sense to have JM the better blocker in to help with the position changes and new personnel on the offensive line. McVay was committed to the run against the Bears with both Cooks and Woods out for the game. Later when Everett went out JM was getting more snaps. McVay used him a lot and ran a lot against the Hags the second time around with Everett unavailable.

It will be interesting to see how McVay proceeds this year. Deep down I think McVay likes his 11P more than 12P. Much could depend on how the offensive line performs. He may use 12P more when he feels he has a better chance to win by running more. I think he will still play Everett more than JM. If JM was quicker and could catch better he might see more action. I like to have him use a little more 12P every week to keep defenses off balance and having then have to plan for both.

Los Angeles Rams 2019 Snap Counts | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the Los Angeles Rams 2019 Snap Counts and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com

www.pro-football-reference.com

Rk	G#	Date	Tm		Opp	Result	Pos	Num	Pct	Num	Pct	Num	Pct	FantPt	DKPt	FDPt
1	3	2019-09-22	LAR	@	CLE	W 20-13	TE	2	3.1%	0	0.0%	6	25.0%
2	5	2019-10-03	LAR	@	SEA	L 29-30	TE	2	2.8%	0	0.0%	13	41.9%
3	6	2019-10-13	LAR		SFO	L 7-20	TE	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	12	52.2%
4	7	2019-10-20	LAR	@	ATL	W 37-10	TE	16	21.3%	0	0.0%	17	54.8%
5	8	2019-10-27	LAR		CIN	W 24-10	TE	1	1.7%	0	0.0%	12	50.0%
6	9	2019-11-10	LAR	@	PIT	L 12-17	TE	5	6.7%	0	0.0%	13	39.4%	0.90	1.9	1.4
7	10	2019-11-17	LAR		CHI	W 17-7	TE	37	68.5%	0	0.0%	5	20.0%
8	11	2019-11-25	LAR		BAL	L 6-45	TE	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	13	50.0%
9	12	2019-12-01	LAR	@	ARI	W 34-7	TE	23	29.1%	0	0.0%	14	51.9%
10	13	2019-12-08	LAR		SEA	W 28-12	TE	49	70.0%	0	0.0%	11	44.0%
11	14	2019-12-15	LAR	@	DAL	L 21-44	TE	11	15.1%	0	0.0%	1	3.3%	1.50	3.5	2.5
12	15	2019-12-21	LAR	@	SFO	L 31-34	TE	31	44.3%	0	0.0%	21	60.0%
13	16	2019-12-29	LAR		ARI	W 31-24	TE	34	41.5%	0	0.0%	16	55.2%	0.20	1.2	0.7
		Total						211		0		154		2.6	6.6	4.6

More Mundt Pages

 

[Merlin]

Early on yes Everett was positioned to get the snaps. And it's hard to know on the injury side how much that affected things I agree, however by the time the season was over Mundt had really become a trustworthy part of the TE rotation and felt like he was on par with Everett.

Now obviously Mundt does not have Everett's athletic ability and never will. But what is interesting to me is that run game side of things and IF that's a priority for McVay this season it's going to be really good news for Mundt because the role they need alongside Higs is a good blocker as a minimum. And I just don't feel like Everett's run game contributions or his blocking in general are all that good.

Also what's annoying to me is the way Goff just didn't seem to trust Everett. Been going back and watching the season's snaps for Everett and right out the gate in Cleveland (our first possession on 3rd and 4 which ended up being a 3 'n out) Goff has him open for what could have been a big play but doesn't pull the trigger... That's Everett between the hashes.

The pocket basically collapsed right after that but Jared wasn't ready or willing to feed Gerald the ball there instead forcing it to Woody where he had to place it behind him.

From the other view it looks like Jared either has Woody as first read and wanted to go to him, OR simply didn't see Everett.

 

[Merlin]

This play to Everett could have been a good one too. It was a first down conversion of 11 yards but an on-time throw would probably have been much more...

Ball on target here would be a serious threat for the Browns with Everett's RAC ability. McVay getting the opportunities here in scheme for the QB.

Late arrival helped out the D though

 

[Merlin]

Another example in this game of Goff not getting to Everett in his read progression. His first read (judging from his head position) looks to be Cooks, who he completes the ball to for the first down. But the strange thing is Everett's route should come open first so does he just not look at Everett? We'll never know what the read order is of course but it's interesting.

Either way a ball on target to Everett here would have been fuckin nasty for that safety to deal with.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Give it a year, Higbee will take that top spot.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

well at least we know the problem wasn't everett not being able to get open. please move to the 12 personnel so everett and higbee can wreak havoc on the league.

.

 

[Merlin]

.

well at least we know the problem wasn't everett not being able to get open. please move to the 12 personnel so everett and higbee can wreak havoc on the league.

.

Yeah it could be too that Everett is one of those guys who suffered from the lack of time the QB had. I mean on some plays Goff was clearly going to put the ball up for Woody or Kupp and everyone else be damned and it's hard to blame him for that because he knew he had about a second to a second and a half to set his feet and get it out. I just wish I knew what the read order was and the staff's design philosophy for some of these plays.

