Brandon Staley helped transform and elevate the Los Angeles Rams’ defense in his first season as a defensive coordinator last year, quickly turning that performance into a head-coaching job with the Chargers. He did so after taking over for the legendary Wade Phillips, implementing his own scheme centered around Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
The Rams played a lot of Cover 4 and Cover 6, but they mixed things up a ton. One week, Ramsey would play man coverage almost every snap against an elite receiver like DeAndre Hopkins. The next, he would play a lot of zone coverage in the slot.
So it’s not all that surprising that the Rams had the most unique coverage scheme in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Here’s part of what PFF found when studying the coverage uniqueness of every team in the NFL:
Because the Rams played Cover 4 and Cover 6 much more frequently than the rest of the NFL, this gives us an idea that coverage scheme uniqueness is heavily weighted on the frequency of uncommon coverages being used. Other teams’ coverage schemes can be explored on The Kneel Down, which uses PFF data to automate that process.
ICYMI: @mfbanalytics and I wrote about the coverage scheme uniqueness of each team and how coverages change when coaches change.
A more unique team doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be successful. https://t.co/dChDut1S9Y pic.twitter.com/1dyhAK1F5i
— Ryan Weisman (@ryanweisman12) June 29, 2021
Obviously, the Rams will be transitioning to a new defensive coordinator with Raheem Morris stepping in after Staley’s departure, but the scheme isn’t expected to change a whole lot – at least based on what Staley, Sean McVay and Rams players have said this offseason.
Morris’ Falcons were much lower on the coverage uniqueness scale last season, ranking 19th in the NFL. A lack of coverage variety doesn’t mean a defense is bad, but many of the worst defenses in football – specifically against the pass – were lower on PFF’s coverage scheme uniqueness chart.
“The Rams and Dolphins fielded great pass defenses with unique schemes, while Pittsburgh, Washington and Tampa Bay relied more on the pass rush to stop opposing quarterbacks.”
Can Washington’s coverage take the defense to the next level in 2021? 🤔📈https://t.co/y5cpXBWJjS pic.twitter.com/iR3jnXhg8C
— PFF Washington (@PFF_Washington) June 29, 2021
Fans should expect a lot of Cover 4 and Cover 6 from the Rams again in 2021, but Morris will implement his own wrinkles, whether it’s stunts, blitzes or combo coverages. The Rams did lose Troy Hill, John Johnson, Samson Ebukam, Morgan Fox and Michael Brockers this offseason, but the talent on defense is still impressive.
That should lead to another season in the top 10 as a defense.