Big question about Rams defensive needs

[Kupped]

What's their "base" defense?

They've purged their roster and have no Edge players on the current roster that fit the mold of their previous group. Hoecht is built like a 4-3 end.. you could argue Jonah Williams could play there on first downs.
Hardy is more athlete than pure rush guy.. but is he someone who can set an edge?

My point is that maybe they're looking to be more of a 4-3 type front on first downs? Hoecht, Donald, Brown and Williams or, perhaps, a late and inexpensive vet.. or rookie?

Will McDonald and BJ Olujari are both too light in the pants to be counted on to set the edge.. but could probably have some impact on passing downs as rookies.

As others have pointed out in other threads... the Rams division has two teams that are going to run the ball A LOT. We know more teams are going to try running to attack the "light boxes" approach.. that was the counter last year.

The team could go in multiple directions and I just wonder what the plan is, going into next season.

 

[snackdaddy]

Bend don't break. Give ten yard cushions to protect the inexperienced guys from getting beat deep. I suppose teams won't have to use quick passes to negate the pass rush.

 

[Kupped]

Bend don't break. Give ten yard cushions to protect the inexperienced guys from getting beat deep. I suppose teams won't have to use quick passes to negate the pass rush.

I wonder what they're trying to build.

I think the secondary model is going to be based on what Cincinnati has done, but we'll see.

I really like Durant, but don't want to see them draft anyone else like him.. need more physicality in the secondary. Who knows.. 2012 they got a damn good pair of corners in 2nd and third rounds.

Safety is such a huge question.. can Fuller stay healthy? I kinda like Yeast and Lake.

Back to the front.. I think Hoecht can provide a decent measure of pressure.. Of course there's Donald.

After that? Going to have to manufacture it, imo.

 

[blackbart]

What's their "base" defense?

They've purged their roster and have no Edge players on the current roster that fit the mold of their previous group. Hoecht is built like a 4-3 end.. you could argue Jonah Williams could play there on first downs.
Hardy is more athlete than pure rush guy.. but is he someone who can set an edge?

My point is that maybe they're looking to be more of a 4-3 type front on first downs? Hoecht, Donald, Brown and Williams or, perhaps, a late and inexpensive vet.. or rookie?

Will McDonald and BJ Olujari are both too light in the pants to be counted on to set the edge.. but could probably have some impact on passing downs as rookies.

As others have pointed out in other threads... the Rams division has two teams that are going to run the ball A LOT. We know more teams are going to try running to attack the "light boxes" approach.. that was the counter last year.

The team could go in multiple directions and I just wonder what the plan is, going into next season.

Great question.

Could they go with a 6 man front more often and drop someone in coverage from that? Still run 4 DBs and just Jones in the middle?

With so many holes to fill, it’s really had to say what they will be. Any mention of things in OTAs? I’ve only heard “figuring out what we are going to be” from Stafford.

 

[NCRamGuy]

We need a hybrid style player for our system and a bend don't break is probably the best we can get.

hope the Rams snag Johnasthan Sutherland from Penn State, dude is built for that kind of role.

 

[Memphis Ram]

If I recall correctly, @BonifayRam pointed out that much of the DLine talent on the roster now seemed geared toward a 4-3 base. When they moved on from Floyd, I assumed that would be the plan. But, then McVay hired his buddy to be OLB coach and that thought died.

 

[Malibu]

I will say it again and please remember this post we are going to get slaughtered in the secondary. Durant is our CB 1 he hardly got on the field last year. Too light multiple injuries. The Safeties are inexperienced, Kendricks is terrible our all pro corner is gone, our #2 and #4 corners are gone as well as both starting safeties.

With no outside rush currently and no group to stop the run with Wagner, Gaines, Floyd and AShawn gone the secondary will need to hold up longer and they already are the most inexperienced group on the roster minus the ST and that's only because all 4 STs players are gone. No rookie will be a savior just look at the rookies last year to give you an indication.

Our defense will be horrible absolutely horrible and it starts I guess with our putrid secondary but others could make a case for our lack of run D or our thin DL yikes this is going to be a very long season.

 

[Kupped]

I have no idea how bad it will be.
I think assuming it will be awful is completely fair… but I can hope!

 

[rdlkgliders]

I imagine Morris will tweak his scheme to the personnel, he can be quite creative in his approach.
I feel like we need depth at Safety and CB maybe even a starter at safety. Lots of needs without the assets to match.
If you get to the QB you can be a little thinner on the backend or vice versa but as of now we don't have strength in either area.
I think post-draft we will see some short-term contract hole fillers with upside added to the D but feel like going into the draft they want a clean slate to draft the best player at a needed position and then address needs by priority in FA. I believe this along with the Cap is the reason for us not going outside of the organization for players, so far.

