4 LA Rams surprise stars emerge in team’s week four contest

OLB Ebukam

OLB Samson Ebukam has been getting a lot of negative feedback recently. Much of it is due to a disappointing debut as the starting outside linebacker opposite veteran Leonard Floyd. In three games and 121 defensive snaps, he’s gotten just 4 tackles and no recorded pressures on the quarterback.  He’s not alone, as the Rams have been getting almost no pressure on the quarterback from any edge rusher not named Leonard Floyd.

Ebukam is 6-foot-3 and 245-pounds. This is his fourth NFL season, all of which have included starts. So the struggles in 2020 are likely related to something not quite clicking just yet. Struggles that have resulted in fewer defensive snaps as the Rams place more workload upon recently signed ILB/OLB Justin Hollins.

Why this game?

Samson Ebukam keeps getting closer to having a breakout game. He’s been a consistent force for the Rams in the past, and for the first time this season, he is facing an offensive line that has played very poorly and has more questions and concerns than he does. And with the NY Giants offensive line focused upon defensive lineman Aaron Donald and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, Ebukam should be facing a lot of one-on-one blocking from a struggling offensive lineman.

But this week is even more important to Ebukam regardless of who he is up against.  The Rams defense has shown flashes of brilliance, and Ebukam needs to show up now to ensure that his role on defense is not shifted to another player who is showing up with better production. This is the game that Samson Ebukam gets his first sack. If he gets to Daniel Jones in the first half, it could be a multiple sack day for him.