NFL's Worst Defense ?

[Riverumbbq]

On paper, Rams’ defense looks like one of NFL’s worst right now

Following some big offseason losses, the Rams defense looks unrecognizable right now

www.yahoo.com

 

[Karate61]

Derion Kendrick...

 

[Flatlyner]

Tough to find a worse D on paper right now. The worst defenses on paper right now IMO:

Rams - much worse then last season, outside of Donald and Jones pretty damn unimpressive
Texans - still pretty damn bad
Pats - not great on paper but they always manage to play well
Raiders - bad
Bears - decently improved
Vikings - signed 2 good players so improved
Falcons - believe they will improve in draft, but bad currently
Cards - pretty awful, easily one of worst but they are getting a top 5 pick on defense

I'd put us in the bottom 5 of the league on paper right now.

 

[AvengerRam]

Cameron DaSilva molests collies.

Ask me how the defense looks in July.

 

[PARAM]

Ask me how the defense looks in July.

Exactly! How many fans had the Eagles in the Superbowl this time last year? How many had the Rams 5-12? We lost Von Miller and our pass rush was going to take a hit but picking up Bobby Wagner made Ram fans gush about how we'd stop the run. True we were #11 in YPC and #13 in rushing yards allowed but in 2021 we were #7 and #6 respectively with Troy Fucking Reeder playing ILB! Truth is we (or anybody writing a story on anything) don't know what's going to happen.

According to some end of season ranking Kader Kohou was one of the top 20 CBs in the NFL. 13 GS, 10 PD, 63 solo tackles, 5 TFL, 1 Int, 1 FF. What round was he drafted by Miami? He wasn't. How about Benjamin St. Juste with WFT? 12 GS, 7 PD, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 2 TFL starting on Washington's 7th ranked D. Drafted in the 3rd round (#74) of 2021. Seattle drafted 2 CBs, #109 and #153 and they played a huge roll with that defense. KC drafted 2 CBs at #135 and #253 who played big rolls on that D. Who predicted all that?

People can write whatever enters their mind. Fans can worry and kvetch about how bad the Rams D is going to be in 2023. But the truth is nobody knows. We can only guess. We only have Aaron Donald and the rest of the squad is relatively inexperienced. Ernest Jones and Fuller are the next most experienced defenders. And we have a ton of youth....and more on the way in April. So what's that mean? Nada.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Who's the leader of the DB room now - Fuller or Rapp (if we resign)?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Cameron DaSilva molests collies.

Ask me how the defense looks in July.

Remember it's on paper....it's up to the Rams young players whether that paper is the finest of parchments or just toilet paper with doo doo stains on it hahahaha

 

[Flatlyner]

I feel like we will draft at least 2 starters on defense too, so, it will look better (on paper).

 

[iamme33]

ccording to some end of season ranking Kader Kohou was one of the top 20 CBs in the NFL. 13 GS, 10 PD, 63 solo tackles, 5 TFL, 1 Int, 1 FF. What round was he drafted by Miami? He wasn't. How about Benjamin St. Juste with WFT? 12 GS, 7 PD, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 2 TFL starting on Washington's 7th ranked D. Drafted in the 3rd round (#74) of 2021. Seattle drafted 2 CBs, #109 and #153 and they played a huge roll with that defense. KC drafted 2 CBs at #135 and #253 who played big rolls on that D. Who predicted all that?

yes that list of players shows that it is possible to turn things around with late rnd pick. the only trouble is the only late rnd pick that has become a star that i can think of is cooper cupp. anyway judging from our late rnd picks in the past i am not expecting a lot from our late rnd picks.

 

[Loyal]

"Sometimes a Great Offense is the best defense" ~ @Merlin

 

[Riverumbbq]

All the previous management talk for focusing our draft on the offense is starting to look a bit like a media ploy.
The Rams are losing 3 defensive linemen (Gaines, A'Shawn & Copeland), over the last few months we've also lost 5 OLB's (Floyd, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, Takkarist McKinley & Braydon Thomas. We've lost Wagner at ILB, then Ramsey, David Long, Troy Hill & Grant Haley at CB, and Safeties Nick Scott, Taylor Rapp & Jake Gervase.

 

[Merlin]

"Sometimes a Great Offense is the best defense" ~ @Merlin

How dare you. Defense first. In that way I am a lot like Fish. If my team is bad but I have a strong defense I feel like the loss is easier to stomach. Makes zero sense I am sure to many but it's due to playing defense from Pop Warner to High School.

It's also why I like the run game so much. Because my worst days on the field were when the other team was running it and we knew the run was coming but could not stop it. In one particular game the opposing OL was telling us where the run was coming and we couldn't stop it. We lost huge that day boy.