 

[dang]

Will the 2023 Rams defense be bad with little hope of improving -or- will the 2023 Rams defense be inexperienced, take some serious lumps but improve over the year and be 1-2 players from being very good on 2024. I believe in the latter vs the former. Time will tell but that’s what we as Rams fans are going to be subjected to in 2023. There are Too many holes to be a good defense in 2023. So here’s hoping Durant, EJ, BBrown, Fuller, key rookies step in and are up to the challenge.

 

[Memphis Ram]

If the offense scores like it used to forcing defenses to be more predictable it will help.

Besides, I have my doubts the Rams aren't going to bring in any veterans once the compensatory deadline date passes.

The team only won 5 games with Ramsey, Robinson, Gaines, Floyd, etc...

 

[PARAM]

What's their "base" defense?

They've purged their roster and have no Edge players on the current roster that fit the mold of their previous group. Hoecht is built like a 4-3 end.. you could argue Jonah Williams could play there on first downs.
Hardy is more athlete than pure rush guy.. but is he someone who can set an edge?

My point is that maybe they're looking to be more of a 4-3 type front on first downs? Hoecht, Donald, Brown and Williams or, perhaps, a late and inexpensive vet.. or rookie?

Will McDonald and BJ Olujari are both too light in the pants to be counted on to set the edge.. but could probably have some impact on passing downs as rookies.

As others have pointed out in other threads... the Rams division has two teams that are going to run the ball A LOT. We know more teams are going to try running to attack the "light boxes" approach.. that was the counter last year.

The team could go in multiple directions and I just wonder what the plan is, going into next season.

Great post. Perhaps what they do in the draft will give some indication of what their base will be. Will it be a 4-3, 3-4, a hybrid of both? A Chameleon? I don't know what that last one is....just liked the sound of it.

 

[FarNorth]

Great post. Perhaps what they do in the draft will give some indication of what their base will be. Will it be a 4-3, 3-4, a hybrid of both? A Chameleon? I don't know what that last one is....just liked the sound of it.

The D is a black box at this point in time. We'll know more next week, but imo won't have a real answer till we see them on the field in a game that counts.

 

[OldSchool]

When Morris had a pass rusher other than AD who could create by himself and had more than one corner who could reliably cover he was more aggressive. I'd like to think this is the direction we go with the draft and the remainder of the off season. Otherwise it will be another frustrating year watching the D.

 

[Ramrasta]

I will say it again and please remember this post we are going to get slaughtered in the secondary. Durant is our CB 1 he hardly got on the field last year. Too light multiple injuries. The Safeties are inexperienced, Kendricks is terrible our all pro corner is gone, our #2 and #4 corners are gone as well as both starting safeties.

With no outside rush currently and no group to stop the run with Wagner, Gaines, Floyd and AShawn gone the secondary will need to hold up longer and they already are the most inexperienced group on the roster minus the ST and that's only because all 4 STs players are gone. No rookie will be a savior just look at the rookies last year to give you an indication.

Our defense will be horrible absolutely horrible and it starts I guess with our putrid secondary but others could make a case for our lack of run D or our thin DL yikes this is going to be a very long season.

You are absolutely correct. With all our experienced players removed from the secondary and all our decent DL outside of Donald on new teams, the defense will not be able to cover or pressure effectively.

However, this was completely by design. The front office is mailing this season in. They haven’t even tried to hide their focus already being on 2024. They are positioning for a top 5 pick in the draft as a bonus.

 

[Angry Ram]

IDK if teams play base 43 or 34 all too much these days. Seems to be mostly nickel and dime hybrids to counter the 3 WR sets offenses are doing + having pass rushers move all around....which in turn why positions like MLB/ILB, NT, SS are becoming less important.

 

[dieterbrock]

Besides, I have my doubts the Rams aren't going to bring in any veterans once the compensatory deadline date passes.

With what they've lost, are the Rams even looking at getting a comp pick? Other than Gay, has anyone signed a remotely large deal?

 

[Flatlyner]

With what they've lost, are the Rams even looking at getting a comp pick? Other than Gay, has anyone signed a remotely large deal?

Yeah, they aren't due a lot of comp picks because of the really low contracts their guys signed. I assumed at least Baker would get a decent 1 year deal, but he signed a back up QB contract when, it appears, he is the starter in TB. Screws us, but oh well. I think it was more about not having any cap space this year to sign anyone, rather then waiting until comp period is over. Also, guys signed after draft tend to come cheaper and we will know where we need the help after the draft.