What they said they are working on this off-season and into training camp is adjustments.
(That and redzone offense.) (Which they admit has been a problem.)
Let's put it this way. No defense that gave the Rams trouble last year did it just because they knew the team would use 11 personnel. They did it by both confusing and pressuring Goff and by attacking the OL. (It also helps a D against the Rams if they can contain the run, either by defending it effectively or by forcing the Rams to pass because of the score.)
Part of the issue, according to the Rams themselves, is that they are not that effective or efficient adjusting to the defensive attack. This includes, I assume, sight adjustments, where the WR alters his route based on the post-snap defensive look, and the qb is supposed to be on the same page with him and play the down accordingly. (Martz was huge on sight adjustments.) According to the Rams themselves, then, they need to adjust to defensive looks and variations more effectively, becoming less predictable. You don't need to use different personnel sets to do that.
You can do that without altering your personnel set. They can do that out of 11 sets.
Another aspect of this is that the OL has to be more effective against defenses that know how to attack it, including both Ds with very strong front 7s and Ds that just know how to attack the Rams line (like the Lions and Patz).
Oh, and, for years and years, I have heard fans of various NFL teams including the Rams say, they have 2 good RBs why not use 2 RB sets. And no team ever does it (or it;s rare). That is, 2 RB sets (like with Gurley and Henderson) are things that get talked about among us fans, but teams don't actually do it. Why not? I assume because it wouldn''t work and isn't seen by coaches as the big deal we think it is. At least in part that's because for it to work BOTH RBs have to be very effective at run blocking. Otherwise you're not adding a weapon, you're subtracting a blocker. And it has to be both players who are VERY effective run blockers. I am not sure either Gurley or Henderson have run blocked much in their lives (setting aside jet sweeps etc). I doubt they ever even practice it.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2019 09:21AM by zn.
