The Detroit Lions (8-5) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) will square off in a Week 15 battle between two teams positioning themselves for the NFC playoffs.
Let’s take a closer look at the Rams’ coaching staff, the scheme they run, and some scouting notes from previously viewed games.
Rams head coach: Sean McVay
NFL coaching seasons: 16
Offensive coordinator: Three (Washington 2014-16)
NFL head coaching seasons: Nine (Rams 2017-present)
Influences: Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Jay Gruden, Chris Petersen, Matt LaFleur
Playcaller: Yes
Dan Campbell on McVay:
“I think McVay’s always done a good job of putting players in the best position to have success. Using the roster, the totality of it, as much as you can use your personnel. If you’ve got it, use it. And he does a great job of that.”
Offensive coordinator: Mike LaFleur
NFL coaching seasons: 12
Offensive coordinator seasons: Five; Jets (2021-22), Rams (2023-present)
Previous positions: Passing game coordinator (49ers 2017-20), WR coach
Influences: Matt LaFleur (brother), Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan
Key Staff: Dave Ragone (QB coach)
Offensive scheme
Passing game: West Coast, Shanahan-inspired
Running scheme: More power, Duo, inside zone in 2024-25
Staples of scheme:
- Heavy 11 personnel: 67% of the time in 2025, have hit 90% in seasons past
- Heavy West Coast themes (pre-snap motion, play-action, end-arounds, screens, outside-zone runs, and condensed formations)
- Pre-snap motion usage near the top of the NFL
- Big shift from wide zone run to power/duo/inside zone run game has been difference making
- Inside runs (56.1%, second most in NFL), outside runs (37.3%, last in NFL)
- Preferred quicker plays in 2024, resulting in long drives and ball possession
- Always capable of explosive plays
- Constantly sets up plays
- Use offensive formations to get specific defensive formations on the field – setting up mismatches
Scouting notes
- Primarily operates with 11 (67%) and 13 personnel (22%)
- Last week (vs. Cardinals), used 13 personnel 60% of the time (40 of 67 offensive snaps)
- Multiple receiver sets or multiple TE sets … not much in between in 2025
- Matthew Stafford manipulates secondary with eyes
- Play-action on 36.3% of plays, most in the NFL (for reference, Jared Goff uses PA 30.6%, 5th)
- Stafford is equally successful against man and zone (top 10 EPA vs. both)
- Stafford’s only real weakness right now is pressure: EPA when pressured = -0.44 (35th in NFL)
- OL is top 3 in pressures (119) and sacks (17), but when pressure comes, it’s fast (ave. 2.56 seconds, 27th)
- WR Puka Nakua is their version of Amon-Ra St. Brown – high volume, highly trusted
- WR Davante Adams leads NFL in TD receptions – a red zone weapon
- No LaPorta level TE, but four (!) who can produce at a higher level than Brock Wright
- RB tandem of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum not far behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery
- Offensive line has produced...
Pride of Detroit
