What’s wrong with the Rams’ red-zone offense?
LOS ANGELES — Sean McVay had a great many things to go over when discussing the Rams’ offense with reporters Wednesday. An offensive line in flux. Trying new rotations at tight end after Colby Parkinson saw his lowest snap share of the season.
And a red-zone offense that didn’t score a touchdown in three trips inside the Miami Dolphins’ 20-yard-line in Monday’s 23-15 loss.
“That was really probably the defining factor in the outcome of the game,” McVay said, “one of the major defining factors is us not being able to finish in the red area.”
And it’s been an area that’s been a defining factor for the Rams’ offense all season, and continues to need fine-tuning even after the returns of receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp from injury.
Just a year ago, the Rams ranked eighth in the NFL with a 60.3% touchdown rate in the red zone. A year later, those numbers have dropped to 30th and 46.9%. And in the three games since Nacua and Kupp’s return, that conversion rate has dropped ever so slightly to 44.4% (4 for 9, with an 0-for-3 performance against the Vikings).
The injuries certainly played a key role in this year-to-year regression. With Kupp and Nacua missing most if not all of Weeks 2-7, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 8 of 23 passes (34.8%) for 54 yards and two touchdowns while taking two sacks. Meanwhile, the Rams leaned more heavily on running back Kyren Williams in that time. The third-year back averaged 3.1 yards per carry in that five-game span while getting 5.4 carries per game inside the red zone.
After Kupp and Nacua’s return, Stafford’s production inside the 20 had begun to tick up. In the first two games, both Rams wins, Stafford went 6 for 9 for 27 yards and four touchdowns. But against Miami, he completed just 2 of 7 passes while gaining nine yards in three red-zone appearances.
“Didn’t have a ton of snaps down there,” Stafford said. “I think it’s just execution and being able to run the football effectively down there is a plus.”
Meanwhile, Williams’ red-zone efficiency has dipped with Kupp and Nacua back. Even with defenses having to take into account those Pro Bowl receivers, Williams is averaging just 2.2 yards per rush, including one carry for three yards against Miami.
Stafford said it’s hard to pinpoint whether the presence of Nacua and Kupp impacts the way the Rams are defended in the red zone. On a touchdown pass to Williams in Week 8 against the Vikings, Nacua and Kupp were both double-teamed on the play. But against the Dolphins, the Rams saw more zone than expected in those tight areas.
“It’s coordinator to coordinator, week to week down there,” Stafford said.
“It’s a small sample size,” McVay added. “There’s so many things that go into it, whether it’s, all right, what’s your success in terms of being able to run it or throw it? What’s the coverage? Did we win on that individual matchup? Did things go off-schedule and did we distribute the field? And so at the end of the day, lately, it hasn’t been good enough collectively as a whole.”
NOTES
Rams tackles Rob Havenstein (ankle) and Joe Noteboom (ankle) were held out of practice Wednesday. McVay didn’t rule out Havenstein playing Sunday against the New England Patriots (3-7), but said it was more likely he’d miss another game.
Second-year tackle Warren McClendon Jr. would be in line to start against the Patriots if Havenstein and Noteboom are held out, McVay said.
Cornerback Charles Woods (ankle) and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (stinger) did not practice Wednesday. Outside linebacker Byron Young (knee) was a limited participant.