How the Rams Perfected the Insert Passing Game
The Rams have built their reputation on staying a step ahead. With Coach McVay calling the shots and Stafford executing them, Los Angeles has turned scheme into an art form, layering window dressing on top of sound structure until defenses stop trusting what they see. The insert passing game is a perfect example. They did not invent it, but few staffs in football have studied it harder or run it cleaner.
What separates the Rams is the detail. The motions are not eye candy, the splits are not random, and the play-action is not a guess. Each piece is built to move a specific defender out of a specific spot, threatening the run until linebackers and safeties declare, then attacking the grass they just vacated. In this breakdown, we are going to get into exactly how Los Angeles strings those pieces together, and why their version of the insert passing game has become one of the tougher things in football to defend.
Insert Wave
We are going to call this one Wave because it is close enough. Maybe it is Y Cross, but let us call it Wave. Puka motions inside, then inserts between the Tackle and the Tight End before climbing into an over route. That inside insert is the whole point. It lets Puka cross the formation a lot cleaner because he only has to climb over one linebacker instead of two. Against a Cover 1 look, the defensive back is left chasing from a trail position, and that leverage turns into an easy completion for the Rams offense.
Insert Sail
Here Ferguson comes across the formation in motion before inserting between the Guard and Tackle and running a sail route. Even though this is another version of Cover 1, the defensive backs and linebackers struggle to pass off the tight end as he inserts and breaks into the sail. On top of that, they have trouble picking up the running back releasing late out of the backfield. The play ends in an incompletion, but not for lack of scheme.
