The Sean McVay era, the Los Angeles Rams have predominantly utilized 11 personnel in their offensive strategy. In 2017, they used this formation on 83% of their offensive snaps, and this increased to 93% in 2023.
Despite suggestions that the Rams should diversify their offense with more 12 personnel packages, the team’s reliance on 11 personnel has been effective due to their wide receivers’ unique abilities. Early in McVay’s tenure, wide receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Brandin Cooks were integral to the offense.
Their skills, particularly Woods’ and Kupp’s exceptional run-blocking abilities, made it impractical to take any of them off the field. Pro Football Focus highlighted Woods’ run-blocking prowess, ranking him 11th in 2018 and 12th in 2019.
During the Rams’ Super Bowl run in 2021, Woods ranked second and Kupp tenth in run blocking. This trend has continued with Kupp and Puka Nacua. Last season, Nacua was the fourth-best run-blocking wide receiver in the NFL, significantly impacting the Rams’ run game. The blocking skills of Nacua and Kupp allow them to function almost as additional tight ends, enabling the Rams to maintain their 11 personnel formation while creating the illusion of a more varied offensive setup.
This strategy prevents defenses from predicting play calls based on personnel alone. The Rams’ reliance on 11 personnel is further justified by their performance metrics. In 2023, the Rams averaged 0.06 Expected Points Added (EPA) per play in 11 personnel, ranking seventh in the NFL. In contrast, their efficiency dropped significantly in 12 personnel, with a -0.18 EPA per play, ranking 28th. Despite the small sample size of 52 plays in 12 personnel, these figures suggest that sticking with 11 personnel maximizes offensive efficiency.
Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team also noted a league-wide trend of declining effectiveness in 12 personnel formations. For the Rams, maintaining their 11 personnel focus ensures the best use of their players’ talents and keeps the offense unpredictable and efficient.
