LA Rams assembling millenial NFL staff for HC Sean McVay

Rams pattern proved fatal

The Rams game planning became their undoing in that Super Bowl. For two seasons, the Rams had achieved success by sticking to a winning formula: rushing Todd Gurley to set up pass, passing ball to downfield receivers on run/pass option to stretch field, pass to flats to stretch defense, rinse and repeat.

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On defense, the Rams game plan was even simpler. DC Phillips counted on his players beating their offensive counter parts in one-on-one battles often enough to keep the game in hand.  Special teams used good coverage plus surprise “gimmick” plays to keep opposing teams on their heels.

It all seemed to work, until it didn’t.  In that game against the Patriots, the Rams never truly mustered any momentum on offense. Conversely, the Rams defense stymied the Patriots offense but for two players – tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman.  In the end, I emerged from the game convinced that the Rams had more talent on the field of play. The Patriots simply outcoached them, badly. That is a fact even Coach McVay readily admitted.

So 2019 was back to the drawing board, to improve their coaching techniques. But a funny thing happened. Same ole coaches, same ole game planning.  McVay, still directly calling both the offensive game plan and the plays, had not pushback and struggled to adapt Rams offense to the opposing team’s vulnerability. Fassel’s special teams struggled as more and more players on the roster fell to injury. And the Rams’ defense, strong as it was, struggled to force a punt against team’s with a strong running game.  Same input, same results.