Why the NFL hasn’t figured out McVay just yet

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leoram

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The National media sheep have colluded to a familiar narrative due to the 2019 downturn of the Ram’s offense, Sean McVay has been figured out and Jared Goff has been exposed as a system quarterback too heavily dependent on his coach’s adjustments in his earpiece. Between Fangio and Belichick in ‘18, the blueprint was laid for the end of McVay’s tenure as boy genius. Sure, they back it up with stats galore. Why not? Easy and simplistic explanations that the average reader can grasp are the norm for all media in sports and even politics.

But as Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend!”

2020 will be the year McVay takes his insight, phenomenal memory, and creativity to a different level. He’s not only capable of digesting and reciting every play he’s called, he can recount hundreds of plays by other teams in other schemes. He was written off as too young and naive by the media when he took his first head coaching assignment. Now he’s being portrayed as a two hit wonder. But Sean McVay is just getting warmed up.

What so many miss in their lamentations over the losses of Gurley and Cooks is that this organization made their adjustments not only to manage their salary cap, but also to realign their offensive philosophy. The drafting of Akers, Jefferson, and Hopkins are clues to what is in store. Akers is adept at getting yards even if OLinemen miss assignments. Where Cooks loosened the defense vertically, the replacement of Jefferson means they can be more effective horizontally in a quicker hitting scheme like the one Tom Brady dealt successfully for many years. The Hopkins acquisition indicates a heavier usage of 12 personnel. By choosing these players over road grading linemen, Sean tipped his hand to the discerning observer. The offense will be more multiple in design and defensive coordinators will once again have a more difficult assignment in figuring out what they will get from week to week.

Further evidence of this revolution in McVay’s approach comes from the addition of Brandon Staley as the new defensive coordinator. A disciple of Vic Fangio, the man most frequently credited with “figuring out” the wunderkind, Staley has been touted as the little known defensive deep thinker that can match McVay schematically. Where the Ram head coach used to lean on the experience and wisdom of the legendary Wade Phillips, he now has taken the approach that iron sharpens iron with youthful forward thinking.

Those who discount McVay’s mantra that he’s always learning from adversity as mere coachspeak do so at their own peril. This is the very type of challenge that gets this particular coach excited, not deflated. As Ram fans, we shouldn’t expect our coach to fall into the trap of Mike Martz who stubbornly refused to adapt when it became necessary to do so. Sean hasn’t fallen in love with his successes. He leans on the processes and philosophies of tried and true greats while he adjusts with the help of like minded strategists and teachers. It’s truly a collaborative effort that involves surrounding himself with true professionals that deliberately move the needle forward.

Yes, this is the year we witness something special, provided there is actually an NFL season to be played.

Bet
 
Last edited:

jap

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Year 2020 and in all subsequent years going, the dominant theme will be: The Revenge of the Leprechaun!
 

Merlin

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I agree with much of what you say @leoram. But I'll just point out one thing here: the players do matter.

The problem with minds of McVay's quality is that they can overcome talent deficiencies and that can in turn lead to roster mistakes that erode the potency of the team. Same thing happened with Martz, who was similar even though he didn't have McVay's grounding with the run game. Our skill position moves this offseason were quite good, but is the base of that pyramid built correctly as it pertains to the line.

Bottom line is no coach is a genius when the guys up front can't win their blocks. So I hope that changes this year. And if not... Snead has to fucking go because two years in a row of bad OL play means the GM reinforced his own bullshit instead of learning and adjusting. Hopefully of course we win and the line looks great of course. Just pointing out that if I'm the owner I am watching that line in preseason with some concern.
 

ausmurp

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I agree with much of what you say @leoram. But I'll just point out one thing here: the players do matter.

The problem with minds of McVay's quality is that they can overcome talent deficiencies and that can in turn lead to roster mistakes that erode the potency of the team. Same thing happened with Martz, who was similar even though he didn't have McVay's grounding with the run game. Our skill position moves this offseason were quite good, but is the base of that pyramid built correctly as it pertains to the line.

