2 Rams rookies, Verse and Fiske, must have huge games in Week 5

The LA Rams may be 1-3, but I continue to insist that the future for this team is both bright and promising. After all, of the team's front seven on defense, the Rams roster can populate every position with either a rookie or second-year player with above average chance of success. And it's that youth movement that not only adds significant value to the team, but thanks to the affordability of rookie contracts over four year's time, will aid the team's ability to stockpile talent elsewhere.

As long as the team shops wisely.

Still, it's four games into the 2024 NFL season, and after a month of NFL competition, it's time for some of the young players on this roster to step up and stake their claim to the spotlight. Not for the sake of attracting attention and fame to themselves personally. Rather, it's because this team needs to get better overall play from the rookies and second-year stars.

Now that the team is entering Week 5, October 2024, and the second quartile of the long season, players have to turn the corner from sporadic accomplishments to consistent achievements. So let's turn to two rookies who need to showcase their ability week in and week out.

Braden Fiske

While just a rookie, defensive lineman Braden Fiske has already competed in 177 densive snaps. Over those plays, he has 14 tackles, 1.0 quarterback sack, one tackle for a loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He even has seven quarterback pressures,

But he is just getting warmed up. Just check out his Pro Football Focus grade for his Week 4 performance against the Chicago Bears:

He has missed three tackles, but he will fix that over time this season.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 291 pounds, Fiske is a defensive coordinator's dream. He is talented and powerful enough to slide across the team's defensive line, and has an instinctive ability to stunt, twist, turn, and otherwise create havoc on the line of scrimmage to frustrate both offensive linemen and ball carriers. Each week, he gets stronger, more confident, and more experienced.

Now in Week 5, it's time for this student of the game to prove his command of so many NFL lessons on the job.

Jared Verse

While he has just 1.0 quarterback sacks after four games, remember that rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse had two quarterback sacks stripped out of the record books due to defensive penalties in Week 4. Verse has played in 179 defensive snaps, and put up 1.0 QB sacks, 19 tackles, and five tackles for a loss, He has even forced a fumble.

Verse is every bit a Round 1 rookie, and he puts it on display every week. In addition to one sack, he has four QB hits, three quarterback knockdowns, and nine quarterback pressures. Unfortunately, he has six missed tackles, but much of those are simply because he gets near to a ball carrier while still being engaged with an offensive lineman.

The thing about Verse is that he is so indominantly powerful. He has faced some of the premier offensive tackles in the NFL already, and continues to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In Week 5, he will have another chance at putting pressure on Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love

The Rams cannot hope to win on the strength of the offense alone. The coaches refuse to commit to two-tight end formations. And the aerial assault is simply not as effective without WR Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on the football field. Surprisingly, the Rams rushing offense is struggling as well, despite RB Kyren Williams accounting for more than 75 percent of the team's touchdowns.

Verse and Fiske have to step up this week. Not just to make tackles, but to force Packers QB Jordan Love into hurrying throws and making mistakes.

Otherwise, this team risks falling to 1-4.

Thanks for reading.