Rams defense became very mortal, very quickly

While injuries are part of life at training camp, the Los Angeles Rams have been a fortunate team by avoiding them. While 2016 saw them one of the healthiest teams in the league, 2017 looks to be a bit of a different story.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay may be young, but he’s been around long enough to know some things are just what they are. Specifically holdouts and injuries.

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He’s getting intimate with both.

It’s not exclusive to him or this team, but the Rams were remarkably healthy in 2016, the healthiest in the league to be factual.

It’s cyclical. Some seasons can see your primary core stay on the field for 16 games, like Los Angeles experienced last season. Other seasons, say with the then San Diego Chargers of 2016, saw a number of injuries hamper them last year.

They finished at 5-11 and were the team most affected by injuries. Meanwhile, the Rams were the LEAST affected and finished one game worse than the Chargers at 6-12.

Given the facts as they are, and trends in Los Angeles that aren’t confused as blips, coach McVay’s task just became tougher.

With Aaron Donald on hiatus due to a contract holdout, and the devastating news of Dominique Easley out for the 2017 season with another ACL injury, the Wade Phillips 3-4 defense with what looked to be a vaunted front became very mortal, very fast.

“I don’t know if you go into any year going, we need to prepare for injuries,” General Manager Les Snead said.

While I’m no believer in Snead, truer words can’t be said.

As of today, the front three in LA is a combination of Michael Brockers, Ethan Westbrooks, Louis Trinca-Pasat, and Tanzel Smart.

Awed yet?

Neither is the NFC West.

Right now, expect the Rams to pick up after teams cut down. The switch to the 3-4 saw the defensive depth change by virtue of Phillip’s scheme. Also, look for the likelihood that the Easley injury accelerates the Los Angeles front office getting Donald signed.

They HAVE to get that done, like yesterday.

Related Story: Malcolm Brown emerges as No. 2 RB for Rams

Like I said at the beginning, McVay may be a young guy, but he’s been around long enough to know some things are just what they are.

His tall order in Los Angeles just got taller.