I looked up the ranking for redzone efficiency and for 2023, the Rams ranked 8th (66%). Over McVay’s career the Rams have gone back and forth between middle of the pack (c. 50%) to top 10(60%-65%).

Here’s my take: You want to convert at a 75% clip. If you do that, you’re top 3 in the league.

What I think McVay doesn’t truly and really grasp is that his talent is in open field. He’s trying to get the defense dizzy when he’s on the 50 yard line and there’s enough room for that there.

But you can’t make a defense dizzy at 1st and goal at the 10. There’s not enough field.

So, he either figures out that you have to pound a tent stake into solid ground down there or let someone else call the plays. He, IMO, hasn’t grasped the real nature of how the game changes down there.

He should either follow his own lead—we not me—and hand over the play calling duties to someone who can get it done since he can’t or win the war on his own ignorance about this facet of the game.

His red zone efficiency—as great a coach he is—is pedestrian.

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We Not Me