Rams 2010s All-Decade Team: Defense and special teams

Breaking down the best defensive and special teams players to play for the Rams during the 2010s.

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Despite an up-and-down decade on offense, the Rams have had one of the better defenses in the NFL since Jeff Fisher took over as head coach in 2012. They had a fearsome pass rush even before Aaron Donald arrived and their secondary has always been a tough out for opposing quarterbacks. The Rams became known for their defensive identity before Sean McVay arrived, and they continued to shine under McVay and Wade Phillips.

There are a lot of players deserving of a spot on the Rams 2010s All-Decade Team, at least compared to the other side of the ball. To choose this group, we only factored in the achievements of a player during their time with the Rams between 2010-2019. For example, Chris Long’s first two years with the Rams did not affect his status on this list.

You can read the selections for offense here. We’ll start with the defensive line, and we’ll end with special teams.

Defensive end/EDGE: Robert Quinn (2011-2017) & Chris Long (2010-2015)

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Since the Rams ran two different styles of defense last decade, we’ll be combining some positions here. But this is one of the most obvious choices of the entire list.

Robert Quinn’s 2013 season was one for the ages. Quinn recorded 19 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 34 quarterback hits, seven forced fumbles, and even scored a touchdown. He was named a First-Team All-Pro, the only All-Pro selection of the decade for a Rams defensive player not named Aaron Donald, and won the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year award.

The rest of Quinn’s tenure with the Rams wasn’t too shabby. He totaled 62.5 sacks in his seven years with the team, which is tied for the fourth-most in franchise history. He’ll likely go down as one of the more underrated Rams.

Though Chris Long’s numbers weren’t as flashy as Quinn’s, he was a perfect complement to him on the other side of the defensive line. In addition 45.5 sacks and 56 tackles for loss during his six years with the Rams last decade, Long was a locker room leader, a team captain, and a well-respected teammate. Players have long been vocal about how much they enjoyed playing with him.

Despite spending eight seasons with the Rams, Long will be remembered for what he accomplished in his three seasons after leaving. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Patriots and Eagles in addition to being selected as the Walter Payton Man of the Year in his final NFL season. Regardless, the bulk of his career starts happened with the Rams, and he’s more than deserving of a spot on this list.

Honorable Mention: William Hayes

Malcolm Jenkins named the Eagles’ nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year

Malcolm Jenkins named the Eagles’ nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year

NFL award season is starting and the NFL just announced this year’s nominees for The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide/

The award honors players who have not only exhibited excellence on-the-field but whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game. Chris Long was the previous nominee and winner for the Eagles and in 2019, safety and team captain, Malcolm Jenkins is the Philadelphia Eagles’ Walter Payton, Man of the Year Award nominee for the 2019 season, according to an official announcement from the NFL.

“Winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for me would be a huge honor and a way to acknowledge the work of everyone else who has allowed The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation to be what it is,” Jenkins told PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “And that’s every volunteer, every person that we’ve been able to engage within the community, every partner, every sponsor, my wonderful board, who has been with us from the beginning, allowing us to operate in four different states.”

Jenkins was previously nominated during the 2017 season but did not win. Long was the winner for the 2018 season.
A
ll 32 nominees will receive a donation of up to $50,000 in their name to their charity of choice. The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.

This season’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner will be announced during NFL Honors on February 1, the night before Super Bowl LIV.