Big Whit sees big things from the LA Rams young defense in 2024

While fans have yet to see the finished product, there is a smoldering bit of optimism surrounding the LA Rams young defense. From the surprising success of a pair of 2023 rookies in NT Kobie Turner and OLB Byron Young, the team has tried to emulate that same template once more in 2024. This time, the defensive combination of rookies OLB Jared Verse and Braden Fiske had already created chemistry at Florida State University.

So the Rams drafted both players, hoping to import not only the players, but their bonds of friendship and instinctive coordination on the football field. And so far, all of the reports indicates that the team overshot the mark by a considerable margin. Both Braden Fiske and Jared Verse were instantly perceived to make the 53-man roster, and both are vying for starting roles on this defense.

It's that infusion of so many talented young players emboldens former Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth to believe that this defense could be even better in 2024, despite losing All-Pro DT Aaron Donald to retirement.

We've seen the evidence too. Despite playing defensive backups, this defense is aggressive and swarming to the football. It's not a great leap of faith to believe that starters will match their backups' intensity on the football field.

Rams have a trash talker on defense now

There is a new angle of this defense in 2024. It appears that OLB Jared Verse is already making a name for himself among Rams players as a huge trash talker. That's just fine as long as he can back it up. And so far, he has:

Verse is a spirited young pass-rusher who will tell his opponent what he about to do, and then just does it. He is incredibly powerful, with several video clips from joint practices where he is man-handling starting offensive tackles. Not just with a powerful bull rush, but a compete arsenal of pass rush moves at his disposal.

Perhaps that is why NFL experts project Jared Verse as the 2024 Defensive Rookie Of the Year.

Fans have yet to see the Rams defense in action. But don't be dismayed. Week 1 is just around the corner. And if the Rams show up as prepared as I think that they will be, Rams fans are going to enjoy seeing what this defense can do.

Thanks for reading.