The 2020 Rams Defense

[RamsOfCastamere]

The defense won't be as good this year, we should accept that, but the offensive improvement should supplement whatever drop off we experience there and then some.

Won't is a strong word. Why not? We have the best interior pass rusher, a top 5 All-Pro corner, DL and saftety depth, and young corners and lbs that are now more experienced. Being a top 5 defense next year is a realistic goal, and if that's realistic then it's possible they gel and repeat as the top defense.

 

[Ram65]

8 things to know about new Rams DC Raheem Morris

This won’t be the first time Sean McVay and Raheem Morris will have worked together.

theramswire.usatoday.com

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8 things to know about new Rams DC Raheem Morris​

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Cameron DaSilva

January 21, 2021 3:10 pm PT

For the second straight offseason, the Los Angeles Rams were left searching for a defensive coordinator. And for the second straight year, Sean McVay opted to bring in an outside candidate rather than hiring from within.
He landed on Raheem Morris as his next defensive coordinator, replacing Brandon Staley at the helm of the league’s No. 1-ranked defense. Morris was the Falcons’ defensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2020 but was not retained on a permanent basis.
Here are eight things to know about the Rams’ new defensive coordinator.

1​

He’s coached alongside Sean McVay before​

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Morris and McVay have crossed paths before, and not just once, but twice. They first worked on the same staff in 2008 with the Buccaneers when McVay was the assistant WRs coach and Morris coached the defensive backs. After three years on separate staffs, the two came together again in Washington. McVay was the tight ends coach and offensive coordinator, with Morris on the other side of the ball as the secondary coach.
They have built a connection over the years and with the Rams, they’ll work more closely than ever. Their past relationship was surely a factor in McVay’s decision to hire Morris, and this is a show of confidence in the 44-year-old coach.

2​

Played safety and got his coaching start at Hofstra​

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Before getting into coaching, Morris was a safety at Hofstra University back when they had a football team. He played there from 1994-1997 and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1998.
Morris didn’t go on to play in the NFL, but immediately after graduating, he worked as a graduate assistant at Hofstra. He then coached Cornell’s defensive backs for a year before returning to his Alma Mater as Hofstra’s DBs coach and special teams assistant from 2000-2001.

3​

Brings plenty of experience, but not as a coordinator​

(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Morris brings with him to the Rams 18 years of NFL coaching experience. He spent time with the Bucs, Washington and Falcons, holding roles such as defensive quality control coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Morris was the Buccaneers’ head coach from 2009-2011, his only stint as a full-time head coach. Despite being a head coach in four separate seasons, Morris has only been an NFL defensive coordinator once: in 2020.
He was the Falcons’ DC before being promoted to interim head coach. His experience as a defensive play caller is limited, which is important to note as he takes on this role with the Rams.

4​

Spent four years coaching Julio Jones and the Falcons’ WRs​

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Morris is obviously a defensive coach, but he has experience on the offensive side of the ball. From 2016-2019, Morris was the Falcons’ wide receivers coach, working with the likes of Jones and Calvin Ridley.
He won’t be coaching the wideouts in L.A., but those four years as the wide receivers coach could give him a different perspective when it comes to coaching the Rams defense.

5​

Defensive backs are his forte​

(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Being a former safety himself, most of Morris’ experience in coaching is in the secondary. He coached the defensive backs for several years in Tampa Bay and did the same in Washington for three years. While with the Falcons, he was also the pass game coordinator.
So game planning against opposing passing attacks is in his blood, which bodes well for the Rams. He’ll inherit a secondary that features Jalen Ramsey, likely Darious Williams, Jordan Fuller and possibly John Johnson. There shouldn’t be much drop-off in the Rams secondary under Morris.

6​

Falcons ranked 29th in yards, 19th in points last season​

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
It was not a good season for the Falcons in 2020, especially on defense. They finished the year 29th in yards allowed and 19th in defensive scoring, struggling to slow down many of the offenses they faced. But the unit did improve after Morris was promoted to interim head coach.
After allowing at least 30 points in four of the Falcons’ first five games under Dan Quinn, they gave up more than 30 points just twice under Morris in the final 11 games. They still finished last in passing yards allowed, but that was with a secondary that can’t match the talent that Los Angeles has.
Still, there was a lot still to be desired from the Falcons defense under Morris.

7​

Learned different schemes under Dan Quinn and Jon Gruden​

(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Morris worked longest under Quinn and Gruden and in doing so, he deployed multiple schemes. Under Gruden in Tampa Bay, the Bucs primarily used a Tampa 2 scheme that called for a lot of zone coverages with two deep safeties. In Atlanta under Quinn, the Falcons ran a lot of Cover 3 and single-high looks.
Neither of those fit exactly what the Rams ran this past season under Brandon Staley. They utilized a lot of zone, but it was primarily quarters coverage with four defenders dropping back deep to limit big plays.
Morris’ track record of working in multiple schemes should make for an easy transition from Staley to Morris.

