The Los Angeles Rams offense has been battling inconsistency all season long, but some intriguing numbers are screaming for them to make a change. With Davante Adams now sidelined after an injury late in their Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the path is wide open for Tutu Atwell to finally get the significantly larger role he deserves in Sean McVay’s scheme.
The Numbers Speak Volumes
When Tutu Atwell is actually out there on the field, the Rams offense is a completely different beast. Seriously, check this out: on 59 plays with Atwell, their EPA per play rockets up to a massive +0.213, and their success rate hits 50.8%. Compare that to when he’s *off* the field for 351 plays, and the EPA per play craters to -0.016, with a success rate of just 47.9%. Yeah, it’s a “small sample size but intriguing” as the data tweet puts it, but come on, the difference is night and day! This isn’t just about Puka Nacua and Davante Adams hogging targets. Atwell’s pure speed and downfield ability are game-changers, forcing defenses to actually respect the deep ball. That opens up those underneath routes for Nacua, tight ends, and even Adams when he gets back healthy.
Time To Unleash The Vertical Threat
The Rams desperately need to find ways to cook up explosive plays instead of running the same old plays with the same old targets every single possession. Atwell’s biggest asset is his ability to threaten defenses vertically. That’s pure gold! Adams going down in Week 6 against Arizona just kicks this opportunity wide open. Depending on how bad that injury is and if he plays Week 7, Atwell absolutely has to see an expanded snap count and get more chances to prove he’s a reliable weapon. Honestly, even if Adams somehow bounces back super fast, McVay and the crew need to give Atwell a consistent role. The Rams can’t afford to be predictable, especially if they’re serious about climbing back into contention in the NFC. Rotating Atwell into more offensive packages gives Matthew Stafford another legit threat who can flip a drive on its head with just one play. He doesn’t need to entirely replace Adams’ production; he just needs the opportunities to use that blazing speed and create some separation.
If the Rams are serious about having a more explosive and dependable offense, then making Tutu Atwell a priority moving forward isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity. We’ll be watching to see if Sean McVay finally takes the leash off and lets him fly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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