Michael Hoecht had only played 15 defensive snaps before Week 12, and it’s not because he was hurt. He never played more than five snaps in a game prior to the Rams’ game against the Chiefs, but after the team cut Justin Hollins, Hoecht got an opportunity to play outside linebacker instead of his traditional position of defensive tackle.
It turns out, Hoecht is a really good edge rusher.
In the last two games, he has seven pressures, two sacks and a forced fumble. Sean McVay said Monday he wishes he realized sooner how good Hoecht would be at outside linebacker because he would’ve moved him a while ago.
When did Sean McVay realize Michael Hoecht could be a good outside linebacker?
"Probably two weeks ago. Otherwise we would have done this shit a lot sooner." #Rams
— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) December 5, 2022
Hoecht has worked himself into a starting spot opposite Leonard Floyd and done an excellent job, putting him in the conversation to have a legitimate role at that position next year. He already has as many sacks as Terrell Lewis and Justin Hollins had combined, which says a lot about how little production Los Angeles got out of those two players.
Hoecht has exceeded all expectations so far and it’ll be fun to watch what he does in the final five weeks of the season.