The Los Angeles Rams are one of the surprise teams of the NFL this season with a record of 7-2 halfway through the season and leading the NFC West with much improved play. Let us look at a few stats that show this improvement from 2016, per Football Outsiders.
OVERALL TEAM EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 30th | 2017 – 1st
OVERALL OFFENSE EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 32nd | 2017 – 9th
PASSING EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 32nd | 2017 – 2nd
RUSHING EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 32nd | 2017 – 15th
QB EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 34th | 2017 – 5th
OL RUN BLOCKING: 2016 – 29th | 2017 – 5th
OL SACKS ALLOWED: 2016 – 29th | 2017 – 2nd
OVERALL DEFENSE EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 15th | 2017 – 3rd
PASS DEFENSE EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 20th | 2017 – 3rd
DEFENSIVE LINE PASS RUSH: 2016 – 29th | 2016 – 6th
The only negative changes are to:
RUSH DEFENSE EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 6th | 2017 – 20th
DL RUSH EFFICIENCY: 2016 – 1st | 2017 – 15th
What are the main factors causing such an amazing turnaround?
In my view they are as follows:
- The maturation of and improved QB play of Goff
- The solidification of the OL by the addition of Whitworth
- The significantly improved pass rush has made the Pass Defense substantially better
- Improved coaching
If this continues, the Rams, behind a good franchise QB and solid defense, and guided by a coaching staff that shows they know what they’re doing, are actually gonna put flaky LA fans in the stadium seats.
