Seahawks game may prove if Rams for real
The overhaul of the Los Angeles Rams offense started with one base play in new head coach Sean McVay’s scheme, shown in an offensive meeting on the first day of the offseason program in April.
McVay was animated as he explained how one “foundational driven play” — as he calls it — can develop. A second play builds off the first one, and a third off the second, and so on, all based on different formations of wide receivers and different route combinations.
McVay showed film of the new coaching regime’s past attacks. Players saw explosive plays and were immediately excited.
“You see all the breaking points, whether it’s in, out, vertical or sitting. There’s just so many counters in this offense to where it’s hard to be stopped,” wide receiver Robert Woods told USA TODAY Sports this week. “It’s very creative, it’s very explosive, it’s very disguised. I just feel like it’s a very good offense, and hearing him speak way the first day, I knew this offense and this team could be very explosive.”
Few could have predicted how quickly McVay’s new offense would provide returns, especially given the massive changes the Rams endured.
Chief among the concerns was the the development of 2016 No. 1 pick, quarterback Jared Goff, who was hardly impressive in his sev-
“It’s very creative, it’s very explosive, it’s very disguised.” Rams wide receiver Robert Woods
en starts as a rookie.
Yet after the first quarter of the season, the Rams offense — ranked first in points with 35.5 a game and fifth in yards with 383.8 on average — could be the biggest surprise in the NFL.
Los Angeles will be tested Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks in a game that could reveal whether the 3-1 Rams are a legitimate NFC West contender.
“It’s going to be a heck of a challenge for us, and this is what you should want,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth told USA TODAY Sports.
The offense’s success is even more astounding within the context of the team’s recent history. The Rams were the lowest-scoring team in the league last year and won two of its first four games without scoring a single touchdown.
Goff, who replaced Case Keenum as the starter in mid-November, completed just 55% of his throws with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Whitworth said he has seen the young passer’s confidence grow as he has become more comfortable with McVay’s offense.
Goff is completing 67% of his throws with seven touchdowns and just one interception.
“Like anything else, young quarterbacks get judged too quickly. There’s too much thrown at them a lot of the time, and quite honestly I think there are lot of coaches in this league that don’t really know how to coach young players sometimes. That’s just the truth,” Whitworth said.
“I think for him, we’ve continued to go as he goes, and he’s continued to play well. He’s doing a great job for a young quarterback.”
Perhaps the biggest reason for the Rams’ improved offense has been rejuvenated running back Todd Gurley, who ranks second in the NFL with 596 yards from scrimmage and has already surpassed last year’s scoring total with seven touchdowns.
Given Seattle’s consistent success against opposing passing games and 27th-ranked rush defense, getting Gurley involved early will be crucial.
“I think you look at when they get into those known passing situations, they can home with four-man rushes, they play great coverage on the back end, whether they’re playing their three-deep or some of their man principles, and they’ve got elite players all over the place,” McVay said.
“It’s an excellent challenge. I’ve got a whole lot of respect for this defense and we certainly have to be at our best if we’re going to give our self a chance to compete.”