Tag: Rams defense

Rams’ defense has been one of the NFL’s best since Week 7

The Rams went from having the NFL’s worst defense to ranking 2nd since Week 7

Chris Shula had his work cut out for him when he was promoted to defensive coordinator after the Los Angeles Rams lost Raheem Morris to the Atlanta Falcons. He inherited a young defense that had some glaring holes, with Aaron Donald being the most notable loss on that side of the ball.

It took a little while but Shula has hit his stride calling plays in Los Angeles. After a brutal start to the year, the Rams have been one of the best defensive teams in the NFL the last three weeks.

The numbers are there to back it up, too.

In the first five weeks of the season, the Rams ranked last in the NFL in EPA/play allowed (0.165). They were terrible against the pass, giving up big plays and committing way too many penalties, and they couldn’t stop anyone on the ground. The pass rush was generating a decent amount of pressure but it didn’t have the sacks to go with it.

Then the Week 6 bye hit, a break that came at the perfect time.

Since Week 7, only one team in the league ranks higher than the Rams in EPA/play allowed (-0.183): the Eagles at -0.204. That’s a remarkable turnaround, one that Shula deserves a lot of credit for, but his players do, too.

Jared Verse has become a complete game-wrecker on the edge, recording 19 total pressures in the last three games alone; he had 20 in the first five games combined. Braden Fiske is coming off the best game of his career, recording two sacks and five pressures in the Rams’ win over the Seahawks.

Not only is the defense shutting opponents down, but it’s putting up points of its own. The Rams have scored points on defense in each of their last four games: a pick-six against the Packers, a fumble return for a touchdown against the Raiders, a safety against the Vikings and a pick-six against the Seahawks.

 

It’s not as if the Rams have played bottom-tier offenses, either. Sure, the Raiders have been a mess, but the Vikings and Seahawks both rank in the top 15 in points per game and yards per play.

The Rams will be tested once again against the Dolphins, who boast an explosive and dangerous offense with Tua Tagovailoa back in the mix. But with a pass rush that’s red hot and a secondary that’s creating turnovers, Shula’s group has the talent to slow down Miami’s high-powered attack.

Sean McVay: Too early to make ‘big-time changes’ to Rams’ last-ranked defense

The Rams are 0-2 and have allowed the most yards in the NFL, but Sean McVay isn’t ready to make big changes on defense

It was hard to set expectations for the Los Angeles Rams’ defense this season after it lost Aaron Donald to retirement and then Ernest Jones in a shocking trade. We haven’t seen a Rams defense without Aaron Donald for a full season since 2013, and even with all the pieces they added on that side of the ball, it’s impossible to replace a player like No. 99.

Through two weeks, it’s safe to say the Rams defense has been worse than anticipated. Los Angeles has allowed 852 total yards, the most in the NFL. The Rams rank last in net yards per pass attempt allowed and third-worst in yards per carry allowed, so it’s been a mix of bad coverage and terrible run defense.

Sean McVay wants to see improvements on that side of the ball but he’s not ready to make wholesale changes.

” I think you look at it, there were a lot of different things,” McVay said of Sunday’s defensive performance against the Cardinals. “Each play is its own entity and whether it be offensively or defensively, there are a lot of different things that – we have to play better football. We have to coach and everybody has a hand in that. To say that there are going to be any big time changes, it’s too early for that. We need to be able to operate with the standards that we’ve set with how we go about this week and put ourselves in a position to play better against what we know is a great opponent.”

Up next is a dynamic offense in the 49ers, which won’t have Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel but it’s still a team that forces a bunch of missed tackles and stresses a defense with its playmakers.

For a Rams defense that’s missed a league-high 33 tackles, they must improve in that department on Sunday or the 49ers could run wild at SoFi Stadium.

