6 critical takeaways from LA Rams Week 13 victory

Takeaway I – Rams 12 personnel package has a pulse

After weeks of lobbying and hoping for the LA Rams to try their 12 personnel package, and witnessing nothing, the team finally sent their jumbo run blocking packages onto the football field against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  While there are likely some who are not impressed with the results, here’s why it was a huge step in the right direction.

The Rams are hunkering down for the toughest part of their schedule. The combined record of the team’s final five opponents is a daunting 33-27. Only one team, the Seattle Seahawks, has no realistic chance to make the 2021 NFL Playoffs. All four remaining opponents are very much embedded in post-season discussions.

It is obvious through the LA Rams’ recent struggles that word travels quite fast in NFL circles about what works when facing the LA Rams. But now, the team has tossed a new wrinkle into the mix. Can the Arizona Cardinals be just as confident when facing an LA Rams offense that can suddenly run the ball effectively?

12 personnel package is in the cards

The Cardinals have lost two games this season. What were the commonalities? In both losses, the Cardinals turned the ball over multiple times. They also were gashed by an effective rushing attack that rushed for over 150 yards.

The Arizona Cardinals pass defense is the fourth-ranked pass defense in the NFL. While they have allowed 16 passing touchdowns, they have recorded 12 interceptions. Conversely, the Cardinals are the 16th-ranked rush defense. Still, they have only allowed eight rushing touchdowns.  But in terms of effective rush defense, they are the 30th ranked rush defense in the NFL. Their defense allows 4.7 yards per rush, a statistic that is only better than that of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.

They win because nobody sticks with the run. The Rams ran the ball very effectively against the Cardinals, averaging 5.3 yards per rush. But the Rams did not commit to that run, finding themselves playing from behind, and letting the defense drive them into a pass-heavy game plan that plays right into the strength of that defense.

The Rams can win Week 14. But unlike past seasons, the Rams must stick to what is working. That means playing a power running game, forcing the Cardinals to try defending the running game, and exploiting advantages by creating mismatches against their tight ends.

If you want to discount the LA Rams victory on Week 13, then don’t put too much weight into their losses in Weeks 9-12. Each game is different, and it’s quite clear so far that the team has been dealing with a huge number of injuries once more. This is no All-Star roster. That’s just some media-manufactured bullcrap that is overly-hyped to draw readers. The Rams simply are trying to assemble a roster that can win in the post-season.

Thanks to their fundamentally sound win in Week 13, the LA Rams appear to be on their way.