LOS ANGELES — Sean McVay declined to name a starting center for the Rams’ game Sunday at the New England Patriots. It’s not that he hadn’t already made a decision, just a spot of gamesmanship ahead of the matchup.
But regardless who is snapping the ball Sunday, whether it is free-agent acquisition Jonah Jackson for a second game in a row off injured reserve or a reversion to rookie Beaux Limmer, the fact the Rams are considering their options is a good indication of the crossroads they are facing as an offense.
The Rams could opt to see whether they can build chemistry with the group they expect to start the season with up front, or they can go with Limmer, a sixth-round pick who was playing well in the six games during Jackson’s absence.
“I think it’s about finding, what is the best group that collectively plays together, not just individual pieces? What does that look like?” McVay said. “Our goal is to be able to figure out, what is the best way to put that unit together based on the guys that we do have? And to try to be able to put ourselves in a position to go compete to get the result that we’re hunting up in New England.”
At 4-5 in the midst of a tight NFC West race, the Rams don’t have time to play through any chemistry and cohesiveness issues along the line. The Patriots (3-7) are one of few games you can pencil in as a win left on the Rams’ schedule. And as last week showed, you can’t bet on any victory for this team if the offense doesn’t get right, and soon.
Monday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins was the epitome of the season-long problems that have plagued this offense. Slow starts. Third-down and red-zone issues. An inconsistent run game. And an inability to keep quarterback Matthew Stafford upright and in the pocket.
No player, coach or position group is immune from criticism for these issues. But the offensive line’s play has come under a microscope due to the revolving door at four of the five spots along the line, with right guard Kevin Dotson the only lineman to play every snap this season. It hasn’t quite been 2022 levels of hardship, but the comparison isn’t lost on McVay.
“That affects your ability to develop some continuity. I feel for those guys,” McVay said. “I know guys are competing to the best of their ability, but there were some things that we expect better.”
And despite their record, the Patriots aren’t a defense that will forgive poor line play, with their long pass rushers, bolstered by the expected return of defensive tackle Christian Barmore. And if the Rams don’t right their run game after two straight weeks being held to 70 yards or fewer, the Patriots will get more and more opportunities to go after Stafford.
Everything comes back to that run game for the Rams. If Kyren Williams is able to pick up good chunks on first-down carries, the Rams stay ahead of the sticks. It opens up the offense to do what it wants on second and third downs without the defense able to comfortably predict a passing play.
Asked Thursday what it feels like when the run game is working, receiver Puka Nacua said, “I feel like it’s Rams offense. We do everything that everybody is accustomed to and it feels like, ‘Man, I know exactly what they’re going to do,’ and then it’s the mix-up that Coach McVay and our offense is able to dial up. Being able to utilize our receivers in every which way in the run and pass, but then also to get our running back going so we can get up there and let [Stafford] do his thing.”
As McVay said after Monday’s loss, “Everything’s on the table.” Whatever it takes to right the offense before the Rams’ goal of meaningful January football slips away.
“I think what we’re continuously learning about this team is, what’s the makeup? Who are the consistent guys that we have?” McVay said. “That’s been a thing that, when you reflect back on being in Year Eight, it has been different. There have been some things that have been consistent and there have been some things that are different, but how do we ultimately figure out what is the best for the Patriots game? As it relates to our offense specifically, personnel, scheme, all those types of things are kind of what we evaluate.”
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 383, 228
