LA Rams: 5 step plan for a perfect offseason

Step II: Enhance the Rams’ defense

The LA Rams defense, while good enough to win Super Bowl LVI, was by no means perfect. While the whimsical weekly calls by disgruntled fans calling for the immediate firing of DC Raheem Morris came whether the team won or lost, some of the fans’ frustration was justifiable. The Rams were not exactly a three-downs-and-punt type of defense.

The fact is that defensive coordinator Raheem Morris inherited a defense that focused on the defensive front, the edges, and the back end of the defense. But in terms of the middle? The LA Rams defense was a donut. The weak link to the Rams’ defense was the middle linebacker position, a weakness that was glaringly exposed by the winless New York Jets in 2020, and ravaged by the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Fixing the heart of this defense was Raheem Morris’ number one priority. To accomplish the feat, he directed the Rams to draft rookie inside linebacker Ernest Jones. Jones helped considerably, but he only played in 17 of the Rams’ 21 games, starting just eight of those contests.

Seeing is believing

When Jones was on the football field, and particularly when he began to grow into his starting role as an inside linebacker, the Rams defense was a far better unit. Jones was in position, exhibiting good pass coverage, giving solid tackling, and elevating the fierceness of the defense overall.

It’s almost impossible to envision what the Rams’ defense will be in 2022, purely from the fact that the Rams have not had an inside linebacker as good as Bobby Wagner in the middle of this defense. But already, players and coaches are singing his praises. Of course, it would be quite concerning for the Rams if there was anything less coming out of mini-camps.

Still, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about Bobby Wagner in this defense. He was the workhorse for the Seattle Seahawks, a burden that he endured admirably. But he will not be the only guy making plays on the LA Rams defense. In fact, the fact that he is surrounded by so many playmakers will give him the same ‘Aaron Donald effect’ boost to his play as that of OLB Von Miller.

Let’s be clear. If Bobby Wagner plays anywhere close to primetime BWagz, the LA Rams defense is going to hum in 2022. Not only will he stop the hemorrhaging of allowing teams to make first downs on third-and-short, but he will allow the Rams to send A-gap blitzes that will blow up opposing quarterbacks.