Bottom line is no coach is a genius when the guys up front can't win their blocks. So I hope that changes this year. And if not... Snead has to fucking go because two years in a row of bad OL play means the GM reinforced his own bullshit instead of learning and adjusting. Hopefully of course we win and the line looks great of course. Just pointing out that if I'm the owner I am watching that line in preseason with some concern.

Perfect example of what you said here is Roger Saffold, the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL. We let him walk and he turns out another Championship appearance, this time on an AFC team that everyone wrote off and overlooked in the Titans. And oh yeah, he turned out another top 5 run game. The dude was the best run blocker in the league and he didn't even get paid that much. We keep him, we make the playoffs last yr, our run game excels, etc. Totally different outcome and potentially wouldn't be in this situation we are in.
 

FarNorth

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Perfect example of what you said here is Roger Saffold, the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL. We let him walk and he turns out another Championship appearance, this time on an AFC team that everyone wrote off and overlooked in the Titans. And oh yeah, he turned out another top 5 run game. The dude was the best run blocker in the league and he didn't even get paid that much. We keep him, we make the playoffs last yr, our run game excels, etc. Totally different outcome and potentially wouldn't be in this situation we are in.
I agree totally with respect to Saffold. And there are no guarantees that standing pat on the o-line will work out, however I am optimistic they will be good enough for the offense as a whole to be top notch.

But with all due respect it seems to me that McVay and Snead have been very astute in their draft picks and signings this year and that these are designed to retool the offense and the defense in very specific ways. Martz, on the other hand, although a great play caller and designer, was otherwise a nut.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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I’m not so sure McVay is all that quick to change. He started the season the way he left off. He kept trying his favorite offense despite teams knowing that the 6-1 defense could stop it. It took too long for him to adjust.
 

Selassie I

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I’m not so sure McVay is all that quick to change. He started the season the way he left off. He kept trying his favorite offense despite teams knowing that the 6-1 defense could stop it. It took too long for him to adjust.


To be fair... we started the season 3 - 0.
 

Selassie I

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McSlay is not a one trick pony.

Saying he's a student of the game is an insult. He's a football savant.

He's already shown everyone what he can do when it comes to developing a young under performing player into a Pro Bowl level talent. He's not just a figure head... he's a real coach who can relate to, and communicate well with his team. He makes everyone around him better... and he usually always takes the blame.

The changes to the coaching staff this offseason also show that he's not complacent or afraid to make changes when necessary. He's done the same thing with players too.

Nobody is going to "figure him out".
 

Ram65

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I'm not sure we know exactly what McVay's next move on the offense will be. We do know that he made a big move on defense to bring in a young up and coming defensive Coordinator in Brandon Staley. He gave Stanley new players via free agency to reload and the defense. The defense that had too many let downs during the 2019 season. The newly improved defense will be dedicated to stopping the run, disguising coverage and mixing the pass rush up from different positions. McVay knows a better defense will help his offensive by giving them more chances, better field position, and less pressure to keep pace.

Every time McVay discovers that he has two TEs that can be productive in the lineup at the same time he dials things back to using one at a time. He still likes to go more with 11P and have his three WRs on the field. He finally took advantage of Tyler Higbee's pass-catching, running ability, and defenses lack of coverage for the TE by targeting him more in the last part of the season. Higbee ultimately set a Rams TE catch record with 60 catches for the season. While the Rams did grab a pass-catching TE, Hopkins they also grabbed Van Jefferson the next starting 3rd WR. McVay could be positioning for 2021 when they may lose WR Cooper Kupp and TE Jerald Everett. At that point, he may go more 12P out of necessity.

McVay has reloaded the offensive skill positions with healthy rookies. Safe to say McVay learned a few things from last year that he can go back to this year. He will definitely continue to use Higbee as a pass-catching weapon. He will keep Goff moving around so defenses can't tee off on him. e will get back to the foundation of running the ball to set up the pass. Look for McVay to increase the run production with a rookie Akers and second-year RB Henderson to help set up play-action and stay ahead of the chains. Last year the offensive line changed up using both zone concepts with power run blocking. I suspect the Rams won't be predictable in the run game. McVay probably won't change his overall philosophy of going for chunk plays. He probably tweaks his routes some to become less predictable but in the end it's the execution that will make plays successful.
 

