5 LA Rams players who could be 2020 surprise starters

Inside linebacker

All things equal talent-wise for the LA Rams at the linebacker position, the nod should go to the player that can diagnose the offense and call out the proper defensive adjustments best.  And the more that rule sticks in my mind, the more I believe that inside linebacker Clay Johnston has a real shot to earn a starting role on this Rams defense.

Just as the Rams need at center hinges upon a player who has good football intelligence who can grow stronger and more agile over the course of the season, so too do the Rams need a linebacker who can act as the air traffic controller and command center for Brandon Staley’s deceptively effective defensive schemes.  That player could very likely be Johnston, for several reasons.

Defensive difference-maker

However, you or I may see the player best suited for the role, the characteristics for the role will remain the same.  The LA Rams starting inside linebacker must possess noticeably high football intelligence, must be able to defend the run very well, and must be able to drop back into pass coverage. But perhaps the most important element of all? He must add energy to the defense.

And there you have it. The intangible energy factor. That infectious emotion that stokes the entire team with a smoldering rage to make the next play appear on a highlight film.  So why ignore the value of an on-field motivator to intensify the play of so many talented players? It’s a nudge that could eventually land Johnston the starting job.