Bye week: looking forward and back

Famously, the previous 2 seasons, the Rams improved after the bye.

In 2023, they started 3-6. After the bye they were 7-1.

In 2024, they started 1-4. After the bye they were 9-3.

Both times, it’s not just that they used to bye to get healthy and get injured players back. The Rams had a knack for using the bye to adjust what they were doing on offense and defense. So there were changes to coaching–IE. how coaches schemed and who they used and didn’t use among players. The Rams re-assess in a bye and then actually implement changes. This makes the Rams a kind of crazy thing, where they are both slow starters and yet also good fixers.

Well if the bye adjustments are a real thing, what if you have a decent start instead of a slow start? Do you still improve after the bye? So like if we grade a team 1 through 10, and the 2024 Rams were a “3” team before the bye and an “8” team after the bye, does that continue if you start out okay? So is this possible–the pre-bye Rams are a “7” but then the post-bye Rams jump to being a “9.”

And there are things to fix and figure out. Among the most obvious:

* Special teams (no need to describe this, it cost em 2 games)
* OL issues (minor compared to previous years but still there–EG. is Hav done, if so is McClendon a player?)
* WR issues (as the Jagz game shows, they can maybe scheme in getting the ball to more guys, which thereby of course increases the effectiveness of the top guys)
* Redzone (they had RZ issues again, or still…but is learning to use Adams in the RZ fixing this?)
* Run game (Rams rank 20th in yards rushing & 19th in yards per rush, which is better than last year but still)
* Defense (Rams are 12th in yards & 2nd in points allowed, but will give up explosive passes now n then. Can that be fixed?)

I don’t know if that list covers it. Cause in both 23 and 24, after the bye they came up with solutions/new approaches that no one outside the team anticipated. That is, of course, cause they see and know things we don’t. So there is possible that something like this happens too–the Rams implement something after the bye that will be completely unanticipated.

As always in these long posts, I know I haven’t covered it. What else is there to this whole issue?
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5 questions Rams must answer during bye week

Blaine Grisak

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/128951/rams-bye-week-questions-terrance-ferguson?utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=%3Cmedia_url%3E&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

The Los Angeles Rams have had the week off as they prepare for the meat of their schedule over the second half of the season. Given how well the Rams have been playing, it wouldn’t have hurt for the bye week to come later in the season. However, this will be a good time to self-evaluate and attempt to fix some issues heading into a very important part of the schedule. Here are five questions that the Rams must answer coming out of the bye.

1. What’s wrong with the field goal operation?
This is arguably the most pressing question for the Rams heading into the bye week. With a made field goal at the end of regulation against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams are 6-1 right now. Had Joshua Karty not had his extra point blocked against the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams could have played for a field goal to win rather than a touchdown late in the game.

While Karty certainly hasn’t been perfect, many of the issues have to do with the protection. Before the two blocked attempts against the Eagles, Karty had made 26 straight field goals. This is a team that currently ranks 31st in field goal DVOA. In a league that thrives on close games, those missed opportunities to score points can be devastating. It’s up to Chase Blackburn to figure this out before it costs the Rams in a significant way.

2. Who starts at right tackle moving forward?
The Rams may have to make a difficult decision at right tackle coming out of the bye week. The reason that the decision is difficult is because it’s personal. Over the past decade, Rob Havenstein has given a lot to the Rams organization. However, it might be time for him to take on a different leadership role. It’s fair to note that Havenstein has been managing an ankle injury. At the same time, for the sake of chemistry, does it make sense to ruin what the Rams have built over the last three weeks?

Last season, the Rams attempted to go back to Jonah Jackson for the sake of experience, and it cost them. They immediately went back to Beaux Limmer the following week. Warren McClendon hasn’t given the Rams a reason to take him out of the lineup and therefore the question is whether or not they should. McClendon has allowed one pressure over the last two weeks, and offers more in the run game. With Havenstein as a security blanket, it may be a natural time to make the change.

3. Do Rams need to make a trade?
At this point, it’s unlikely that the Rams make a trade during the bye week. However, it’s a good opportunity to self-evaluate and make some calls prior to the trade deadline. A few weeks ago, the Rams had a 10 day break. The bye week would have been a good time to check in on any calls that were made during that time. It shouldn’t be expected for the Rams to make a splashy move at the deadline. The Rams may see Ahkello Witherspoon coming back from injury in addition to rookies contributing more as in-season acquisitions. If the Rams make a move, it would be more in the realm of Austin Corbett than Jalen Ramsey.

Still, this is a team that needs to do what it can to capitalize on this window with Matthew Stafford and recognize how special and rare it is to have him playing at his current level. The Rams need to take advantage of that. That’s not to say they need to mortgage the future. However, if there is a trade that can strengthen the secondary or help the Rams on the offensive line, it’s a move that needs to happen.

4. How to involve impact players more?
Here are Terrance Ferguson’s snap counts over the last three weeks:

vs. San Francisco 49ers: 4 snaps
@ Baltimore Ravens: 17 snaps
@ Jacksonville Jaguars: 34 snaps

Ferguson’s snap count quadrupled from Week 5 to Week 6 and then doubled from Week 6 to Week 7. He saw multiple targets for the first time this season against the Jaguars and his lone catch was a touchdown. This is what fans have been waiting for with Ferguson. We’re finally at the bye week, and Ferguson has gotten time to acclimate to the team and the NFL. It’s time for Week 7 to become the norm and see Ferguson more involved in the offense.

