The Rams Offense Looking Forward

[CGI_Ram]

The Rams finished 2024 averaging 21.6 PPG. When looking at the last 8yrs, our points per game trend shows a decline.

Compared to the NFL average, we haven’t been elite the last few years.

Data below.

I think Adams and Ferguson will be excellent additions. I also like the potential of 12 personnel as a “shake up” to the offense.

Sean McVay’s offense has infiltrated the league from coaching turnover. That’s certainly not helped.

We don’t have a stud like Gurley at RB as we did in 2017 and 2018.

In recent seasons, Kupp declined and there have been injuries.

Is Stafford in decline? I don’t think so, but with data like this everything is on the table.

Have we done enough to beef up our offense? Our Superbowl aspirations depend on it!

2017: 29.9 PPG
2018: 32.9 PPG
2019: 24.6 PPG
2020: 23.3 PPG
2021: 27.1 PPG
2022: 18.1 PPG
2023: 23.8 PPG
2024: 21.6 PPG

View: https://x.com/ramsfanatic81/status/1924070421340516362?s=61&t=lgp1gRmUcyNSF5v7CIHwMg

 

[RamFan503]

It does seem to be bugging the shit out of McVay too. I suspect we’re going to see a significant change this season.

 

[bubbaramfan]

No question the OL over the last several years has a lot to do with Rams PPG and Stafford's decline'
Whitworth at LT and Sullivan at C that 1st year for Staford was elite. Injuries and less capable players on the OL the following years led to the decline.
This year they brought back Coleman Shelton to start at Center, presumably because he's much better at making line calls. But what about his ability to actually block?
I'm no coach, but I' ve watched his play over the past few years, and at Chicago too, and Shelton is a turnstile. Bears fans couldn't wait to get rid of him.
Oh well, we'll soon find out. An early injury to Staford will surly make a playoff run much harder.
I'll bet every ROD $$ Limmer ends up starting at C because of Shelto'ns poor play

 

[Merlin]

McVay's biggest mistakes have been OL related, over the course of his time in horns. When protections are there, his offense flourishes.

Second area he has struggled is the RB room.

Both those position groups look good to me right now, outside of swing OT. This team should contend.

 

[Ram65]

No question the OL over the last several years has a lot to do with Rams PPG and Stafford's decline'
Whitworth at LT and Sullivan at C that 1st year for Staford was elite. Injuries and less capable players on the OL the following years led to the decline.

Yup! Stafford needs better protection/time.

I don't know about Sheldon. Hopefully, he gets stronger. At least they have a backup in Limmer if needed.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The Rams finished 2024 averaging 21.6 PPG. When looking at the last 8yrs, our points per game trend shows a decline.

Compared to the NFL average, we haven’t been elite the last few years.

Data below.

I think Adams and Ferguson will be excellent additions. I also like the potential of 12 personnel as a “shake up” to the offense.

Sean McVay’s offense has infiltrated the league from coaching turnover. That’s certainly not helped.

We don’t have a stud like Gurley at RB as we did in 2017 and 2018.

In recent seasons, Kupp declined and there have been injuries.

Is Stafford in decline? I don’t think so, but with data like this everything is on the table.

Have we done enough to beef up our offense? Our Superbowl aspirations depend on it!

View attachment 70977

2017: 29.9 PPG
2018: 32.9 PPG
2019: 24.6 PPG
2020: 23.3 PPG
2021: 27.1 PPG
2022: 18.1 PPG
2023: 23.8 PPG
2024: 21.6 PPG

View attachment 70978


View: https://x.com/ramsfanatic81/status/1924070421340516362?s=61&t=lgp1gRmUcyNSF5v7CIHwMg

While there has been some decline, it’s not clear to me that anyone should be taking these numbers at face value. There are circumstances that lead to lower offensive output, namely injuries to the Oline, Higbee, and Stafford (ribs). If that is the reality of what will happen to this TEs. Every season, then I guess the numbers are accurate. But, I don’t think that is the reality.

 

[Ram65]

Limiting turnovers and improving red-zone production can jumpstart the Rams point production.

Does the much-improved defense allow the Rams to be more ball-controlled minded on offense?

 

[Londoner]

improving red-zone production

Maybe by no longer starting with an empty backfield when we have 1st and goal...

 

[Ram65]

Maybe by no longer starting with an empty backfield when we have 1st and goal...

I never liked it.

I wonder what the success failure rate is, including turnovers.

Even inside the 20-yard line, too.

 

[FrantikRam]

That corresponds to the Bears/Patriots defensive game plan from the Super Bowl and then teams mimicking that.

