NFL expert puts Rams' offensive wizardry on center stage for Week 2 magic

The Los Angeles Rams offense scored 14 points in Week 1. But don't ratchet down your expectations for the group just yet. L.A. was effective enough to score the only two touchdowns in the game without cracking the playbook wide open.

That simply means that all of the plays that have made the jump from whiteboard to football field are still sitting patiently in the vault.

One of the anticipated new wrinkles to this offense did see the light of day. The offense deployed 12-personnel frequently against the Houston Texans, and based on the needs that showed up, it's safe to expect more of the same in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans and perhaps throughout the early part of the season.

The reason is that this was more than just maximizing protection for the quarterback. It was a strategy that allowed head coach Sean McVay's offense to dictate coverages.

And NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky so eloquently broke it down:

NFL plays are as much about chess-like strategy as on-field talent. And as Orlovsky illustrates above, forcing the Titans to deploy their best cover defensive back against a blocking tight end is inspired play design.

And as he also points out, the strategy forced the defense to go heavy with linebackers.

Can Rams' offensive wizardry lead to a Week 2 win vs. Titans?

While McVay is no longer the NFL's top scoring offense any longer, he is still capable of mystifying defensive coordinators when the situation calls for it.

It was such an occasion in Week 1 that required the offense to seek options outside of its normal comfort zone.

Putting two tight ends on the football field more than 40 percent of offensive snaps proved to be effective, if not overly proficient, at putting points on the scoreboard. The strategy aligns much more effectively with four tight ends on the 53-man roster.

Still, the option did not result in much tight end targeting. Four targets were not much, particularly in light of no passes targeting either veteran Tyler Higbee or rookie Terrance Ferguson.

That will change against the Titans, though.

Yet is that the extent of the team's offensive gadgetry this season? Hardly. In fact, while the offense shrewdly dictated coverage assignments in Week 1, there is much more to explore in Week 2. After all, this is an offense that builds upon itself.

12 personnel draws more linebackers, and eight defenders in the box. That opens up the playbook to target speedy wide receivers like Tutu Atwell or Xavier Smith. They combined for 27 of 60 offensive snaps (45 percent) in Week 1. Deploying either speedy wideout in conjunction with two tight ends is a much better option for Week 2 and adds even more headaches to defensive coordinators.

Veteran receiver Davante Adams is due for a heavier workload, too. His 54 offensive snaps only translated into eight targets and four receptions, yet he will be targeted more frequently in Week 2, and his catch rate will improve as well. To that, rookie Konata Mumpfield is due to play some part in the offense also after Week 1 offered a sneak preview of what the offense is capable of this season. But the offense will show up with more magic in Week 2.

Many fans hope that translates into far more points.

As always, thanks for reading.

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