LA Rams O must protect Stafford better in Week 10…

LA Rams offense must protect Matthew Stafford better in Week 10

by Bret Stuter of RamblinFan.com. Follow @milroyigglesfan


LA Rams News Matthew Stafford
For the first eight games of the season, the LA Rams had done a fine job protecting veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. The offensive line allowed just four sacks, the best performance in the NFL to that point. Safe in the pocket meant that Stafford had the time to carve up defenses almost at will. And that is what he did.

But Stafford experienced back problems before the Week 9 contest hosting the Tennessee Titans and limited his ability to practice with the team to just Friday. And then, the Rams offense put on the worst performance of the season. To top that off, that Titans defensive line put tremendous pressure on Stafford, sacking him five times in just one game.

And then Stafford suffered an ankle sprain that punctuated the offensive woes with an exclamation point.

As much as the LA Rams have worked around ensuring other players remain healthy, they seem to have thrown all of that out the window in Week 9. The question now becomes, will they abandon countermeasures in their Week 10 contest with their NFC West nemesis the San Francisco 49ers.

One of the downsides of the entire quarterback exchange with the Detroit Lions was the fact that the Rams were acquiring a veteran quarterback with game-changing skills. While any replacement of former quarterback Jared Goff was not a steep drop in production, the Rams have nobody backing up Stafford who is even in the same neighborhood.

Until now, the Rams offensive line appeared to be up to the challenge. Now? There are reasons for doubt.


Stafford can’t take much more pounding

The Tennessee Titans did not blitz aggressively to befuddle the Rams offensive line. They simply combined a series of meaningful stunts with standard rush packages and used that to their advantage. If it were simply one offensive lineman, the fix for Week 10 would be relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, the Rams entire offensive line suffered lapses in that one.

The Rams are a game away from a badly needed BYE week. But to get there, they must face the 49ers. Entering Week 10, the 49ers’ defense has chalked up 18 quarterback sacks. But they now have a ready-made template of how to get to Matthew Stafford, and you can bet they will do everything in their power to do exactly that.

Matthew Stafford struggled

Historically, the Rams can bet that they will get the best from the 49ers. In fact, in 2020 the 49ers seemed to rest on injured reserve until they faced the Rams, moved to the active roster, and then returned to injured reserve once more. It seems inevitable that the 49ers will follow the same defensive path as the Titans, as it has been their strategy as well.

I – Lockdown the deep threat
II – Stunt defensive linemen. Blitz A-Gap with LBs
III – Apply significant pressure to the quarterback
IV – Ignore the running game
V – Make the quarterback beat you.

The Titans were almost perfect in their defensive design. In two consecutive offensive plays, the pressure was so great that Matthew Stafford threw wildly into the arms of the defensive secondary. In the first pick, the Titans’ defense set the offense up with a first-down and goal. In the second pick, the secondary cut out the offense completely and put up a pick-six.

So what can the Rams do to protect their most precious offensive weapon? We certainly are not at a loss for recommendations.

Saving QB Stafford

I want to emphasize the simple fact that protecting Stafford has got to be a conversation by the offensive coaching staff this week. This isn’t just something that we hope the Rams consider but is absolutely vital to the success of this team for 2021, and all future seasons.

The Rams cannot win in the playoffs without Stafford, not this year. The team’s running game is not only a pale shade of its former self, but the Rams simply do not run the ball often enough to count on it when they might need it.

I – Shotgun empty backfield

One of the strategies deployed by the Rams in the past when facing zero-cover defenses was to commit to an empty backfield. It failed because Goff lined up under center and threw the ball away.

A similar strategy with Stafford could be more effective, as long as the team employs a shotgun formation, and gives Stafford an audible designating which receiver is the instant outlet in the case of a jailbreak pass rush.

II – Two running backs

The Rams have used two offensive weapons in the backfield. Historically, that has been a wide receiver lining up as the power back, and have used that formation to place a receiver into a route, into a run, and event to block.

Now, the team should include big old burly running back Buddy Howell in those formations. Howell is 6-foot-1 and weighs 225-pounds. He makes more sense to use against the more physical 49ers defense. And the Rams could use the same options of pass/run/block with him that they had assigned to either Cooper Kupp or Robert Woods.

III – 12 personnel package

The LA Rams have signed tight-end Kendall Blanton to the 53-man roster now, so why not take advantage of him? Blanton is a towering 6-foot-6 262-pound blocking tight end whose size rivals that of some offensive tackles. Putting him on the line of scrimmage and blocking inwards allows the Rams to seal off the edge and give a speedy running back like Darrell Henderson a chance at a big gain.

But Blanton could be a good target for the passing game as well. His size allows Stafford to throw him a jump ball where only he can reach up to catch it. The Rams were incredibly in December 2019 under similar circumstances, pairing Johnny Mundt with Tyler Higbee to provide a stronger running game. Sometimes the best tricks are the familiar ones.

IV – Use more offensive linemen

The Rams’ current 53-man roster boasts 10 offensive linemen. Why not make use of some in jumbo run packages to run the ball in short-yardage? Pick a large offensive lineman like 6-foot-7 285-pound offensive lineman A.J. Jackson, and bring him in as an eligible receiver. Then, simply outnumber the defenders on the line of scrimmage.

For an added twist, practice a pass or running play to the guy, just to keep the defenders honest. If Jackson won’t work, then integrate a former offensive player like Michael Hoecht, who was a running back at one point.

Big bodies should be the rule, not the exception, in short-yardage for the Rams offense this year. Four methods to help max-protect Matthew Stafford in Week 10. Will the Rams make any adjustments for this week? Well, history does not give many reasons for optimism. But hopefully, the Rams try something new for a change.

LA Rams offense must protect Matthew Stafford better in Week 10. If they fail to do so, the team may not have a healthy Stafford to lead them in the NFL Playoffs.