Thread by @The_Coach_A

A lot has been made about the #Rams "soft" zone coverage & how it has led to struggles in the 1st half of the season

Let's take a look...

#ArtofX x #NFL

First, let's put some context to this:

The #Rams are a Cover 3 based defense

They run a variation of Cover 3 on about 59% of their snaps

Cover 3, played w/ ZN CBs can leave a defense susceptible to underneath throws, especially to the outside flats

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

In reality, the #Rams' D is not playing *that* poorly

@fboutsiders has them w/ a DVOA that ranks 13th overall, 4th against the run, & 19th against the pass

According to @espn, LAR is 3rd in Pass rush win rate

👉🏻 So, yes, coverage *is* the issue

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

The #Rams have only given up 9 passing TDs so far

That ties them for 10th in the league

But, they also rank 23rd in completion %

& the #Rams are first in the league when it comes to limiting explosive passes

They aren't allowing them...

Why the concern?

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

The issue is volume of yards & where they come from

QB's understand that when they play the #Rams, the underneath routes will be open

LAR is a top 10 team in blitz rate, but they give up a lot underneath

Let's take a look at the #49ers game...

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

Here is a look at Jimmy G's passing chart against the #Rams...

An overwhelming majority are under 20yds

This is because of how LAR plays their zone coverages

8 of Jimmy's 25 passes went over 10 yds

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

Looking at the yards after receptions,

& you see a bigger picture

Both TEs & the RB (McCaffery) had 142 yards after they caught the ball (CM had 60!)

That is ~62% of the yardage!

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

Here is how the #49ers attacked the #Rams:

>RB option routes on Safeties from depth or ILBs
>Push routes to the flats
>Slants away from the 3 WR side (5-Out), attacking the soft area behind the 3-Dropper
>"Gift" flat pass under coverage
>Early-down PA suck-up

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

All of these are by design & attack the #Rams' bend-don't-break coverage mentality

Though it may be concerning for fans, LAR's DC (Morris) has made a concerted effort to play ZN

It's part of the system

👉🏻 LA only runs C1 ~7% of their snaps

Why?

Personnel

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

Playing man would make sense for the #Rams

They have an elite pass rush & one of the better CBs in the #NFL

So why not play man?

The design of the defense is for the Safeties to play ZN coverage & occupy space, not a man

Plus, hey give up 16+ YPR in C1 👀

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

In order to play man, you need a Ni & a DS that can play man coverage

👉🏻 The DS on the TE & the Ni as a slot

The issue is offenses feast on this

Even the #Cowboys, who ran C1 ~67% of their snaps in '21 are playing it much less (~22%)

No team is over 36%

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

What's the real issue?

It is a combination of the offense struggling, giving opposing teams more snaps

...& the changing tides in the NFL

Teams are now used to seeing top-down coverages & are taking advantage of a defense that gives them space underneath

#ArtofX x #NFL ⤵️

A 5yd run is 5 yds, but a 5yd pass can turn into 10, 15, 20+

Should the #Rams play more man coverage, or at least tighter ZNs?

Maybe...

But it changes the overall philosophy of the defense, & wholesale change in the middle of the season is never a good thing

#ArtofX x #NFL

If you liked this look at the #Rams' coverage woes, make sure to subscribe to MatchQuarters' substack:

matchquarters.substack.com

Get the best of defensive football in your inbox weekly

#ArtofX