3 Rams are ready to take center stage as training camp looms on the horizon

(3) - ILB Nathan Landman

The Rams' defense suffered a huge setback just before the start of the 2024 NFL season, a setback that they brought upon themselves. The team decided to trade away veteran ILB Ernest Jones IV for next to nothing, depleting the team of its surest tackler and defensive leader. To compensate, the team promoted veteran ILBs Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom to start the season. That caused a new set of problems that we will discuss more thoroughly in the future.

For now, it's enough to say that the Rams inside linebacker position was not exactly a strength of the defense.

While the adage 'Time heals all wounds,' does not often apply to the adversity experienced by an NFL team, it did afford the Rams enough opportunity to address the shortcomings of a shallow and inexperienced inside linebacker position from 2024.

Yes, the team lost ILB Christian Rozeboom and Jake Hummel to the 2025 NFL Free Agency market. But in their place, the team signed veteran ILB Nate Landman, drafted ILB Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr., and signed a very impressive rookie ILB Shaun Dolac after the draft. The team even extended veteran ILB Troy Reeder. So is this group any more prepared to excel than the 2024 ILB room?

In a word: Yes.

What I love about this new ILB group is the fact that DC Chris Shula has retained a keen eye to ensure that both primary functions of the inside linebacker position are addressed. There are run-stuffing inside linebackers on the roster who bring a snarling ferocity to the defense. Those ILBs include both Nate Landman and Omar Speights.

But there is the other function of defending the pass, serving up hard hits in crossing routes, and ranging sideline to sideline in pass coverage. Those ILBs include Troy Reeder, Chris Paul Jr., and Shaun Dolac.

With pass coverage ILBs on the roster, the Rams no longer have to deplete the run defense to ensure that they have adequate pass coverage on the football field. As it now stands, the Rams most likely starting pair of inside linebackers are Nate Landman as the run stuffer, and Troy Reeder as the pass coverage guy. But do not discount any of the young ILBs like Omar Speights, Pooh Paul Jr., or Shaun Dolac. When the pads go on, the fun really begins.