The Los Angeles Rams are on a five-game winning streak and have worked their way to the top of the NFC West division and NFC conference overall. They’ll face a formidable foe in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in Week 12.
While LA’s defense was stifling in their last game against the Seattle Seahawks, the offense sputtered—drawing a conclusion to the hot streak of play from this unit. The Rams also lost three key starters to injury for at least the next for weeks, so they’ll have to dig deeper into the roster in order to maintain their hold in the standings.
Who will rise to the occasion to get the offense back on the right track and fill in for the injured individuals?
1 – Davante Adams, WR
Against the Seahawks Adams caught only one of eight targets for a single yard and a touchdown. It’s worth mentioning that he was questionable coming into the game with a back injury and missed practice time throughout the week.
Simply put, you cannot run your offense through a player who is this inefficient. Adams received high-volume targets last week—including on third down and in the red zone—and this was one of the main drivers why the offense seemed to sputter at times. Seattle’s defense deserves credit for bottling up Adams and Tariq Woolen seemed to draw the veteran receiver the most often.
The Rams offense almost seems to go as Adams goes. If they are going to get back on track, they need Adams to haul in the passes thrown his direction to keep the chains moving and come away with points in the red zone.
2 – Josh Wallace, NB
You may be wondering why Josh Wallace is included in this list over the recently acquired Roger McCreary. Here’s what Sean McVay had to say about the team’s decision making process this week:
Wallace deserves a ton of credit for stepping up and doing an excellent job… He did a phenomenal job.
Josh is so smart. He can play “star”, he can play outside corner, he can play safety for us. Just a guy that’s so valuable and so versatile.
He’s got great instincts, great overall awareness and great physical and mental toughness… He came in and really didn’t miss a beat. His ability to communicate [and] understand big picture wise… is a tremendous credit.
Based on McVay’s comments—and we could look back and call this gamesmanship on the coach’s part—it seems Wallace will get the first nod in replacing Quentin Lake at slot corner.
3 – Warren McClendon, RT
Rob Havenstein has struggled at right tackle for the majority of the time he’s been on the field this season. Warren McClendon filled in for a three-game stretch and performed admirably—arguably at a level better than we’ve seen from the veteran.
It’s telling that the team can lose its right tackle for the next four games and alarm bells not sound. It’s reasonably possible that McClendon is an upgrade over Havenstein for the remainder of the season.
The added bonus is that Havenstein is a free agent at season’s end, but McClendon is under contract through 2026. If the Rams can gain a comfort with McClendon’s long-term potential, they will head into the offseason without a dire need at one of the more important spots on the offensive line.
Warren McClendon, it’s your time to seize the moment and never look back.
4 – Terrance Ferguson, TE
How will the Rams replace Tyler Higbee for the foreseeable future? They’ll tell you that it will take all three tight ends currently on the roster: Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, and Colby Parkinson.
But one of these players is obviously different than the other. Ferguson brings a verticality to the position that we have not seen from a Rams TE in a very long time. He simply does not look like a rookie when the ball is thrown in his direction. He’s had success in contested catch opportunities and flashed strong, aggressive hands.
A lot of Higbee’s production comes off TE screens. You don’t want to give these looks to Allen and Parkinson. Ferguson is a much better fit in this regard.
In terms of snap counts, Higbee’s playing time will likely be split between the remaining three players on the roster. If we are looking at receiving production alone, the Rams have a chance to improve by throwing more balls in Ferguson’s direction—especially downfield as a vertical threat.
