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Rams 2024 defense preview: Position-by-position breakdown

September 5, 2024

LOS ANGELES — As the Rams prepare for Sunday’s season opener against the Detroit Lions, Chris Shula is still finding his sea legs ahead of his first game as defensive coordinator.

“You’re just getting into the flow,” Shula said. “Even last year, going into being the linebackers coach again, you just kind of get into the flow of the first couple weeks of the season, get into your routine, when you have certain things studied by, when you have things done by. All that type of stuff and just getting into the rhythm of it but enjoying every day.”

Shula, a mainstay of the Sean McVay era in Los Angeles, was elevated to defensive coordinator following Raheem Morris’ departure to be head coach of the Falcons. Shula served under Morris and predecessors Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley the past seven years, learning from their decisions as he waited for his turn.

But, as they say, experience is the best teacher. And as Shula reviewed his own play-call decisions following preseason games last month, some moments from the past gained newfound clarity.

“It’s a little different when you’re the guy suggesting the calls than when you’re the guy actually making the calls. You kind of realize that there’s a lot of ‘aha’ moments that I’ve seen of some quirks that Wade and Staley and Raheem have had,” Shula said. “And I’m like, ‘That’s definitely the reason why they did that thing,’ whether it’s in the preparation or in the game day. But it’s been fun.”

So what weapons does Shula have at his disposal as he leads the Rams’ defense into Detroit? Here’s a quick positional breakdown of the unit.

Defensive line: Kobie Turner, Bobby Brown III, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Desjuan Johnson, Neville Gallimore

Voted a team captain by his teammates, Turner will try to build on his nine-sack season that left him as the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Turner is expected to play more three- and four-technique this season after primarily playing at nose tackle alongside Aaron Donald.

With Donald retired, the Rams expect to have a heavier rotation this year along the line, with more players asked to contribute outside of specific supporting roles. Brown and Johnson should have bigger roles outside of just run stopping. And the Rams want to see how a strong camp translates to the regular season for Fiske, for whom they traded a future second-rounder to move up and select in April’s draft.

Outside linebacker: Jared Verse, Michael Hoecht, Byron Young, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton

Verse, the Rams’ first first-round pick since 2016, gives the Rams’ pass rush a swagger with his style of play and willingness to talk with opposing offenses. He provides a dynamic pairing with Young, who broke out as a rookie a year ago, while Hoecht should provide steady play as part of the primary rotation at the position.

Linebacker: Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom, Omar Speights, Jacob Hummel, Elias Neal

This group saw a significant shakeup last week when Ernest Jones IV was traded to the Titans. But Reeder provides some leadership to the group with his six years of experience, and he’ll line up with Rozeboom with the first-team defense.

But the Rams also expect big things for Speights, an undrafted free agent out of LSU whom general manager Les Snead deemed a likely a contributor to the defense. Primarily known as a run stopper in college, Speights will need to grow in pass defense as the season goes on.

Cornerback: Tre’Davious White, Decobie Durant, Josh Wallace, Charles Woods, Darious Williams

This group took a body blow Thursday when Williams (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve. With Durant dealing with his own hamstring injury, the Rams are in a situation where they could need to rely on Wallace and Woods, undrafted free agents, opposite of the veteran White, who is coming back from an Achilles tear that ended his 2023.

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Safety: Kamren Curl, John Johnson III, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Russ Yeast, Jaylen McCollough

The Rams were high on Curl when they signed him in free agency, and he has rewarded that confidence with a strong camp, quickly grasping the defense and becoming a leader in the secondary alongside the veteran Johnson.

Lake has settled in to his new role as the star cornerback and will also be looked to as a leader after being named team captain. Kinchens is a candidate to contribute as a rookie given his ability to make plays on the ball.

Orange County Register

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Rams 2024 defense preview: Position-by-position breakdown

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