Rookie DB Kamren Kinchens is ‘going to be a factor’ for Rams this season

Rookie safety Kamren Kinchens has had a great summer and Sean McVay says he’s going to play a role for the Rams this season

Every spring in the NFL offseason marks the time for the NFL draft, as former college stars realize lifelong dreams of having a shot to play with the best players in the world. The beauty of the NFL draft is, that no matter how much scouting is done, it’s impossible to know whether these prospects will turn out the way the team selecting them envisions them to be. Every draft produces prospects who fall exceedingly short of expectations, while some burst onto the scene to take the NFL by storm.

Last season, the Rams appeared to have one of the best draft performances in the league, nabbing multiple instant starters in Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young, none of whom were first-round selections. The Rams, of course, look to have that much success in every draft class, with the 2024 draft as no exception.

One player who was selected by the Rams in April was safety Kamren Kinchens out of the University of Miami. The Rams had a clear focus on improving their secondary throughout the offseason, so they selected Kinchens 99th overall to fit that focus.

Kinchens has already earned some high praise from head coach Sean McVay in his first training camp as a professional.

The Rams are known league-wide as a team that does not play their key players in preseason games. Kinchens was notably not on the field in the Rams’ second preseason game against the Chargers, so the media rightfully had questions as to why the third-round pick did not appear in the game.

McVay told media members, “We’ve been holding him out for precautionary reasons… He’s done a great job. It was really one of those deals that we didn’t feel it was necessary to expose him to possible injury. He’s going to be a guy that’s going to be a factor for us.”

Based on this quote from Coach McVay, it is clear the team has high hopes for what Kinchens could bring to the table for the Rams defense. In the first, unofficial depth chart of the preseason, Kinchens was listed as the backup to fellow safety Kamren Curl. However, with the aging John Johnson III listed as the starting safety opposite of Curl, there is a chance Kinchens gets a real shot to contribute throughout the 2024 season.

The ball-hawking Kinchens recorded 11 interceptions as a two-year starter at Miami, proving to be one of the best safeties at the FBS level during his collegiate career. The Rams finished ranked 30th in the NFL in takeaways last season, a statistic McVay believes Kinchens has a shot to help change this year.

Rams defense ranked No. 1 in NFL heading into 2022 season

Heading into the 2022 season, FOX Sports ranked the Rams defense as the best in the NFL

The Rams didn’t have one of the best defenses in the NFL last season – at least not statistically. They ranked 15th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed, struggling at times to slow down their opponents. But their defenders stepped up when it mattered most in the playoffs, allowing just 65 points in their four games during the postseason.

That has the Rams riding some momentum into the 2022 season, despite losing Von Miller, Darious Williams, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. In fact, FOX Sports’ Eric D. Williams sees the Rams defense as the best in the NFL.

He ranked them No. 1 overall in his top 10 heading into the 2022 season, ahead of the Bills, Bucs, 49ers and Broncos, who rounded out the top five.

McVay continues to lean into his philosophy of adding big-name personalities to his team. With the addition of Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner in free agency, the Rams have potential, future Hall of Famers at all three levels of their defense in cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Wagner as the defensive play-caller and Donald up front. 

Los Angeles held opponents to 18.8 points a game during the playoffs and finished with a league-high 12 sacks in the postseason. The Rams must figure out how to replace Miller’s production. Justin Hollins is in line to replace Miller in the starting lineup, but expect defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to use more stunts and blitzes to help manufacture more pass rush.

Putting the Rams first might be a bit of a stretch, not knowing how this group will look without Miller and Williams. Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis will need to step up at outside linebacker, while it’ll be up to David Long Jr. and Robert Rochell to take Williams’ place at cornerback alongside Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill.

The Rams did add Bobby Wagner and they still have Aaron Donald up front, so they have stars at every level, but it’s the role players who will need to keep improving.

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Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey helped recruit Bobby Wagner to Rams

Wagner says he was recruited by both Rams DT Aaron Donald and CB Jalen Ramsey.

