No position group has undergone more changes for the Los Angeles Rams this season than the cornerback unit. Five different corners have started at least one game for the Rams, and that’s not even including Quentin Lake, who plays safety and nickel.
As of late, Chris Shula and Sean McVay have seemingly found their ideal starting tandem on the outside with Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams. The decision has resulted in Cobie Durant being benched, playing zero snaps in the last two weeks despite being the Rams’ best cornerback at times this season.
That’s largely because of Witherspoon’s impressive play as of late, breaking up six passes in the last three games alone – including the game-saving interception against the Cardinals on Saturday night.
As difficult as the decision to bench Durant was, McVay says it’s a good problem to have three starting cornerbacks on the roster.
“He’s been great and he’s been a pro’s pro,” McVay said of Durant on the “Coach McVay Show” this week. “He was awesome against Buffalo in a lot of situations. Ends up having the lung contusion. (We) ended up kind of riding the hot hand but he couldn’t have been more of a pro in terms of, he knows the confidence we have in him. And then you always have to make decisions for what’s best that week. Like you said, it’s a champagne problem to have three quality starting corners when you look at he, Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon.”
Durant has taken his demotion in stride, and McVay loves that he was the first player off the bench to celebrate Witherspoon’s interception against Arizona. As badly as he wants to be out there, Durant is a complete team player and will wait for his next opportunity, whenever it arises.