It's not even training camp, but this Rams unit seems poised for a rebound

I - Mid-season patches in road lead to repaving the way this season

A wounded animal is at its most dangerous. But Rams GM Les Snead is at his most effective state when the Rams are desperate for roster reinforcements. That was certainly true after the Rams secondary, battered with injuries, was forced to play ineffective CB Tre White despite realizing that he simply was no longer able to compete at the NFL level.

But former starting Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was.

For the second consecutive season, the Rams did not add Ahkello Witherspoon in time to benefit from training camp. And for the second consecutive season, the Rams promoted Witherspoon to starting cornerback to help the team salvage the season. And he did.

Witherspoon joined the Rams practice squad in September 2024 and was promoted to the team's 53-man roster early in October 2024. He appeared in 13 games for the Rams, started five games, and played just 494 defensive snaps. Despite a limited role, he recorded 31 tackles, deflected nine passes, had one interception, and only allowed 65.3 percent of passes targeting his receiver to find their marks.

Witherspoon is not a powerful defensive back, certainly not the type of defensive back to thump receivers and dominate tackles. But he is a gazelle with serious pass coverage chops, and his effectiveness at denying completions is a needed skill set for the Rams' pass coverage crew.

The Rams doubled down by claiming former first-round rookie Emmanuel Forbes off the Washington Commanders waiver wire too. Drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Forbes found himself on the outside looking in when the Commanders changed regimes. His release allowed the Rams to add a Round 1 talent from the 2023 NFL Draft, a year in which the Rams did not hold a Day 1 pick.

Forbes may have fallen out of favor in the Commander defense, but he is restoring his reputation in the Rams' secondary so far and might end up shining like a first-round cornerback should. That's huge.

Second verse, better than the first

it's no stretch of the imagination to expect the Rams to be more comfortable and effective in the second season playing in DC Chris Shula's defense. But it may be better than expected. After all, CB Darious Williams fought through a hamstring injury. Safety Kam Curl was trying to learn his role on a new team in a new defense with an ever-changing cast of players around him. CB Ahkellow Witherspoon was plopped into the secondary mid-season and was expected to make it work.

Even veteran cornerback Cobie Durant had to fight through injuries in the second half of 2024.

While there are no guarantees of health and durability this season, the Rams are getting a full training camp to work out the bugs. This year, training camp includes both Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes, two players who were not even on the roster at this time one year ago.

Do I see the Rams secondary as the 18th-ranked secondary in 2025? I expect to see the group closer to the 10th-ranked secondary than the 18th-ranked secondary. After all, the Rams pass defense allowed just 114 average net passing yards in two NFL playoff games last season. This year, every defensive back has returned and is getting a full schedule of training camp to improve on a sensational finish to last season.

It's not even training camp, but this Rams unit seems poised for a rebound. For now, let that be our little secret. As always, thanks for reading.

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