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Ernest Jones started 11 games last season and seven as a rookie in 2021, but he could make nearly as many starts this season alone if all goes according to plan. He’s the top linebacker on the Rams’ roster entering the 2023 campaign and should be on the field for nearly all of the defensive snaps.
He’s expected to be the defensive signal caller, relaying plays from Raheem Morris to his teammates. The hope and expectation is that more of those calls will have Jones blitzing than in years past, too.
Jones showed off his pass-rushing ability in Super Bowl LVI when he had a sack and three QB hits in the Rams’ win, but he had just one sack and four QB hits in all of 2022 after blitzing less than expected.
Jones was asked by Maurice Jones-Drew if he’s talked to Raheem Morris about blitzing more and his answer was without hesitation.
“Yes. Yes. That’s definitely going to happen. We’ll be getting down in there this year,” Jones said.
Jones rushed the quarterback 29 times on just 440 snaps in 2021, which is a far higher rate than his 26 pass-rush snaps on 723 total plays in 2022, per Pro Football Focus. That came as a surprise considering the Rams had Bobby Wagner to be the true Mike linebacker, allowing Jones to play more free and rush the passer more often.
It sounds like the plan is for him to blitz more this season, which should hopefully alleviate some of the pass-rush concerns the Rams currently have on defense.
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