Back as far as 2021, when Davante Adams hadn’t even put on the horns yet, Sean McVay was already impressed. “When you watch him get parallel and work edges on people at the line of scrimmage … it’s almost like you can envision Allen Iverson crossing somebody up,” the Rams head coach had said, comparing Adams’ route running to an NBA ankle-breaker. Jump forward to 2025, and McVay’s extensive reputation is finally starting to catch up with reality in Los Angeles. But no longer merely admiration from afar, it’s practiced in his offense.

During the Rams’ practice this week, Sean McVay wasn’t shy when assessing Adams’ day-one reps. “That was consistent with what he did in the spring and what expectations are,” McVay said after practice. “He’s so receptive. He’s so smart and understands the intent of what we’re trying to get done.” Sean McVay also revealed the veteran wideout would be placed on a strategic maintenance plan throughout the season. “Either one of those four days [on the weekly camp schedule], he’ll be lighter. It’s the intelligent thing to get him peaking at the right time.”

Along with other veteran returnees such as Matthew Stafford and Rob Havenstein, Adams won’t be beating his body up with every camp snap. Rather, the emphasis is on accuracy and clarity.

Already evident in Thousand Oaks is the way Adams is getting into the rhythm of the offense so fast. The timing with Stafford, particularly on timing routes and abbreviated red-zone concepts, is developing faster than expected. Adams is not merely learning the system; he’s mastering it. He’s the type of pinpoint gadget that gets the entire offense going. Beyond any highlight reel or media hype. However, what Sean McVay is probably most proud of is the veteran’s attitude.

Adams enters a facility with young stars, past winners, and upstarts such as Puka Nacua, and he doesn’t boast. He listens. He directs. And he runs sharp routes like it’s Week 1 postseason buildup, not the second week of camp. To McVay, it isn’t plug-and-play; it’s a culture-setter who has it all, but arrives as if he hasn’t. That’s the vibe this Rams team requires. And that’s why McVay is doubling down, not just on Adams’ play in clutch situations, but on his capacity to get everyone else to lift their floor.

Rams set new strategy for Matthew Stafford & co

If the Rams plan to make a deep January push, they know they can’t rely on Matthew Stafford’s arm to carry the entire load again. They did that last year. Stafford, still world-class at times, struggled with injuries and uneven coverage. He threw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024, but also took 35 sacks and finished 22nd in completion rate under pressure. When he was on the field, he was doing too much, usually under intense circumstances with no rhythm. And when he wasn’t on it, the Rams’ offense was a jigsaw puzzle that lacked the essential pieces. McVay’s takeaway: You want to stack days, not stats in July. That’s coach-speak for: we’re not chasing highlight throws, we’re building cohesion. And that’s why Adams isn’t just a luxury—he’s a necessity.

He gives Stafford a top-tier outlet who thrives on quick separation. The route tree isn’t about going vertical every play. It’s about offering answers. Slants, hitches, outs, and back-shoulders, all the timing stuff that lets Stafford get the ball out without taking hits. McVay’s red-zone install reportedly revolves around those quick-win routes. And with Adams’ line sense, Stafford does not require a gun-free zone in the pocket, merely an instant of trust. Even when they’re running tempo drills, Stafford and Adams already play like a staff that has been together for years. It doesn’t stop there with the passing game, either.

The Rams are doubling down on balance. Kyren Williams, fresh off a 1,299-yard, 14-TD in last season, is to be the featured workhorse. McVay continues to emphasize multiple-back sets and rhythm series that limit wear-and-tear while maximizing offensive versatility. If Stafford’s two backs remain healthy, the Rams won’t have to rely on him to be a week-to-week hero. Add Nacua’s breakout upside, Tutu Atwell’s vertical explosion, and a revamped tight end corps with Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen, and the Rams’ offense has form and salvage.

This unit got bogged down in one-gear drives when it was being installed into shootouts in 2024. But in 2025? They’d like to dictate pace, call flow, and keep Stafford upright. McVay is not reinventing the wheel; he’s just finally installing top-of-the-line tread on all four tires. And with Davante Adams, he might have added all-weather traction L.A. was lacking. The offense is not stacked with stars. It’s repeatable. And finally, since their Super Bowl drive, it looks like they have a map and not merely a compass.