Video explainer on why teams use motion, especially the Rams
The only team using pre-snap motion more often that the Rams this season is the Miami Dolphins and Mike McDaniel is basically only known for motion:
- The Rams have run motion 499 times in 10 games (50 times per game), behind only the Dolphins at 52 times per game
- The Rams pass out of motion 59% of the time, the 7th-highest rate
- The Rams gain 209 passing yards per game out of motion, the most in the NFL
Still, Sean McVay has work to do, as the Rams average 5.9 yards per play out of motion (12th) and the team is 20th in rushing efficiency following pre-snap motion. Of course, the Rams use motion so often that almost any offensive stat from motion is going to be closely related to L.A.’s overall rankings.
But why does McVay lead the league in motion so consistently?
What does it do for the Rams and what are the different types of motion?
Most football fans don’t grasp much of what’s going on during a game except something along the lines of “I’m following the football and cheering when the ball goes into the end zone for our offense and booing when it goes into the end zone against our defense” and I don’t count myself among the few who actually do understand what’s happening.
That’s why I’ve been leaning heavily on these video explainers made by vIQtory Sports on YouTube, including this one about motion:
A few types of motion:
- Jet Sweep
- Orbit Motion
- Carry/Cross
- Exit
The video also name drops Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford:
“If you watch Cooper Kupp, the Rams do a very good job of cross motion, Kupp goes back and forth and you can see his eyes are tracking the (defense) the entire time, Stafford is getting tipped off of who is playing what and then they can run the play from there.”
Expect the Rams to continue to run pre-snap motion on almost every single play and for McVay to have success with it while these players are still in place.
