LA Rams DC Chris Shula just turned the corner with his young defense

Rams defensive roster is finally starting to get healthy

One of the biggest hurdles to getting a handle on this defense is the fact that this was always going to be a work in process. From the get-go, the team's reliance upon rookies to reinforce the line of scrimmage, while simultaneously signing free agent veterans to lock-down the secondary, was by design creating a kaleidoscope or personnel who would fit the scheme. Atop all of it, DC Chris Shula was in the control room, trying to create HIS defense, with the collection of players who had never competed in the same defense together.

The team formed around a theory, a defensive image that was more conceptual than historical. Complicating the process is the setbacks that injuries caused the group. Whether it was injuries in training camp, though the preseason period, or as the season started, Shula was forced to improvise. That improvisation forced him to form a secondary around players he hoped could deliver.

Unfortunately, some did not.

To be sure, Shula had to allow players to fail to trigger changes. And some challenges his defense faced was to be expected from the number or rookies who were infused into the defense. All rookies need time and patience to acclimate to the NFL game. Some may need less time, yes. But even rookies who seem to fast-track in professional football have good days and bad days.

In Week 7, many of the Rams defenders had good games:

Still, let's not become overly-confident. The Las Vegas Raiders benched QB Gardner Minshew for the very reasons that the Rams secondary found so much success against him. Minshew is a gun-slinger, and he loves to take chances in the pocket. He has thrown for four touchdowns, but been picked off eight times, this season. This season is lining up to be the worst of his career.