No. 2: The Sean McVay Experience
It helps the Rams boast one of the brightest young offensive minds in the NFL right now in Sean McVay.
OK, so being a head coach goes far beyond the Xs and Os, and McVay has done a tremendous job changing the Rams franchise from a perennial underachiever into a powerhouse. All within one season too. But it helps McVay is pretty good at those Xs and Os too.
McVay stems from the Mike Shanahan coaching tree. And if you want a comparison right now, look no further than L.A.’s division rival up north, the San Francisco 49ers and their head coach, Kyle Shanahan, who also operates one of the most ingenious offensive systems in the league. McVay stems from the origins of that outside-zone system. As The MMQB’s Andy Benoit pointed out last November, writing:
“The best zone offense in recent memory? That belonged to the 2016 Falcons, coordinated by Shanahan’s son, Kyle, who’d been on that old Redskins staff with his dad. . . and McVay. …
The play-action, in particular, has helped [Jared] Goff immensely. The run fake (against predictable first- and second-down defensive looks) slows down pass rushers and manipulates linebackers and safeties. Under McVay, these are timing and rhythm throws, almost always with reads to just one side of the field. And it’s paying off.”
Like Shanahan, McVay’s offense is predicated on getting receiving targets open with a number of complex routes and combos. It’s effective, as last year’s numbers indicate.
And while McVay’s former offensive coordinator, Matt LaFleur, is now holding down the same position with the Tennessee Titans, McVay’s concepts will still hold true.
Goff is thriving in that system right now. With the added upgrades around him and overwhelmingly solid supporting cast, there’s no reason to assume the quarterback will suffer any sort of setback in 2018.
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