7 winners and 5 losers in Rams 2nd consecutive win over tumbling 49ers

(1) - Loser: Christian Rozeboom

The LA Rams were always going to start ILB Christian Rozeboom in 2024. But as soon as the team opted to part ways with starting ILB Ernest Jones IV and promote rotational ILB Troy Reeder to a starting role, the ability of Christian Rozeboom to complement Jones in this defense instantly became a duplication of similar weaknesses to that of Reeder.

Let me explain.

Christian Rozeboom is not particularly effective at diagnosing plays in real time. He is not much of a thumper. That is, he is not skilled at finding the hole chosen by a ball carrier and meeting him with a head of steam in that hole. He is not a particularly gifted tackler. He offers some pass coverage in zone defense, but even then he does not stand out.

What he does well is become an obstacle in throwing lanes. While he is not particularly effective at initiating tackles, he is effective at piling on and assisting with a tackle after a teammate has the ball carrier wrapped up. In 23 tackles this season, 12 are solo tackles and 11 are assists.

And he misses tackles. So far in 2024, he is missing tackles at a 17.9 percent rate.

With Ernest Jones starting, those deficiencies were masked. But playing alongside Troy Reeder, a linebacker with similar weaknesses, the effect is amplified. The Rams have to make a change at the inside linebacker role. While the team has solid rookies in both Omar Speights and Elias Neal, the first change will almost certainly be Rozeboom.