2025 And Beyond Rams Are A "Defensive" Team.

[DelMar]

Great write up and 100% concur.

I think some people are overlooking this Defense. Shula is now in his prime as a coach, as it's taken him a bit longer to get where he is, it also has to be a heavy weight having the last name Shula... some big shoes to fill... but Shula has now proven imo, he is his own man and will make his own mark.

Chris has full control and has built a solid D that hes been wanting for a few years imo. Although I do have some MINOR reservations w our DB's, I think they will do fine. When you have a DL like we do now, that is able to stuff the runs and makes life stressful for any opposing QB, I think not having an Elite DB group is ok. So hopefully our DB wont be the first ones making the tackle on run plays like in season past. Our DL needs to stuff the box, then our LB crew HAS TO be the tacklers.

In all honesty, I cannot WAIT to play the Lions this year, as we know how Jared works, pressure does not bode well for Goff (Sorry Hellram). This DL and LB crew is going to be hungry, as we let that last two Lions games slip through our fingers. Not this season.

I cannot wait to see this DL cook this season.

I actually like our first 4 games schedule. Texans will be a GREAT test, can we stop the mobile QB? We shall see, then off to TENN, as this game we can try some new things imo, then its the game of games for us, @ Phly... (unfortunately thats an early game for us westerners), but this game will be a great test, and since its so early in season, if we fall flat, we will have ample time to turn things around. Then our 4th game @ home w the Colts, thats a great game to play after Phly (sorry colts).

Again, great write up in showing what some of us have been seeing... IMO, it's taken 2 seasons to get to this point, and we are exactly where I had hoped to be. We rebounded, flushed out the cancers and now truly have a solid WE and not ME team.

LETS GO RAMS BABY!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!! ... 2 WEEKS TO see how our backups look, then 5 weeks till kick off... I am actually so pumped up right now, I am debating to run through a wall and chew off a birds head (in ode to Oz of course)

LETS GO RAMS.

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Great write up and 100% concur.

I think some people are overlooking this Defense. Shula is now in his prime as a coach, as it's taken him a bit longer to get where he is, it also has to be a heavy weight having the last name Shula... some big shoes to fill... but Shula has now proven imo, he is his own man and will make his own mark.

Chris has full control and has built a solid D that hes been wanting for a few years imo. Although I do have some MINOR reservations w our DB's, I think they will do fine. When you have a DL like we do now, that is able to stuff the runs and makes life stressful for any opposing QB, I think not having an Elite DB group is ok. So hopefully our DB wont be the first ones making the tackle on run plays like in season past. Our DL needs to stuff the box, then our LB crew HAS TO be the tacklers.

In all honesty, I cannot WAIT to play the Lions this year, as we know how Jared works, pressure does not bode well for Goff (Sorry Hellram). This DL and LB crew is going to be hungry, as we let that last two Lions games slip through our fingers. Not this season.

I cannot wait to see this DL cook this season.

I actually like our first 4 games schedule. Texans will be a GREAT test, can we stop the mobile QB? We shall see, then off to TENN, as this game we can try some new things imo, then its the game of games for us, @ Phly... (unfortunately thats an early game for us westerners), but this game will be a great test, and since its so early in season, if we fall flat, we will have ample time to turn things around. Then our 4th game @ home w the Colts, thats a great game to play after Phly (sorry colts).

Again, great write up in showing what some of us have been seeing... IMO, it's taken 2 seasons to get to this point, and we are exactly where I had hoped to be. We rebounded, flushed out the cancers and now truly have a solid WE and not ME team.

LETS GO RAMS BABY!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!! ... 2 WEEKS TO see how our backups look, then 5 weeks till kick off... I am actually so pumped up right now, I am debating to run through a wall and chew off a birds head (in ode to Oz of course)

LETS GO RAMS.

I can't wait. They need to knock that little mfer on his ass. Make his quiet. Give him some remember me shots. Make this defense like the 09 Saints.

[therealheadslap75]

good post brook, I think we are very balanced, we have an above average mostly young OL, great receivers and a very good qb(with an extra 1st in 2026 we can get a franchise qb)

our back 6 are not good enough right now to make this a defense dominated team

[DelMar]

our back 6 are not good enough right now to make this a defense dominated team

This is correct above… hence why I think our front 5 will be elite. If we can do this, it puts the pressure off of the back guys. If we can stuff runs, we force them to throw, screens and also roll outs… so if our D backfield can at least play average, we can win a lot of games imo

[DVA_ram33]

Disagree with above 2 posts. Think our back 5 or 6 CB's and Safeties are quiet good. Like I said, Lake is already a star, Kinchens is an excellent prospect who's made plays already, Ahkello and Durant are fine and I got a feeling Forbes is going to be a guy. Don't forget McCullough. Like I said, sneaky good Secondary, and not going all out for Ramsey is another indicator.

Yes i agree.. I think we are going to be good enough for a top 10 defense this year... maybe we break top 5.

Back 5 good enough to get us there imo.

