Coach Henderson breaking down LA Rams #DAWGWORK

How does LA Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson do it? Well, it’s a bit like Colonel Sanders’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices that keep you coming back for Kentucky Fried Chicken, isn’t it? If we knew, then everybody would be doing it. What do I mean?  Well if you look back at how the LA Rams have sustained one of the best defensive line units in the NFL, you won’t find it heavily populated with first or second-round draft selections.

Rather, the Rams’ defensive line is brought together out of a passion for the sport, and a dedication to becoming the best regardless of the odds and the circumstances. A collection of players whose internal voices screaming “I can,” was louder than the critics’ voices shouting “You can’t.”

It all starts upstairs

But even a stubborn determination needs a helping hand in the modern-day NFL. That is where Coach Henny steps in.  He is the guide, the man who has played in the defensive trenches, fought like hell on each and every play, and is still smiling. How can you feel anything but love and admiration for a guy who has been more than a survivor of the line of scrimmage, but is now the expert who prepares veterans and rookies alike to realize their best as they take on the same challenge?

When you work around the best in the NFL, the bar is set pretty high for rookies and veterans alike. When your standard is starting at excellent, there is a lot of work to get there. That means training. That means commitment. And that means patience. That’s a standard that can be and is applied to everyone.

But how does that work? Participation awards in the NFL? Not quite. For the LA Rams, the door swings wide open for those players who already demonstrate giving their all on all plays, not just when the camera is on them. Once a veteran or college defensive lineman can demonstrate that they are all-in, then it’s just a matter of being shown the optimal methods to get them to where they want to be.