Why isn’t anyone talking about LA Rams Matthew Stafford effect?

Deep ball passes

Over time, it appeared as though the most successful defenses against the LA Rams offense learned to crowd the box and overwhelm the quarterback with too much pressure. Too much pressure equated to hurried throws, and hurried throws equated to ‘What the hell was he thinking there?’ reactions from the fans.  Over time, the Rams offense contracted because the ball didn’t make it downfield often enough to threaten defenses.  Even when receivers were wide open downfield and flailing their arms to get noticed, it didn’t work. sigh.

Well, there is a new sheriff in town, and you can bet that some things will be changing rapidly as a result. One of the first differences you will notice in this Rams offense is that wide-open receivers who are downfield will get noticed, pretty quickly. The Rams receivers are some of the best at creating separation. Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks at connecting with receivers who struggle to create separation. See where this is going?

It’s impossible to know what the full potential of quarterback Matthew Stafford will be in the LA Rams offense because until now he was been Aladdin without the magic lamp genie.  Now that he’s gotten head coach Sean McVay designing and calling his plays, he ain’t never had a friend like that. This symbiosis goes both ways. McVay loves to take shots downfield. Now, he can do exactly that.

McVay is so darned thrilled about Stafford as his quarterback for one specific reason – he can hurl the ball downfield on a rope and that opens up the LA Rams’ entire playbook better than ever before. If defenses opt to the Cover-Zero that paralyzed the offense in 2020, this version of the offense will hit the hot receiver (look for DeSean Jackson) who will blow their doors off for a quick touchdown. Gambling defenses will pay the price now, and that will open up the running game, the short routes, and the intermediate routes.