Los Angeles Rams Week 8 snap count analysis

The Los Angeles Rams took care of business in Wembley Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Week 8. The Rams now head into their Week 9 bye owners of a 5-3 record.

Injuries once again played a factor, forcing the Rams to make adjustments to their personnel packages on both sides of the ball. Here’s a look at the Rams’ offensive snap counts from Sunday:

Offense

Notes:

• The Rams ran a lot of 12-personnel (1 RB, 2 TE’s) in Week 7, but that was not the case this Sunday as the Rams reverted back to “11,” their bread and butter offense. As a result, this meant a lot less of TE Gerald Everett than many would’ve imagined, given his emergence in the offense over the past few weeks.
• Brandin Cooks went down (concussion) very early in the game. Again, instead of more Everett, Rams’ HC Sean McVay called on WR Josh Reynolds, who played roughly 90% of the snaps with eight targets, three receptions, 73 yards and a touchdown.
• Perhaps the most trivial note regarding Sunday’s snaps was the even split between running backs Todd Gurley and Darrell Henderson Jr. With the game in hand, Hendo got seemingly all of the snaps later in the game. He did out-touch Gurley 11 to 10 in Week 8, tallying 49 yards on the ground and hauling in three catches for 20 yards.
• Rams’ WR Cooper Kupp played on 97% of snaps after only playing 62% against the Falcons in Week 7. After what he did in London, that should be the plan every week.

Defense

Notes:

• Cory Littleton seems a lock to see 100% of the snaps week in and week out. He was joined this week by newcomer Jalen Ramsey, veteran safety Eric Weddle and rookie Taylor Rapp, who quietly lead the team in tackles (12).
• Rams’ DC Wade Phillips opted to go heavy with the safeties in lieu of a linebacker, and Marqui Christian once again saw a healthy share (75%) of snaps; at the expense of LB Troy Reeder (12%).
• Speaking of linebackers, in the absence of Clay Matthews (who McVay is hopeful to return in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers) Samson Ebukam also saw roughly three-quarters of the defensive snaps at OLB. But it was Ogbonnia Okoronkwo that drew the most attention. He’s hovered around 40% snaps the past two weeks (after playing only two snaps in Week 6) and made the most of them on Sunday, tallying 1.5 sacks. If, for some reason, Matthews isn’t ready for Week 10 it’s possible we see Obo chip further into Ebukam’s play count.