[DelMar]

Disagree with above 2 posts. Think our back 5 or 6 CB's and Safeties are quiet good. Like I said, Lake is already a star, Kinchens is an excellent prospect who's made plays already, Ahkello and Durant are fine and I got a feeling Forbes is going to be a guy. Don't forget McCullough. Like I said, sneaky good Secondary, and not going all out for Ramsey is another indicator.

Man, I sure hope you’re right and I’m wrong. Would absolutely love to be wrong here and see this sneaky goodness

[SheepNoMore]

Disagree with above 2 posts. Think our back 5 or 6 CB's and Safeties are quiet good. Like I said, Lake is already a star, Kinchens is an excellent prospect who's made plays already, Ahkello and Durant are fine and I got a feeling Forbes is going to be a guy. Don't forget McCullough. Like I said, sneaky good Secondary, and not going all out for Ramsey is another indicator.

PFF ranks Rams' secondary 18th. About right. Forbes is a wild card. The rest were part of a secondary that was 13th in 3-down % and 23rd in 4th.

[therealheadslap75]

I think we have an elite front five, and I think it has the potential to be special because we are still very very young

Until we see anything from these linebackers, I think you have to say that we are definitely bottom 10 in linebacking in the NFL

I kind of have to say the same thing about the defensive backfield, as fans we are in an echo chamber and we want to see these guys be exceptional, but we definitely don't have a shut down corner, lake is probably the best player in the defensive backfield and he's certainly not a top 10 safety so we really need to get better in our back six or seven

[Commish]

our back 6 are not good enough right now to make this a defense dominated team

Agreed! At the moment, our team's CBs look mediocre at best and its ILBs are largely unproven.

If there are recurring medical issues at LT and QB which hamstring the Rams offensively this year, I'm not certain that their "D" can save the season... :? ;)

RAM SEASON!!

--The Commish

[GlendoraRam]

What helps this defense is practicing against McVay’s offense.

[DelMar]

I'll be accepting apologies when the Rams are a Top 8 Defense this season.

So, we booking it?

[FelixTheStonerCat]

I think this defense can be better than it was in 2020 and that's saying a lot.

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Young studs always blooming on this D-Line. Bet some forgot about THIS guy. Elite Defensive Front, In-coming...

The more the merrier. Keeps guys fresh and keeps guys going after the QB.

[Bulldawg]

The Falcons just called me and said we could have Morris back...

[DelMar]

The Falcons just called me and said we could have Morris back...

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Here's another guy for our "secondary stinks" crew.

Oh? Idc what anyone says. The biggest question marks on defense were ILB and the secondary. Im not biased and never will be.

[EastBayRamsFan]

Great defenses have great middle linebackers.

We have a bunch of later rounders and UDFA and cast-offs so the jury is still out on this D.

I agree, we could be great for decades if we find a gem in the middle but I have my doubts until proven otherwise.

[Commish]

Great defenses have great middle linebackers.

We have a bunch of later rounders and UDFA and cast-offs so the jury is still out on this D.

I agree, we could be great for decades if we find a gem in the middle but I have my doubts until proven otherwise.

Agreed! I'm recalling Jack 'Hacksaw' Reynolds and his key contribution to the superior Rams' defenses of the mid-to-late 1970s. (Well, "great for decades" is a touch of hyperbole, I would venture.)

Finding a solid MLB/ILB isn't at all easy, then there's the issue of our team deciding to retain his services. Yes, I'm thinking about London Fletcher and Earnest Jones IV.

If/when the Good Guys manage to acquire such a player, let's hope that they will try hard to keep him... :? ;)

RAM SEASON!!

--The Commish

[therealheadslap75]

Mighty brooklyn, I wouldn't be surprised if the linebacking crew and the secondary are much better this year than they were in the past, now while they did pay attention to both, they did not pay attention to either position with high-level currency.

they certainly are hitting the linebacker position with numbers, they signed a serviceable, free agent, they drafted what looks like good player in Paul Jr and they signed UDFA Dolac, I expect the position to improve, but that's only because the position was really really bad last year. I am not saying that McSnead is incapable of surprising us with unheralded gems. But we still have to play this season

[49RH8R]

Good post Brooklyn, you beat me to it. I think the defense will be the story of the year for 2025.

We had SIX rookies on defense last year who started or played meaningful snaps. I've always been high on Tyler Davis so his emergence with Poona Ford will make the DL ridiculous in terms of depth. In a perfect world we'd have another edge rusher but Josiah Stewart could be that guy.

If you believe the hype we will be hugely improved at ILB with Landman and Speights. Atlanta let him go and we only signed him for $1 million so we'll see. Obviously reports have been good so far. Paul can develop for 2026.

I love our safeties and that's not even counting Lake who's a quasi nickel. Kinchens, Curl, McCollough all looked good and 2 were rookies and 1 was new to the team last year. DWill, Durant, Witherspoon are above average as a group. Forbes could be a really nice addition and Lake pulls the secondary together.

The way we played at the end of the season and into the playoffs was impressive. With the added experience and a few additions I only see us being much better than 2024. I'll predict a top 8 defense too.