Rams defense didn’t waste time making their 2025 intentions known

The Los Angeles Rams defense began to establish an identity in 2024. They transformed from a loosely affiliated group of players to a physical and opportunistic defense. But it was clear to the coaching staff and to fans that the job was not done. The Rams defense was unable to shut the door to the Philadelphia Eagles and to RB Saquon Barkley.

Time to regroup, reload, and reset. That's just what this defense did in the offseason. To nobody's surprise, the restocking of the defense was not a setback, but an enhancement. The defense appears to have leveled up, a more formidable version of last season's prototype.

If you wanted to know what Rams outstanding young outside linebacker Jared Verse has been working on this offseason, it's been a speed rush to add to his bull rush move. And if you wanted to see what that might look like on the football field, you should take a look at this:

And perhaps this as well:

It seems that Verse is not exactly okay with the way the Rams were shown the door in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, and wanted to make a statement early on that he is as formidable against the run as he is in pass rush form. It's safe to say that the message has been delivered emphatically.

Rams DBs had plenty to say in the 1st joint scrimmage

While the pass rushers have a bit of jockeying to do before the season opens, as per the first unofficial Rams depth chart, it is clear that one safety is less than satisfied with his placement and is already rallying to move up. Let me clarify by sharing the Rams depth chart positioning for the safety position. It shows:

• Safety: Quentin Lake | Kamren Kinchens | Tanner Ingle | Malik Dixon-Williams
• Safety: Kam Curl | Jaylen McCollough (* see more below) | Nat Valcarcel

* The Rams are deploying DB Jaylen McCollough as a dime 'backer this season

As you can see, of the four safeties who are expected to have already made the Rams roster, only Kamren Kinchens seems to have a diminished role. Well, don't expect that to remain the same as preseason rolls along, especially if Kinchens delivers such bone-jarring hits to would-be receivers in the secondary:

Kinchens brought the boom in that one.

While Kinchens was mowing the grass with Cowboys ball-carriers, Kamren Curl was on a different type of mission in the joint scrimmage. Last season, he had to sit back and watch in horror as two rookie safeties used limited roles in the secondary to claim four interceptions apiece, and lead the team in that department.

Making matters worse, or better for Rams fans, is that both Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough added a pick-six apiece to their performance. So Kam Curl was going to get his scrimmage marked by getting an interception, even if it meant taking away a Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens' touchdown to do it.

Which he did.

It seemed as though the Rams players were able to impose their will against the Cowboys in the trenches throughout the afternoon. And Dallas Cowboys beat reporters who covered the joint scrimmage shared that same sentiment as well. For Rams DC Chris Shula, it was a good step in the right direction.

The Rams regroup and send not-starters against the Cowboys in preseason Week 1. At that time, we will undoubtedly see much more from rookies and less-vital rotational players, all of whom are looking to showcase their talents and move up in the Rams depth chart. But for now, some key players made bold statements, and that is that this is a defense to be reckoned with.

As always, thanks for reading.

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