The Rams defense is last in the NFL in EPA per play and EPA per run play
According to Next Gen Stats, the Los Angeles Rams have the highest pressure rate in the NFL as the defense is pressuring the quarterback on 41.3% of dropbacks through four games. This is in spite of having the NFL’s least-expensive edge rushers, defensive linemen, and linebackers in the NFL, and Jared Verse is ranked fifth overall in the league for individual pressure rate at 18%.
Only Myles Garrett, Will McDonald, Danielle Hunter, and Will Anderson have a higher pressure rate through four games than Verse, and teammate Braden Fiske is 11th at 15.9%.
That’s great news for a Rams defense that is relying heavily on two rookies and two second-year players who have been significantly more productive than the average defensive linemen picked at their draft positions; for Fiske to be doing this much as a second round rookie, it’s starting to add up why L.A. gave up so much to get him.
Jared Verse has been the best rookie edge so far. Great run defender and his bull rush is a problem. If he can start converting a few more of these sack opportunities pic.twitter.com/ncAamHKKRn
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 30, 2024
Byron Young has a 12% pressure rate and Kobie Turner is at 10.9%.
However, that might be the only good news about the defense so far.
Opponents are passing on the Rams at a 45% clip, the lowest in the NFL, which is perhaps one reason why L.A.’s rate of pressures is so high: They have only seen 109 pass attempts thrown against them this season, so it’s a much smaller sample size than some teams.
Opponents have run on the Rams 133 times and L.A.’s EPA/rush allowed of +0.10 is fourth-worst in the NFL, while the Rams overall EPA/play allowed of +0.17 is the worst in the NFL. L.A.’s 8.1 yards per passing play allowed is 0.7 yards worse than the Cardinals, the team in 31st place.
First career sack for Braden Fiske!
: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/uxIErDr2fV
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 29, 2024
Even if the Rams did build a special pass rushing defense, it won’t matter unless the Rams can also build an adequate run defense and secondary.
It’s a good thing for the Rams to have added several exciting front-seven players in the last two drafts, but perhaps too high of a cost to pay with some veteran losses and retirements over the same period of time.