From there we had a series of setbacks IMO:

Gurley fell off a cliff

Goff didn't progress fast enough for McVay

Once we paid Goff, starting in 2019/2020 we have always had a QB contract. Stafford is a bargain now, but it still doesn't really compare to a QB on a rookie deal. The major fallout was never truly replacing Saffold, until perhaps now with Avila, to have an elite interior presence on the OL (Avila has to take a step for this)

Centering the offense around Kupp - similar to a QB contract, once we paid Kupp things got tighter in the WR room. This has led to a consistent deterioration of a deep threat in the offense



Why I think this year will finally be different:

Even though Adams is not a burner, he is an explosive pass play waiting to happen. Those back shoulder sideline throws are lethal with him. Paying Tutu gives me hope, and then Puka has gotten deep as well - we have three WRs who can threaten all levels of a defense for the first time since 2018, and I think this group is better than that group was.

Depth at TE and RB are the best - by far - that it's ever been with McVay.

In 2017 and 2018 the run was key and set up the pass. When we traded for Stafford, it seemed like an offensive juggernaut was coming. But Akers got hurt and our run game in 2021 was awful. The last few years the run game was picked up steam whole the passing game has been inconsistent.

I believe THIS will be the first year where it all comes together with Stafford under center offensively.

 

[dang]

It does seem to be bugging the shit out of McVay too. I suspect we’re going to see a significant change this season.

“F them Punts!!!”

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Having a hobbled up Kupp hasn't helped us the last few years. He hasn't been fully healthy since the beginning of the 2022 season.

Hopefully the new RB will get some touches this year as well. Kyren is good, but he can't breakaway any big runs most of the time.

We also need to improve our redzone scoring. Davante is a good redzone threat, and having Higbeast back at 100% should help a lot too.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Having a hobbled up Kupp hasn't helped us the last few years. He hasn't been fully healthy since the beginning of the 2022 season.

Hopefully the new RB will get some touches this year as well. Kyren is good, but he can't breakaway any big runs most of the time.

We also need to improve our redzone scoring. Davante is a good redzone threat, and having Higbeast back at 100% should help a lot too.

Hopefully between Ferguson, Allen, and Parkinson they can have four big red zone targets to go along with Higbee/Nacua/Adams.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Lack of elite talent at all skill positions.

OL continuity.

Lack of scheme diversity.

All of these things have put a tremendous amount of emphasis on Stafford’s arm and protections to elevate the offense. Too much IMO.

An all-world RB or pass catcher could do wonders for the offense. They added neither, and Adams will likely just fill up the production hole left with no Kupp.

I see another season of good offense but not special. Not 30+ppg special. Not a quick strike offense.

 

[Psycho_X]

OL like everyone has already said. Been a huge issue, almost ruined our season last year. And here we sit with no viable backup option for LT. Our season hinges on Alaric staying healthy and not being suspended. It's scary. I don't expect a pro bowler behind him but someone who can at least get in the way of opposing pass rushers. Last year at times there was basically no one playing LT... ie the Lions game was a travesty. We were lucky Stafford made it out of the Lions game alive. We're skating on thin ice again and I don't like it. But if Alaric stays healthy and plays the whole season we've got a chance to be a top offense.

 

[kent.nelson]

Going to stick my neck out, I'm a defence minded person (simple).

It seemed to me the OL was slightly lacking, our run and pass game seems good. I'd like to see them hold edge rushers back more and keep the pocket wide, felt to me the threats came at Staffords back as they ran round the OL.

With run plays I'd like to see gaps being made wider and the motions move further, if the plan is to go round.

On another note can anyone explain why runners, seem to me, to try and run up the middle and not a side.
To me it seems middle brings threats faster, being equal distance to both sides

Edit: reading back seem OL is everyone's issue lmao

 

[OnceARam]

It`s Gurley`s fault.

 

[TSFH Fan]

Everyone seems to want to go negative, so I'll go less negative.

Stafford's first year in LA, he led the league in Ints with 17 - doomers said the Rams couldn't win turning the ball over that much.
His Int rate at 2.8% was one of the worst rates in his career.

But his Int rate has steadily declined.

2021 - 17 ints 2.8%
2022 - 8 ints 2.6%
2023 - 11 ints 2.1%
2024 - 8 ints 1.5%

Sure Stafford showed last year he could hit a 49er defender in the chest with the ball, just like in 2021, but he's improving.
Now, let the debate begin whether he's been throwing too timidly lately, or throwing less dumb.

Matthew Stafford Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Matthew Stafford. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[So Ram]

I’ll just say what I was saying most of last season.Sean Mcvays play calling cost The Rams some games.

Everyone wants to talk about say a DC.At the end of the season he got better.Plus having Higbee back helped.We saw that Cooper Kupp was cut.There were a lot of plays he couldn’t get open.IMO he lost a step.
Bobby Trees(Woods)was traded a few years ago for basically the same reason.The Offensive Line had issues as well.There’s SO much more as well that The Rams can & should improve on.

 

[Merlin]

This is going to be Stafford's last season in horns I think. So I want a title, which will cement him as the greatest Rams QB. The dude isn't the QB who is going to light up the league with a perfect TD/INT percentage. He's a pimp ass baller with massive nuts in 4 minute. We just gotta get the lines playing well and I think he's gonna do the rest.