Is Los Angeles Rams running back usage predictable?

The Chicago Bears should have an idea of what the Los Angeles Rams are doing by their running back usage

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay deservedly is praised as a robotic-like head coach in how he spits out names and formations like a formula to an equation. Still, sometimes McVay can almost be too computer-like and can get caught up repeating the same tendency over and over again.

Vic Fangio threw a wrench in the McVay algorithm two years ago, and his offense struggled on the way to be shut down in the Super Bowl after that game. Now, McVay has come back with a new punch.

While McVay has mixed up personnel and is not running 11 personnel almost exclusively, the latest tell has come with his running backs. Since letting Todd Gurley go, the Rams have been trying to add in Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers, who they have drafted along with Malcolm Brown, the experienced veteran that they trust.

The issue is that in an almost robotic-like rotation, you can tell what McVay wants out of his backs. Currently, Akers has not been a part of the equation as the rookie works back from an injury.

However, when Malcolm Brown is on the field, the Rams are likely to pass, and when Henderson is on the field, they are looking to run.

Defend the pass with Malcolm Brown and the run with Darrell Henderson

The Rams pass the football 68% of the time when Brown is on the field. They pass the ball 39% of the time when Hendersons is on the field. That means a 61% run rate with Henderson.

Even more interesting is that McVay had their greatest split of the season last week against San Fransisco. Brown was on the field for 28 snaps and the Rams threw a pass 25 times. Henderson played 32 snaps, and they threw just 15 times. They ran the ball 20 times, and Henderson was on the field for 17 of those snaps.

Pass protection

What is clear is that the Rams trust Brown in pass protection and they do not trust their rookie Akers, or the second year Henderson. Brown has 21 pass protection snaps and Henderson has nine. This has resulted in Brown running more routes as well, but that is due to the disparity. When Henderson plays on passing downs he is either an issue in pass pro, or will certainly rush out.

Expect to see the trend continue against Chicago Bears

The issue with McVay adjusting to this against Chicago is that he needs Brown to pass protect, but also needs to make the most of the speed of Henderson. Taking on the Chicago Bears means Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn with Akiem Hicks on the same side as Mack.

In previewing the game we noted that McVay will keep two and sometimes three extra pass blockers In to buy his quarterback an extra second or two against big threats. Especially when his offensive line may be outmatched.

McVay is not going to want Henderson to play on passing downs. He is going to be too reliant on Brown chipping Mack and Quinn. However, the Bears’ biggest weakness has also been the explosive run. At times their linebackers can miss at the second level, and it results in big plays.

Malcolm Brown is a slow plotter, who Danny Trevathan can even keep up with. Darrell Henderson would make Trevathan pay for being a step slow. When the Rams run the ball, they need to rely on Henderson, or they are not making the most of each carry.

The Chicago Bears need to sell out against this idea. The Rams beat teams with misdirection and motion and freezing players. If the Bears sell out on the run against Henderson, they will not be a step slow to fill holes. If they sell out to defend the pass against Brown, he does not have the ability to make them pay on the ground.