The McVay Offense: Scoring

[TexasRam]

The Rams can definitely use more speed.
Tutu is effective this year. Not sure what we’re talking about. Plenty of actual production and draws PI calls.
His speed has had a positive impact.
And, as we’ve seen.. Puka is plenty fast.
I’d like to see Evans run with the first team to see if he’s figuring it out. He’s supposed to be explosive.

Tutu has certainly shown he has value. Even for those that hated the pick, you have go be happy to see how he is rounding into shape and contributing.

But he is always going to be limited. He is a liability as a blocker in a scheme that heavily uses WR blocking. His size doesn't jive with what we need against more physical teams.

Also, while he has made some tough catches in traffic this year, I don't think anyone will expect him to be a reliable possession option in the middle of the field too often.

Then there is the durability question at his size.

Overall, I don't think he can settle in as a reliable every down option in this offense. Nor will he get a second contract. He is an effective role player that can do some good things and stretch the defense.

But yea, he is maximizing his touches and effective for what he can do.

 

[Neil039]

Tutu has certainly shown he has value. Even for those that hated the pick, you have go be happy to see how he is rounding into shape and contributing.

But he is always going to be limited. He is a liability as a blocker in a scheme that heavily uses WR blocking. His size doesn't jive with what we need against more physical teams.

Also, while he has made some tough catches in traffic this year, I don't think anyone will expect him to be a reliable possession option in the middle of the field too often.

Then there is the durability question at his size.

Overall, I don't think he can settle in as a reliable every down option in this offense. Nor will he get a second contract. He is an effective role player that can do some good things and stretch the defense.

But yea, he is maximizing his touches and effective for what he can do.

This is not a play on your name, but I see him signing his second contract with the Cowboys or an East coast team. Jerry Jones loves him some gadget players. Or he may want to be closer to the east coast where he played college. All IMO.

 

[TexasRam]

This is not a play on your name, but I see him signing his second contract with the Cowboys or an East coast team. Jerry Jones loves him some gadget players. Or he may want to be closer to the east coast where he played college. All IMO.

Yea possibly.

Regarding the Josh Norris video, quite a nice breakdown of some of the things Mcvay is doing with this offense. The condensed bunches with motion is really causing issues for defenses. Really nice to slow down and watch on film.

Stafford just had an Elite performance vs the Ravens. Scheme created fits for the Ravens covering our WR's but Stafford was throwing other worldly passes under pressure. Flicking the ball off to the perfect spot before the WR even made his break. This is truly where Stafford shines. Sometimes his inconsistency kills us, but games like this remind you that when he is on his game he can do some things other QB's just can't.

36.6 PPG over the last 3 games. Facing 2 of the top defenses in the NFL.

A stable Oline, KW back, Kupp rounding into form. Puka getting even more comfortable. Robinson becoming a cog.

Hell, if we can stay healthy you have to wonder if we can just outscore teams.

Should be fun. Too bad the defense is not championship caliber.

 

[RamDino]

I take an Oline over a top RB or scheme any day and twice on Sundays.

Todd Gurley benefited from that Whitworth Saffold Sullivan Havenstein Oline to the tune of 4.7 and 4.9 YPC in 2017 and 2018.

Without that Oline he had 3.2 and 3.8 YPC years (before they arrived in 2016 and when they were banged up in 2019).

Remember in those glory years we had one of the few Olines that played every game.

The only thing I would like to add is that the main reason why Gurley (and the Rams) had a piss-poor run average was mainly because the Rams could not pass the ball! Every team would stack the box with 8 people and dare the Rams to pass. It wasn't so much Gurley and a bad 0-line, or Gurley running into the backs of his linemen... it was the fact that the Rams could not ever pass the ball... EVER! Our QB's sucked and so did our receivers. So glad that Fisher was fired. Gurley was right.. it was a high school offense.

And it is sooo nice to see the Rams O-line healthy and playing like a cohesive unit this year!

 

[badnews]

You gotta be healthy (Akers) and effective (Tutu) to count.

We know how you and Memento feel about Tutu but you can't call his play ineffective this season and it actually ring true.
He's limited in his usefulness and unlike Kupp or Puka, Tutu isn't going to be confused for a small TE.... but unlike the other "slow but smart" guys, Tutu has enough speed and natural hands that he draws huge PI penalties more frequently than any Rams WR I can remember.
When NFL defenders have to regularly choose to get beat for a TD or draw a foul and give up 40+ yards and a new set of downs - that's the definition of effectiveness.

McVay knows he needs guys like Kupp and Woods or Puka for his 11 personnel to be effective on the ground but he has also made it clear that his O requires at least 1 WR with elite speed and ability to track and run under the ball.
Branding Cooks, DeSean Jackson, Tutu Atwell - (all basically the same guy in Madden, just different jerseys lol) none of those guys are remotely useful in the other ways McVay likes to use his WRs. Yet all three were guys McVay wanted here.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's anything special and I don't expect you, @Memento or anyone else to start liking the player let alone the pick. I just think the resistance to acknowledge his play this season for what it has been: a very solid contribution from a 3rd year role player who has clearly worked very hard to learn all the WR responsibilities in a complicated playbook.

Any Ram who does that has my appreciation and deserves a fair shake, Imo.

 

[Merlin]

We know how you and Memento feel about Tutu

We need speed outside the hash to take the top off. We don't have that now. You can send Tutu on a deep route but generally it has no result. The occasional deep PI or catch once every 5 games doesn't make that untrue.

My take on him is purely about reliability as a weapon. Think what you will though.

 

[oldnotdead]

When I look at Robinson in this offense I see the potential of another Woods type of WR playing X WR allowing Puka and Kupp to exploit mismatches from the Y position. Robinson brings flexibility to the offense that frankly isn't there with Atwell. No knock on Tutu but his physical size limits his use. Robinson can play all WR positions and realistically Atwell is strictly an off the LOS type WR. His ability to block downfield is also limited as evidenced by the block provided by Robinson on Nacua's reception. I don't see Atwell making that block.

Robinson is a very good fit for this offense and I would be surprised if he wasn't extended 2-3 years while they draft a big fast WR to develop behind him. With Kupp's retirement looming (considering all his injuries it's a realistic expectation) the Rams need to draft 2 WRs as Atwell and Skowronek are good role players but that's really all they are.

Next year's draft is the one that will carry this team competitively into the future. Offensively they need a RB and WR going into the future. Defensively they need an edge and CB. Their ability and desire to keep Jackson long term will be decided this offseason. He's not a bad OT but is he a franchise LT? Not at this point but he does have potential, how much is TBD. IMO I think Jackson will be a comp pick.

This is going to be a very interesting draft.