5 low budget instafixes to get the LA Rams back on victory track

(3) - Until Nacua and Kupp return, use 33+ percent 12-personnel package

I'm not sure why this team is so hesitant to make use of an effective and beneficial offensive sub-package, but the team has a stubborn resistance to any thought of deploying their 12-personnel in this offense. If the goal is to 'do what's best for the team,' then this team has a host of reasons to deploy two tight ends frequently.

The only win in 2024 has come during the one game that the offense made use of their 12-personnel package. And that is not some random event.

By using two tight ends, the Rams naturally veer to the inherent strengths of this roster. With four running backs, three tight ends, and five wide receivers, the Rams roster is currently stacked to play two tight ends frequently. That's not some subjective conclusion. It;s simply a mathematical reality. In 11 personnel, the offense deploys three wide receivers, one tight end, and one running back.

As you can see, that does not align with the current depth chart whatsoever.

As soon as the team flips to two tight ends, one receiver sits out. That allows the team to use two wide receivers, two tight ends, and one running back. But isn't that just as out-of-balance? Not exactly. Here's why:

Two tight ends benefits the ground assault because there are simply more blockers (bigger bodied blockers) on the football field to negate defenders, With more bigger blockers, rushers have more opportunities to run to daylight.

But another benefit of using two tight ends is how that allows speedy wide receivers like Xavier Smith and Tutu Atwell to test the back end of secondaries. It's clear that the offense has effectively integrated WR Tutu Atwell into this offense in the absence of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. But if he is deployed as a receiving option with two tight ends, defenses are confronted with an impossible quandary.

If defenses load the box with eight defenders, Atwell burns them on a deep route. If defenses play two-deep coverages, then the team can run for big gaines. But if the defense opts to go nickel and load the box with defensive backs, the offense can throw effectively to either tight end to move the chains.

And I'm quite certain the defense is not opposed to any choice made by the offense that leads to a significant advantage in time of possession.