The Rams ran that through motion into screens multiple times against the Vikings earlier this year, as their defense has a blitz-heavy scheme. On Sunday, they used it to draw attention in both the run and pass game, rather than to get players in space, once again showing how the same action can serve different intentions. These are just a few of the movements that the Rams use to make the run and the play-action pass game look the same. That forces hesitancy in the defense, and receivers know the effect it has when running downfield routes.
“I think there’s a little nuance here and there to it, in terms of what kind of reaction you get from the defense knowing that linebackers are getting into panic drops, especially when you run the ball well, understanding that space opens up as you get down the field,” Kupp said. “… You kind of get a feel for what those are and what the timing is for those things, where those spots are and we’ve done a very good job of being able to access those things out of play-action.
“Kudos to Matthew for being able to do that stuff, when you turn your back to the defense you flip back around and try to diagnose what’s happening, but I think we got one of the best in the world at doing that, and as receivers you just want to distribute the field well and let him make the throws.”
Still, none of it matters if Stafford doesn’t have time to read the defense and execute the play. That’s why “it always starts up front with the protection,” McVay said.
“Knowing where to be is probably the main thing, and then being able to make the play seem like a play that you’ve run before, like a run, you want it to sound the same,” said offensive lineman Kevin Dotson. “Sometimes you add a little extra grunt to make it seem like you’re going harder than you really are, just to entice the linebackers, things like that, things that you can do to help the play.
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein said that having low pad level, the right body demeanor and knowing the help assignments, whether players are giving or receiving it, are all must-haves in play-action pass protection.
They also need to know where the quarterback wants to end up and how to clear space for him both in and out of the pocket. Offensive players sell the run fakes in different ways based on the type of play-action that’s being run.
“Whether we’re trying to affect a second-level or a third-level response, or…
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