5 reasons to love this LA Rams roster for the 2020 season

III –  Defense loaded with “Staley” style players.

The Rams defense is suddenly loaded with versatile players who can cross-train from one position to another. The fact is that many of the team’s new additions on defense, particularly the secondary, have the ability to play several roles. Several roles well, I might add. Rookie additions Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller have backgrounds at both the cornerback and safety positions.

Veteran OLB Leonard Floyd and rookie OLB Terrell Lewis can play both inside and outside linebacker. The Rams added Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Hollins, who the Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had cross-trained to play both inside and outside personally during his time with the Denver Broncos.

Two ways to staff this defense

The Staley-style defense can be accomplished in one of two ways. Either the Rams can seek out linebackers who are especially good at defending the pass, or the Rams can search for safety/linebacker hybrids who are especially good at defending the run.  The Rams, in loading up the roster with safety depth,  appear to be pursuing defensive backs who can play linebacker centers.

While the Rams have not invested much into their linebacker ranks, and have lost two prospects the team has been high on in the past two years, the team continues to work with the talent available to them. Right now, the team is banking upon Micah Kiser and Kenny Young, neither of whom have started for the LA Rams defense before.