New Defense - Ongoing season discussion

[kurtfaulk]

.

Well, the defense gave it everything they had but tackling let them down again.

Getting 7 sacks against that Eagles line is amazing. It's the only thing that kept the Rams in the game.

But, this d will go down in Rams infamy.

Biggest rushing game against the Rams ever in regular season - Barkley, 255 yards, week 12, 24/25.

Biggest rushing game against the Rams ever in playoff history - Barkley, 205 yards, divisional round, 24/25.

.

 

[Kupped]

.

Well, the defense gave it everything they had but tackling let them down again.

Getting 7 sacks against that Eagles line is amazing. It's the only thing that kept the Rams in the game.

But, this d will go down in Rams infamy.

Biggest rushing game against the Rams ever in regular season - Barkley, 255 yards, week 12, 24/25.

Biggest rushing game against the Rams ever in playoff history - Barkley, 205 yards, divisional round, 24/25.

.

16 sacks in two playoff games. 3 out of last four games holding teams under 10.

It won't go down in infamy for me. I watched the game.

 

[DzRams]

16 sacks in two playoff games. 3 out of last four games holding teams under 10.

It won't go down in infamy for me. I watched the game.

Agreed!

It's clear at this point that the defense, surprisingly, ended the year as a better unit than the offense.

Both units need work but the D has no reason to hang their heads.

 

[kurtfaulk]

16 sacks in two playoff games. 3 out of last four games holding teams under 10.

It won't go down in infamy for me. I watched the game.

Yeah, we watched the games but years from now when people look at the record books that won't matter.

Take it for what it is. Don't look for any deeper meaning.

.

 

[Ramstien]

This defense is a run stopping thumper ILBer and a shutdown CB away from truly special.

 

[ottoman89]

This defense is a run stopping thumper ILBer and a shutdown CB away from truly special.

Bring Jalen back?

 

[ottoman89]

I was as hard as ANYONE on Chris Shula early in the season.

And I'm absolutely man enough to admit I was dead wrong, and that I fucking love Chris Shula. I'm so glad he's not being brought up in HC searches, I want him around a few years.

What he turned this incredibly young Defense into is immaculate. We're a bonafide CB, S, and ILB away from ELITE levels.

I'm honestly shocked at how great he turned the defense into. I'm not sure there's many if any other DCs that could've done it.

 

[Kupped]

I was as hard as ANYONE on Chris Shula early in the season.

And I'm absolutely man enough to admit I was dead wrong, and that I fucking love Chris Shula. I'm so glad he's not being brought up in HC searches, I want him around a few years.

What he turned this incredibly young Defense into is immaculate. We're a bonafide CB, S, and ILB away from ELITE levels.

I'm honestly shocked at how great he turned the defense into. I'm not sure there's many if any other DCs that could've done it.

The number of coverage sacks created in the last couple of weeks is very interesting.. how much of that was Darnold and Hurts? How much was what the secondary doing confusing them?

Either way.. you could see the defense growing toward the end of the season... and, with so many of them returning... I look forward to seeing what's next.

 

[DzRams]

Bring Jalen back?

Sign DJ Reed in free agency.

 

[Ellard80]

People thinking and inside linebacker is going to be an answer for Barkley are making me chuckle.

There aren't any linebackers that stand a chance against him if he gets past the dline.

Rozeboom is a JAG but Becton is like 7ft tall 400 lbs - no linebacker is outmuscling that man one on one. A faster guy maybe jukes him but even with that Barkley is a blur at that point.

 

[ottoman89]

The number of coverage sacks created in the last couple of weeks is very interesting.. how much of that was Darnold and Hurts? How much was what the secondary doing confusing them?

Either way.. you could see the defense growing toward the end of the season... and, with so many of them returning... I look forward to seeing what's next.

NEED a big physical corner. I'd cut DWill and bring back both COBIE and AK-44 while bringing in the biggest, baddest CB. ALSO bring in a S and competition for Lake (far from sold on him).

 

[Ellard80]

The defense came a long way and most of us would probably say we have confidence and hope in this unit moving forward.

We still need a few pieces - a run stopping DT, better CB and another LB

 

[Kupped]

NEED a big physical corner. I'd cut DWill and bring back both COBIE and AK-44 while bringing in the biggest, baddest CB. ALSO bring in a S and competition for Lake (far from sold on him).

This is where I'm at on corner. I think Lake is a solid player and fits in the, "hey, if you lucked into someone better in late rounds, great.. but he doesn't need to be replaced" category.

 

[Merlin]

This defense is a run stopping thumper ILBer and a shutdown CB away from truly special.

I would add one more DT (an oversized snot bubbler at that) to your list. Feed that defensive front so they can dominate vs run and pass, not just the pass.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I wonder who they are going to lose in free agency. Especially with Raheem Morris out there needing help.

 

[Kupped]

I’ve downplayed the ILB issues… but.. yeah.. upgrading is probably a need more than a want.
I can only imagine how good the D could be with upgrades at ILB and corner.

 

[Jacobarch]

I was as hard as ANYONE on Chris Shula early in the season.

And I'm absolutely man enough to admit I was dead wrong, and that I fucking love Chris Shula. I'm so glad he's not being brought up in HC searches, I want him around a few years.

What he turned this incredibly young Defense into is immaculate. We're a bonafide CB, S, and ILB away from ELITE levels.

I'm honestly shocked at how great he turned the defense into. I'm not sure there's many if any other DCs that could've done it.

Agreed, I shit all over shula this year at certain points of the season but he turned the ship around and got this unit playing to the top of it's potential.

I'd replace Safety with a big fatty of a DT in the middle of the Defense. Other than that I think you're spot on.

 

[Jacobarch]

I’ve downplayed the ILB issues… but.. yeah.. upgrading is probably a need more than a want.
I can only imagine how good the D could be with upgrades at ILB and corner.

I think it's time the Roseboom plays backup and ST. He's serviceable but I think we saw what he is, a decent player with very telling limitations. I admire his heart and passion but he takes too many bad angles for my liking.

 

[bubbaramfan]

They can sack, but struggle tackling and giving up big run plays, due mostly by over running the play or not maintaining their lane.
That all can be fixed.

 

[DzRams]

This defense is a run stopping thumper ILBer and a shutdown CB away from truly special.

I'd like to do what the Eagles did in the 2024 draft. They drafted Mitchell and DeJean and paired them with Slay to form a dominant secondary.

If we brought in DJ Reed and Jahdae Barron, the D could be special.