Bobby Wagner went here he was wanted. That may be the hardest thing to digest about the Seahawks sending the best defender in the history of their franchise away. Not only did they release their eight-time Pro Bowl GOAT middle linebacker, they apparently didn’t even offer him a paycut before they did so without even telling him.

Wagner spent a few weeks on the free agent market going over his choices. In the end, he signed a surprisngly-large five-year deal with the NFC West rival Rams, worth up to $65 million if he hits all his incentives. Wagner says he was recruited by both Rams DT Aaron Donald and CB Jalen Ramsey.

Here’s what Wagner told ESPN Seattle Sports 710 AM about getting recruited by LA’s two defensive superstars.

“Wagner said that when he was released, two Rams defensive stars – defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey – reached out to talk to him about “how great it would be to kind of team up…’ Wagner said that having Donald, one of the best defenders in NFL history, push to get him to join the Rams was ‘humbling.’ I’m just excited to be around those guys,” he said. “It’s a lot of energy, a lot of people who seem to love what they do.”

Before they won the Super Bowl, the Rams had already been dominating their series with the Seahawks, having won eight of the last 10 matchups. By adding Wagner they addressed their greatest need on this side of the ball, completing the picture with an elite playmaker at all three levels.

As offseason activities begin around the league, the AFC looks to be a horror-show of incredibly competitive teams. Meanwhile, Los Angeles should be an easy favorite to once again win an NFC conference that’s notably weaker than last year.

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Jalen Ramsey explains how offenses are ‘doing their homework’ to beat Rams’ defense

Jalen Ramsey explained how offenses are “doing their homework” to beat the Rams’ defense, finding favorable matchups in the passing game.

When Brandon Staley, Troy Hill, John Johnson and Morgan Fox all left the Rams this offseason, a regression was to be expected. Few people believed the Rams would have the No. 1 defense in the NFL again after suffering those losses, and now 11 weeks into the season, it’s clear that this isn’t the same unit that carried the team last year.

Opposing offenses are figuring out ways to attack the Rams’ weaker players rather than going at guys like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd. They’re getting the ball out quickly and targeting linebackers and safeties in coverage, which is something Aaron Rodgers and the Packers did quite often on Sunday afternoon.

Ramsey and Davante Adams was supposed to be the marquee matchup at Lambeau Field but when they were lined up across from each other, Rodgers only targeted Adams five times – completing five passes for 41 yards – the most yards allowed by Ramsey to a single receiver since Amari Cooper in Week 1 of the 2020 season.

After the Rams’ 36-28 loss, Ramsey shared some insight on how offenses are attacking Raheem Morris’ defense by picking and choosing their matchups strategically.

“Offenses are definitely trying to get matchups where they think may be best for them. They’re definitely trying to scheme up certain little things a little bit differently to have us potentially playing things a little bit differently. I mean, they’re doing their homework. They’re being an offense,” Ramsey said. “And then when you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers who, Hall of Fame guy, one of the best to do it, he also has a command with his offense to be able to even at times have communication with his receivers and they just go out and make it happen. So it is tough but it’s NFL football, it is what it is.”

The Packers used a lot of pre-snap motion to keep Adams away from Ramsey in coverage, which worked in their favor. On a key third down in the first half, Adams lined up across from Troy Reeder, who was in zone coverage and didn’t get outside quick enough to prevent the reception. Later in the first half, Ramsey was lined up across from Adams in the slot, but the Packers motioned Josiah Deguara to that side of the field and split him outside. That caused Ramsey to follow him to the perimeter, keeping Dont’e Deayon in the slot on Adams, one-on-one.

The result was a 43-yard catch over the top with Deayon trailing Adams from behind, setting up the Packers’ second touchdown of the game to go up 20-10.

The Rams tried to adjust by keeping Ramsey on Adams more often in the second half, but the Packers still figured out ways to keep the ball away from No. 5 by targeting players such as Taylor Rapp, Troy Reeder and Deayon.

