The frequency with which Sean McVay utilized 11 personnel in 2018 was a complete outlier compared to the rest of the NFL. The Rams had three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back on the field 89% of the time that year, with the next-closest team using 11 personnel on 77% of their snaps (Packers).
This season, the Rams came back down to earth with their usage of 11 personnel, mixing things up far more than they did in 2018. According to Sharp Football Stats, the Rams used 11 personnel on only 73% of their snaps, tied for third-most in the NFL.
The grouping they used second-most was 12 personnel, which features one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers. They utilized 12 personnel 21 percent of the time, or on 219 total plays.
Here’s a comparison of how often the Rams used 11 personnel in the last two years.
2018
Total: 89%
Pass: 94%
Run: 81%
2019
Total: 73%
Pass: 79%
Run: 58%
So why the huge shift in the usage of 11 personnel from 2018 to this past season? Part of it has to do with defenses starting to counter McVay’s offense toward the end of the 2018 season. The Bears and Patriots both figured out ways to counter the Rams’ wide-zone rushing attack and play-action passing game, stacking the box and using 6-1 fronts.
McVay adapted by using more formations with two tight ends on the field, getting more blockers along the line of scrimmage rather than spreading three receivers out wide. McVay also attributed it to preventing his wideouts from wearing down, considering they played nearly every snap in 2018 when healthy and available.
With how much the Rams’ receivers are asked to block, it can take a toll on their bodies over the course of a long season. Thus, a higher tight end usage with Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt and Gerald Everett.
It’s a good sign that McVay found a way to adapt to what defenses were showing him this season, but it wasn’t until late in the year that he began to utilize two tight ends more often. We’ll see if things change next season with Kevin O’Connell coming aboard as the offensive coordinator and Higbee emerging as a legitimate No. 1 tight end in December.