What kind of offense should you expect from the LA Rams in 2023?

The LA Rams have just finished OTA's, and even though it's only June 2023, it is never too early to talk about what we can expect in the upcoming season. We have already witnessed numerous subtractions from this team over the offseason, including star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and veteran inside linebacker Bobby Wagner.

However, I want to focus on the offensive side of the ball. With a healthy LA Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and a healthy veteran wide receiver Copper Kupp back online, you can reasonably look for plenty of passes. But as we saw in 2022, that simply will not be enough.

Even as offensive weapons are returning, the LA Rams did not hesitate to bolster the offensive line by drafting IOL Steve Avila out of TCU. The team also added offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr. With two drafted rookie offensive linemen competing for playing time, the offense should be more effective than what we saw last season. But what kind of offense should they focus on being? Should they focus on letting the ball fly through the air or more of a run-first offense?

Rams should target a balanced offense

While LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay has earned his reputation as an NFL offensive genius, one complaint about his offense that has persisted is that he abandons the running game at the first sign of trouble. We saw that last season until, in the last three games of the season, McVay let RB Cam Akers spread his wings more. Akers ran for a combined 345 yards while adding 3 TD in the last three games to end the season.

Best of all, Akers piled up three consecutive 100+ yard games to close out 2022. The ability to gain ground yardage behind a makeshift offensive line proves that Cam Akers has what it takes to be an effective running back in the league In 2023, the LA Rams offense needs to take advantage of that.

We can safely assume that McVay will give Stafford the green light to let it fly. That still required the Rams to be careful, not because Stafford can't throw the ball 40 times a game, but to preserve his health as well as keep NFL defenses guessing.

During the 2022 season, Stafford was diagnosed with a concussion that sent him into the NFL concussion protocol. But his second injury involved loss of feeling in his fingers, and was diagnosed as a bruised spinal cord. That was a bit more concerning, so much so that there were discussions about him retiring. At 35 years old, we want Stafford to be the quarterback of the Rams for as long as he's capable. To do that, McVay and the coaching staff need to limit his injury risk as much as possible.

Overall the Rams need to spread the touches between the passing and running game and ensure that they adhere to a balanced offense. While different in-game situations might change, they need to go into each game with that mindset to be most successful in the upcoming season.