It's not even training camp, but Rams defense already disproving 3 critics

The Los Angeles Rams are entering the second season for newly-hired Defensive Coordinator Chir Shula, and that has proven to be a problem in objectively assessing this unit. Had the Rams hired a defensive coordinator from outside of the organization, the adaptation of new defensive strategies, tactics, familiarity, and competencies would be given a waiver. In essence, everyone would be willing to give this defense some slack.

But the team promoted positional coach Chris Shula to defensive coordinator, so nobody factors into their assessment of his second season. As a returning defensive coordinator, Shula is far more familiar with his players in specific roles. The front office has much clearer and concise knowledge of who will and who will not work in this defensive scheme. And the roster and depth chart itself more accurately reflect what and who Shula wants to play for him.

What did the Rams do in 2024 to set up the defense in 2025 to play more effectively? The Rams discovered that two rookie safeties are ball hawks (Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough), discovered that Ahkello Witherspoon is worth starting, learned that Tre White is not cut out to start in this secondary, and discovered that undrafted inside linebacker Omar Speights is far better than veteran ILB Troy Reeder.

Many cite the Rams' lack of attention to the secondary as a problem. But the Rams did address the defensive front, edge rushers, and inside linebackers. The team completely retooled the secondary in 2024, and it makes sense to give this group a pause in shuffling to regroup and showcase just how well they can coordinate pass coverage this season.

Is there an inherent risk to this gamble? Of course. But let's not ignore some mid-season roster additions, and the fact that the Rams' secondary was decimated by injuries to open the season. And one of the setbacks to this defense was self-inflicted, as the team traded away starting ILB Ernest Jones just as the 2024 NFL season was about to commence.

So, did the Rams do enough in the offseason?