5 reasons LA Rams starting defensive line excels in 2020

III- Gobble blockers

The LA Rams 3-4 formation of 2020 depends upon defensive linemen to occupy blockers, allowing the linebackers to diagnose what happens in front of them and make the tackles.  The Rams have some solid linebackers who can step up to starting roles in 2020. Kenny Young, who arrived at the team as a result of the Marcus Peters traded to the Baltimore Ravens, is an ideal starter for the Rams at inside linebacker.  Linebacker Micah Kiser, a true thumper who was projected to start in 2019 but failed to do so after a preseason injury ended his season, is ideally suited to start in the other inside linebacker position.

But both linebackers are relatively inexperienced in the heart of the Rams defense. As they try to manage their own duties, call out coverages and blitz packages based upon what they see develop in front of them, they will need all the help they can get.

Of course, defensive linemen who occupy multiple blockers at the line of scrimmage are true assets to the linebackers who must play behind them. We already know that Aaron Donald is the NFL king of the double team.  But both Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines have had their share of double teams as well.

Many will judge the performance of a defender by the number of tackles made, and the number of sacks recorded in the game and in the course of a season.  But defensive coaches judge 3-4 defensive linemen by how effectively they hold on the line of scrimmage, how effective the linebackers are playing behind them, and the ability to shed blockers and tackle for a loss.  The Rams are losing productive linebackers. Perhaps the Rams defensive line is simply just that effective?