Why Are We Terrible At Empty Sets?

[Merlin]

The Super Bowl season he was hyper focused on Kupp, but nobody complained because he was chasing a record. Enter OBJ and all of a sudden the pass game was unstoppable, and there was none of that concern about him focusing on one weapon. OBJ gets hurt he was back to Kupp and got the job done.

So I think we overvalue the other weapons in this passing game. There has been so much inconsistency after Kupp.

This is why I am looking forward to Kupp settling back in, because Nacua has been a legit target he trusts. And that is why I'm confident that if Kupp can regain his form the offense will take significant steps forward.

If not, then we need to take a shot at QB in the draft.

 

[Memphis Ram]

The Super Bowl season he was hyper focused on Kupp, but nobody complained because he was chasing a record. Enter OBJ and all of a sudden the pass game was unstoppable, and there was none of that concern about him focusing on one weapon. OBJ gets hurt he was back to Kupp and got the job done.

So I think we overvalue the other weapons in this passing game. There has been so much inconsistency after Kupp.

This is why I am looking forward to Kupp settling back in, because Nacua has been a legit target he trusts. And that is why I'm confident that if Kupp can regain his form the offense will take significant steps forward.

If not, then we need to take a shot at QB in the draft.

Unstoppable may be a bit strong. Stafford threw most of his 17 INTs after OBJ arrived. Not to mention others that were dropped.

 

[Merlin]

Unstoppable may be a bit strong. Stafford threw most of his 17 INTs after OBJ arrived. Not to mention others that were dropped.

True but some of that was a settling in period with OBJ finding his way in the system, getting to a point of rhythm with Stafford. Come the playoff moments that mattered the two of them were peas 'n carrots.

 

[Malibu]

Just listened to the recent 11 Personnel Podcast… We rank 32 out of 32 in the NFL this year out of an Empty Set… We used to be really efficient at it in 2021. Why do we suck so bad at it and why do we continue to use it in crucial situations when there is a high chance it wont work at best and lead to a disastrous play at worst

OL

 

[OntarioRam]

Stafford's decision making in the empty quick game are terrible. Some of his worst turnovers are in empty with quick throws. Why McVay likes this look with him is a mystery. Stafford made his game throwing down the sideline to Megatron which is why we signed Robinson which didn't work out at all.

It always perplexed me that the Rams spent all this money on Robinson and didn't even try to use him like the Jags did, or like the Lions used Megatron with Stafford. I really think they just got lazy that off-season. Won the Super Bowl. Spent too much time partying and basking in the glory. Did no research for free agency, so when it came around, they were unprepared and caught with their pants down, and so they just targeted the biggest names available in Robinson and Wagner.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I can’t stand the 3rd and short empty sets

Off topic: If my QB throws 41 TD’s i don’t care about the 17 INT’s

 

[majrleaged]

In 3rd and long, this years offense should always have the threat of a run.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It always perplexed me that the Rams spent all this money on Robinson and didn't even try to use him like the Jags did, or like the Lions used Megatron with Stafford. I really think they just got lazy that off-season. Won the Super Bowl. Spent too much time partying and basking in the glory. Did no research for free agency, so when it came around, they were unprepared and caught with their pants down, and so they just targeted the biggest names available in Robinson and Wagner.

Come on. Lazy? McVay isn’t lazy. A lot happened in that offseason. Namely, McVay losing some good coaches and not being able, or fully prepared to identify his replacements. This is due to the longer schedule and less time to work, since he was in the Super Bowl. There were fewer coaches available that late in the winter months. Plus he was rushed to fill out the staff that late in the year off-season. Jourdan wrote a great article about it.

In the end he was not happy with several of his rushed hires. He wasn’t exactly happy with himself. The staff was not what he wanted it to be in 2022.

But above all that, the injuries were a killer. Few coaches get five wins out of that broken down roster.

You are correct about the pivot to Robinson though. They were misled and really thought Miller would return. By the time Vonn made his decision any other edge rush options were already signed. So the plan became to give the offense a boost. But, again they didn’t have the same amount of time to fully evaluate the options.

Last winter, McVay was on a mission to do things differently. He reevaluated what he wanted to accomplish and how he wanted to accomplish it. He wanted to get back to teaching and developing, to planning and not reacting. He wanted to be a better coach with a staff that was all on the same page. His dedication to fix things may even be reflected in how the Rams drafted this year. He’s young and still learning. It feels like he’s taken a new step forward when it comes to his coaching evolution.

 

[FrantikRam]

I think it's because we ran deeper routes out of empty in 2021 and the OL held up well plus Stafford was playing better.

Atwell has consistently gotten open (hands have been a little iffy at times), Higbee has been open, and obviously Kupp and Nacua - so I don't think it's a WR thing. I think the OL doesn't hold up as well without Whitworth (obviously), and I think McVay knows this to some degree - seems like half our plays out of empty are just a WR screen these days.

 

[Merlin]

Rams executed. That's why the empty sets worked. OL straight dominated. Stafford played well. All of a sudden empty wasn't a problem.

I still don't like it, prefer the backfield threat. But as usual so much of that equation is execution.

Basically any game where the pass pro is decent or better is a game we can win. Question for me is whether this OL is gonna wilt again vs better fronts. Eager to see how they handle the Browns, as they're gonna be aggressive.

 

[Ellard80]

Unstoppable may be a bit strong. Stafford threw most of his 17 INTs after OBJ arrived. Not to mention others that were dropped.

Statically Stafford was one of the best in the NFL from empty in 2021.

He didn't throw 17 ints from empty set.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Statically Stafford was one of the best in the NFL from empty in 2021.

He didn't throw 17 ints from empty set.

I was referring Stafford in general.

However, teams adjust. And the better teams with strong defensive fronts gave the Rams trouble even back then.