4 no-cost fixes to Rams that can happen in time for a Week 3 upset victory

(2) - Run 12 personnel sets at least 25 percent of offensive plays

The LA Rams have four healthy wide receivers right now. But the team has been running 11-personnel 99 percent of the time. How does that make any sense? With so few carrying so much of the offensive burden, it's no wonder that the team's two top wide receivers are already banged up. How long can the team count on the remaining receivers to stay healthy?

Even as TE Davis Allen fights through a back injury, the team has two healthy tight ends in Colby Parkinson and Hunter Long. The team simply has to get crackin' at using more tight ends in this offense. For starters, the team should target at least 25 percent of their offensive plays in their 12-personnel package. After all the team added TE Colby Parkinson to infuse a tall target on routes.

And the team has an abundance of tight ends at the moment.

This offense must get creative around the need to compensate for the absence of WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacus running routes. The team has to get more players involved in that effort. Right now, the team has done next to nothing to help players face overwhelming odds in the first two games. With player injuries showing no signs of abating, the entire team can simply not afford to turn a blind eye in their direction any longer.

(1) - Start rookie Omar Speights at ILB

While we cannot undo the Rams decision to part ways with sure-handed tackler Ernest Jones at the inside linebacker position, the team can try to learn from the mistake of entrusting the heart of this defense to ILBs Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom.

Neither Reeder nor Rozeboom are effective at stuffing the run. Neither. And right now, the Rams defense must do a much better job of doing so. If not, the team has a ticking time bomb on the back of veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. Let me explain.

The Rams are inclined to go pass-happy as soon as the team falls behind on the scoreboard. And as long as the team allows offenses to run 5.5 yards per carry, the Rams will be playing from behind all season long. The reason? While there are several contributing factors, neither Reeder nor Rozeboom rush forward to greet a running back in the hole. Instead, they move laterally, yielding an extra two or three yards on the play, and then running the risk of riding the ball carrier for another yard, or two, or three.

While rookie ILB Omar Speights is new to the NFL, what he loses in terms of misreading a play, he more than makes up for by attacking the ball carrier in the hole, and his sure tackling crumples them right there.

With an additional defensive lineman, and a pitbull at the inside linebacker position who loves to tackle, the Rams will slowly turn the corner on that run defense. But it's like anything. The team has to make changes to expect different results.

As always, thanks for reading.