4 reasons why Week 7 is perfect game for Rams to deploy 12-personnel once more

(2) - Rams face a short week

While the Rams are well rested heading into Week 7 to take on the Las Vegas Raiders, let's not be short-sighted about it. The Rams flip from a Sunday afternoon game in Week 7 to open Week 8 just five days later on Thursday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings, a team that could very easily arrive at SoFi Stadium still undefeated.

Five days is not a lot of time to prepare this young roster for a new opponent.

• Week 5, Oct. 6: Green Bay Packers | 1:25 p.m. | CBS –  L (Packers 24 Rams 19)
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Raiders | 1:05 p.m. | CBS
• Week 8, Oct. 24: Minnesota Vikings | 5:15 p.m. | (Thursday Night Football) - Amazon Prime Video | 

Much like NBA teams who must deal with back-to-back games, one option for the Rams is to simply modify the offensive strategy. And with the way the roster is constructed right now, there is plenty of room to do so on the offensive side of the football.

Hear me out:

If the team employs a strategy of getting 50 percent of the offensive snaps with the 12-personnel sub package, commits to targeting Tutu Atwell frequently, and rotates rookie RB Blake Corum in for 40-50 percent of the offensive snaps, and at least one-third of the carries in the game, the team will ensure that:

• WR Cooper Kupp is rested and far more ready to play in Week 8
• Rookie WR Jordan Whittington gets light usage, setting him up for a larger role in Week 8
• Gives the offensive linemen plenty of help out of the BYE
• Sets the offense up to pivot to the default 11-personnel base offense in Week 8

Overall, the Rams should give serious consideration to leaning one way in Week 7, and the other way in Week 8. Right now, I believe that coming out with two tight ends is the right strategy to face the Raiders.

In the NBA, star veterans often sit out one game of back-to-back games due to the risk of injury or reaggravating an injury. But the NFL has yet to adopt a similar rest-the-vet strategy when facing a short week. Perhaps it's time for the LA Rams to change that.