LA Rams Coach Henny’s DAWGWORK pays off with young bucks on DL

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The LA Rams signed former Brown University defensive lineman Michael Hoecht after the 2020 NFL Draft, but even as an undrafted rookie defensive lineman, knew he had the potential to become something quite special in the NFL.

Michael Hoecht

I don’t know if I have ever seen a midseason cross-training transition as successful as the way the LA Rams have repurposed defensive lineman Michael Hoecht to become a very promising outside linebacker this season. Like Marquise Copeland, Hoecht is projected to become an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) at the end of the 2022 NFL season. But the Rams will be just as likely to extend him, and here is why:

The Rams moved him from a down defensive lineman to a two-point stance outside linebacker against the Kansas City Chiefs, and he played 64 defensive snaps while starting OLB Terrell Lewis could only muster 14 defensive snaps. While he did not record a quarterback sack, Hoecht did have an impressive outing nonetheless, as he recorded six tackles in the game.

Michael Hoecht transformer: More than meets the eye

Since that game, he has started all four games as the outside linebacker for the Rams. In 211 defensive snaps in those four games, Hoecht has recorded 11 tackles, 3.5 quarterback sacks, three quarterback hurries, three quarterback knockdowns, six quarterback hits, and one strip sack.

To sum it all up, Michael Hoecht has been incredibly effective at transitioning to a new position on the LA Rams’ defense. But behind it all, Hoecht was only able to transform into a vital role for the Rams because he had such a strong foundation.

The LA Rams will rebound in 2023. Not because they show up. But because the 5-10 record is pissing off the likes of Coach Eric Henderson and the players he influences on a daily basis. He won DL Coach of the Year just one short year ago. But, to be honest, he is doing an even better job this year, with a half dozen or so young bucks who are eager to become NFL star players in their own right.

And thanks to the good fortune of ending up on the Rams roster, they each have a shot of doing just that.

Happy New Year!