Pro Football Focus ranks Los Angeles Rams run defense second-worst in NFL

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BonifayRam

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Pro Football Focus ranks Los Angeles Rams run defense second-worst in NFL

Ouch.

By 3k@3k_ Jul 16, 2019, 9:44am CDT

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Los Angeles Rams DL Aaron Donald tackles Seattle Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise in Week 10, Nov. 11, 2018.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
31. Los Angeles Rams

Run defense is more about having few weaknesses than it is about having playmakers. So even the Rams have one of the NFL’s best disruptors against the run in Aaron Donald, they are a liability to get gashed this upcoming season. Dante Fowler (61.2), Cory Littleton (42.1), Samson Ebukam (67.1), Michael Brockers (68.2) and Clay Matthews (64.3) are all coming off rough seasons in run defense.

That’s Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner ranking the Rams’ run defense second-worst in the NFL heading into 2019.

It’s not the most unfair ranking as uncomfortable as it may be.

The Rams were dead last year in yards per rush allowed. Football Outsiders ranked our run defense 27th. So it’s not as if there’s no merit to Renner’s ranking.

The Rams did, though, benefit from an exceptional offense that limited the opposition’s ability to commit to the run over the course of the game. Because the Rams were able to get points on the board early and often, it pressured teams to keep up with the pass.

Still, it’s a legitimate concern heading into this year especially with the losses of DL Ndamukong Suh, LB Mark Barron and S Lamarcus Joyner. The clear hope is that the additions of LB Clay Matthews and S Eric Weddle along with the new additions through the draft, chiefly DL Greg Gaines, along with any maturation of players throughout the defense who might contribute more (ILB Micah Kiser, DL John Franklin-Myers) might not only offset those losses but help Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips improve the defense’s performance on the ground.

 

Loyal

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Ridiculous.. It's like judging a new improved model car, by the performance of the previous year's superceded model. Suh was a regular season liability in stopping the run, imo. Look how much the defense tightened up when it came down to win or die? Suh was much more diligent about not going for the flashy sack instead of being gap responsible in the playoffs.

Greg Gaines and John Franklin Meyers are not looking for flashy sack numbers for some monster new contract by next year. For sure, there was a regular season Suh and a playoff Suh. We have upgrades with the FA's in the backfield who are thumpers. Mark Barron has played out of position for years and couldn't thump a runner as could a heavier guy.

This is what drives me crazy about just making predictions about the next season because of the previous year's stats...
 
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bubbaramfan

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Meh, it is what it is. I have no doubt the Rams will get gashed by the run often enough, bend but not break, but the offense will more than keep up
 

Ram65

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Surprisingly, in another article Suh was listed with around 80 run grade. Don't have time look for the link. The Rams didn't always jump out to big leads last year.

With all the passing getting attention offenses can catch defense for some nice long runs. Lot's of teams with a 4.5 YPC or better. I think Wade is going to emphasize the run defense more this year. Kiser might be able to help in the middle. Surprised Littleton was graded so low but, it was his first year as a starter. A healthy Brockers with JFM, Gaines, SJD and Morgan Fox should be able to rotate to stay fresh. They all need to tackle better and keep gap responsibilities. Look for Wade to make stopping the run a team effort.
 

Akrasian

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Even the additions that don't figure to be stellar against the run (Matthews, for instance) are likely to be improvements against the run compared to who they are replacing. I really expect Gaines to be the stout guy in the middle who doesn't freelance that the Rams have needed - with depth behind him who will do the same thing. While I think they should have had a real competition with Kiser, he'll be an upgrade against the run at least. But of course, this is PFF's rankings, and they do not always attribute the success of a defense to the right players anyway.
 

bluecoconuts

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Man according to all these articles the Rams are a shitty team.

Post em up in the locker room for fuel boys.
 

Karate61

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Our run defense sucked last year...AND the year before that too!
 

CGI_Ram

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PFF ranks all 32 run defenses ahead of the 2019 NFL season

It’s rankings season here at PFF as camps are rapidly approaching. We dropped our offensive line rankings last week and now we turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball. These are our evaluations of the relative run defenses around the league.

31. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Run defense is more about having few weaknesses than it is about having playmakers. So even the Rams have one of the NFL’s best disruptors against the run in Aaron Donald, they are a liability to get gashed this upcoming season. Dante Fowler (61.2), Cory Littleton (42.1), Samson Ebukam (67.1), Michael Brockers (68.2) and Clay Matthews (64.3) are all coming off rough seasons in run defense.

The full list;

https://www.pff.com/news/pro-pff-ra...jaff&cjevent=b146105da7e911e9834f00d30a240614
 

Crazy-Legs

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I think Kiser is going to be the key on D in regards to our run defense. In college he flew all over the field. IMO one of our biggest issue has been LB's filling the gaps on running plays. We just haven't had that guy that can identify the play and hit the hole with authority. I'm hoping Kiser will be that guy...

Outside containment has also been an issue. In the 3-4 we just don't have that stout DE to hold the end of the line. Our LB's can get manhandled on the outside. Hopefully Mathews, Fowler and co. will be able to shed blocks on the outside and make tackles...