SB LVI: Los Angeles Rams Defense Breakdown
Ahead of one of the most highly anticipated events in professional sports, Rams’ defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has gathered his own cast of stars just outside of Hollywood.
The vastly talented Los Angeles defense has been an impenetrable force this postseason en route to a Super Bowl LVI appearance, shutting down some of the league’s most potent offensive superstars.
That goes without saying that this unit has worked through a plethora of roadblocks along the way. At a point this season, all signs were pointing to another disappointing collapse in L.A., with the Rams losing three consecutive games and allowing 28 points or more in each contest.
Despite a lineup highlighted by All-Pros Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and a newly acquired Von Miller, all hope was seemingly lost for a championship run in a highly competitive NFC.
However, when the lights came on, the stars of L.A. made their awaited return to their rightful stage.
In the Wild Card round, the Rams’ defense righted the ship, allowing just one touchdown in a 34-11 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals.
The pass-rushing duo of Miller and Donald terrorized Kyler Murray, holding the dual-threat quarterback to a total of 143 yards and no scores. Murray tossed a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six to David Long Jr.
A divisional round matchup against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved to be a more daunting challenge, but a couple of takeaways provided Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense with enough opportunities to seal the deal.
Brady tossed one pick and was sacked on three occasions, including a strip sack by Miller late in the game that slowed down a late Tampa Bay surge.
Due to a slew of injuries in the secondary, safety Eric Weddle was forced to play a majority of snaps on the back end. The 37-year-old had recently come out of retirement for a final postseason run and was playing pickup basketball to stay in shape.
In the conference championship against the San Francisco 49ers, Weddle turned back the clock for a vintage performance, flying around the field for nine total tackles. He was a key contributor in shutting down the electric Deebo Samuel, who had 98 yards from scrimmage and just four receptions.
Yet another stifling defensive performance was capped off by a Travin Howard interception, allowing Matthew Stafford to take a knee on the final possession and send Los Angeles to their second Super Bowl in four years.
Facing off against a struggling Cincinnati offensive line, expect the Rams’ fearsome front seven to send pressure in the face of Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow early and often. Cincinnati allowed nine sacks in the divisional round against the Tennessee Titans, becoming the second team in league history to allow eight or more sacks in a postseason game and win.
Thanks to a space-eating defensive line, the Rams’ linebacking core has had their work cut out for them in the run game. Leonard Floyd and Troy Reeder have been exceptional when it comes to filling holes, as L.A. has yet to allow a rusher to exceed 60 yards on the ground this postseason.
While slowing down the Bengals’ rushing attack may not be a top priority, limiting the explosiveness of Ja’Marr Chase and the high-flying Cincinnati receivers certainly will be.
Jalen Ramsey will likely hold Chase to a minimum when lined up across from him, but the Rams’ secondary will have their hands full against Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, as well as C.J. Uzomah if he is able to recover from an injury suffered in the AFC Championship.
Time will tell if Raheem Morris’ Rams can make one final stand for the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 13, a stage fit for the most dazzling group in the NFL.
Grant Sheets is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gcs5231@psu.edu.
