LA Rams must delegate offensive play calling duties before playoffs
By Bret Stuter
![Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Framblinfan-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16225700-850x560-48501b39ef9c5e5f2219fd5f3653fc32ab03f96cf94ec7e2e3f5146a3b5d572a.jpg)
Rams’ Reason II – More flexible response with in-game adjustments
There have been several games where the LA Rams seemed to be lost in the first half of games, and yet come out in the second half and appear to be just as lost. Part of the reason? Who on the LA Rams coaching staff has the authority to read the riot act to head coach Sean McVay for a bad offensive game plan?
You can recite the ones. The games where the offense comes out throwing and miscues to an early interception. The next time the offense gets the ball? The team throws again, once more putting the defense into horrific field position and an inevitable loss.
What if the Rams react to a stiff pass defense by flipping quickly to a power run attack? Even if the Rams struggle to move the football (which I don’t believe that they will), the defense gets a breather and takes over after a punt places the football deep into enemy territory. If the offense fails to lift the burden off the defense? Then head coach Sean McVay can read the offensive coordinator the riot act.
Ram’s Reason III: Better offensive/defensive coordination
But there is more to benefit from with the type of organizational realignment I propose. If the Rams go with an offensive coordinator who has play-calling responsibilities, then whoever is the defensive coordinator can approach them with suggestions to help the defense out. If you’ve noticed, the Rams’ four losses this season have come at the expense of the offense running a game plan that literally buries the defense.
Placing the offense and defense on even footing ensures a more team-benefit approach to the offensive game plan that promotes the defense as well. Once that kicks in, the Rams will be in a far better position to make meaningful real-time in-game adjustments.