Los Angeles Rams versus Arizona Cardinals: Sosa’s film review

The Los Angeles Rams remain unbeaten after a victorious home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams threw up points at will, so let’s take a look at some of their offensive plays, their relevance, and why they worked.

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The Cardinals were clearly selling out to stop the run, and they did just that. With RB Todd Gurley in the game the Rams only averaged 2.2 yards per carry. Obviously that left the Cardinals’ secondary susceptible, and Head Coach Sean McVay took advantage. This play design was perfect. A fake pitch to Gurley (getting the defense flowing in the wrong direction) with a WR screen on the backside of the play. LT Andrew Whitworth and LG Rodger Saffold get to the second level and secure blocks springing WR Brandin Cooks for a large gain.

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Does this play look familiar at all? It should. Todd Gurley scored on a jet sweep pitch-pass like this against the Oakland Raiders in week one, though this time McVay throws in another wrinkle. Goff motions Gurley across the formation before the snap and as soon as the ball is snapped Brandin Cooks crosses the formation the opposite way. Goff pitch-passes the ball to Cooks causing all sorts of confusion for the defense. These are the types of plays that will ensure the Rams will always have a ground game regardless of whether its traditional or not.

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When the constant threat of a ground game exists, cerebral and smart players like WR Robert Woods benefit. Last week Cooper Kupp scored a touchdown in a similar manner as the Rams ran a play action pass, Kupp fake-blocked his defender (S Reggie Nelson) and released freely into his route. Here, Woods does the same thing. After his fake-block gives him a free release off the line of scrimmage, Woods takes off into his wheel route and secures a terrific grab.

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This was a great play, but I want you to focus on what didn’t happen here. Brandin Cooks is sent deep on a vertical to help clear space for the underneath-deep crosser by Woods. Woods runs a great route, Goff places a perfect pass between defenders, and Woods pulls down a nice catch. More than anything though, the threat of sending a speedster like Cooks deep can open up the rest of the offense.

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Remember how in the play above Cooks was the decoy used to clear space? Well, this time he’s the target and the play turned out terrific. Jared Goff does a good job stepping up in the pocket as a defender approaches and Cooks runs a terrific out-and-up clearing every line of defense. If Goff has a clean-er pocket, this one is likely a house-call.

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The Rams tried this exact same play earlier in the game to Brandin Cooks at about the exact same spot on the field. It was wide open for a touchdown, but a great individual defensive play by Chandler Jones ruined the play as he jumped up and batted the pass down. This time the Rams come right back with the same exact play and have TE Tyler Higbee wide open in the flat for a touchdown.

Stay tuned for next week as the battle of Los Angeles (not really) will likely produce some real interesting things on the all-22.