LA Rams News: CB Jalen Ramsey maturity more dangerous than ever

Projecting 2020 numbers

Jalen Ramsey is not just another cornerback for the LA Rams. He was a player the team acquired at a great price because he is truly a difference-maker. While his impact for the Rams was just a 4-4 record in eight games, it was turnovers and a porous Rams run defense that spelled the team’s demise in the four losses.

Opponents averaged just 210 yards through the air,  With a much-improved run defense this year, the Rams defense can shock the NFL this season. Even with a bad offensive line, the Rams offense was among the top-ranked teams in the NFL.  Improving the Rams scoring defense from 17th in the NFL in 2019 to among the top 10 in the league will propel the team into the playoffs.

Jalen Ramsey is a young but savvy veteran leader to a very young but promising LA Rams defensive backfield. Perhaps it’s that youth that compels so many to overlook the Rams chances of success in 2020. The Rams pass defense was  ranked12th in the NFL last season in yards, and 13th in scoring, despite the turmoil of swapping out both starting cornerbacks and a starting safety in midseason.

That was just a half-season of Ramsey, a full season of veteran Eric Weddle, and just six games of standout safety John Johnson. The LA Rams secondary in 2020 will not only play better run defense but disguising coverages will lead to a host of problems for opposing quarterbacks who fail to recognize what the defense is running.  That means the Rams 2019 interception total of 13 picks may be dwarfed by the 2020 total of the team pushing for 20 or more interceptions.

The Rams offense weathered poor offensive line play in 2019 to remain among the best offenses in the NFL at both moving the ball and at scoring.  That means that the Rams defense will have opportunities to create turnovers and opposing offenses attempt to keep pace.  All it requires is LA Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey to be the best version of himself this season.