How Rams current cornerback crunch might dictate coverages in Week 1

The LA Rams secondary certainly has some extraordinary challenges already facing the team for Week 1. The team, already down one cornerback in Derion Kendrick, was forced to move projected starting cornerback Darious Williams to injured reserve, removing DWill from the active roster for a minimum of four weeks.

And on top of all of that, the Rams other starting veteran cornerback, Cobie Durant, is himself fighting off a hamstring injury. So that is a significant number of cornerbacks facing injuries before the season begins. So with all of that said, the Rams secondary is looking at just three healthy cornerbacks as the team rolls into Week 1. And the lone healthy starter, Tre'Davious White, is coming off a torn Achilles Tendon.

Even as the team gets fantastic news over the status of Decobie Durant for Week 1, the team is by no means out of the woods just yet.

It's likely that both undrafted rookies, Josh Wallace and Charles Woods, will see action in the season opener if only to spell the starters in the game as a form of proactive load management. And the team is only one more injury away from a secondary catastrophe.

But more immediately, this outbreak of injuries could significantly impact the team's use of nickel and penny defensive sub-packages.

But before we tout no chance of added defensive backs as defensive options, I must point out that this team is abundantly stockpiled at the safety position. The team boasts Quentin Lake, Kamren Curl, John Johnson III, rookie Kamren Kinchens, and Russ Yeast at the safety position, all of whom are NFL starter-capable. Even rookie safety Jaylen McCollough had a rather impressive preseason for the team.

At any given time, the Rams could opt to have Lake, Curl, Johnson, and Kinchens on the football field simultaneously. And don't fret about the pass coverage that his quartet gives the secondary, as they are all very accomplished at all versions of coverage options.

The Rams defense has quite a formidable challenge facing them in Week 1. But keep in mind that his is a young and swarming defense. I don't think the Detroit Lions are prepared to face them. I know the NFL is not ready for this defense. Not yet.

You see, it will be difficult for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff to find his receivers with the Rams pass rush flushing him out of the pocket practically every time that he drops back to pass.

Expect the unexpected from this defense in Week 1. And expect to be pleasantly surprised.

As always, thanks for reading.