Communication and clarity lead to offensive line success in both the run and pass game, even if it’s not always appreciated outside the Rams’ building
Wyatt Miller
https://www.therams.com/news/feature-communication-and-clarity-lead-to-offensive-line-success-in-both-the-run-and-pass-game-even-if-it-s-not-always-appreciated-outside-the-rams-building
A heel-click into a first-down signal might be what fans expect from a star wide receiver, but not a 332-pound blocker.
Yet, that’s what Rams offensive lineman Steve Avila did in Week 7 after the Rams got the Jaguars’ defense to jump across the line. Two weeks later, he hit the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dragon Ball Z celebration when the Rams drew another neutral-zone infraction against the Saints.
“I always tell people, I’m like, ‘Dude, no one cares about offensive line,'” Avila said. “So anytime that I have the chance to do something, I’m going to do it. Like, I want to be able to show a little personality on the field, cause we don’t really get that many opportunities.”
While most observers don’t pay the Rams’ offensive line much attention, the players and coaches who rely on them to facilitate offensive success are grateful for the unit’s efficiency so far this season. They’ve quietly (or garishly in Avila’s case) been one of the best units in pass protection and run blocking through nine weeks through increased communication and clarity.
L.A. ranks sixth in pressure rate allowed (28.3%) and seventh in sack rate allowed (7th), according to Next Gen Stats, giving quarterback Matthew Stafford more than enough time to make plays. He’s rewarded that effort with an MVP-caliber season thus far.
“I can’t do any of that stuff if I’m not standing upright,” Stafford said. “So our guys up front are doing a hell of a job.”
There’s been a notion among fans and some analysts, due in-part to the Rams’ poor PFF pass blocking grade, that the line hasn’t performed well in pass protection, even though they rank well statistically. People inside the organization would disagree.
“The one thing that I think is really sticking through is giving (Stafford) an extra click, just fighting, grinding, scratching and clawing to make sure they keep the defense off of him,” said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
On in-structure plays, where the quarterback doesn’t scramble around behind the line, the Rams also rank sixth in pressure rate allowed (25.8%), fifth in sack rate allowed (3.9%), and their 2.65 average seconds to throw is the 14th-slowest in the league, according to Next Gen Stats. That means Stafford is far from rushing through progressions, but actually getting more time than the average passer to scan the field and deliver strikes.
The continuity within that unit, having brought back four starters and signed another former starter (Coleman Shelton) in free agency, has certainly helped them play cohesively. Kevin Dotson said the addition of Shelton has been valuable because of his attention to detail. He has the offensive line in constant lockstep.
Their understanding of the offense means they know the timing of each play, and that “if they can give ‘nine’ just one extra click, usually good things will happen,” LaFleur said. And if there are questions about specific roles or feedback that a player has, such as wanting a double team, the coaches have been more than willing to listen and implement changes, something Dotson said he’s benefitted from.
“We understand timing pretty well and I think that’s the thing that helps us keep the pocket clean,” Dotson said. “… It has (improved this year) and I think that play-calling has been really good, too. So those things work together, coaching and players taking advantage of what we know the play to be.”
The reality is, a veteran quarterback like Stafford doesn’t need all the time in the world, he needs as much time as the play requires, and the big men up front have provided that consistently.
In the run game, Pro Football Focus ranks the Rams as the No. 1 run blocking team in the NFL with an 85.5 grade, more than seven points higher than the next-closest unit. On designed runs (not including quarterback sneaks), L.A. ranks first in rushing success rate (48.7%) and has the fourth-lowest stuff rate (14.2%), which consist of carries that total zero or fewer yards, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Rams’ nine negative rushing plays are the fewest in the league, according to nflverse data, and the offensive line has played a major role in that. Running back Kyren Williams said the rushing operation, from the blockers to the running backs, “definitely” feels more connected than it did last season.
“There’s a lot of clarity going into the run game and we’re just kind of living off what we know how to do best,” Williams said. “We’re running those runs to perfection and there’s a lot of strain up front from the guys that has really allowed us to be able to get positive yards running the ball.”
Similar to the passing game, Williams said the coaching staff’s willingness to hear and implement feedback has led to more precise execution, rather than guys just guessing what they need to do on certain plays. He described Shelton as “the glue of this offense,” apart from Stafford, with his command and communication of calls they need to get into or out of at the line of scrimmage.
“I think they got a good connection right now amongst the five,” LaFleur said. “Even though we’ve had some (injuries)… like everyone, you’re always going to have some, you have to adjust and guys that are in there one week and not the other.”
The Week 1 starters, Alaric Jackson, Avila, Shelton, Dotson and Rob Havenstein, have only played two games together, but L.A. has still enjoyed sustained success. Because some of the rotational pieces are players that got run with the team last season, Stafford said that experience has carried over. However, they are set to have all five starters again this week against the division rival 49ers.
San Francisco has been decimated by injuries up front, specifically on the edges with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both out for the year. In Week 5, L.A. allowed just a 20.8% pressure rate against San Francisco, their second-lowest of the season. They will look to continue that success on Sunday in Santa Clara, even if they don’t get the same recognition from fans for their contributions.
Avila didn’t plan his jubilant celebration against the Jaguars in London, that was just “pure instinct,” he said. And if they get San Francisco to jump on Sunday, expect to see more genuine joy from him, because if they aren’t going to be praised for their play, they’ll at least get a shout when they bust a move.
“That just falls in line with having fun on the field,” Avila said. “We’re on a stage where people are watching us all over the world. So I want to do something, have fun while I’m out there playing.”
