LA Rams head coach loved the potential of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford so much that he went to bat to push team owner Stan Kroenke to authorize another first-round draft pick, the top Rams pick from 2023, to sweeten the pot and ensure that the team would emerge with Stafford. We all know how the story turned out for the LA Rams, but now it’s a bit of wonderment at how the team will make use of the new veteran quarterback.
We’d hinted at a few things already in our regular coverage of the team moves since adding Stafford. But a majority of the coverage so far has focused upon what Matthew Stafford has been in his career. While that will carry weight into the Rams offense in 2021, it’s by no means how the Rams will define him or make use of his talents in the new season.
Rather, the Rams are easing Stafford into the team workouts because they are still customizing the offense to suit his particular skillsets. At the same time, Stafford is working out to be ready to run the Rams offense on opening day.
Stafford has a lot to learn in a short amount of time, and that will take a deliberate heady approach to his insertion into this Rams offense.
You see, the Rams had been rather emphatic about crisp, precise route runners in the passing game because the offense was keyed on the ball and the receiver hitting a specific mark at a specific interval. Now, a new quarterback is tasked with learning the myriad of specific marks to hit in live-action. Which plays will he be learning?