Throughout the Sean McVay era with the Los Angeles Rams, there have been several iterations of the offense. McVay took the league by storm in 2017 and 2018 with the usage of outside zone and play action passing off of that. When the NFL caught up, McVay developed a spread offense that lacked a running game completely as the quarterback operated out of empty. It was the best the Rams offense had looked since the 2018 season. Needing to run the ball, McVay completely revamped the running game in 2023, installing gap and power concepts. The result was one of the most successful running games in the NFL.
That offensive evolution has continued into the 2025 season. From 2021-2024, the Rams used 13 personnel six times total. Over the past three weeks, they’ve used it at a 43.2 percent rate. It’s become the identity of the offense. Since Week 7, the Rams rank first in offense EPA per play out of 13 personnel at 0.31. Their 39.3 percent success rate also leads the NFL.
Overnight, the Rams have gone from a team that operated primarily out of 11 personnel with three wide receivers to becoming the heaviest team in the NFL and finding immediate success. It’s also not as if the Rams have taken 13 personnel and incorporated new concepts.
The Rams are taking what they did in 11 personnel, and simply using bigger players. Instead of Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp blocking through the B-gap, it’s Davis Allen. Instead of Nacua, Kupp, or Atwell running a ‘cheat motion’ pre-snap, it’s Terrance Ferguson.
The McVay offense has evolved over the past nine years and it’s as if it’s finally reached the final form. The McVay offense began as a Charmander that was naive and fiercely loyal to his scheme. After evolving into a Charmeleon, McVay became more powerful, but was almost stubborn to a fault. McVay has finally evolved into his final form as a Charizard, arrogant at times, but understanding what he needs to be to reach his potential.
It’s as if McVay is taking everything he’s learned and putting it all together. This is no longer a zone or gap run game, but both. Through 10 weeks, they have exactly 108 zone concept rushing attempts and 108 man/gap concept rushing attempts. This is a team that’s still comfortable running at a defense with duo blocking schemes, but they have also been thriving on outside zone looks that are at the core of what McVay wants to do. The Rams lead the NFL in zone rushing success rate at 62.5 percent and are third in the NFL in man/gap rushing success rate.
Back in 2018, the Rams run game found success with the combination of Todd Gurley and CJ Anderson. In the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, Gurley and Anderson combined for 39 carries for 138 yards. Anderson led the way with 23 carries to Gurley’s 16.
Over the past month, this is no longer just Kyren Williams’ backfield. Both running backs have 10 or more carries in each of the last three games. Williams is able to keep the offense on track and be that stable presence while Corum adds an explosive element with his speed. Corum’s 25 percent explosive run rate on outside zone runs since Week 7 leads the NFL.
For years, the Rams fan base has been wanting McVay to utilize the tight ends more in the offense. Since Week 8, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen all rank inside the top-15 in yards per route. All four Rams tight ends rank inside the top-8 in targets per route. Additionally, Ferguson has become the deep threat of the offense as his 22.8 aDOT ranks sixth in the NFL among wide receivers and tight ends.
Fans have wanted McVay to incorporate a fullback in the offense in the same way that Kyle Shanahan does Kyle Juszczyk. While it’s not technically a fullback, the Rams have started motioning their tight ends into an I-formation and using them as a lead blocker in the run game.
The McVay offense has somewhat gotten back to its core of being this under center play action passing team and running wide zone. With that said, the Rams also aren’t just throwing out all of the stuff that they’ve done successfully since 2021.
This is still a team that has no problem lining up in 11 personnel and using three wide receivers to move the ball. The Rams can get under center and use three tight ends, but they still have no problem getting Stafford in empty and spreading out the defense.
This is the most balanced that a Sean McVay offense has ever looked. The things that have been missing or held the offense back at times have been introduced. This is no longer a team that looks the same on offense while running different looks. The Rams offense now gives different looks while looking the same. Those two things are very difficult to defend, but in different ways.
For so long, the Rams operated primarily out of 11 personnel and made everything look and feel the same. Since introducing 13 personnel and utilizing tight ends, it’s added a variety and now things may look the same, but it feels different because of how the Rams are attacking defenses.
The Rams have so many different ways right now that they can go at teams. If teams match the Rams in 13 personnel with nickel, the heavier looks provide an advantage in the run game. Teams have mostly matched the Rams in their base defense, which allows them to get Terrance Ferguson matched up on a linebacker.
Right now, it feels as if the McVay offense has reached its final form in a good way. The Rams are running bits and pieces of the McVay offense throughout the years in addition to new stuff and putting it all together in a way that it’s cohesive.
Since Week 7, the Rams offense has scored 111 points in three games while leading the NFL in offense EPA per play and success rate. This may be the beginning of yet another iteration of the McVay offense, but it feels as if the Rams are just getting started.
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