LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams displayed an offense that seemed to be starting anew during their recent game against Miami, ultimately falling 23-15 and ending their three-game winning streak.
The game saw the return of left guard Steve Avila, who was recovering from a knee injury, and center Jonah Jackson, who had been sidelined by a shoulder injury. This was the first time since their season opener against Detroit that the Rams featured their intended starting interior offensive line. However, the lack of on-field chemistry was evident during the loss.
“It’s fixable. Everything that happened in that game can be corrected,” Avila commented. “We’re doing everything in our power to make those adjustments.”
After Avila went down in the game against Detroit, and with Jackson dealing with a shoulder issue sustained in training camp, the Rams found themselves relying on rookies Beaux Limmer at center and Justin Dedich at left guard to regain momentum in the NFC West.
While the return of Avila and Jackson added depth and experience to the offensive line, they struggled to connect with each other along with left tackle Alaric Jackson and right guard Kevin Dotson. Compounding their challenges was the absence of veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein, who was out due to an ankle injury.
This inconsistent line performance resulted in quarterback Matthew Stafford being sacked four times, running back Kyren Williams managing just 62 rushing yards, and the offense converting only 3 of 12 third-down attempts (25%).
“Over the course of the game, they appeared to improve. They seemed to get more comfortable with the game’s pace,” said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. “Replicating game scenarios during practice is one thing, but experiencing live-action is another. They need to adjust quickly.”
Los Angeles specifically struggled in the first quarter, averaging a mere 1.7 yards per play while failing to convert on three separate third-down chances. This marked the eighth time they finished the first quarter without scoring a touchdown.
Currently, the Rams hold the 31st position in first-quarter scoring, averaging just 1.4 points per game, with only Chicago performing worse at 1.1 points.
“We’re not executing early in games, and it’s an ongoing struggle, for reasons we need to analyze,” LaFleur stated. “If we had the definitive answer, we wouldn’t be in our current predicament. Execution and toughness are critical, and I have no doubts about our players’ commitment; however, we need to get off to better starts.”
The rushing offense has also been underwhelming, ranking second to last in the league with an average of 3.76 yards per carry. Williams has only one game this season where he rushed for over 100 yards, a stark contrast to the six 100-yard performances he recorded during a standout season last year.
LaFleur emphasized the collective responsibility required for a successful offense, particularly in the run game: “It takes all 11 players working in unison. This isn’t just one individual’s issue; it’s a team problem that starts with coaching. We need to address it on our end, and if we do, the players will adapt. They are eager to improve, and it starts in practice when we put on the pads and approach it with intent.”
Following a complete game back, Avila expressed optimism for improvements when the Rams face New England (3-7) next Sunday.
“If I had to summarize the game in one word, it would be execution. We struggled with communication,” Avila noted. “It was disappointing, especially for my first game back. However, I feel encouraged rather than embarrassed.”
In health updates, Havenstein and swing tackle Joe Noteboom both missed practice for the second consecutive day, potentially paving the way for Warren McClendon Jr. to step in as the starting right tackle against the Patriots.