How the LA Rams punched up traditional speed schemes with power

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes for a 1-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes for a 1-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

The Misdirection Screen (Malcolm Brown)

You will see how I have added power to these schemes, but the offensive screen is heavily integrated within a football team’s playbook on all levels now. The idea of the concept is to draw the defenders on the quarterback while creating an easy throw for the quarterback behind the pass rush and get fewer defenders moving down the field.

Here is the power screen that the #Rams ran with Malcolm Brown last night. As you can see by the link here, the misdirection is when Krupp comes across the formation in jet motion. That misdirection moves the linebackers away from the actual direction of the play and the Rams have a hat-on-hat moving downfield. The difference in this screen, in the play above, from the standpoint of concept, is that this is actually a misdirection that creates the screening opportunity.

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Jet motion addition to screen

The Rams run the jet motion with Cooper Kupp from left to right. The Rams do run a lot of jet motion, and because of the speed that the Rams have on the perimeter, that is a threat that the defense has to respect. When they run this motion and fake the jet sweep, you freeze the linebackers over the middle who are now shifting to the right.

Now, the blockers that pulled to the left are hat-for-hat with the defenders that are there, and the linebackers are out of position to take down Brown. It’s classic Sean McVay, making up for the lack of speed at his running back position by displacing defenders.