Forget the running backs, because the real secret sauce behind the Los Angeles Rams’ dominant ground game last season wasn’t in the backfield. Data from FTN Fantasy via Nutshell Sports just dropped, and it flat-out shows the Rams’ guard-tackle combos were running the show, snagging a full quarter of the NFL’s top eight pairings for rushing effectiveness.
The Trenches Were ELECTRIC: Two Duos Dominated the League
You wanna talk about getting dirty in the trenches? The Rams had *two different duos* lighting it up last season, making opposing defensive lines look silly! On the left side, Steve Avila and Alaric Jackson were legit, tying for fifth-highest in the league. They were generating a sick +0.16 Expected Points Added per play across an impressive 61 shared rushing snaps. That’s serious efficiency! Then you got Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. on the right, not far behind, tying for eighth overall. Those guys delivered a stout +0.10 EPA per play over 39 snaps. Having two distinct pairings in the top eight like that? It’s proof that Head Coach Sean McVay had his offensive line consistently creating push and setting crucial edges, no matter which side the handoff was directed toward. That kind of consistent front-line dominance is what paves the way for a truly massive team-wide efficiency.
A Historic Feat Not Seen in Almost Two Decades
But this wasn’t just some nice individual stat. That front-line work directly paved the way for something special. Led by the dynamic backfield duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Los Angeles actually earned the *highest-graded rushing offense* in the entire NFL on Pro Football Network’s prestigious Offense Impact metric. You know it’s legit when a composite scatterplot, pulling data from powerhouses like Pro Football Focus, ESPN, Sports Info Solutions, and nflfastR, placed the Rams firmly in the coveted upper-right quadrant of league-wide rushing efficiency. What does that mean in plain English? It showcases an elite, undeniable blend of above-average run blocking *and* a consistently high rush success rate. They weren’t just moving bodies; they were getting results.
And here’s the real kicker, the stat that should make every defensive coordinator in the league take notice: PFF data shows L.A. generated positive EPA on over 50% of its total handoffs in 2025. Think about that for a second! This is only the *second time* since PFF started tracking these metrics all the way back in 2006 that *any* NFL team has crossed that incredible 50% threshold. The only other squad to pull it off? None other than Sean McVay’s *own* historic 2018 Rams, back when Todd Gurley was tearing up the league. That’s not just good; that’s historic dominance, folks. It’s a clear statement that elite ground games truly start at the point of attack.
So, while everyone’s hyping up the flashy plays, remember where the real magic happens. With Avila, Jackson, Dotson, and McClendon paving those lanes, the Rams proved last season that a dominant ground game starts and ends with the guys up front. Get ready to watch if they can keep that momentum rolling into this season, because those numbers are screaming “unstoppable!”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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