8 LA Rams no-cost quick fixes needed to beat the formidable Buffalo Bills

(6) - Rams have to use more 12-personnel

Whenever the LA Rams offense uses two tight ends at a rate of 15 percent or greater of the offensive snaps, the team wins. It's happened five times this season, and on each occasion in which the team has leaned heavily on their 12-personnel package, victory was the result.

The team invested heavily in the tight end position in the offseason. As a result, the Rams have carried three tight ends on the active roster, veteran TE Tyler Higbee has been on IR/PUP. Finally, the team has two tight ends on the practice squad. That's six players, and yet the offense seldom uses two tight ends more than 15 percent of the offensive snaps.

The team overloaded on tight ends for the 2024 NFL season based on that level of usage.

But let's slip back to the fact that the team excels with two tight ends on the football field. Why is that? Well, the front office did not simply shoot from the hip. The offense is build to play at optimum efficiency while deploying the 12-personnel package.

For starters, two tight ends balances the offensive image seen by the defense. That is, the Rams can run to either side with ample blockers, both between the tackles or attacking the defensive perimeter. And the fact that the team has had to lean on backup offensive tackles this season adds more blocking firepower at the point of attack. Finally, the Rams can use the extra horsepower to create running lanes for a rushing attack that has yet to percolate.

But the Rams passing attack can exploit defenses with a 12-personnel package as well. WR Tutu Atwell is ideally suited to blow through coverage and create long pass opportunities that are ideal against defenses that crowd the box with eight defenders. Even if the defense doubles up on Atwell, that leaves one defensive back to cover either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, a mismatch that favors the Rams offense.