4 no-cost fixes to Rams that can happen in time for a Week 3 upset victory

(4) - Put more defensive linemen on the football field

Until the Rams defense can shut down the run, the team cannot win. I know that the team has experimented with a 4-1-6 and and 5-1-5 defensive formations. But the Rams are allowing 197 rushing yards per game. While that is based on just two games, the fear is that it could get worse before it gets better. And this defense, more than anything else, as to discover some way to slow down opposing teams merely running the ball down their throats.

With two nose tackles and four defensive linemen on the roster, the Rams have to add to the beef on the defensive front. If that means playing both nose tackles: Bobby Brown III and Neville Gallimore, adding a third defensive end, or activating either DT David Olajiga or Cory Durden from the practice squad, the team needs more oomph up front.

You know the San Francisco 49ers are going to feed the Rams defense a steady diet of running plays.

So plan accordingly. Stuff the run. Make the 49ers passing game be the featured offensive strategy. The Rams cannot allow teams to control the game clock, the scoreboard, and the game tempo, by running at will.

(3) - 15+ carries for Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, respectively

The LA Rams rushing offense is horrific right now. The team is averaging just 68.0 rushing yards per game. While the team has only rushed 43 times, 26th most frequent among 32 teams. But in terms of effectiveness, the Rams are the 31st out of 32 team in terms of putting up rushing yards. Does any NFL defense have reason to respect the Rams running backs?

The top 10 rushing offenses in the NFL have all done one thing that the Rams have absolutely failed to do. They have committed to running the foortball. That's right, it's as simple as rushing 31+ times per game, and that has launched those ground games into the top 10 NFL rushing offenses without exception.

Can it be that simple? In a word, yes.

Of course, the Rams will not break free for a 50 yard dash at first. The team simply is not experienced enough at running to count on big gains. But the more this team runs, the better the team becomes. If only the team had a power running back, this would jump off the page. As it is now, the team simply has to commit to no less than 15 runs by each running back, and lean into the most effective runner for more during the game.