3 crazy ideas for LA Rams that could work against 49ers

As the saying goes: Familiarity breeds contempt. Right now, the fans and players of the San Francisco 49er have been jawing quite a bit in the face of the LA Rams, particularly surprising for a team that is sitting on a record of 3-4. But the 49ers fans and players are confident about this week’s matchup with the LA Rams and are chattering like nervous and hungry squirrels that just found a cache of nuts.

The 49ers have beaten the Rams in seven consecutive regular-season contests. To hear them talk, they already have won their eighth consecutive game and are already counting on the next two seasons’ worth of wins to make it an even dozen.

Of course, after winning seven consecutive games, I suppose they have the right to do so. Much like the Rams teams when facing the Niners, Rams fans have begun to acquiesce to the trolling, to the claims that the 49ers are taking over the Rams’ home field, SoFi Stadium.  After all, it’s tough to believe that the Rams will turn the tables on the 49ers this time when the 49ers have run roughshod over the team for seven consecutive attempts.

Play to win, not to not lose

Looking back over the history of the losing streak, the only common denominator has been the fact that the San Francisco 49ers head coach is Kyle Shanahan, and the LA Rams head coach is Sean McVay. There have been different offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, and special teams coordinators. Positional coaches and players have varied as well.

Perhaps it’s that familiarity factor after all? The 49ers love to run and lean heavily on the short passing game, a trait that is right in the wheelhouse of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The LA Rams love to take big shots downfield and historically have abandoned the run, which runs right into the teeth of the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive scheme.

So why shouldn’t the LA Rams stop taking the same path into the same brick wall? If the expectation is that the Rams need to think outside the box to win this game, why not embrace the challenge and truly think outside of the box? Here are three offensive options that are so crazy, they just might work.

Option III: Wildcat

One of the challenges to the LA Rams right now is trying to keep starting quarterback Matthew Stafford upright. And so far, the fact that the LA Rams offensive line is getting battered with injuries is not helping the cause whatsoever. Here are some facts as to how terribly wrong things have gone for the Rams’ offensive line so far this season. Through six games, the Rams’ offensive line has:

Played seven different offensive line configurations.
Played ten different offensive linemen this season.
Played four different players at right guard.

Fixing the type of problem is not easily remedied by trading for or signing a player. Either that creates one more iteration of an offensive line that is already cursed by having no continuity, or the team is adding a player to assume a starting role with no guarantees to hold that position in the future. Like it or not, that is not an ideal situation for the Rams roster right now.

Wildcat Wolford

But there are other ways to keep Matthew Stafford healthy, particularly against a defense that has struggled to defend against mobile quarterbacks. With the limits to running backs on the Rams’ current roster this week, why not debut a wildcat option to QB John Wolford?

It doesn’t need to be a significant number of offensive plays. Simply sprinkle in a handful of Wildcat offensive plays to keep the 49ers’ defense honest. We witnessed in horror as the Niners mercilessly hammered Rams third-string offensive center Jeremiah Kolone with A-Gap blitzes and stunts that neutralized whatever blocking schemes he was calling.

The 49ers show no mercy when facing the Rams. Wouldn’t it be fun to return the favor, and attack their defense where we know that they are the most vulnerable?

Option II: Power Irish

The LA Rams have tried a new wrinkle in their offense, moving WR Ben Skowronek into the backfield and using him to block for RB Darrell Henderson. Nicknamed the Power I-rish formation, the Rams place Skowronek into the backfield and use him as both a blocking back or as a disguised route-runner out of the backfield.

And he has been quite effective at blocking at the point of attack.

Of course, Skowronek is a wide receiver and wants to remain primarily positioned there. But the Rams’ offense seems to be quite vanilla whenever the team faces the 49ers.

Shake up the offense a bit

Why not mix it up a bit, particularly if the Rams’ innovations are effective? And how well do the Rams perform in that formation? Pretty well, I’d say.

The problem is that the Rams do not feature Skowronek in the backfield very often. Or at least not often enough compared to its success rate. Some may argue that the use of WR Ben Skowronek in the backfield limits the Rams’ passing game. Actually, it may enhance it, as Skowronek has been very effective in running routes out of the Rams’ backfield.

The introduction of Ben Skowronek is an option that falls directly in line with the perennial request to the Rams to get a true blocking back in the offense to help out the increasing number of smallish running backs. But there is another option as well.

Option I: Defensive lineman in the offensive backfield

Football is a game, and a game should be fun. But I have to tell you, there is nobody having fun on the LA Rams sideline when the team faces the San Francisco 49ers any longer. The frustration and disappointment of trying, and failing, to overcome whatever curse the 49ers have placed on the Rams have gotten so stymying that the team feels as though they expect to lose. Certainly, that can be said of the Rams fanbase.

To combat that dread and despair air that seems to await the Rams, the team needs to do more than show up and try the same old stuff.  Not only is that not productive, but it’s sapping all the fun out of the game of football for the Rams coaches and players.

Place Hoecht in the backfield?

So perhaps the game plan should begin with infusing fun into this one once more. For example, the Rams could consider positioning DL Michael Hoecht in the offensive backfield as a blocking back.  We have already seen the benefit of placing WR Ben Skowronek into the Rams’ backfield. Now imagine the power of a defensive lineman leading the running play.

But he could be more than that. For a big guy, he is surprisingly swift. And with history as a former running back, his speed is not the only trait that could compel the Rams to do the unthinkable and play him as a power fullback for a couple of plays.

Hey, I know that this is a crucial game for the LA Rams. I also know that the pressure on the Rams to win is unbearable. Rather than play not to lose, the Rams can turn this thing around by having fun simply at playing a game that they love to play.

Perhaps none of these options will do anything to help the Rams defeat the 49ers. But even so, the introduction of having fun while trying to do so could pay huge long-term dividends for the team. And if even one of these 3 crazy ideas works, imagine the laughter and high-fives that will engulf the Rams sidelines.

Whether or not the Rams win this one, it’s truly time for the Rams to have fun playing football again. Take a chance, right? You just never know.