Back-to-back dominant outings from the Los Angeles Rams’ defense has caught the eyes of many and put them in the thick of the NFC West race. Los Angeles, at 5-2, limited the Baltimore Ravens to only three points and shut down the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, allowing just seven points.
Second-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula has done an admirable job of putting his guys in the best position to succeed and has his squad playing elite defense. After seven weeks, the Rams have limited opposing offenses to just 16.7 points per game, second-best in the NFL.
Vital to the unit’s success, Los Angeles’ talented group up front has been stout against the run. Limiting talented running backs all year long, the Rams held Saquon Barkley to 46 yards and Christian McCaffrey to 57. The front-seven also knows how to get after the quarterback and cause mayhem, sacking Trevor Lawrence seven times last week.
While the defensive side of the ball is filled with skilled athletes at multiple positions, some guys have stood out more than others.
Linebackers Byron Young and Jared Verse have stepped up and become big playmakers. Entering his second season, Verse is off to a hot start with four sacks and three forced fumbles. Tied for first in the NFL, Young has nine sacks and is on the cusp of making history. He has recorded at least half a sack in nine straight games, dating back to last year and is two games shy of the NFL’s longest streak, 11.
In the trenches, defensive tackle Poona Ford’s addition over the offseason has proven to be an extremely impactful one. Ford has helped elevate the Rams’ defense and is a pivotal piece against the run game.
If one thing is for sure, it’s that the Rams know how to take the football away. A defense with a magnet for the football, the Rams are among the top of the league in takeaways and lead the NFL in fumbles with six.
Despite a secondary with multiple holes, safety Quentin Lake has been a bright spot. Lake is fourth in the NFL in pass deflections with nine and has shown signs of flashes. Los Angeles will look to mesh together a formidable defense against both the pass and run with tough matchups against Seattle, San Francisco and Detroit coming up.
While much of the national media projected that the Rams defense would rank among the bottom of the league before the season, it’s safe to say that they’ve been proven wrong.
If the Rams defense can keep this performance up, Los Angeles will be a tough team to stop. The offensive side of the ball has plenty of talent to be successful with Matthew Stafford at the helm and a strong wide out room. Paired with a dominant defense, Los Angeles could be eyeing more than just an NFC West title.
The Rams are on a bye this week and next take on the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 1.