Another Sean McVay disciple gets a crack at OC. Will the talent actually get utilized in Atlanta with new OC Zac Robinson?
One of the biggest changes coming to the offense is 3 WRs on the field in bunch formations, close to the line of scrimmage. Atlanta ran the fewest three-wide receiver sets in the NFL last year. What does that mean for 2024?
For starters, they’ll be a lot more dependent on their WRs blocking in the run game. But we should expect a lot more free releases for those receivers, as well, which is going to benefit Drake London in a huge way. A staple route combination for Rams WRs is a dig route from the outside receiver - combined with either a sail or dagger from the slot. Could Kyle Pitts and Rondale Moore handle that kind of role on the inside?
On the outside in the Rams offense last season, it makes sense that Puka Nacua’s most common route was the dig; he was very successful at it. Drake London happens to also have a high success rate on dig routes. Puka’s three most common routes (dig, slant, curl) also happen to be three routes London had a high success rate with.
IN terms of the run game, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether the Falcons will run gap or a zone run scheme. McVay is known for his success with outside/wide zone, but he pivoted to a gap scheme this season with great success, primarily with duo concepts. Kyren was #1 in duo success rate among all RBs.
The Falcons, on the other hand, were primarily a zone run scheme last year. Bijan had the most attempts of outside zone of any RB last season, which resulted in the 2nd most yards when running that concept. He was also zone-heavy at Texas, too.
McVay’s offenses have tightly revolved around his key guys like Todd Gurley, Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua. Let’s hope for a tight distribution between London, Bijan, and Pitts with new OC Zac Robinson at the controls in Atlanta.