It's not even training camp, but NT Kobie Turner already circled this rematch

Can the Rams defend the run?

There is no way to tell what the defense is capable of until the pads go on and the season begins. But if you fear the Rams have fixated too much on stopping one NFL player, you should revisit the entire Los Angeles Rams 2025 schedule. As it now stands, the Rams are slated to face the top five running backs from the 2024 NFL season, and if some players return to health, this could be a very long season:

• Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley - 2,005 rushing yards, 13 TDs | 1st
• Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry - 1,921 rushing yards, 16 TDs | 2nd
• Atlanta Falcons RB Bijon Robinson - 1,456 rushing yards, 14 TDs | 3rd
• Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor - 1,431 rushing yards, 11 TDs | 4th
• Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs - 1,412 rushing yards, 16 TDs | 5th
• Carolina Panthers RB Chubba Hubbard - 1,195 rushing yards | 10 TDs | 8th
• Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner - 1,094 rushing yards | 8 TDs | 11th
• San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey - 1,459 rushing yards | 14 TDs | 2023 -1st

With 10 games on the Rams schedule facing 1000+ yard rushers, the defense has its work cut out for itself. So the Rams' interest in upgrading the run defense was more about enduring the best of the NFL, and not just about taking down the Eagles. So, how do the Rams plan to do that?

It all starts with getting much stronger at nose tackle, and the Rams have managed to sign an elite run-stuffer in veteran nose tackle Poona Ford. To ensure he stays fresh and rested, the team drafted a very powerful and athletic defensive lineman in Ty Hamilton.

To get more run-stuffing, the Rams have added powerhouse inside linebacker Nathan Landman to the roster. He adds two inches and about 15 pounds to the linebacker position over last year's starter, Omar Speights. The team also drafted Pooh Paul Jr, and signed rookie Shaun Dolac after the draft. Both are hard-hitting linebackers who eliminate the need to swap out a linebacker for a defensive back on passing downs, giving the Rams a much stronger run defense at its weakest scenario from a year ago.

Even as the Rams defense is very young, the team refurbished the defensive depth chart to be much stronger against the run. Now, the question is, can the team manage to turn the corner in 2025, particularly in the face of such elite rushing offenses queuing up?