Since Sean McVay took over as the Rams’ head coach in 2017, no team has utilized 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three receivers) more than Los Angeles. According to NFELO, the Rams have the three highest rates of 11 personnel on first down since 2017. They deployed it a league-high 92% of the time in 2018, a league-high 90% in 2022 and once again a league-high 88% this year.
It makes sense as to why McVay would want to deploy this grouping as often as he does, given the talent the Rams have always had at wide receiver. This year is no exception with Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson, but it might be time for the Rams to mix things up.
Buy Rams TicketsFor the fourth week in a row, the offense has been abysmal in the second half. Opponents are adjusting at halftime and finding ways to slow down Los Angeles’ offense in the second half, which is costing the Rams games.
Tyler Higbee is playing the bulk of the snaps each week, staying on the field 93% of the time this season. His backup, Brycen Hopkins, has only played 13% of the snaps, rarely seeing playing time when Higbee is also on the field.
Hopkins is a capable tight end who can contribute as a receiver in the middle of the field, but McVay much prefers to lean on his wideouts. Where the Rams could really use a spark is in the running game. They got one last year when they moved Ben Skowronek to more of a fullback role, which caught defenses off guard, but the Rams haven’t experimented with such a move this year.
Deploying more 12 personnel with two tight ends and two receivers could help, knowing the two receivers that would be on the field together, Nacua and Kupp, are both excellent run blockers.
It would take Atwell off the field in favor of Hopkins, giving Los Angeles an upgrade in the blocking department when handing the ball off. Having two willing blockers like Nacua and Kupp should open up the playbook for more diverse personnel groupings because they can both line up anywhere and run any route.
The other benefit of mixing personnel groupings is the lighter workload it gives players. Rather than constantly having the same six skill players on the field together, they can give receivers a breather and lessen the number of snaps someone like Atwell, who isn’t the most durable player to begin with, plays on a weekly basis.
If the Rams do change up their personnel groupings, they can’t let it give away what they’re trying to do. For instance, they can’t exclusively run the ball out of 12 personnel, otherwise opponents will load the box whenever they see two tight ends on the field.
Defenses have found ways to stop the Rams offense this season so it might be time for a change. Yes, some of it is just simple execution, but the offense was anemic outside of two drives on Sunday.
