5 events causing LA Rams finish last in NFC West

Reason 5 – The Rams defense never shows up

The LA Rams’ defense is certainly in reconfiguration mode. While the basic foundation of a 3-4 defense remains the same, 2020 will unveil a brand new defense to the NFL. Or rather, a new twist to a familiar defense.  This is new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s first shot at running an NFL defense, and that means everything is quite up in the air right now.

So with uncertainty comes the possibility of failure.  After all, we must concede the chance, however remote, that the LA Rams defense falls flat on its face despite the presence of two All-Pro veterans in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. While it may be very unlikely, probability and statistics dictate that it is one possible outcome of the Rams innovations.

Rams simply get outscored

The LA Rams may not absorb new defensive schemes in 2020 in time to make a huge difference. If that happens, the LA Rams could begin the 2020 NFL season at 0-3 as they take on three potential playoff teams in the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s not until the Rams return home to host the New York Giants that the schedule should set them as the favorite.   And with a 1-3 start to the season, the Rams could fall to 6-10 if they are swept by NFC West opponents.

With disguised coverages and virtual offseason training programs, there may simply not be enough on-field time to learn individual roles. The Rams front three and back four are solid enough, but the team is restocking virtually all four linebacker roles. Somewhere in there, whether a defensive lineman, a linebacker or defensive back, the team will be determining which players will substitute in for which packages. Eventually, the Rams defense will pull itself together. But to fall to 6-10, the presumption is that the defense never figures out how to stop opposing offenses.