Why the NFL hasn’t figured out McVay just yet

[Rams43]

I am not sure Sean likes to run the ball. I’m not so sure that part of the reason the Rams traded Gurley was because Sean got tired of management telling him, why are we only running our RB 10 times a game while paying him millions? If he uses Akers to wear down opposing defenses, and establish a believable play action game, I will be happy. If some of you are going to tell me that the reason for the light usage was Todd’s knee, and a poor offensive line, what happened in the playoff loss to the Falcons in 2018, when we had Saffold and a healthy Todd? I hope Sean will let our big hogs Road grade for Akers, and open up Goffs options. Throwing 45 times a game is not a winning strategy for any team.

You don’t think McVay likes to run the ball? Seriously?

His whole O is predicated on a proven run threat on every snap. That’s what makes his entire O so difficult to defend. Let’s hope and pray that an Akers/Hendy combo can once again provide that necessary threat.

If they can, then this O is once again top 3 caliber.

 

[MauiRam]

Nah. He simply didn't have the players who are capable of making adjustments. That 6-1 BS isn't rocket science, it's stacking the outside zone area to take it away. To think that McVay started looking at that and couldn't "figure it out" from the midpoint of the 2018 season through the 2019 season is insulting IMO. Media types can beat that drum all they want but I'm not buying that shit.

What did this draft bring? Improvement at RB to allow for inside zone and running into traffic which will help beat defenses who align to stop outside zone. Improvement at WR to give Goff another weapon who can get open quickly here and there (Cooks was terrible last year and JRey isn't any better).

As to the Rams rolling the dice on the OL, well, we're going to know pretty early in the season if they fucked that up. That's gonna be the season too btw, and if the line plays well people will be acting like McVay suddenly solved the insurmountably difficult adjustment required for the dreaded 6-1 defense. If the line doesn't play well McVay will be the village idiot instead, which what can I say that's the world we live in.

This is why I say Snead is playing with more than his own job by standing pat on that OL. He's playing with the jobs of the staff too, even that of McVay. It's amazing how quickly your prestige can be eroded in the NFL when you don't have the players to do what you need to do.

Great post. I agree with everything except perhaps the last paragraph. I just cannot believe the implication that Snead alone is responsible for not drafting O-line players earlier. I believe both Sam and Sean were on the same page in making the 1st two picks along with the rest as well. Both guys exhibit more of a gunslinger persona than a cautionary one. I believe they mutually agreed to roll the dice on Akers & Jefferson over everyone else that was available regardless of position.

Their choice to wait until their last pick in 7th round to address the O-line with Anchrum was likely based on their belief/hope that this year’s O-line will be improved due to being healthier and the collective experience gained last year. Were they right in their choice? If we have a season this year, we'll find out one way or another.

The only thing I am sure of is that we must be able to run the football successfully with enough consistancy to keep opposing defenses honest. Otherwise, everyone here knows what will happen. Hopefully big Rob will have regained his health and strength, then combined with the Higster they can do some grading ..

As you stated above, Akers & Jefferson were specifically targeted to combat the 6-1 defensive alighnment, I like their chances.

 

[CGI_Ram]

There is always a strategy, of course... but this offseason felt a little different to me...

Very laser focused. Like... “we really understand who we are, where we want to be, and the pieces needed to do it”.

.

 

[leoram]

I’m unsure what some of us know about the complexity of the NFL game. If we did, the “lack of adjustments, McVay isn’t committed to the run, and the offensive line has been neglected comments wouldn’t exist here. Football is a constant plan of adjustments but you have to prepare as many as you can without overwhelming the players with information. You can’t install a whole new scheme from the sidelines. For two years McVay and Kromer designed one of the best rushing offenses in the league and then it’s suggested they unlearned everything last year? And what about the games like against the Bucs when the defense is getting gashed so the offense has to pass to stay in the game? Does that mean they don’t care about the run? And even though we all wish we had an All Pro offensive line, can we really say they haven’t drafted linemen and acquired others the last three years and spent time developing them? I say this as someone who pines for offensive linemen in the first round EVERY DRAFT, but I know my bias may not be the best direction for the team as a whole.

With that said, the input on this thread has been phenomenal, even the dissenting voices have value. Time will tell how well the current reconstruction of the team plays out.

 

[dieterbrock]

You don’t think McVay likes to run the ball? Seriously?

His whole O is predicated on a proven run threat on every snap. That’s what makes his entire O so difficult to defend. Let’s hope and pray that an Akers/Hendy combo can once again provide that necessary threat.

If they can, then this O is once again top 3 caliber.

100%
Play action is detrimental to a team that doesnt run the ball, whereas play action is the absolute staple to the McVay offense

I just don't realistically expect more consistent success with run blocking until they fix the offensive line.

While I by no means feel the oline is fine, I moreso believe that if the players execute better, the o-line will look a heck of a lot better too

 

[Oldgeek]

Wow, but the defense sucked and they had more talent. I rewatched the Falcon and Buc games from last season. It was sad as shit.

 

[snackdaddy]

Sometimes it doesn't matter how good the coach is. If players don't execute the plays, its hard to win. The way I see it, the problems were not just offense. The defense was really bad in some games. Jameis Winston looked like an All Pro. Baltimore was what, the first 5 drives and 5 TD's? Or was it 6 for 6? The Cowboys offense looked like a juggernaut. The 49ers converted 3rd and 16 on their final drive. Twice.

Then you have the problems on offense. They had to start inexperienced guys because of injuries. No surprise it took a few games. But some short sighted people are only looking at those few games to think they should make changes on the line. And draft more linemen. Lineman that would be, wait for it...inexperienced. Which was the main problem to begin with.

 

[Merlin]

Then you have the problems on offense. They had to start inexperienced guys because of injuries. No surprise it took a few games. But some short sighted people are only looking at those few games to think they should make changes on the line. And draft more linemen. Lineman that would be, wait for it...inexperienced. Which was the main problem to begin with.

Well to be fair some of us who think changes should have been made this offseason on the line don't attribute our issues last season to only injuries. That is an oversimplification IMO, even sort of a storyline argument the way it reads. Fact is the Rams rolled the dice on two young players and a 38 year old LT without a whole lot of options for if things didn't work out. And it burned them. And the guys who suffered most were QB and RBs all of whom suffered nose dives in productivity in 2019.

Also we can't just lump all inexperienced players together either. Some have futures in this league (Edwards for example, whose future is quite bright IMO). Some still have room to step up and improve and become starters (Evans & Corbett). And some might not ever be more than depth options. Don't think for a moment the Rams aren't seeing some of these guys as depth or JAGs. They surely are no matter how much hope the fan base tends to have for the unproven depth guys every offseason.

And the funny thing here is that the Rams undoubtedly wanted to add to their OL this offseason. I think that's a given. But this particular offseason was about trimming the fat. They felt Gurley and Cooks had to go and made that happen which eliminated a lot of options. And with those two gone they clearly felt the WR and RB rooms were weaker than the OL and went that route with their higher draft capital. I don't fault them for their direction at this moment either. The WR and RB rooms were actually worse than the OL room when those two were subtracted.

 

[MauiRam]

And the funny thing here is that the Rams undoubtedly wanted to add to their OL this offseason. I think that's a given. But this particular offseason was about trimming the fat. They felt Gurley and Cooks had to go and made that happen which eliminated a lot of options. And with those two gone they clearly felt the WR and RB rooms were weaker than the OL and went that route with their higher draft capital. I don't fault them for their direction at this moment either. The WR and RB rooms were actually worse than the OL room when those two were subtracted.

Exactly!!