Coach Giff Smith: Can these 8 rookie prospects fit his defensive line?

When it comes to the 2024 NFL Draft, we have all done our fair share of mock drafts, and even looked at historic trends to see what type of players could fit on the LA Rams roster. After all, that's what it is all about, right? But at some point, the team will pivot from what was to what is, and that will compel us to rethink how the team might address the needs of the thinning ranks on the defensive line.

New DL Coach Giff Smith has a tough row to hoe this year. Not only must he find some way to compensate for the retirement of All-Pro DL Aaron Donald, but he must replace 1500 defensive snaps on a three-man defensive line. That works out to about 50 percent of the season's defensive snaps. So far, the team has not added any new faces to the roster.

Complicating the matter even more than before, he must take over for the NFL's best defensive line coach, Eric Henderson. Coach Henny was more than a coach, he was a motivator, life coach, leader, and gate keeper to a host of young talented defensive linemen who found their NFL careers by adhering to his insightful mantra: #DAWGWORK. Those letters signify Discipline, Attitude, Work-Ethic, and Grit. It's no coincidence that undrafted and Day 3 prospects like DE Morgan Fox, NT Greg Gaines, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, and DE Jonah Williams have all earned the right to start in the NFL.

So that leaves us with this question: What type of DL prospect flourishes for Coach Giff Smith?

We featured Coach Giff Smith in an article when he was first hired. But some time has passed since that article was published. Now, we have to try to mix and match the DL prospects who have the best chance of fitting his style of coaching. So, who might that be?

That's a fair question, and one that will only be truly answered over time. But we can follow the clues from his past coaching roles to lay out a framework for his style. Once we have that image beginning to form, we can then us that information to guess at the type of prospect or player who will fit his group. Ready? Let's dive right in . . .

IV: Us against the world mentality

One of the first traits of Coach Giff Smith is his approach that pits his defensive linemen against opposing offenses. He embraces the us versus them mindset for several reasons. For starters, it runs counter to the current culture of doing things for likes on social media. Coach Smith believes that you do what is right for the team, not for what gets you the most Instagram followers.

It's a similar approach to Coach Henny's DAWGWORK. Excelling in the daily grind does not win fans or attract spotlights, but it does prepare that player for big moments and big games. After all, the first job of any NFL positional coach is to prepare the players to make plays. Coach Giff Smith takes that responsibility very seriously. And he expects his players to do so as well.

III: He holds everyone accountable

Everyone makes mistakes. The trait of champions is to learn from those mistakes to ensure that they are not repeated. NFL players appreciate holding players accountable. It's not about the blame game. It's the simple fact that fixing mistakes and solving problems begins by identifying and defining what that problem is.

In an ESPN article about Coach Smith's job as Los Angeles Chargers interim head coach, Kris Rhim details how Giff Smith won over the Chargers' locker room by being a straight-shooter who held every player on the team accountable. And that method worked, as veterans endorsed Coach Smith as he led the team in their final three games in 2023:

"He will obviously hold you accountable to what you got to do, but at the same time, he is going to let you know that he also believes in you. Building confidence is, I think, as a coach is so underrated. I think that is what his superpower is -- that he is able to build confidence in guys regardless of the circumstances, and that elevates players."

Chargers safety Alohi Gilman

Despite going 0-3 in their final three games, the Chargers lost those three games by a total of 10 points.

II: Doesn't dabble in analytics so much. He is old school.

No matter how you slice it, playing on the defensive line in the NFL is one of the most physically demanding positions in professional football. As such, Coach Giff Smith believes his eyes and his sense about the players who will succeed in his system. That does not mean that he throws out draft profiles that include data analytics in the overall assessment. It simply means that he does not rely on them exclusively.

To my limited knowledge, there is no data analytics method to quantify a player's passion for the game, nor his competitive spirit.

Football is a tough man's game, and Smith embraces the very nature of the sport in his coaching style. Smith opts to put points on the board rather than go for it on fourth down and short yardage. Smith is not a risk taker in the sense that data analytics dictates what he should call on any given play. But it's that nature that reassures his players. He believes in them to make the plays that count.

I: He builds confidence in his players.

