Turf Show Times
Throughout the Sean McVay era with the Los Angeles Rams, there have been several iterations of the offense. McVay took the league by storm in 2017 and 2018 with the usage of outside zone and play action passing off of that. When the NFL caught up, McVay developed a spread offense that lacked a running game completely as the quarterback operated out of empty. It was the best the Rams offense had looked since the 2018 season. Needing to run the ball, McVay completely revamped the running game in 2023, installing gap and power concepts. The result was one of the most successful running games in the NFL.
That offensive evolution has continued into the 2025 season. From 2021-2024, the Rams used 13 personnel six times total. Over the past three weeks, they’ve used it at a 43.2 percent rate. It’s become the identity of the offense. Since Week 7, the Rams rank first in offense EPA per play out of 13 personnel at 0.31. Their 39.3 percent success rate also leads the NFL.
Overnight, the Rams have gone from a team that operated primarily out of 11 personnel with three wide receivers to becoming the heaviest team in the NFL and finding immediate success. It’s also not as if the Rams have taken 13 personnel and incorporated new concepts.
The Rams are taking what they did in 11 personnel, and simply using bigger players. Instead of Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp blocking through the B-gap, it’s Davis Allen. Instead of Nacua, Kupp, or Atwell running a ‘cheat motion’ pre-snap, it’s Terrance Ferguson.
The McVay offense has evolved over the past nine years and it’s as if it’s finally reached the final form. The McVay offense began as a Charmander that was naive and fiercely loyal to his scheme. After evolving into a Charmeleon, McVay became more powerful, but was almost stubborn to a fault. McVay has finally evolved into his final form as a Charizard, arrogant at times, but understanding what he needs to be to reach his potential.
It’s as if McVay is taking everything he’s learned and putting it all together. This is no longer a zone or gap run game, but both. Through 10 weeks, they have exactly 108 zone concept rushing attempts and 108 man/gap concept rushing attempts. This is a team that’s still comfortable running at a defense with duo blocking schemes, but they have also been thriving on outside zone looks that are at the core of what McVay wants to do. The Rams lead the NFL in zone rushing success rate at 62.5 percent and are third in the NFL in man/gap rushing success rate.
Back in 2018, the Rams run game found success with the combination of Todd Gurley and CJ Anderson. In the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, Gurley and Anderson combined for 39 carries for 138 yards. Anderson led the way with 23 carries to Gurley’s 16.
Over the past month, this is no longer just Kyren Williams’ backfield....