 

[RamBall]

If, and its a BIG IF, the O can put up points it will help the D. IMO if the O can put up 30+ pts Morris will be able to play a more aggressive D and teams will be forced to pass the ball. McVay said several times last season that the soft D was what the staff decide was the best approach to win games. IMO this was because the O could not be counted on to score quickly and often.

 

[oldnotdead]

Sounds like Morris is making sure he has a built in excuse. "The players made me play defense like a marshmellow" What does he mean on paper? They went from 1 to 18 in two years with the same personnel. Only thing different was the DC. Why waste cap money when Morris isn't going to play to his players strengths. Morris is just fine with a mediocre defense. He's had one everywhere he's been. A mediocre defense for a mediocre DC.

He had one of the best man coverage CBs in the NFL and he played him in soft zone lined up 10+ yards off the LOS. He has a HOF GOAT DT in Donald and he plays soft zone allowing the QBs to dump off the passes before he can get to them. They only have one edge in Floyd, but he puts him in coverage on passing downs. Maybe you guys don't see it but I certainly do.

At this point I blame McVay for keeping him because he's his friend. Morris is who he is, a mediocre DC who plays scared. McVay is okay with that so this is on Sean from now on.

 

[AvengerRam]

Is this the worst cake ever?

 

[ottoman89]

Is this the worst cake ever?

That one actually looks pretty damn good

 

[PARAM]

yes that list of players shows that it is possible to turn things around with late rnd pick. the only trouble is the only late rnd pick that has become a star that i can think of is cooper cupp. anyway judging from our late rnd picks in the past i am not expecting a lot from our late rnd picks.

Why do they have to become "stars"? I'm simply saying we could have 2 CBs already on the roster who will develop into solid CBs this year. If we draft a stud, we could have 3. We don't need solid. The Cooper Kupp's are far and few between as are the 6th round Tom Brady's. But Kupp was not a "late round pick". 3rd is not late. Late is 5th on down. And even then, Snead has found some solids there. Fuller, SJD and Scott. Hell Skowronek has outperformed his draft slot. We need "solid", we don't need stars because after all, stars command huge jack.

 

[oldnotdead]

How good this defense is will be dependent upon Aubrey Pleasant. If he coaches the DBs up to play aggressively then a Tampa Two can work. The Bucs ran it and it worked for them. But the key is to play aggressively. The DBs must read and anticipate route concepts. One of the LBs must have the speed and the skills to cover. I think Snead will have to draft for that.

They have good speed outside if they play Durant and Rochell. If Fuller can return to form he can play the middle zone a two deep shell needs. He's shown he can read route concepts. Lake and Yeast have under 4.6 speed which is enough for a two-deep shell. Hoecht should provide them with one edge (DE). Hardy can play the JACk but needs experience. That IMO is where Snead will draft for. Brown and Murchison will play in rotation to replace Gaines. Brown early downs to stop the run and Murchison to play on passing downs. AD will always be AD.

The offense is basically set with their skill players. They simply need to sort out the OL but they do have talent there. Jackson is the ultimate swing OL as he can play all positions except center. Shelton can play all interior OL positions.

LT Noteboom / Jackson
LG Thomas
C Allen / Shelton
RG Bruss
RT Havenstein / Jackson

Swing OG Brewer

If the OL stays healthy they can be pretty good. Thomas is unproven but he certainly looked good at SDSU. The same can be said about Bruss. If either one isn't ready to start then Shelton and Brewer can play OG. Brewer played almost 230 snaps last year and though there were times he struggled he didn't give up any sacks. It was his first offensive snaps so he's a work in progress. He should be better this year. I think coach Wendell can help guys like Brewer, Thomas and Bruss. As a former player he knows what they need to expect and do. I expect improved play and fewer injuries on the OL this year.

This roster is better than most fans and especially the media know.

 

[Riverumbbq]

If the OL stays healthy they can be pretty good. Thomas is unproven but he certainly looked good at SDSU. The same can be said about Bruss. If either one isn't ready to start then Shelton and Brewer can play OG. Brewer played almost 230 snaps last year and though there were times he struggled he didn't give up any sacks. It was his first offensive snaps so he's a work in progress. He should be better this year. I think coach Wendell can help guys like Brewer, Thomas and Bruss. As a former player he knows what they need to expect and do. I expect improved play and fewer injuries on the OL this year.

This roster is better than most fans and especially the media know.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

On paper, Rams’ defense looks like one of NFL’s worst right now

Following some big offseason losses, the Rams defense looks unrecognizable right now

www.yahoo.com

I can’t see it being good. The secondary will be very inexperienced, especially at safety.

The DLine is likely to be a swivel in the run game

The Rams defense is going to be gashed next year.