A Look Back at the Rams Offense vs. the Buccaneers in Week 3
Stafford completed 27 of 38 passes for 343 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INT
The Buccaneers and Rams are different teams now than they were 17 weeks ago. Robert Woods and DeSean Jackson are gone from L.A.’s offense. Odell Beckham, Jr. and Cam Akers are now key cogs in their lineup. And Tampa’s defense is closer to full strength than they were in Week 3.
Regardless of the changes, one thing is still clear: If Matthew Stafford has time, the Rams have the scheme and personnel to break down any coverage they see and attack all areas of the field.
Here’s how they picked apart the Buccaneers defense earlier this season.
Attacking Zone
Let’s start with this 22-yard completion to Cooper Kupp that really seemed to settle Matthew Stafford into the game. This was a sail route concept, a 3-level stretch designed to knock the top off the defense, hold the underneath coverage, and create a void at the intermediate level:
The design and execution of the routes were good, but the threat of Matthew Stafford’s arm and ability to attack downfield also stretched Tampa vertically, helping create the void in coverage:
Time in the Pocket
Another thing to notice about this play is that the Rams went with an empty formation and Stafford still had time to throw. That meant they had 5 receivers running routes, which allowed them to better manipulate the coverage. They did use chips on the edge to help provide some time, however. And that’s something they’ll need to do on Sunday against a Buccaneers pass rush that is playing much better now than earlier in the season.
But this is one of the key areas of the matchup - can the Rams protect without sacrificing the amount of receivers running routes? The Buccaneers were unable to generate enough pressure in Week 3. And when they can’t get to the quarterback, that defense is vulnerable, especially against a passing attack like L.A.’s.
It’s probably safe to say that the Buccaneers are going to blitz on Sunday. They always do. They led the league in blitz frequency this season, in fact. They did not have much success in week 3, however, as the protection was able to keep Stafford upright. That gave him the ability to find his receivers running wide open against fewer defenders in coverage:
Attacking Man Coverage
While the Buccaneers didn’t play man coverage as their predominant coverage of choice, the Rams were able to take advantage when they did.
The below completion to Cooper Kupp (another 22-yarder) came with Kupp running a wheel route as the #3 inside slot receiver. The #2 receiver’s route impacted the path of Kupp’s defender, which helped create the separation: