The Los Angeles Rams’ defense will look very different in 2020 than it did last season. Gone are Eric Weddle, Cory Littleton, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews, opening the door for younger players to step in and become starters.
The defense will also be led by a new voice with Brandon Staley taking over as the defensive coordinator, replacing Wade Phillips. The scheme is expected to be more versatile and diverse from week to week, rather than sticking to mostly the same script regardless of opponent.
With so many starting spots open, the Rams will call upon a lot of new faces to step up – as well as some veterans.
Here are seven defenders who have to play well and elevate their production in 2020.
LB Micah Kiser
Really, any of the Rams’ unproven inside linebackers could’ve been listed here, but Kiser is the likeliest to be a starter in 2020. He was in line to start next to Cory Littleton last season but a pectoral injury landed him on IR. Now, he has a clear path to that same job with Littleton gone and not much other competition on the roster.
If Kiser does become the primary inside linebacker, he’ll play a ton of snaps the way Littleton did. Last season, the Rams often had just one inside linebacker on the field at a time, using safeties as the other defender in the box next to Littleton.
Kiser will need to prove capable in coverage and against the run if he wants to play all three downs and not be pulled for someone such as Travin Howard on third down.