Ramsey said that no matter what the Rams did to adjust, the Packers responded by winning other matchups.

“We’re trying to figure it out, we’re trying to adjust, which we did. We made a lot of adjustments but every play’s not going to be perfect,” Ramsey said. “Things are just gonna happen. No matter how many adjustments we make, they’re still gonna figure out a way and an opportunity to get their favorable matchups, as well. As many times as we were lined up, I’m sure there were just a number of times where they thought, ‘Cool, I got this matchup here or I got this look there and I’m gonna go there, I’m gonna attack there.’ And like I said, A-Rod has a good connection with his receivers, so they talk pre-snap and make up routes or do whatever they need to do to try to win the game. So it is what it is, NFL football, right?”

Ramsey wasn’t necessarily at his best in this one, allowing seven catches on seven targets for 48 yards. It wasn’t a bad performance, but he wasn’t necessarily the lockdown corner he’s been all season – partly because of the fact that he had to cover the best wide receiver in football, and also because Aaron Rodgers was throwing dimes at quarterback.

“We all gotta step up and take advantage of our opportunities, whenever they may come,” he added. “I have to take better advantage of my four opportunities that I got to get the targets lined up against him and his other targets, we gotta take better advantage of them. And it’s not just him. Like I said on Friday, it’s a whole team game. They had other guys who played well today and had some nice catches, explosive catches and touchdown catches that we would like to limit – and let me not say limit. We would like to just not (have them) happen.”

Ramsey sounded like a player who wanted to be matched up with Adams throughout the game, which isn’t surprising given his competitiveness. He always wants to go against the best, but sometimes the game plan doesn’t allow that to happen.

He’ll admit he didn’t make enough plays when given the chance to cover Adams, and that’s something that he’ll work to correct in the coming weeks.

“Like I said on whatever day it was when I did media, of course I would like for all games to have a certain matchup or do whatever it is, but regardless of if I get that or don’t get that, I’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities that I get on those certain matchups.”

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10 free-agent edge rushers the Rams should target

The Rams need pass-rush help, especially if Leonard Floyd leaves in free agency.

The Los Angeles Rams hit a home run by signing Leonard Floyd last offseason, but they only gave him a one-year deal, so he’ll be hitting the market this month. Samson Ebukam will be too, leaving the Rams somewhat thin at outside linebacker for 2021.

Luckily for the Rams, the free-agent market is rich with options – some of whom could land in the team’s price range. They’ll need to clear up some cap space before they do anything when free agency opens on March 17, but there are moves they can make to free up enough money to sign an impactful pass rusher.

Below are 10 possible targets for the Rams as they search for pass rushers, excluding their own free agents (Floyd and Ebukam).

Rams DC Raheem Morris striving for a ring, not the No. 1 defense

Raheem Morris isn’t trying to replicate what Brandon Staley did. He’s trying to bring a championship to LA.

The Rams were carried by their defense in 2020, which ranked No. 1 in points and yards allowed in Brandon Staley’s first year as a defensive coordinator. Staley has since gone on to become head coach of the Chargers, opening the door for Raheem Morris to step in as the Rams’ new defensive coordinator.

He inherits an outstanding defense that should once again be great in 2021, depending on how severe the losses are in free agency. But Morris isn’t striving to have the Rams lead the league in points allowed.

He wants to win a ring.

At the end of the day, ultimately nobody’s really going to be happy with being the No. 1 defense,” Morris said during his introductory press conference. “We are here to win a championship, and I wasn’t brought here to try to duplicate what they did last year. We were brought here to win and we’re brought here to win a championship and I want to get that done for Sean. I want to get that done for this community. I want to get that done for you guys.”

The Rams were excellent in two of the most important phases of defense: rushing the quarterback and defending the pass. They finished second with 53 sacks and allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL, consistently giving opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers trouble.

That’s not lost on Morris, who recognized the strengths of Los Angeles’ defense from the 2020 season.

