DROY Jared Verse punctuates Year 1 of Coach Chris Shula's legacy

After the Los Angeles Rams humiliating 2022 season ended with a record of 5-12, the team had to do a great deal of soul-searching. The team's talent level on the pass rush front was so depleted that not even All-Pro DT Aaron Donald could rally the troops. The team cross-trained former defensive tackle Michael Hoecht to the outside linebacker position, parted ways with veteran outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, and rolled up its sleeves to get down to business.

Two years later, and the team has one of the most talented and skyrocketing pass rushes in the entire NFL. The Rams pass rush sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times in just two games in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. And the same group is back and almost intact for the 2025 NFL season.

There are many reasons for fans to expect bigger and better achievements from the defensive front.

While we cannot ignore the success of the Rams front office in the 2023 NFL Draft in adding incredibly talented outside linebacker Byron Young and nose tackle Kobie Turner, the image of a dominating Rams pass rush did not come into focus until the team added outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the 2024 NFL Draft. Admittedly, it was Karma that created the opportunity for Verse to fall to the Rams at the 19th overall pick. By all accounts, he would be a surefire Top 10 selection in most draft years.

But NFL teams fixated on the rare abundance of talent in the 2024 NFL Draft at quarterback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. The first defensive rookie prospect did not hear his name called out in the draft until the 15th overall pick. The Rams called out Jared Verse's name four picks later.

With the addition of both Verse and Fiske, the Rams defensive front was ready to rock and roll for newly promoted Rams DC Chris Shula.

Verse was DC Chris Shula's lightning rod

While there is much to be said about the NFL genetics and legacy of the Shula name and heritage, not even the best NFL coaches can accomplish anything without the right players in the right roles and the right attitudes to execute the coach's vision. It was clear from early games that Coach Shula needed a new breed of defender.

Shula's defense is not passive. He wants his players to play with passion, intelligence, and with a physical presence that leaves every opponent faced knowing that they were in a toughly contested game. And the embodiment of that defensive swag was rookie edge rusher Jared Verse. As a new defensive coordinator, Shula's defense was opportunistic, fearless, and physical. Even in the early blowouts, the Rams defense took it all in stride.

How else could this team lose in a blowout to the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 41-10, but win the rematch by a score of 13-9. The defense simply played angry in the second game. The offense did little better in the rematch. In the first game, the Rams had just one quarterback sack, and just one quarterback hit. But in the rematch, the defense put up four quarterback sacks, and six quarterback hits. It was a sign of things to come.

Jared Verse stands 6-foot-4, weighs 250 pounds, and is a relentless, powerful presence coming off the edge. In his rookie season, Verse generated 66 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, 18 QB hits, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a safety. Even when not sacking the quarterback, everyone on the offensive side of the football remains aware of where Verse is at all times. More often than not, he is in the proximity of the ball carrier. If that means a quarterback who is standing tall in the pocket, then it often turns into quarterback pressure:

If the Rams overall defense is a cake, then the addition of Jared Verse is the icing that completes the cake. After soul-searching at the end of the 2022 season, the team needed an outspoken pass rusher who could not only attract the ire of NFL fans, but channel their passion into his own electrifying performance on the football field.

Brotherly love

It was Verse who taunted Philadelphia Eagles fans before facing the Eagles in a snowstorm in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Rather than slink into the shadows, he took a lap before the game to prove to the fans that he was not going to be intimidated.

In the NFL, you either stare down the pressure, or it stares you down. And the more talented and famous the player becomes in professional football, the greater the passion of fans who cheer against you. Verse understood that when he called the wrath of the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase upon himself. Eagles fans are epically notorious among NFL circles for booing and hating on players of opposing teams who trash talk. But, if they are able to back up that talk with onfield heroics? Something magical happens:

East Coast NFL fans are passionate, yes. But they respect elite NFL talent whenn they see it. Those fans do not buy in national narratives, as they demand to see it for themselves. And Jared Verse showed Eagles fans that he is around to stay in the NFL.

While being awarded the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie Of the Year honors is a great start to his NFL career, Verse is only just getting warmed up. And with the hiring of Pass Rush Coordinator Drew Wilkens, the Rams' young defensive front will only get better from here.

Jared Verse is about to enter his second NFL season. With a superb rookie season under his belt, Verse's second season is bound to be even better. The Rams have a lot to look forward to on the defensive side of the football already. With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the team is prepared to welcome the next group of rookie stars.

As always, thanks for reading.

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