Camp buzz is building fast around this Rams veteran for all the right reasons

Let's imagine for a moment that you were the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, you witnessed a rather dismal display of the team's run defense in the second attempt to slow down Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and you knew that you had to give the team a stout defender for this season. Who would you have identified among the myriad of potential free agents willing to sign with the team? Perhaps you would have identified his attributes first:

So which attributes did the Rams deem to be most vital? That of an albatross. A fire plug. Mighty Mouse.

Whatever nickname you can think of, Los Angeles Rams newly arrived veteran defensive tackle Poona Foord has heard it all before. And to flourish in the NFL despite standing under 6-foot-0 in height is almost unheard of. He is the exception to the rule, the anomaly, the guy who should not be able to do what he does, but who is simply too good to be denied.

The Rams have built a defense to the exact specifications of new DC Chris Shula. This is a defense that swarms to the football, and unleashes hornets' fury against opposing quarterbacks. But second-year outside linebacker Jared Verse starts the pass rush with his relentless pursuit and pressure. So why not apply a similar strategy of disruption to stuff the run?

If that is the plan, the Rams have their man. Poona Ford is more than just a veteran nose tackle who was looking for work. He is to run defense what Jared Verse is to the pass rush. He is the catalyst who makes it all work. Pro Football Focus author Trevor Sikkema noticed and named him as the 15th most effective interior defensive lineman in the NFL. That's outstanding, considering he was signed on in the 2025 NFL Free Agency market.

All because he doesn't 'fit' the typical dimensions of a dominant NFL defender.

Oh, and just to be clear, Rams third-year interior defensive lineman Kobie Turner was ranked 17th on the list. So the Rams basically took what they had in The Conductor and doubled it in one signing.

He blends Kobie Turner's run stuffing with Braden Fiske's pass rush

The Rams may have sought out one of the NFL's best run stuffers, but what about the compromise of a pass rush? According to Pro Football Focus, Poona Ford had a tremendous 2024 season, which resulted in an overall grade of 85.1. That's elite production. But it was a combination of very good run defending (78.8) and very good pass rushing (71.7) skills that elevated him so highly.

So, who are the closest comparisons on the Rams roster to Poona Ford? Well, NT Kobie Turner is a good simulation of his run-stuffing prowess (73.8), while DT Braden Fiske is nearly at his level of pass-rushing ability (67.2).

But don't take my word for it. Rams beat reporter Wyatt Miller did a great job of graphing Poona Ford's abilities on a chart, reflecting his pass rush and run-stopping abilities. In a word: Impressive.

Just as the Rams' pass rush starts with the chaos creator, Jared Verse, the Rams' struggling run defense has a new champion in Poona Ford. How can a guy who stands 5-foot-11 be that good? Well, he boasts an extremely low center of gravity, which allows him to get under the pads of an offensive lineman. But he also possesses a phenomenal 80.25-inch wingspan. That is nearly seven feet from fingertip to fingertip. And those Stretch Armstrong arms keep offensive linemen at bay.

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce named Poona Ford as one of the toughest nose tackles he had ever had to face. He had a lower center of gravity, a longer wingspan, and more power. If Poona Ford can give Jason Kelce fits, imagine the havoc he can cause in the NFL this season.

No, the pads have not been worn yet. And no, I'm not suggesting that the Rams add a superhero's cape to Poona Ford's uniform just yet. I'm simply pointing to the most logical conclusion. Poona Ford is not a player who gets pushed around on the line of scrimmage. On a defense that has benefited from superb play from young IDL Kobie Turner, the Rams just doubled down on adding another player just like him.

Poona Ford is generating a lot of camp buzz, and it's for all the right reasons. As so often before, I thank you for reading.

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