8​

Not afraid to blitz​

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Morris and the Falcons blitzed a good amount last season, though not as much as teams like the Ravens and Dolphins. According to Pro Football Reference, they blitzed 32.8% of the time in 2020, which was 12th-most in the NFL. The Rams, for comparison, blitzed only 27.3% of the time, 19th in the league.
Expect the Rams to blitz more than they did this season with Morris calling the plays, and with an elite secondary in coverage, it should make for an aggressive style of defense.

 

[Ram65]

I expect Morris to keep the same concepts on defense that Staley used. It worked so well that why not build on top of it this year. One thing that I understand Staley did last year is he would disguise the coverages. Morris has a strong background as a DB coach which plays well in understanding how Staley's defense worked. Offenses always try to catch up on defenses and vice-a-versa. Morris can add some twists to the defense to keep the offenses from anticipating tendencies.

Should Stafford play as expected the Rams offense will help the Rams defense by scoring earlier and more often. I expect another strong defensive showing this year from the Rams. I expect Morris to continue trying to stop the run as that has been the Rams Achilles heal in the recent past. The Rams are in a position to replace the lost players from last year's defense including JJ, Hill, Brockers, and Fox.

So far the Rams players seem to enjoy Morris's coaching style. It's reported that he is personable. easy going to a point but, stern in getting his message across. The biggest endorsement is from McVay himself. Having coached together in the past on two occasions it's safe to say McVay knows what he is getting from Morris. Having a great rapport with Morris may allow McVay could lead to a collaboration between the two. Either way, look for the Rams defense to pick up where they left off last year. They should remain in the top tier of NFL defenses.

 

[Neil039]

I’ll ditto one of my previous posts about Morris and the Defense…..


”All Morris has to do is not “F” this up”

 

[kurtfaulk]

I know Staley deserves a lot of credit, but I have a feeling McVay had a bigger hand in the defense than we realize. McVay is turning into a control freak. And very demanding. Which is fine with me. He's as smart as it gets when it comes to football.

You mean Staley is the Rams version of Romeo Crennel?

I'd laugh my arse off if the Chargers fall flat on their face.

.

 

[snackdaddy]

You mean Staley is the Rams version of Romeo Crennel?

I'd laugh my arse off if the Chargers fall flat on their face.

.

As far as former McVay assistants, I have to wonder how successful they will be. Quite a few Belichick assistants fell flat as head coaches. Crennel, Patricia and Josh Daniels. Charlie Weis wasn't a head coach in the NFL but he had a losing record as a college coach.

LaFleur and Taylor are head coaches. Waldron is an OC. Those books are yet to be written. LaFleur inherited a Hall of Fame quarterback. But he did his job and won 13 games both seasons. Taylor inherited a bad team. Hasn't turned them around yet. Some Seahawk fans think Pete Carroll hired Waldron to be his yes man.

 

[majrleaged]

I expect Morris to keep the same concepts on defense that Staley used. It worked so well that why not build on top of it this year. One thing that I understand Staley did last year is he would disguise the coverages. Morris has a strong background as a DB coach which plays well in understanding how Staley's defense worked. Offenses always try to catch up on defenses and vice-a-versa. Morris can add some twists to the defense to keep the offenses from anticipating tendencies.

Should Stafford play as expected the Rams offense will help the Rams defense by scoring earlier and more often. I expect another strong defensive showing this year from the Rams. I expect Morris to continue trying to stop the run as that has been the Rams Achilles heal in the recent past. The Rams are in a position to replace the lost players from last year's defense including JJ, Hill, Brockers, and Fox.

So far the Rams players seem to enjoy Morris's coaching style. It's reported that he is personable. easy going to a point but, stern in getting his message across. The biggest endorsement is from McVay himself. Having coached together in the past on two occasions it's safe to say McVay knows what he is getting from Morris. Having a great rapport with Morris may allow McVay could lead to a collaboration between the two. Either way, look for the Rams defense to pick up where they left off last year. They should remain in the top tier of NFL defenses.

I would hope that while McVay is familiar with Morris and likes his coaching style, Morris would have to agree to not fix what isn't broken. A tweak here and there, but only as needed. My take is McVay is big on coaching his players up. Making sure they are well versed in the concepts and having guys play disciplined. That is what we need from Morris. If that is Morris than we shouldn't see much of a drop in the D.