St. Louis Rams offensive stats could use a boost; Would Randy Moss make a difference?

by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 3, 2010 6:33 AM CDT in 2010 St. Louis Rams season

Quarterback Sam Bradford has made a huge impact on the St. Louis Rams offense.

Football Outsiders released their DVOA data through week 8. As you might expect, the St. Louis Rams have much better numbers for their defense than they do their offense. Let's start with the offense.

Overall, the Rams have a -13.9 percent DVOA for their offense, ranked 28th in the league. Just eyeballing it, that seems about right. Think about it. Scoring touchdowns doesn't come easy for the Rams, but they have demonstrated an ability to get an average of 17 points per game, with the exception of the Detroit game, and control the ball. In fact, the offense's inability to move the ball and eat up the clock is largely at fault for the losses the Rams do have.

Breaking it down further...

Rushing DVOA: -12.9 percent, 26th

Passing DVOA: -4.3 percent, 26th

The rushing total seems low given the strength of Steven Jackson's play this season. However, it makes more sense considered within the context of DVOA, which measures the success of those plays toward getting the yardage needed for a new set of downs or a score.

If anything, I'm shocked that the passing game is performing as well as it is. Sam Bradford is working minor miracles with a group of bit part receivers.

Another factor to consider is opponent adjustment. The Rams have not played an incredibly difficult schedule, and that's reflected in the stats you see here: good teams should perform well against bad opponents.

Still, compare these numbers to last year:

Overall offense: -26.4 percent, 32nd

Rushing: -4.7 percent, 25th

Passing: -33.5 percent, 32nd

That's a huge improvement between the two seasons. The difference? A healthy offensive line and Sam Bradford. In fact, I would argue that the Rams are worse off at receiver this year compared to last, thanks to injuries.

You know what I'm going to say here...another wide receiver, one who could add a dimension to the Rams passing attack, could potentially give the Rams offense a huge boost, helping them open the field and move the ball much easier.

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The thing about a talent like Randy Moss

isn’t just about what he does. It’s also about what he opens up for everyone else. Sometimes, the simple stats tell you everything (from Andrew Sharp’s piece at the mothership):

Wes Welker’s three games without Moss: 14 receptions, 102 yards, 0 TDs
Percy Harvin’s three games with Moss: 19 receptions, 287 yards, 3 TDs

  I’m still torn on Randy Moss. If we don’t land him, I’ll be ok. If we do, I’ll be overly intrigued as to what he can do for Sam Bradford and the offense as a whole. But for anybody to even think about entertaining the notion of suggesting that 2010’s Randy Moss doesn’t make an offense better is ludicrous.
  The issue isn’t whether he would make a positive difference on the Rams. It’s two-fold:
  1.) What Randy Moss will we get? What role would he expect to play? And what expectations of him as a player and a veteran when the cameras aren’t around would he both anticipate and accept?
  2.) How will the coaching staff use him? Will Randy Moss be used for Randy Moss, or for the rest of the passing offense? How would Pat Shurmur disguise the plays Randy takes off (second-progression plays, run blocking, etc.)? What do you do with Randy on 3rd downs, where he’s generally least effective and where Sam Bradford has been absolutely brilliant?
  Tough questions, but none of them are, “Will he make this offense better?”

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Nov 3, 2010 7:59 AM CDT reply actions

LMAO I just summed what you said up in my post!

Looks like we think the same!

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Nov 3, 2010 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions

why do you have to insult the man like that?

Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.

- John Wayne

by Tackle Box on Nov 3, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

low blow, my friend

low blow.

by 3k on Nov 3, 2010 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

nope thats a good shot right in the nuts lmao

by Rams67 on Nov 3, 2010 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Rams need to go for Moss

If he is willing to play, he would be a true number one option for Bradford, SJax could start to really run, and other recievers would improve too. But only if the attitude issue is contained and Moss gives a strong effort. But I personally think that that is a risk we have to take, rams have been in the ditch so long that the fans are owed the best chance to make it to the playoffs, and Moss presents that extra boost that might be needed.

by dopehouse on Nov 3, 2010 11:30 AM CDT reply actions