While Ferguson is the best example here, it doesn’t stop at him. When Tutu Atwell has gotten involved, he’s made plays. He won the game against the Indianapolis Colts and set the Rams up to win against the 49ers. An argument can be made that Jarquez Hunter should see the field more. While it’s hard to rotate on defense, especially at linebacker, Shaun Dolac showed a lot in his lone performance against the Baltimore Ravens. If Ferguson gets more involved, that would make a lot of people happy. Anything else would be icing on the cake.

5. Can Rams find more consistency?
The Rams may be 5-2, but they have had stretches of inconsistency. It’s important to remember that it’s not always going to be perfect all the time. There is another NFL-caliber team on the other side of the field making plays and stopping the Rams from doing whatever it is they are attempting to do. At the same time, there seems to be some lapses in focus and intensity.

This is a team that is very good, and they’ve played more complete games as of late. However, they need to continue to build on performances against the Jaguars and Ravens over the next month. Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams finally seemed to connect and that must continue. The Rams can’t have slow starts against teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and expect to win those games. The offense can’t completely disappear for a quarter and a half as it has at times this season. If this Rams team can get more consistent over 60 minutes, they will be very difficult to stop.

5 interesting stats that define the Rams’ 5-2 start to the 2025 season: All-around defensive success, Matthew Stafford’s big plays

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/5-interesting-stats-that-define-the-rams-5-2-start-to-2025-season-all-around-defensive-excellence-third-downs-matthew-stafford-big-plays

The Rams’ 5-2 start has been fueled by consistency and impact plays on both sides of the ball. Matthew Stafford has successfully attacked downfield more than he has in recent years and the defense has aggressively pursued ball-carriers and quarterbacks without risking explosives.

Here are five interesting stats that have defined the Rams’ strong start to the season.

Stafford leads the league in big time throws with 19 after having just 23 all of last season, according to Pro Football Focus

A big time throw is defined as, “A pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.” That pretty much describes what Stafford does on a weekly basis, especially when it matters most. And the stats back that up, as he’s registered at least one big time throw in every game this season.

Stafford has been one of the best passers in football through seven weeks. His 17 touchdown passes lead the league, while his 1,866 yards and 109.3 passer rating rank third and fourth, respectively. In his 17th pro season, Stafford’s 17-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio would be the best of his career, and 17.2% of his passes have gone for at least 15 yards (maybe 17 is his lucky number).

The Rams lead the league in defensive expected points added (EPA) with -68.4, according to Next Gen Stats

This means the Rams’ defensive playmaking has kept 68.4 expected points off the scoreboard compared to what the average defense would have achieved. That’s largely a product of their 10 takeaways (tied for fifth in the league) and timely stops that have kept opponents out of the end zone. They are also the only team that has yet to allow a run of 20 or more yards.

As a result, the Rams’ 16.7 points per game allowed ranks second in the NFL. Only the Texans (14.7) have allowed fewer points per game so far this season.

The Rams’ 7.7 third-and-longs (seven-plus yards) forced per game and 8.2 average yards to the marker on third downs both lead the league, via nflverse data

Head coach Sean McVay always says the Rams need to “earn the right” to rush the passer, and they have done just that with stout defense on early downs. Rams opponents have averaged a league-low 4.3 yards per play on first and second downs, putting them in third-and-long situations consistently and giving the defensive line opportunities to rush the passer in true pass sets. No play-action, no gadgets, just dropping back to throw downfield because everyone knows they have to.

L.A. has forced the second-most third downs per game (14.3) and ranks fourth in the NFL in opponent third down conversion rate at just 34%.

Despite missing nearly two whole games, Puka Nacua ranks first in the NFL in reception EPA (45.5), according to Next Gen Stats

Nacua’s 2025 performance has been second to none in terms of adding expected point value to an offense. Whenever the Rams need a big play, they turn to Nacua, and those 45.5 expected points added to the Rams’ offense don’t even include the 5.0 that he’s added on the ground this season, which are also the most among receivers.

Even Jaxson Smith-Njigba, whose accumulated over 200 more yards than Nacua for the Seahawks, hasn’t produced as much EPA as Nacua. That’s likely because Nacau’s caught a higher percentage of his targets, many of which have come at critical junctures.

He also ranks top 10 in the NFL in receptions (54, second), receiving yards (616, third), yards per route run (3.5, second), first downs (33, second), yards after catch (244, third), contested catches (eight, tied-fifth), catch rate (83.1%, fourth) and catch rate over expected (13.4%, eighth) among qualified receivers, according to Next Gen Stats and PFF.

The Rams’ 50 big plays (10-plus-yard rushes or 20-plus-yard passes) lead the league, via nflverse data

The Rams have 20 big runs (11th) and 30 big passes (first) through seven weeks. Last season, the Rams produced 88 big plays all year, tying for 25th in the league.

A split backfield between running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum has given the run game more juice, and wide receiver Davante Adams has opened up the passing game to take advantage of more downfield shots.