After running their opening game record to 7-2 under Head Coach Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams will hit the road for Week 2, jaunting cross country to take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. No true Rams fan can forget the “Greatest Show on Turf” edition knocking off the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV back in 2000.
Most fans are satisfied with L.A.’s Week 1 win over the Houston Texans 14-9. It was a tight battle of two good defenses against inconsistent offenses, with enough surprises and fireworks
plays to keep it exciting until the very end. But there were some surprises on the snap count chart, players who didn’t get as much time on the field or have as much relevance on the outcome as expected. And with a disappointing first injury report now out, Who will see more action in Week 2?
Offense
Running back Blake Corum
The Rams preseason plan to lighten the running game load on Kyren Williams did not come to fruition. Maybe it was just how the first game unfolded, but Corum had a mere 10 offensive snaps and only two touches. With such a small sample, it’s hard to make a defensible judgement on his play. Like him or not, Williams was Williams, often making lemonade out blocking lemons ahead of him, but they are regularly smaller portions, sips, not gulps.
In their opening week loss, L.A.’s next opponent, the Tennessee Titans, gave up 151 yards at a 5.0 clip per carry. On film, they appeared to have a fairly decent run defense and better suited to stop the tougher, lunch-pail style back (JK Dobbins), while giving up some ground to the darting, change-of-pace player (rookie RJ Harvey).
As an aside, in short yardage and particularly near the goal line, the Rams will likely need to attack off tackle or use some kind of longer developing lead plays to run up the middle. Quarterback sneaks with Matthew Stafford behind Coleman Shelton are not the high percentage plays most might think, Shelton is not big and strong enough to drive nose tackles off the line. Run to the strong side and get those big tackles going downhill
Wide receiver Jordan Whittington
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell
It’s not that they didn’t see much on-field action, Whittington saw 50 percent of offensive snaps (30), while Atwell garnered 42 percent (25). While Whittington did indeed cause a bit of a stir with his special teams play, the duo was limited to two offensive touches. Atwell caught his only target, a short four-yard out pattern, while Whittington had single jet sweep run for five yards. Not much output out of the WR#3 and #4 slots.
A couple of things on the output of the wide receivers as a whole. If the Rams cannot shore up the pass protection, at least to the point of consistent, expect Matthew Stafford to sit back and read the field less, staying in a timing/rhythm mode to make quicker, one-read decisions. He’ll stay in the comfort zone of primarily targeting Puka Nacua and/or Davante Adams and that’s certainly not a bad thing. The other wideouts will have to continue to fulfill their play-to-play roles and be content with the few targets that are designed specifically for them.
Tight end Terrance Ferguson
The Rams top pick had a an uneventful maiden voyage, his only employment was on five special teams reps only.
Generally speaking about targets, the Rams tight ends are in the same boat as the wide outs and could be limited to short routes/check downs. But in Week 1, there were hints of big changes in how the tight ends will be deployed in the future.
First, 40+ percent of “12” (two TE’s) formations is a big change from the past. Sure, it could have been matchup-based since Houston has a strong defensive front, but when you have four tight ends that have size, hands, and the athleticism to get downfield, it makes sense for the Rams offense to avail itself of those skillsets. In fact, the way L.A. likes to interchange personnel and condense formations to look similar, it could just as easily create two separate mismatches, one on speed where a linebacker is forced to cover a wide receiver up the seam and/or the other being on size, forcing a short slot/corner on a 6’ 6” tight end.
Although the Houston Texans lean towards man coverage and didn’t use a lot of two-deep zone (9% of defensive reps) looks, L.A. seemed to be looking to exploit the umbrella coverage. Attacking the center of the field at mid-depth has always been a favored way to beat a two-deep zone and it was great to see L.A. hitting the seams. Especially since this week’s opponent, the Tennessee Titans predominantly used zone coverages in their opening game. It’s an old school method, but the kind of TE attack plan that can be run out of multiple formations, personnel groupings, and pass styles (drop back, play action, or shotgun).
Defense
Off-ball linebacker Shaun Dolac
Where can the Rams make room for him on defense? Dolac could get his feet wet and help out this week as a QB spy against the Tennessee Titans and their rookie signal caller Cam Ward. Although Ward did not have an official carry in Week 1, he was chased around the pocket all throughout the game. He’s quite athletic so I’m sure his coaches will want to see him create with his feet rather than escape and throw the ball away.
Dolac is stuck behind Nate Landman (62 reps, 98%), who is becoming a folk hero for his infectious leadership and Omar Speights with a quietly rolled up 45 reps (71%). Speights got his with the Rams defense playing with three safeties all game. It’s only Week 2, but it appears the Rams are getting away from their traditional 3-4 base and going with a multi-faceted hybrid, with a four-man front line, two off-ball linebackers, and five in the secondary.
Edge/defensive end Desjuan Johnson
Edge Josaiah Stewart
If Jared Verse (57 of 63 reps) and Byron Young (54 0f 63) continue to play at an almost 90 percent clip, there simply won’t be many scraps for the rest of the unit. In Week 1, Stewart got his NFL indoctrination with 15 snaps, while Johnson was an inactive. In Week 1, the Titans struggled with both run and pass blocking and this Sunday would be a good chance to give these young Rams some action and be in position for success.
Although I believe the rotation of the Rams four interior lineman through basically two roles will pay back royally in benefits as the season progresses, it would also be comforting to see Verse and Young at about 80 percent of reps. It might only mean a dozen or so extra snaps per game to be divvied up, but if the Rams are serious about developing Stewart and Johnson at edge, they need live action. Although I have nothing against Larrell Murchison and Nick Hampton, it is hard to think their four defensive and 15 special teams snaps wouldn’t be better served if given to a pair of developmental players.
Cornerback Cobie Durant
It’s not like Durant was hidden on the bench, he logged 25 defensive (40%) and 11 special teams reps. His skill is ball-hawking coverage and the Rams played 35 percent of Cover1 man defense. L.A. used it just 20 percent of the time last year and it wasn’t that long ago (2021), that they were last in the NFL in man coverage use. Size may the answer as to why Durant didn’t start and play more in Week 1. It might also be the answer to why Darious Williams didn’t play at all. The Texans Top 4 wideouts are all 6’ 2” or over and weigh 210+ lb.
The Rams braintrust has insisted they have four starting-grade corners and will use them to gain the best tactical advantage on a week-to-week basis. On Sunday, the Titans will bring out a receiving corps that is a little smaller and had their struggles against both man and zone coverage in their Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Who sees more time on the field?
Well, Sean McvAy said in his Monday presser that he wants Corum “more involved” with the offense, but it was only a couple of weeks ago that offensive coordinator Mike Le Fleur said that “…He’ll get his opportunities come Week 1.” I guess we’ll see. For Atwell and Whittington, the play time is fine, what is critical is their inclusion into the Rams offense as more than decoys. Yes, Nacua and Adams might always be open, but they need to take some downfield shots to keep things loosened up. This is a good week to get Ferguson some action, he’s got a look at how pros prepare for a game, his feet wet on special teams, and now needs his cage rattled a bit.
Defensively, there’s no pressing need to shine up Dolac, the two starters did well in Week 1. Maybe you could sneak him in for a few reps just as a future insurance policy against injury. Stewart didn’t look overwhelmed against the Texans, a bigger taste is called for. I don’t see the point of not getting Johnson involved, his versatility of playing both with a hand in the dirt or standing up makes him a roster value. Durant should at least repeat at 40 percent of snaps against a smaller opposing wide receiver unit.
Who would you like to see on the field for more action?
