Rams staring down doomsday scenario that could detonate the entire season

The good news is that the Los Angeles Rams have found incredible chemistry between wide receiver Puka Nacua and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford this season.

The bad news is LA has yet to match that same success with other receivers.

It's not for a lack of trying. The same offense that has targeted Nacua 35 times through three games has targeted wide receiver Davante Adams 29 times.

The results are not as impressive, though. Stafford has only connected with Adams 13 times for a 44.8-percent completion rate. While the pair has connected for 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns, there seems to be more efficient ways of gaining yards, putting points on the scoreboard, and even moving the chains.

As a result, the offense raises a bit of concern about the ability to distribute the football. Per The Athletic's Rams beat writer, Nate Atkins, the team is targeting wide receivers at a rate of 79 percent through the first three games. If that rate persists, it would result in the highest targeting rate of wide receivers by an NFL quarterback in 25 years.

It's fine if it works and players stay healthy. But neither is likely.

Rams relying far too heavily on wide receivers

The concerns of no rookie participation are not an attempt to overly dramatize the offense's strategy. If the offense burns out veterans too quickly early in the season, it runs the risk of injury. Meanwhile, the backups have next to no experience in the offense come game day.

The result of not using a proper rotational schedule in the offense leaves Los Angeles with injured veterans sitting on the bench, while forcing backups onto the football field with no experience or confidence. Fixating on veterans early in the season is the strategy the Rams vowed to avoid this year.

LA needs to build offensive momentum. But the same strategy of insisting on limiting the offense to a few contributors will place continuity at greater risk. Veteran tight ends Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson, and wide receiver Davante Adams are fighting through injuries already, and it's only Week 4. Sadly, neither rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson nor rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield has touched the football this season.

General manager Les Snead made it a point to add offensive weapons to the roster in the 2025 NFL Draft. But until they play and contribute, they truly add nothing.

While there is plenty of time left in the season, the time required to get a rookie up to speed in this offense is significant as well. So, the longer the delay to get a rookie active in the offense, the bigger the delay for his development.

The Rams defense managed to find significant contributors because they were thrown into the heat of battle as rookies and learned to thrive in NFL competition. It's not a secret ingredient or a magic trick. Rookies need experience.

The offense needs to spread the football around at a much better rate going forward.

But the question is, will that happen anytime soon?

As always, thanks for reading.

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