LA Rams rumors over Tyrann Mathieu heating up, not going away

How the Honey Badger could help LA Rams’ secondary

The LA Rams defense is a concern to fans right now. Well, let’s be more accurate. The defense has been a concern since the team lost defensive coordinator Brandon Staley to the nearby LA Chargers to take over as their head coach. But the defense appears to be in better shape than the defense that awaited rookie reinforcements from the NFL Draft one year ago.

While the Rams have a need for more depth at the outside linebacker spot and the secondary, the inside linebacker position is at a peak of talent not seen for many years with the combination of veteran Bobby Wagner with the second year of Ernest Jones. And the postseason play of Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, and A’Shawn Robinson were outstanding, a high-water mark for the defensive line that will surely carry over to the 2022 NFL season.

But the secondary needed to be reinforced by two-years-retired veteran safety Eric Weddle to hold up in the NFL Playoffs.  While there is no chance to entice him back for another season, the lesson learned by the Rams is that this team needs some veteran smarts and leadership on the back end of the defense.

Tyrann Mathieu is a veteran of nine NFL seasons, a hybrid form of a defensive back that allows creative use of his unique ball-hawking talents. He is 5-foot-9 and weighs 190-pounds. That is a bit smallish for a defensive back.  But successful defenses have learned that Mathieu defies traditional defensive use.