Change is certain for the 2026 Los Angeles Rams.
New faces—Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Myles Garrett, Kliff Kingsbury, and others—bring different skillsets to the table. That ushers in schematic change in order to best deploy their abilities and maximize the potential of offseason acquisitions.
This is a comprehensive (hopefully exhaustive) list of all potential scheme changes coming to the Rams in 2026. We can use this as a guide and check in as we collect more information during training camp
and at the start of the regular season.
First, some homework in case you haven’t been following along.
REQUIRED READING:
Matthew Stafford & Terrance Ferguson must fix disconnect
Rams TE’s: Same position, vastly different players
Why Rams may not need a third receiver
Will this be the most divided backfield in Sean McVay era?
How will Rams deploy Trent McDuffie?
Myles Garrett trade signals schematic shift
Offense
Continuation of heavier personnel
The rest of the NFL is attempting to catch up to LA’s surprising pivot to 12 and 13 personnel sets a year ago, as evidenced by run-blocking TE’s flying off draft boards earlier than expected this spring. But Sean McVay’s trademark is no longer his offensive play calling—it’s his ability and willingness to adapt. This best shows the growth from McVay’s early years as head coach to who he is now.
Can he stay one step ahead of the copycats?
It’s not necessarily a scheme change to continue what you did a year ago; however, there will be changes in how the Rams utilize their heavier personnel packages. The team is telling us they feel the third receiver position has been devalued. WR#3 played roughly half as many snaps in the playoffs as they did in the regular season last year. Targets also trended along the same line. Despite the need being pretty obvious, LA made minimal investment to move the needle for 2026. One the other hand, they drafted a second-round tight end for the second time in two years.
It sure seems like McVay is doubling down.
Re-capturing the Cooper Kupp magic
The Rams used to (tongue in cheek) say that Cooper Kupp effectively forced defenses to treat their 11 personnel as 11.5 due to his prowess as a WR/TE hybrid. We know LA is probably moving instead towards 12 and 13 personnel, and they have a new WR/TE combination player in Terrance Ferguson.
Can Ferguson develop into a dynamic enough receiver for defenses to treat him more like a wide receiver? Can the Rams accomplish the same result that Kupp gave them in an entirely new style?
This is one of the most significant looming questions from the offseason. A lot is riding on Ferguson.
More frequent up-tempo offense
One coaching staff change that has flown under the radar is LA’s hire of Kliff Kingsbury as an offensive assistant. This was one of our first tea leaves that the Rams could draft a quarterback, and a short time later they spent the thirteenth overall pick on Ty Simpson.
One other nugget to discern is the fact that Kingsbury is an established expert in college-style offenses and usage of up-tempo approaches in the NFL.
Defenses generally have taken a step forward by simplifying their scheme. They keep it even more streamlined when offenses rush to the line and don’t huddle. A savvy quarterback like Matthew Stafford and a stellar play caller like Sean McVay could force their hand and take advantage.
If opposing defenses press the easy button, this may be an interesting counter from the Rams.
Running back by committee
Prior to 2025 and whether the lead back was Todd Gurley or Kyren Williams, LA’s top rusher averaged between 69% and 78% of the total backfield workload. Last season signaled a significant departure on this front. Williams comprised just 54% of the total carries.
Part of this is the emergence of Blake Corum, who should also be in store for a strong 2026. A shared workload also helps keep both players fresh into the postseason.
The split could grow even more divided if second-year back Jarquez Hunter is able to earn a spot in the rotation. This could easily be the most divided backfield we’ve seen in McVay’s tenure as head coach.
Defense
Fewer stunts on defensive line
The Rams led the NFL in defensive line stunt rates. While this could be a matter of preference on the coaching staff’s part, it’s also fair to wonder if they needed to use scheme to maximize production from a younger cast of players. We can also question whether a continuation of stunts could become a crutch that opposing offenses can take advantage of.
The addition of Garrett should allow the Rams to keep things simpler and create pressure on quarterbacks organically. There is no need for smoke and mirrors if you have the horses to win their blocks dependably.
Departure from zone-heavy coverage
While it changed this offseason, LA hadn’t really invested in the cornerback position since they traded multiple first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey. Zone coverage is the great talent equalizer. It can allow a cast of average Joes to play collaboratively and punch above their weight. It makes sense why the Rams have been reliant on zone coverage in recent years, though things could shift dramatically in 2026 following the acquisitions of McDuffie and Watson.
Could we see LA become a more man-heavy team? We know that McDuffie performs better against smaller, shiftier slot types. Watson is a more favorable match against bigger targets. These complimentary skillsets lend themselves towards a shift to playing more man.
The Trent McDuffie conundrum
It’s no secret that McDuffie is a better slot corner than perimeter player. In order for the Rams to maximize their investment of trade capital and salary cap resources, they will need to play him at times at his best position.
But one complication is the fact that the Rams only have two strong outside corners: Watson and McDuffie. Should McDuffie move into the slot, Emmanuel Forbes moves from a reserve to a fringe starter.
Do we really want to see more of Forbes in 2026? Will an alternative arrive onto the scene?
Beauty in simplicity
There exists a throughline to most of the schematic shifts on defense: relying on natural talent rather than using scheme to maximize production.
Winning organically as a pass rusher will reduce LA’s need to run stunts on the defensive line. Improved coverage and using more man coverage says “we know we are better than you so try to do something about it.”
Defenses are getting simpler. The Rams are probably no exception, although they are approaching it from a different direction. Most defenses are doing this to disguise and confuse offenses.
The Rams have the luxury of simplicity because they are simply better from a manpower perspective than the pool of talent the majority of offenses have to work with. The bar has raised significantly on defense. LA has very few weak links.
Only the most well-rounded offenses will be able to hold their own against this new Rams defense.
