LA Rams: 3 tweaks to improve ‘sloppy’ rushing attack vs. Raiders

Lead blocker

One of the ways to beat the Vic Fangio defense is a bit susceptible is the fact that a solid and effective lead blocker can be deadly effective in the effort to run with the football. How so? Well, as we pointed out previously, the defense ‘cheats’ on runs by putting one player into each of the rushing lanes.

So to beat that, you get a powerback or lead back to hit the hole first, and the ball carrier to follow. The offensive lineman to the right of the lane blocks the guy to the right. The offensive lineman to the left of the lane blocks the guy to the left. The lead back engages whoever is in the hole.

If the defender tries to shed the blocker to his left, the running simply uses his blocker as a shield and runs to his right. By the same token, if the defender tries to shed the blocker to his right, the runner follows the blocker and runs to his left.

Either way, the defense plays it incorrectly.  That is due to the fact that the offense is in a perfect position to counter the move. Now, this isn’t something I’ve come up with. It’s simply the tools used by the Rams head coach Sean McVay in the past when he faces the Chicago Bears. Johnny Mundt is Weapon X in those games and is very effective in the multipurpose role he is assigned. While he is no doubt going to be just as effective this year, it would not be much of a giveaway to give Kendall Blanton a chance for the powerback punishment against the Las Vegas Raiders defense.