Rams Film Review: Defense ranks top-10 since early season struggles

The Rams defense has turned a corner since early season struggles

Early in the season, it looked as if the decision to promote Chris Shula as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator was the wrong one. The Rams defense was one of the worst in the league. While it was true that it was a defense that had just lost Aaron Donald, the defense looked like a unit that had a new defensive coordinator. Over the previous two seasons with lesser talent at times, Raheem Morris’ defenses were never a bottom-5 group.

There was always going to be some level of adjustment period with Shula as the Rams defensive coordinator. Adjusting to life as a defensive coordinator as well as life without Donald was going to take some time.

Over the first three weeks, the Rams defense ranked 31st in defense EPA per play. Since then, however, this has been a top-10 unit. However, since Week 3, the Rams defense ranks 10th in defense EPA per play. That side of the ball has been ever better since the bye week in which they rank second in defense EPA over the last four weeks.

RBSDM

That’s a small sample, but it shows the progression of the unit as a whole and that the first two weeks may have actually been an outlier. This is a defense and a defensive coordinator that have started to find their footing. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.

The Rams defense faced their biggest test of the season against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10. Let’s jump into this week’s film review.

Jared Verse is the clear Defensive Rookie of the Year

Every time Jared Verse takes the field, it becomes more and more clear that he is the front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The game is beginning to slow down more for Verse and he’s been able to use his athleticism and strength to absolutely wreck opposing offensive game plans. Per NFL Next Gen stats, Verse has an average get-off speed of 0.80 seconds which is among the top-20 defensive linemen and edge rushers in the NFL. When he explodes into the backfield in the run game, it becomes eerily reminiscent of Aaron Donald.

I’ve mentioned the strength of Jared Verse over the past couple of weeks. However, it is something that absolutely pops on tape. It’s extremely evident in Verse’s strip sack on Tua and fumble recovery. Verse’s initial power against Laremy Tunsil is impressive and then he absolutely just wills himself to the quarterback going against the guard.

It’s going to get to a point pretty soon where it almost becomes boring to talk about how good Jared Verse is as a player. He’s showing off how special he is as a player on an almost weekly basis and it all comes so easy for him.

Omar Speights giving Rams what they need at linebacker

Through much of the first half of the season, one of the biggest weakness on the Rams defense was the linebacker position. Once Ernest Jones was traded before the season, it left them with Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom at linebacker. That experiment went about exactly as many thought it would. Reeder became a liability while Rozeboom struggled next to him.

With Reeder out of the lineup due to an injury, that has given Omar Speights an opportunity. Speights had a key fourth down stop against the Seahawks. Against the Dolphins on Monday night, Speights got significantly more playing time always just seemed to be in the right place. Since taking over at linebacker for the Rams, Speights is the fifth-highest graded linebacker via PFF.

Matthew Stafford Missed Opportunities that were available

There are a few things that can all be true when it comes to the Rams offense. Against the Dolphins, it is a group that started their fifth different combination in nine weeks. That group included three new starters and that clearly had an effect on the offense. The plays are there to be made in the offense. The in-breakers and deep shots are being drawn up. However, Matthew Stafford simply didn’t feel comfortable in the pocket.

There were times that Stafford looked hesitant. That may have been because of the offensive line or Anthony Weaver’s defense. However, it is more likely to be the former than the later. On the play below, Stafford has tight end Davis Allen open in the flat for an easy gain, but doesn’t trust it and ends up throwing the ball away out of the back of the end zone. When Stafford is comfortable in the pocket, his upside is elite. However, in games where Stafford hasn’t trusted the five guys in front of him, it’s been clear.

An odd situation with Alaric Jackson

With how much Joe Noteboom struggled on the right side, it is odd that the Rams didn’t give him much chip help with a tight end or running back. Instead, the Rams were giving that consistently to Alaric Jackson on the left side. Jackson has been one of the Rams’ more consistent offensive linemen since re-joining the lineup back in Week 2. Meanwhile, Noteboom was by far the weak link at right tackle in place of Rob Havenstein.

In a sense it makes sense to give that chip help to Jackson. His foot speed isn’t as quick as other tackles which means he can sometimes struggled to kick out on pass rushers looking to get around him on the edge. Providing a chip allows Jackson time to make up that ground that he loses. Still, that makes sense with Havenstein on the other wise. With Noteboom, it’s clear that if the Rams are going to give help, it should be on that side of the offensive line.

This brings me to a larger point that will be discussed this offseason. Jackson is playing on a restricted free agent tender and will be eligible for an extension at the end of the year. He’s definitely not the issue on the offensive line. However, with the amount of chip help that he has gotten this season, it is a reason why there should he some hesitation to pay him $17-million per year. He’s not a player at left tackle that can be put on an island. He provides stability in a sense, but is that worth the hefty price tag?