5 thrilling developments already obvious at the 2024 LA Rams training camp

V: This is Ernest Jones defense

If you had to guess who would assume the reins of the defense on the football field in 2024, you would have hit the bullseye to guess veteran ILB Ernest Jones. While he is clearly one of the more senior continuous veterans on the defensive side of the football, he is also one of the most productive defenders on this roster.

When the team reset their defense in 2023, it was Ernest Jones who stood in front of the media and declared that the Rams would be better than expected on defense. Now, keep in mind that many NFL analysts had the Rams projected to be one of the worst defenses in the league one year ago. With the release of veteran OLB Leonard Floyd and the trade of veteran DB Jalen Ramsey, few expected this team to put up much resistance at all.

Veteran ILB Ernest Jones IV not only corrected them in press conferences. He went out and proved them wrong by putting up career-high numbers. His numbers were so good that many believed that he had a Pro Bowl season.

And he is already putting up indications that his fourth and final season under his rookie contract will be even better yet:

If the Rams are going to compete in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, Ernest Jones will need to put up career-high numbers once more. Not only is he prepared to do so, but he eagerly welcomes the chance. His 2023 statistics were exemplary, not just due to the fact that he put up 145 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, and broke up six passes. The most outstanding quality about his 2023 season is that he did all of that in just 15 games.

Ernest Jones is a savage and physically-formidable inside linebacker who is gnawing at the bit to get onto a football field and play to the best of his ability. We haven't seen it yet. But when we do, prepare to be amazed.