 

[Merlin]

Also watching Everett on 95 was painful lol. Like a high schooler vs middle school he pretty much got ragdolled by him. Not really Everett's fault to draw that comparison as 95 is a Pro Bowl level player and usually Higs would handle that responsibility (he was out with a chest injury) but it shows how valuable Higs is to this offense...

 

[dieterbrock]

When McVay is saying John Kelly is a legitimate starting back, you know you can’t believe a word he is saying....

 

[Ram65]

Early on yes Everett was positioned to get the snaps. And it's hard to know on the injury side how much that affected things I agree, however by the time the season was over Mundt had really become a trustworthy part of the TE rotation and felt like he was on par with Everett.

We will disagree on Mundt being equal to Everett. It's not Everett's fault that Goff didn't throw to him when he is open.

In the Bears game Everett caught a pass 20+ yards inside the 5-yard line to set up the TD that put the game away. He also caught a long pass early in the 3rd period against the Falcons to help set up his TD screen/short pass for a TD to put the game out of reach. These are things that Mundt just can't do. Mundt has trouble catching a cold. JM has a place on the Rams and so does Everett. To me, Everett has more to offer McVay and the Rams offense.

 

[Merlin]

We will disagree on Mundt being equal to Everett. It's not Everett's fault that Goff didn't throw to him when he is open.

In the Bears game Everett caught a pass 20+ yards inside the 5-yard line to set up the TD that put the game away. He also caught a long pass early in the 3rd period against the Falcons to help set up his TD screen/short pass for a TD to put the game out of reach. These are things that Mundt just can't do. Mundt has trouble catching a cold. JM has a place on the Rams and so does Everett. To me, Everett has more to offer McVay and the Rams offense.

Mundt is not equal to Everett. But in the role we need alongside Higbee (run blocking) Mundt is better than Everett. He's a better blocker.

Everett's problem is that he hasn't shown an ability to consistently produce in the passing game. If and when he does that he'll leave Mundt's ass in the rear view but until he does that the dropoff isn't all that great. If that makes sense.

 

[TSFH Fan]

A few years back, I was hoping the Rams would draft Dan Vitale to be that multi-threat fullback. The fact that the Cheatriots recently signed him is irksome.

Yeah, I guess I was hoping that Vitale plus McVay could be what Jusczyk is with the Whiners -- 9ers suck, but juice is a player. I don't see the Rams having anyone remotely like him on the roster.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5tRzdFDwbo

 

[Ram65]

Mundt is not equal to Everett. But in the role we need alongside Higbee (run blocking) Mundt is better than Everett. He's a better blocker.

Everett's problem is that he hasn't shown an ability to consistently produce in the passing game. If and when he does that he'll leave Mundt's ass in the rear view but until he does that the dropoff isn't all that great. If that makes sense.

It doesn't. You are assuming that McVay wants/needs Mundts blocking over Everett's combination of blocking and pass-catching. I think it's the other way around most of the time.

I think it's more McVay and Goff holding Everett back.




View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyi1AB0z2To

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

A committee with guys having different skillsets in the way to go. it's going to help us all around, make us less predictable, and take pressure off Goff.

 

[MachS]

IMO this is the classic cliche McVay saying all the right things and "we not me" stuff. Like John Kelly will really be getting carries this year let alone active on game day lol.

We know what Malcom Brown is at this point, so I'd guess this is just creating competition between Akers and Henderson, who was a huge disappointment last year. Even if these two split carries early in the year, with Akers ability to catch the ball out of the backfield I expect him to get majority of the touches by mid season. Hes just too talented. I hope Henderson bounces back this year though.

 

[FarNorth]

Mundt is not equal to Everett. But in the role we need alongside Higbee (run blocking) Mundt is better than Everett. He's a better blocker.

Everett's problem is that he hasn't shown an ability to consistently produce in the passing game. If and when he does that he'll leave Mundt's ass in the rear view but until he does that the dropoff isn't all that great. If that makes sense.

Since you have done all the great breakdown work on Everett (and others), I respectfully have a question for you.

Clearly Everett is not one of our top blocking tight ends. But in terms of not getting the ball, is it just a matter of Goff's read progression and/or ball distribution? Or is there any reason to think that the Rams have less confidence in Everett's route running, specifically that he will be in the right place at the right time or make the right adjustment?

 

[Merlin]

Since you have done all the great breakdown work on Everett (and others), I respectfully have a question for you.

Clearly Everett is not one of our top blocking tight ends. But in terms of not getting the ball, is it just a matter of Goff's read progression and/or ball distribution? Or is there any reason to think that the Rams have less confidence in Everett's route running, specifically that he will be in the right place at the right time or make the right adjustment?

We'll never know exactly why he's not getting the ball. OCs shape the offense with read priorities for given looks and where he falls in that priority is related to what they think of him. Some think McVay has overlooked him. I'm of the mind that he simply hasn't impressed McVay enough in his daily work and camp and all that to build the right level of trust.

And I don't think a guy like Everett will ever be a great route runner. But he doesn't need to be in this offense because he's not gonna draw the top corners and will get LBs in certain situations. So IMO the run blocking side is probably where McVay wants to see more. And the reason for that is because a TE who can block gets overlooked early in plays when it looks like they're blocking. Which is why top TEs like Gronk can slip through a defense uncovered at times, because at the play's start he sold run action and whoever had him as their first read moved on.