The Los Angeles Rams offense finally clicked in the Week 3 win against the San Francisco 49ers. It seems almost crazy to think that the offense was more efficient in Week 3 with an EPA per play of 0.195 than they were in Week 1. That was without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and an offensive line that still wasn’t 100 percent healthy.
Despite the offense being hindered by injuries, head coach Sean McVay had one of his best coaching performances of his career. After running primarily a drop back passing game out of strictly 11 personnel, the Rams changed it up against the 49ers.
After running 98.7 percent of the offense out of 11 personnel in the first two weeks, the Rams introduced more two tight end looks out of 12 personnel. After running zero plays out of 12 personnel in the first two weeks, that number was 26 in Week 3. Under McVay, the Rams have primarily been an 11 personnel team. The Rams’ 26 plays in 12 personnel were half as many as they ran all of last season. They ran just 52 plays out of 12 personnel in 2023.
Coming into the season, the Rams hoped to expand on the power run game that they implemented towards the back half of last season. However, with the injuries to the offensive line, it became difficult to run the ball. During the first two weeks, the Rams ranked 21st in rushing EPA and Kyren Williams was getting stuffed on 43.3 percent of his carries while averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. Williams had a -4.0 rush EPA in Week 1 and -2 rush EPA against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
It should be no surprise that with heavier offensive personnel packages and utilizing two tight ends, the run game benefitted. In 11 personnel this season, the Rams have averaged -0.07 EPA per rush. Out of 12 personnel last week, that number was up to 0.08 and Williams ranked sixth among qualified running backs with a positive 3.0 rush EPA.
Utilizing 12 personnel looks also forced the Rams to operate more from under center. In the first two weeks of the season, Kyren Williams had 12 carries total in under center looks. That number was up to 18 in Week 3 alone. Again, Williams had a positive 3.1 rush EPA in under center looks against the 49ers. While operating under center also helped Williams, it also allowed the Rams to run more play-action. In Week 3, 32.1 percent of Matthew Stafford’s drop backs for the Rams were out of play action. Stafford had a 0.27 EPA per drop back out of play-action against the 49ers compared to a -0.01 EPA per drop back with no play action.
Whenever wide receiver TuTu Atwell has gotten an opportunity, he has seemingly made the most of it and delivered. That was the case against the 49ers and McVay needs to continue to find ways to get the ball into his hands. Atwell has seven games in which he’s been a featured piece of the Rams offense. In games where Atwell was targeted five or more times, he has 35 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns. We can talk about Atwell needs to show it more, and that’s not necessarily wrong. However, he also needs to be featured more.
He’ll have more opportunities to show that he can handle the workload over the next few weeks without Nacua and Kupp in the lineup. Still, it will be up to McVay to find ways to get Atwell the ball. Atwell had five first read-targets against the 49ers which led Rams wide receivers. It will be interesting to see if defenses adjust, but the former second-round pick remains the most explosive Rams play-maker.
Atwell had four receptions for 93 yards in Week 3. Out of those four catches, two of them went for explosive plays. That doesn’t mention the 48-yard defensive pass interference that he drew. Explosive plays make it easier for the offense to put points on the board. As it stands, Atwell is one of the few players in the Rams offense that can make plays down the field. His 16.1 air yards per target ranked ninth in Week 3. Atwell getting the ball and creating explosive plays in the passing game is a good thing that must continue so that the offense doesn’t get congested.
With his back against the wall, McVay adjusted his game plan and it paid off. However, that can’t just be a one week thing. The Rams will once again be without Kupp and Nacua. In Week 3, the Chicago Bears defense will provide a new challenge. However, much like last season in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks when the Rams first leaned into the power run game, they need to do the same with 12 personnel and play action. That should be the identity of the offense going forward with the personnel that is available. It will be up to McVay to lean into what worked last week or whether he’ll go back to the drop back pass game from the first two weeks.
