7 LA Rams players who must step up this season

Crazy like a Fox

The Rams are scrambling to find enough free salary cap space to sign some of their projected free agents this off-season.  One primary target is defensive end Michael Brockers. As the team focuses on run defense, Brockers remains a standout on the team providing exactly that – stout run defense. Still, can the cash-strapped Rams re-sign Brockers? If not, is the sky falling over Los Angeles Rams’ defensive front in 2020?

DE Morgan Fox

Not if defensive end Morgan Fox has a say in it. Fox is a 6-foot-3 275 pound defensive end from Colorado State University who signed one with the Rams as a 2016 undrafted free agent.  Now Fox is in perfect position to assume a role vacated by the long time Rams veteran.  He is the type of player who assumes the role in a sense of responsibility – playing his best so as not to let down his former teammate, and friend, Michael Brockers.

Fox sees himself among his teammates as a tank filled with piranha, and on the Rams defense, that is as good of an analogy as there is out there.

Fox saw action on 353 defensive snaps, or 32 percent of the plays. He played in all 16 games, while getting three starts for the Rams.  While playing as a backup, he was rather efficient, recording 18 tackles and two sacks. He also accounted for a five quarterback pressures,  two hurries and one quarterback knockdown. In contrast, Brockers played on 69 percent of the defensive plays, recorded 63 tackles, three sacks, and nine quarterback hits.

Fox currently stands as a restricted free agent in 2020. But based on the team needs, Fox’s production, and the cheap price to bring him back, the Rams would be wise to do so.