Be ready to fall in love with undrafted Rams rookie sensation LB Shaun Dolac

Fans of the Los Angeles Rams are looking for a hero. After the team unceremoniously traded away veteran inside linebacker Ernest Jones, the defense seemed to shake a bit like JELLO in a dessert dish. Of course, Losing Jones was a year after the team allowed veteran All-Pro ILB Bobby Wagner to leave after just one season. The rapid cycling of inside linebackers, one of the most vital and underappreciated positions on the defense, has left the fans a bit gunshy over going all-in to cheer for the next starter.

But it's always the darkest just before the dawn. And the dawn for the Rams defense, and more specifically the inside linebacker position, could be coming in the form of Buffalo Bulls undrafted inside linebacker Shaun Dolac.

He is something special.

While some knock his size, keep in mind that at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he is slightly larger than the Rams drafted rookie inside linebacker Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr., who stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 222 pounds. While Dolac is as big as Paul, he has the type of intrinsic athleticism that allows a defensive coordinator a wide range of conventional and unconventional roles to optimize his defensive production.

While I can see Dolac fitting into that precious DB/LB role that has become quite popular with NFL defensive coaches, I do not want to suggest that Dolac is not up to a linebacker role in the NFL. He is. And his 168 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 6.5 quarterback sacks, five passes broken up, and five interceptions for 177 yards and one touchdown should be proof enough that he is a one-man wrecking ball on defense.

If he was taller and heavier, he might have been a Round 1 selected rookie:

Of course, just like the Los Angeles Rams trying to reboot after a successful 2024 NFL season, Shaun Dolac must reboot his sensational defensive production after his 2024 college season. He is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward rookie. But let's dare to imagine what that high reward might look like:

The ideal scenario is to line up Dolac next to a solid run stuffing linebacker such as Omar Speights and let him do his thing. But even if he does not earn a starting role right out of the gates, he has multiple roles to aid this defense.

Fans will love his attitude. He simply loves to compete, to get on a football field and tackle someone. He is a young man playing the game of football and loving every moment. And that excitement and joy are contagious.

(1) - Starting role: Of course, the apex of any rookie's first season in the NFL is to outright earn playing time. For the inside linebacker position, that likely translates into a starting role, as defenses do not rotate linebackers in the same manner as they rotate defensive linemen or pass rushers. While rookies are not commonly handed the keys to the defense, there is a chance that Dolac could earn a starting role. He will not be in line for the Green Dot, the play-calling assignment for the defense. So his first season will be primarily focused on his contribution to the team.

(2) - Sub package role: Even if he is not up to the wear and tear physicality of a pure starter, Dolac could be a huge upgrade to a defense that needs the pass coverage of a defensive back, while not surrendering the run-stuffing defense of a linebacker. Shaun Dolac has the potential to fortify the defense with a magical blend of both, and do so in such a way that adds the thrill of creating turnovers from a position that has long lain dormant in terms of picking off passes.

(3) - Special teams: Even if he fails to pry a role from veterans, Dolac can still earn a vital 53-man Rams roster spot by excelling on special teams. He is a sure-handed tackler blessed with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash time. As he gains experience with his teammates in 2025, he increases his chances of sliding into more playing time on defense.

The Rams roster is no longer the Swiss cheese form that allowed multiple rookies to step into instant starting roles. But Shaun Dolac has enough promise and talent to earn a significant role. Best of all, he is more than happy to take fans along for the ride.

As always, thanks for reading.

Here are other recent Rams articles that you may enjoy