Brian Baldinger already knows Rams' new 'Superman' will bring the pain

In recent years, decreasing the quarterback's time to throw has been a consistent, fundamental goal of the Los Angeles Rams defense. The less time the passer remains protected in the pocket, the shorter the football field becomes. It's not a bad strategy.

In 2025, however, the team pivoted to stuff the run after being gashed on the ground in the prior season. Quarterbacks gained an extra fraction of a second to scan the field and launch. This season, expect the Rams to reinstate their fundamental philosophy with the arrival of elite edge rusher Myles Garrett. NFL insider analyst Brian Baldinger, a.k.a. Baldy, already loves the look for LA's defense:

"Superman used to wear No. 95 for the Cleveland Browns. He's now a Ram. And no matter what you try to do to him, you want to put tight ends over there, you want to double-team him, it doesn't matter. His job is to get to the quarterback. The bigger the name, the bigger the chase. He's looking to put your quarterback in the graveyard. That's what he does. He's coming, high-stepping across the field. No matter how far he needs to go, he's gonna lay out. Superman doesn't wear a cape. Superman is in a Ram uniform. He plays in Los Angeles. And his name is Myles Garrett."

Baldinger's eloquence lies in his simplicity. Rather than steal the show, he succinctly points fans to the action on the football field, highlighting what they can see unfold before their very eyes. As the video clip illustrates, Garrett's quarterback range-finder allows him to close in on his quarry in record time.

Garrett headlines game-changers reloading Chris Shula's defense

Defensive coordinator Chris Shula continues to evolve. He found a way to optimize a dirt-cheap defense. He built an impenetrable wall to stuff the run. Now, he has a defense supercharged with elite playmakers.

Rather than invest in just one of either the secondary or the pass rush, the Rams did both. That multi-pronged approach should yield symbiotic results. Garrett will benefit from the lockdown coverage of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, just as they will from Garrett's relentless pocket pressure. More time to get sacks for Garrett, more wobbly-duck pickoffs for the DBs.

Just recall from the Super Bowl squad how Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey made each other's lives so much easier. That is the synergy Shula is aiming for.

Baldinger gets it. He has been breaking down play in the trenches for years. He knows the difference between performers and pretenders. Baldy clearly believes that Myles Garrett will be a huge plus for the Horns, and it's tough to refute that coming from the best in the business.

As always, thanks for reading.

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