CGI_Ram

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This offseason really jumped out to me; McVay knows what he wants to build here (players, coaches, all of it). The pieces look very purposely selected.

He knows what he wants, yet he’s a chameleon. Love it!
 

snackdaddy

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I’m not so sure McVay is all that quick to change. He started the season the way he left off. He kept trying his favorite offense despite teams knowing that the 6-1 defense could stop it. It took too long for him to adjust.

After some difficulties mid season he did seem to adjust late in the season. I think part of the problem was they built a team to fit his favorite 11 personnel thing. Now he's adapting. He can go different personnel sets with the team they built this year. Don't be surprised if they have an answer for the 6-1 defenses they face.
 

Snaz

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I think they have figured him out. I think he was slow to adapt last year.
Using 12 personnel and kept trying to go back to 11 when 12 personnel was working.
 

dieterbrock

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I think they have figured him out. I think he was slow to adapt last year.
Using 12 personnel and kept trying to go back to 11 when 12 personnel was working.
They scored 29 ppg in their last 5 games including putting 31 on the 49ers who needed the win for home field adv.
Sure seemed like McVay figured it out after the 3 game disaster
 

Merlin

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Martz, on the other hand, although a great play caller and designer, was otherwise a nut.
He was definitely a nut. But the dude was a genius, better than most of his contemporaries in passing game design. His offenses changed the league's approach. Not a lot of coordinators can claim that.

The guy made Bulger look like a good QB. He got production out of receivers that were basically castoffs (Mike Furrey getting over 1k yards in Detroit for example). When it came to the passing game the guy squeezed everything out of the talent available. I realize some dislike the guy too btw. But the guy deserves some cred IMO.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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To be fair... we started the season 3 - 0.

Against teams that didn’t run the 6-1 defense. So those coaches didn’t think to use maybe? But when teams started to he still tried pushing his offense. Then when he had success for a while with 12 personnel he goes back to 11 against Dallas which was an important game.


What I’d like to see him do is make more in game adjustments. Like regularly
 

Petrowsky

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Perfect example of what you said here is Roger Saffold, the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL. We let him walk and he turns out another Championship appearance, this time on an AFC team that everyone wrote off and overlooked in the Titans. And oh yeah, he turned out another top 5 run game. The dude was the best run blocker in the league and he didn't even get paid that much. We keep him, we make the playoffs last yr, our run game excels, etc. Totally different outcome and potentially wouldn't be in this situation we are in.
Not re-signing Saffold was a huge mistake, and I think barely addressing the line since Saffold’s departure is an even bigger mistake. I still think this line could be ok, but more should have been done to solidify the line the last two years.

I would have like to see the OL be a little more pressing the last two drafts, or the Rams signing a FA OL over the last 2 offseasons. Honestly, I thought Graham Glasgow would have been a solid FA signing for this team. Glasgow can play both G and C, and is a very good run blocker. Adding Glasgow and his versatility would have been a huge improvement to the line. The addition of Glasgow would probably mean no Brockers though.
 

bluecoconuts

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I’m not so sure McVay is all that quick to change. He started the season the way he left off. He kept trying his favorite offense despite teams knowing that the 6-1 defense could stop it. It took too long for him to adjust.

He also ended the season with a different looking offense that was humming more, why wouldn’t he be looking to build off that?
 

So Ram

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I agree with much of what you say @leoram. But I'll just point out one thing here: the players do matter.

The problem with minds of McVay's quality is that they can overcome talent deficiencies and that can in turn lead to roster mistakes that erode the potency of the team. Same thing happened with Martz, who was similar even though he didn't have McVay's grounding with the run game. Our skill position moves this offseason were quite good, but is the base of that pyramid built correctly as it pertains to the line.

Bottom line is no coach is a genius when the guys up front can't win their blocks. So I hope that changes this year. And if not... Snead has to fucking go because two years in a row of bad OL play means the GM reinforced his own bullshit instead of learning and adjusting. Hopefully of course we win and the line looks great of course. Just pointing out that if I'm the owner I am watching that line in preseason with some concern.

Lol - injuries & rookies last season only gave up 22 SACKS !!!

Glad your not the owner