Rams begin preparing for wild-card matchup with familiar Vikings squad

LOS ANGELES — Anticipate per week main as much as Monday night time’s wild-card matchup of stories conferences downplaying the familiarity between the Los Angeles Rams (10-7) and the Minnesota Vikings (14-3).

In fact the groups themselves will deploy adjusted sport plans and methods after the Rams’ Week 8, 30-20 win on “Thursday Night time Soccer.” In fact, as Rams head coach Sean McVay reiterated Monday morning, whereas the 2 offenses share one play caller — Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was the offensive coordinator for the Rams from 2020-21 together with their Tremendous Bowl victory — and a few language, the programs have deviated over time to evolve with their personnel.

“He’s completed a superb job of morphing it to his gamers,” McVay stated. “I believe that typically (similarities between former colleagues’ programs) can get just a little bit over-emphasized. There’s a foundational philosophy that I believe folks carry offensively, however he’s put his personal spin on it that works for his workforce and there’s been an excellent evolution. You actually take a look at it, I’ve been actually impressed with what they’ve completed and I take pleasure in watching their tape.”

After Sunday night time’s loss to Seattle that concluded the common season, McVay minimized the potential helpfulness to the Rams of getting already performed the Vikings as soon as this season.

“We nonetheless performed them so early. … There’s just a bit little bit of familiarity, however they’ve the identical factor with us. A lot adjustments because the season goes,” he stated. “You continue to attempt to keep abreast of what’s occurring relative to what are they doing within the totally different phases, having your eyes on these attainable matchups that would happen.”

However familiarity fairly clearly exists past the McVay/O’Connell connection. McVay was obsessive about Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ protection when Flores coached in New England, Miami and now in Minnesota. Flores’ scheme (borrowing and efficiently making use of ideas from Vic Fangio’s personal) beat McVay in Tremendous Bowl LIII and was among the many catalysts in an eventual commerce for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2021. Wes Phillips is now Minnesota’s offensive coordinator after his tenure because the Rams’ tight ends coach from 2019-21, and former offensive assistant Chris O’Hara holds an identical position there too. Assistant inside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus’ contract was not renewed by McVay after the 2022 season, and O’Connell poached former Rams sports activities science head Tyler Williams from Los Angeles when he accepted the pinnacle teaching job early in 2022. Former Rams gamers Johnny Mundt and Cam Akers at the moment are in Minnesota.

“I believe that stuff will get just a little bit over-emphasized,” McVay stated Monday morning of sport planning towards his former OC. “Kevin’s an excellent coach and there’s a familiarity with the rhythm and the routines by way of how all of us function. There’s an evolution and there are adaptions that happen from season to season and week to week. It’s a enjoyable narrative, nevertheless it’s actually concerning the Rams versus the Vikings.”

A number of notes and bits of research forward of the matchup:

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Who’s again (Rams): Rob Havenstein.

McVay stated Monday morning that the veteran proper deal with, who has missed two video games with a shoulder damage, will probably be again for Monday night time’s sport.

Who’s again (Vikings): Blake Cashman, Fabian Moreau.

O’Connell advised Minnesota reporters that the veteran cornerback Moreau, who held a rotational and particular groups position, would return from a hip damage this week.

The Vikings will even have star linebacker Cashman towards the Rams this time (he didn’t play within the regular-season matchup with turf toe) and his presence might have an effect on how they aim the center of the sector.

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Who’s out (Rams): No. 2 working again Blake Corum fractured his proper forearm towards the Seahawks on Sunday and can miss the postseason. Corum confirmed constructive flashes in restricted reps behind starter Kyren Williams. Ronnie Rivers would be the No. 2 again and if Sunday’s sport plan gave any indication, the Rams will in all probability get rising rookie receiver Jordan Whittington concerned within the run sport on sweeps and reverses (plus as a blocker).

To observe (Rams): Playoff groups obtain two further injured reserve return designations in the event that they make the postseason. Two earlier starters, security John Johnson III and inside linebacker Troy Reeder, are at present on IR and by the top of the common season the Rams have been restricted of their allotment of return designations. McVay stated the workforce has not but decided on both participant. Returning both would imply slicing one or two gamers and shifting the game-day activation depend the place the Rams have seen profitable snaps by a variety of former reserves, together with safeties Jaylen McCollough and Kamren Kinchens, and inside linebackers Omar Speights and Jake Hummel.

To observe (Vikings): Quarterback Sam Darnold (technically one other connection between the groups though a collegiate one; he performed at USC) hobbled round within the later minutes of Sunday night time’s sport after a participant landed on his foot. Whereas he’s not recognized for pure mobility, he can run and work out of construction. O’Connell stated that the workforce got here out “clear.”

Darnold had by far the worst sport of his in any other case exceptional season towards the Lions, who blitzed him at over a 50 p.c fee (and pressured Darnold on practically 60 p.c of his dropbacks, per Subsequent Gen Stats) plus performed a ton of man protection regardless of being restricted in their very own personnel. He was 18 of 41 for 166 yards and had the second-worst crimson zone passer ranking of the yr by any quarterback with 10-plus makes an attempt there, based on Subsequent Gen Stats.

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Enemy bonding: Pink zone.

The Rams have an offensive success fee within the crimson zone of simply 41.5 p.c. The Vikings don’t fare a lot better at 41.9 p.c. Each offenses are nicely beneath the league common success fee of 47.6 p.c and each rank within the backside quartile within the NFL on this metric.

The Rams and the Vikings rank No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in crimson zone defensive success fee.

Vikings offense: 25.41 factors per sport (No. 9), No. 15 in EPA/play.

Vikings protection: 19.5 factors per sport (No. 5), No. 3 in EPA/play, turnover margin is 12.

Rams offense: 21.59 factors per sport (No. 20), No. 13 in EPA/play.

Rams protection: 22.7 factors per sport (No. 17), No. 27 in EPA/play, turnover margin is 6.

Matchup level: The Rams’ gradual begins towards the Vikings’ aggressive, shapeshifting protection.

Not counting Week 18, throughout which most starters sat out, the Rams have failed to attain a landing in 13 first quarters this season and have been shut out fully in 11 first quarters. They’re the second-worst first quarter offense within the NFL this season, edging the Chicago Bears with 1.8 factors per first quarter to Chicago’s 1.6. The Vikings common 6.41 factors per first quarter (tied for No. 2) and permit simply 2.8 (tied for No. 3).

However in Week 8, the Rams received their offense shifting comparatively shortly. They scored seven first-quarter factors and added one other seven earlier than halftime (and held the Vikings scoreless within the second quarter).

“The final time we performed these guys, they’re an unbelievable protection (that deserves a) ton of respect,” McVay stated. “We began quick and we executed nicely. It actually comes right down to placing the fellows in the precise spots and all 11 (gamers) doing what they’re alleged to do.”

The Rams’ offensive line additionally allowed no sacks towards the Vikings and simply eight whole pressures based on TruMedia, inclusive to ability gamers choosing up strain, though gamers famous postgame that Flores’ total strain designs for that sport weren’t what they anticipated to see (gamers often dropped into protection regardless of exhibiting a blitz look pre-snap).

(Prime photograph of Sam Darnold and Kobie Turner: Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Photographs)