How about we give LA Rams DC Raheem Morris his due?

Run defense

The LA Rams run defense has not exactly been getting a great deal of positive commentary, nor getting good writeups so far, but the Rams have allowed an average of 92.7 yards per game on the ground, good enough for 11th-place among the NFL defenses.  That’s pretty good folks.

One of the cornerstones for an NFL team going up against the LA Rams is to keep the Rams’ offense off the field. To do that? Opposing offenses have shortened the field on the passing game, and run with the football whenever possible. Well, at least until the score becomes too lopsided, and they need to swing into an all-out passing offense.

The Rams have allowed  278 yards on the ground in the first three games of the season on the ground. A year ago, the Rams allowed 358 rushing yards in the first three games. But if anyone was asked which of the two options of run defenses were better, there is no doubt that the response would be 2020. But that would be wrong, wrong in the sum of 80 yards of offense over three games.

In the next two games, the Rams will face two very good running teams as they host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4, and then travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. But even if the Rams do allow either or even both teams to gain yards on the ground, yards do not equate to points.

But there are some good reasons for optimism. The LA Rams have some huge thumpers on the defensive line who are starting to take root. Greg Gaines, Sebastian Joseph Day, and A’Shawn Robinson all had pretty good games in Week 3, but Robinson led them all with six tackles. With those three exerting their power, That, in turn, has allowed the Rams to get a ton of production out of inside linebacker Kenny Young, as well as run five defensive backs.

Keep that in mind. The LA Rams defense is designed to win games, not necessarily stop the run.