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

(1) - Rams offense needs to think outside the box

The LA Rams won in Week 3 by thinking outside the box. A fake punt successfully moved the chains. Unexpected use of two tight ends was clearly something the San Francisco 49ers defense did not adequately plan to defend against. The team even attempted to have WR Tutu Atwell pass the football. It fell incomplete, but it was incredibly effective as it signaled the 49ers defensive backs that they could not simply play with abandon.

While it's easy to cheer on the plays when they work, the offense has been far too predictable in three games so far this season. And those three games have resulted in losses.

This offense, even battered, bruised, and injury-depleted, is far too loaded with talent to be stuck in the same old ruts that give any advantage to defenses that simply casually review the trends and video footage of the team's recent games. Excluding Week 3, this offense introduced nothing new in three games, despite the wide array and number of different players suiting up to play. And that is a problem.

Let's think outside the box for a moment

Witnessing the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, I watched with glee as the Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff catch a touchdown pass from WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. While I would not advise sending Rams QB Matthew Stafford out on any routes, the play did trigger some imaginative ways for this offense to think outside the box:

• Two running back formations - The Rams almost never deploy two running backs on the same play. Historically, even when the team has used two players in the offensive backfield, one has been a wide receiver. But what prevents the team from screwing with defensive coordinators around the league by showing two running back formations? The Rams can use the look to pitch to either side, run between the tackles with either runner, or even throw to a wide receiver with running backs in protection.
• Give Stetson Bennett a try in the Wildcat - The Rams currently carry three quarterbacks on the roster. While we know that Jimmy Garoppolo is the veteran segue who steps in if starting QB Matthew Stafford is injured, Stetson Bennett is a bit less defined in this offense right now. Why not change that? If the offense can create a play for WR Tutu Atwell to throw a football, why not design a play tree that allows the team to hike to Stetson Bennett, and give him some pass, handoff, and bootleg options? No defense is expecting that. And it give opposing DCs one more thing to worry about.
• Three tight ends - The Rams roster boasts three healthy tight ends right now. So, why not make use of those talented tight ends, even when not on short yardage downs? The offense can still send WR Tutu Atwell deep, and depending on the defense's response to three tight ends, the play can pivot between pass and run. I'm not suggesting that the team use these outside-the-box formations as some version of staple. Simply put, introducing new wrinkles prevents defenses from setting their plans to closely to what the offense will do.

The Rams offense is not hitting its potential. The team ranks 18th in total yards gained, and 23rd in total points scored. Even while the passing offense is ranked eighth in yards gained, the rushing offense is 28th ranked in yards gained. To sit back and relax in some misconception that this offense is doing enough to win games is a huge mistake.

It's time to give some things a try. Whatever the team had planned for 2024 went out the window as offensive linemen and wide receivers fell to multiple injuries. The offense needs more than the same old eight-track offensive play calling to score points and win.

It's time to think outside the box. As always, thanks for reading.