Rams Resurgent Run Game

Breaking down McVay's adjustments that brought back the Rams' rushing attack in 2023.

Sean McVay came in hot in 2017 when he burst onto the scene as one of the NFL’s youngest head coaches. Taking the Shanahan style Wide Zone system, and making it his own. Though he was still based out of the Wide Zone, he made some minor adjustments unique to the Rams.

McVay was different for a few reasons:

1. He used primarily 11 personnel. Most Wide Zone teams were using many groupings but heavily used 21 and 12.

2. He was almost exclusively running Wide Zone weak. Most Wide Zone system coaches like LaFleur and Shanahan run a balanced attack but often favor running it to the strength of a formation.

Defensive coaches always adapt, and teams eventually caught up to McVay. Defenses employed different variations of 6-1 and bear defenses. This made the Wide Zone tough to run, especially weak. So McVay went back to the drawing board and has been tweaking the offense.

In 2023, the running game has returned. Heading into the playoffs they currently sit 7th in the league in rushing. Kyren Williams leads the league in yards per game, and would easily be the league’s best rusher if he wouldn’t have missed 5 games.

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DUO

The 6-1 and Bear defenses like to employ 5 and 6 guys on the line of scrimmage, with a lot of times only 1 linebacker. This is great for horizontal runs because the linebacker can flow freely. The problem is, if the offense can get downhill and pick the linebacker up, there is no one else left at the 2nd level.

This is why the Rams have started running more Duo. Duo is power without a puller. The offensive line is responsible for the gap away from the play. If no one is in their backside gap, they will double-team the nearest defender to the play side.

The running back read is a key part of this. The running back will attack downhill in the play side A gap. He is reading the first linebacker play side. If that linebacker steps up, he will bounce outside to the first available gap. This helps the offensive lineman get a better angle because the linebacker has to step up to occupy his gap.

Duo Right

The key to this play is the ability of the Rams slot receivers to block linebackers. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are both capable blockers, who are often assigned to blocking much bigger linebackers.

Here Nacua’s block is the key, and he cracks down on the backer, creating the seam for the back.