Los Angeles Rams: 4 key observations from unofficial depth chart for 2018 preseason

4. Ebukam listed as starter

Heading into the offseason, the Rams were considered to have one of the league’s top defenses, and it was easy to see why since the team not only had a top player in Donald, but also one of the best coaches in Wade Phillips. However, with the team deciding to part ways with Alec Ogletree this offseason in order to free up some salary cap space, the linebacker position has been one of the biggest uncertainties for Los Angeles heading into 2018, although there are numerous players worthy of stepping up.

That’s where Samson Ebukam comes into play, as the former Eastern Washington star is listed as one of the starters at the moment, which is great to see from a former fourth-round pick from 2017. Selecting a player from a smaller school can seem like a risk at times, but with the right coaching from someone like Phillips, Ebukam has quickly come along in the NFL.

After only starting two of 16 games as a rookie, early signs have pointed to Ebukam taking a major leap now that he’s got a year of experience under his belt. If Ebukam lives up to the hype, the linebacker position won’t seem like that much of a concern for the Rams on defense.