The one aspect of coaching that so many seem to overlook is the way coaches give encouragement and positive reinforcement to his players. Any coach who embraces the 'you have to have your brother's back on the football field,' will be instantly judged by how well that coach has his players' backs.

Coach Smith connects with his players. He is the type of coach who is present in the moment, and never distracted by thoughts or events elsewhere. Players appreciate that more than many realize. He is the type of coach who finds a path in the fog. He holds his players accountable, but holds himself most accountable. He is the type of guy who you want to be stranded with in the wilderness, because he has an instant plan for survival and rescue.

Right now, without Coach Henny or Aaron Donald around, he is the perfect coach to lead this group. So which prospects fit this type of coach? Lets dig into the top defensive linemen and give a quick assessment:

How do top DL prospects fit Coach Giff Smith?

I: Texas DT Byron Murphy II - is one of the most talked about defensive linemen in this draft class. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 297 pounds, he has the versatility to slide into multiple positions on the defensive line. He is incredibly athletic, and that allows him to play a physical game with urgency. He has the fire and physicality to flourish for Coach Smith.

II: Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat - has been one of the more controversial prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 366 pounds, he is a mountainous man whose athleticism will shock you as you see it for the first time. But does he fit Coach Smith's coaching style? I don't see it. He has struggled with some off-field matters that could be interpreted as a lack of accountability, a huge no-no for Coach Smith.

III: Missouri DE Darious Robinson - a versatile defensive lineman who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 285 pounds. He is a versatile defensive lineman with great size who loves to play physical football. He is a throw-back to old school smashmouth football, and could be one of Coach Smith's top prospects. Still a tad raw, he is passionate, coachable, and has some solid skills to become a solid NFL starter. He could play very well for Coach Smith.

IV: Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton - 6-foot-2 304-pound Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton is a muscular compact defensive lineman who has the strength and speed to threaten the quarterback and ball carrier until the whistle blows the play dead. He is a big defender whose power ensures he will stand out in run defensive, but whos speed and agility will keep him actively pursuing quarterbacks on passind downs. He checks all the boxes for a three-down defensive lineman, and could be a solid get for Coach Smith's defensive line.

V: Florida Braden Fiske - 6-foot-4 292-pound Braden Fiske possesses a revved-up engine that allows him to stick his nose into the offense before they expect him to. It's his athleticism and twitchy pedal to the metal presence on the defensive line that will earn him a spot in the defensive line rotation. Due to his size, he could slide into any of the three defensive line positions. But if he hopes to win a starting role, he will need to add about 10-20 more pounds of muscle. He gives it everything he has, and Coach Smith will love that about him.

VI: Michigan Kris Jenkins - Kris Jenkins is another defensive lineman who has the potential to become a solid contributor/starter in the NFL. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 299 pounds. Jenkins has the size and power to play the 1-tech or 3-tech for the Rams defensive line. Jenkins is a run-stuffing powerhouse who truly loves to power up in the gym and then apply those bulging muscles on the defensive front. Yes, Coach Smith will love that about him.

VII: Ohio State Michael Hall Jr. - By this point, we have starting to slide into Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, but 6-foot-3 290-pound defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. does not surrender much in the way of on-field potential and production. He is less refined in terms of other players names so far, but that merely opens the door to Coach Smith to help level him up. He is versatile enough to fill multiple roles on the defensive line, and has the foundation to excel in his NFL career. Coach Smith will live that about him.

VIII: Clemson Ruke Orhorhoro - The draft profile written about Ruke Orhorhoro shows no consensus as to his projection of when he may be selected. Some believe that he is such a strong prospect that he could be chosen near the end of Round 1. Others cite his raw skillsets, average athleticism, and dependency on his agility to project him no earlier than Day 3. While I lean more toward optimism, I used the NFL.com site to rank the order of 2024 NFL Draft prospects. Orhorhoro is a 6-foot-4 294-pound rookie prospect who has the size to fill any defensive line positions on this team. Orhorhoro has the size and desire to succeed, he simply needs the right coach to show him the way. Yes, Coach Giff Smith can be that guy.

Ultimately, one of these eight prospects will hear his name called out by the LA Rams. Who will it be? That is up to you to decide. But having examined each prospect, the majority of them have the type of attitude and enthusiasm to flourish for Coach Smith in 2024.

As always, thanks for reading.