3 reasons why Rams 12-personnel can break Tutu Atwell loose in Week 5

It's not overreacting to admit that the 1-3 record of the Los Angeles Rams makes it very unlikely that this team will compete in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. While not impossible, there is less than a 2.5 percent chance of the team competing in the postseason. But there are ways to enhance the odds. One way to do so is simply to stick with what works.

So, what's been working? Two tight ends, period.

To be honest, one win in four games is not exactly huge sample size. But it does offer enough evidence to suggest that the team needs to give those successful decisions more opportunities to determine whether or not these Rams are actually onto something, or just getting lucky at times.

As we well know, even decisions made early in the season can prove to be instrumental in how the overall season turns out.

And so, we turn to The Coach McVay Show. It's a weekly broadcast/interview in which Rams hosts J.B.Long and D'Marco Farr pose questions to HC Sean McVay, to hear his perspective on the week that was, and the week that will be. Right now, with a record of 1-3, Coach McVay has a lot to share about the current status of the team:

McVay emerged from Week 4 confident that the team is capable of playing. Mistakes that are coachable and within the sphere of the team's control seemed to be the storyline against the Chicago Bears. Of course, there are roster decisions to be made. Will the team make some changes?

I suspect that those types of decisions are likely to be made during the BYE on Week 6. If the team falls to a record of 1-4, I expect that some changes will be made. But for the immediate future, what can the team do? I believe that this team has to look in the mirror and determine where the strengths of the Rams roster exists right now.

So where is this team incredibly deep, despite the number of injuries? Let's dive right in.

(3) - Why else are Rams carrying 3 tight ends on the active roster?

The Rams roster is set up to run. With four running backs and three tight ends on the active roster, this team took steps to run more effectively this season. But the Rams have witnessed the wide receiver group get decimated with early season injuries, which is to be expected with an offense that sticks with 11 personnel while only carrying six (or five) wide receivers.

The team understood that starting TE Tyler Higbee would enter 2024 NFL season on IR. So the team made it a point to upgrade the depth at tight end by signing TE Colby Parkinson, a veteran player who has been modestly successful on the team so far.

While the team took action to reload the roster with more tight end help, Parkinson joins two tight ends who are both eager and gnawing at the bit to get their own fair share of opportunities. Veteran TE Hunter Long, who had a disappointing injury-marred 2023, is back and has already demonstrated the natural instincts of a blocking tight end to rival that of former TE Johnny Mundt.

And then there is second-year TE Davis Allen, who showed incredible knack of hauling in contested catches with a limited number of targets last season. While fighting off a back injury, Allen was healthy enough to suit up for Week 4.

The problem is that the team has six tight ends across all roster designations, and three tight ends on the active roster. So why is the team insisting on using 11 personnel exclusively? According to Lineups.com, the Rams have used 11-personnel exclusively in Weeks 1 and 2. The team infused 12-personnel in 45 percent of the offensive plays in Week 3. But the team reverted to 11-personnel on all but five plays in Week 4.

Keep in mind that the teams WR group is already missing both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The decision to stick with primarily 11 personnel makes no sense. Either the team needs to redistribute roster slots to expand the number of wide receivers on this team.

Or the team needs to make more opportunities for their currently rostered tight ends.

(2) - Rams OL needs some help at blocking

I celebrated using two tight ends in the offensive planning against the San Francisco 49ers because it was unexpected and effective. That is even though the 49ers defense has a pretty solid group of linebackers, the unit that would see the most playing time as soon as the team began to send two tight ends onto the football field. The team sometimes has to ignore what the opponent might do, and simply rally behind their strongest group of players.

What I love most about two tight ends is how that configuration amplifies the strength of this offense. Here's what I mean:

Even as the team has both staring offensive tackles back and playing, this offensive line has been a kaleidoscope of iterations so far this season. While the Rams current offensive line of Alaric Jackson, Logan Bruss, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson, and Rob Havenstein have finally been stacking up playing together in consecutive games, they are still learning how to optimize playing together.

And that means that additional help at blocking is always a good idea.

Just check out the grades for the Rams two tight ends playing against the stingy 49ers defense in Week 3. You can see that both Hunter Long and Colby Parkinson were hugely effective at blocking:

That is more than mere coincidence. While the Rams boast the blocking ability of their wide receivers, I fear that the team's reliance on 200 pound players blocking 250+ pound defenders has become too common. The Rams should use that level of blocking sparingly, not as a bread-and-butter staple of this offense.

After all, it comes back to the depth chart. If the team is carrying so many tight ends, why are they on the roster?

(1) - Rams only win so far benefitted from 12-personnel package

There is no shortage of luck and fortuitous circumstances that led to the team's lone win so far in 2024. But did the team manufacture some of that luck? I believe that to be the case, and here's why:

As we crack open the team's offensive performance from Week 3, two things stand out. The most obvious component of that victory is the fact that the team had uncharacteristic success in the Red Zone. The offense scored three touchdowns in five appearances within the San Francisco 49ers 20-yard line. And RB Kyren Williams scored all three of those touchdowns.

That should come as no surprise.

Throughout the game, the 49ers had to hesitate when facing the Rams two tight end offense. After all, the Rams can run between the tackles, attack the perimeter, or pass from the formation with equal efficiency. And that is exactly what the team was able to do on three occasions.

But better still, the Rams were able to unleash the raw speed of WR Tutu Atwell from those two tight end formations. Because defensive backs are prone to creep near to the line of scrimmage when facing 12-personnel formations, Atwell was able to dash past the cornerback and race to daylight deep downfield. His only hurdle was one safety playing centerfield.

It's no wonder that Atwell caugh four of five passes for 93 yards, including a 52-yard reception.

Even veteran WR Demarcus Robinson has a reception for 32 yards in that game.

Now, contrast that to the Rams deep shots in 11 personnel against the Chicago Bears. Tutu Atwell's longest reception was 25 yards. Demarcus Robinson's longest reception was 19 yards. By deploying two tight ends, the Rams not only add better blocking, but the team opens up the deep-ball passing chapter of the offensive playbook.

Until the team can suit up both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua once more, I am a strong supporter of using two tight ends at least 33 percent of the offensive plays going forward. After all, I didn't sign a third tight end to thie Rams roster. But since he's here, I strongly suggest the team use so many talented tight ends to their advantage.

Thanks for reading.