It only took one game for Rams to miss the presence of veteran ILB Ernest Jones

When the LA Rams played the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs, the team emerged on the losing end of a 24-23 score. But there was definitely a different feeling at the heart of the defense, the fierce and defiant ability of veteran inside linebacker Ernest Jones to read the play, stuff the run, and even sack the quarterback.

In that win or go home contest, Jones recorded nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, two quarterback hits and 2.0 quarterback sacks. But throughout the game, the ability of the defense to limit the Detroit Lions running backs to 22 rushes and 82 yards.

Fast forward to Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, and the same two teams competed on Ford Field in the inaugural Sunday Night Football game of the 2024 NFL season. While the outcome resulted in the Rams coming up with the short end of the final score, this one had a different feel. The Lions seemed to have more confidence in running the football, and the box score proved that to be true.

The Lions rushed 31 times for 163 yards in Week 1. That is more than double the amount of rushing yards allowed by the defense in the 2024 NFL Playoffs. Of course, some of the added production can be attributed to the Lions overtime possession that led to a touchdown drive. In overtime, RB David Montgomery rushed five times for 45 yards, RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushed once for three yards. And WR Kalil Raymond rushed one for 12 yards. The scoring drive was rounded out with one pass to RB Jahmyr Gibbs for10 yards.

Why did the Lions run the ball down the Rams throats in overtime?

The Rams inside linebackers were slow to react, did not make a single tackle for a loss, and were unable to even make clean tackles when the ball carrier aimed directly for them.

In all of the 2023 NFL season, veteran ILB Ernest Jones played 934 defensive snaps, and missed just two tackles. Conversely, ILB Christian Rozeboom played 550 defensive snaps, and missed 12 tackles. His teammate Troy Reeder played 192 defensive snaps in 2023, but missed three tackles. Combined, the pair of starting ILBs struggles ro wrap up the ball carrier.

The Rams made a business decision to part ways with Ernest Jones, and that is certainly their right. But there is a football component to this as well. Jones missed just 1.4 percent of his tackles in 2023. The guys playing the position missed ten times that rate a year ago.

And from what I witnessed in Week 1, they haven't improved their ability to tackle at all.

Thanks for reading.