“They were able to affect all quarterbacks and these guys came out and they were able to mentally and physically affect quarterbacks,” he said. “I think that was the biggest difference that happened last year, that allowed them to extend to a different greatness and when that happened. I think they got more confidence. I think the back end played with more confidence that allowed them to get after the ball. So, if you can affect the quarterback and get the ball like they were able to do, you’re going to have good statistics.”

Fortunately for Morris, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey will both be back in 2021. They’ll be the stars of the defense once again, and should be complemented by Darious Williams, Jordan Fuller and likely some new offseason additions.

Even if Leonard Floyd and John Johnson leave in free agency, this is a defense capable of being one of the five best again. But as Morris said, that’s not good enough. He wants to make it all the way to the Super Bowl, and win it at SoFi Stadium in front of a home crowd.

This PFF stat shows just how good the Rams defense has been in 2020

The Rams are just one of three teams to boast this accomplishment on defense.

The Rams defense took a huge step forward this season under Brandon Staley, going from a solid unit in 2019 to arguably the best in the NFL this year. Players such as Darious Williams, Jordan Fuller, Leonard Floyd and Justin Hollins have stepped up in a big way, as have holdovers Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Jalen Ramsey and John Johnson.

There’s no doubt the defense has carried the team this year, and Pro Football Focus put into perspective just how good the Rams have been on that side of the ball. They’re one of just three teams with a pass-rush grade and coverage grade of at least 80.

The other two are Washington and the Steelers.

The pass rush was a major concern coming into the season after losing Dante Fowler Jr. and cutting ties with Clay Matthews. However, Leonard Floyd has exceeded all expectations, putting up career numbers for the Rams this year. Aaron Donald has been as good as he always is, too, commanding double- and triple-teams each and every week.

In the secondary, the Rams have a case to be the best in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey consistently locks down No. 1 receivers, Darious Williams has emerged as a budding star and John Johnson has once again proved he’s an elite safety. Add in Troy Hill and Jordan Fuller, and it’s as good a secondary as there is in football.

In Week 17 and potentially in the playoffs, it’ll be up to the defense to carry the Rams, especially after the recent rash of injuries the team suffered on offense.

This graphic shows how Rams’ defense has changed under Brandon Staley

Take a look at how the Rams’ defense has evolved since Brandon Staley took over for Wade Phillips.

When Sean McVay was first hired by the Los Angeles Rams, he made the wise decision to hire an experienced and proven defensive coordinator to run that side of the ball. In choosing Wade Phillips, he allowed the Super Bowl-winning coordinator to put his stamp on the defense, fitting players to his scheme over the last three years.

But then McVay decided to spread his wings and take more control over the defense by hiring Brandon Staley to replace Phillips this year. Staley is still in charge of the defense, but McVay has been more involved in that phase of the game than in years past.

Staley didn’t make drastic changes to the defense that was already in place, but he did do some tweaking. The Rams are running more zone coverage, using inside linebackers less and deploying more split-safety looks.

To put into perspective some of these changes, take a look at the graphic below from Next Gen Stats. The heat map shows the Rams are splitting their safeties deep more often this year, while also utilizing light boxes a ton.

A light box is when there are fewer than six defenders in the box, a sign of frequent nickel and dime packages. The Rams use light boxes on 85% of their plays, which is the highest rate in the NFL.

Obviously, the sacrifice with light boxes comes on run defense, with only two inside linebackers typically aligning behind the defensive line. Despite that, the Rams are still sixth in yards per carry allowed, fifth in rushing yards allowed and eighth in rushing touchdowns given up.

The defensive line has stepped up in a big way, as has Leonard Floyd on the edge. It helps that the Rams have great safety depth with strong-tackling players at the position, coming up in run support to help the linebackers.

Considering the way the defense has played through 10 games, it’s hard to argue with Staley’s system. They’ve been good against the run and elite against deep passes, which is a mark of a great defense.