LA Rams Von Miller must excel at containing the QB, again

There were reasons for each roster transaction performed by the LA Rams front office throughout the 2021 NFL season. But perhaps no move this year has transformed the team as much as the move to acquire veteran outside linebacker Von Miller from the Denver Broncos.  Yes, that’s right. Even in the face of acquiring quarterback Matthew Stafford. Even with Stafford aboard, this team thought that they were a Super Bowl contender.

Since acquiring Miller? They seem to know it.

The LA Rams knew what they were doing when they traded two draft picks for OLB Von Miller. Along with all of his standard elite abilities, Von Miller is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL at containing a quarterback in the pocket. Prior to his arrival, containing mobile quarterbacks appeared to be an area of need for the Rams defense.  Since he’s arrived, they’ve done a pretty good job against the growing list of NFL mobile quarterbacks like Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, and soon enough Trey Lance.

But in the process, they have been able to benefit against other fleet-footed quarterbacks along the way. Believe it or not, they will face one more quarterback who is more dangerous outside of the pocket

Keeping a quarterback in the pocket is kind of Von Miller’s thing. That, and sacking him when he’s there.

Miller is uniquely positioned to help the Rams defense at that task. That’s because his pass rush does not take that direct line to the quarterback. Rather. his first point is a spot at or about a 90-degree angle from the quarterback’s throwing position. Once he gets there, he pivots and takes a path directly to the quarterback.  Because his approach is from the sideline, the quarterback remains in the pocket and is flushed into the trajectory of other pass rushers.

And most of all, there is the repurposed music video, and edited for 2021 version of a song recorded in a then new-to-the-world music video genre, “Let’s Ram it”. It was originally released in 1986 and was one of a dozen or so videos released by a host of NFL teams to explore that new music and video blend of media that exploded into the scene amidst the MTV era.

This one is a classic. It’s hard to watch this video without smiling a bit.

In the end, it’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey. It’s what you do to smile, to laugh, to focus, and to prepare along the way. Look out, Joe Burrow. You may be the darling of the NFL media right now. But all that will get you is a one-way ticket on the pain train, with Aaron Donald as the engineer, and Von Miller and Leonard Floyd as the conductors.

All aboard!  Next stop? Sofi Stadium, home of Super Bowl LVI