LA Rams are about to unleash a a White Out on NFL offenses in 2024

The 2024 NFL season is nearly upon us. For the LA Rams, many hope that the team will pick up where it left off a year ago. Well, that is partially true I suppose. The team began the season at 3-6, regrouped during a Week 10 BYE Week, and finished the season strong with a 7-1 record to seize the sixth-seed for the 2024 NFL Playoffs.

The team lost the game on the road against the Detroit Lions by an oh-so-close score of 23-24. As they often do, NFL schedulers hope to capitalize on that thrilling playoff game by setting the two teams up in a rematch at the same Ford Field to open the 2024 NFL season as was the site of the Detroit Lions first NFL Playoff victory in some time.

And it is slated to be the 2024 Sunday Night Football debut. If you are anything like me, you already have your refrigerator stocked with tailgating foods and beverages for game day.

The LA Rams want to exact revenge for a one-and-done playoff experience from the NFL Playoffs. And to help them accomplish that upset victory, the team has a secret weapon in their secondary, former All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White.

Rams solidify 2024 secondary

The Rams added DB Tre White for many reasons, but one glaring reason that stood out form the 2024 NFL Playoffs was the need to put up much better pass coverage against their former quarterback, Jared Goff. Despite bringing Goff to the ground three times for a loss of 22 yards, Goff was able to toss completions at will. He ended the game completing 22 of 27 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown.

Sad to say, not one defensive back was able to get a hand in and break up a single pass on the day. Not one.

It was that disappointing loss that seemed to galvanize the resolve of the team for the 2024 NFL season to upgrade the secondary. And even before the season starts, that appears to have been one of the offseason successes. The team may have lost both DB Ahkello Witherspoon and Jordan Fuller due to expired contracts, but the team added:

• DB Darious Williams - free agency
• DB Tre'Davious White- free agency
• DB Kamren Curl - free agency
• DB John Johnson III - extension
• DB Kamren Kinchens - draft

While all players have a role to play in the 2024 season, the most intriguing player added to the defense is former Buffalo Bills All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White.

All-Pro defensive back hits an injury buzzsaw

Tre White was a fixture for the Buffalo Bills, A veteran of seven seasons, he played in and started 82 games in the Bills secondary. While he was superb in his first four seasons, injuries have taken their toll on his production. Since 2020, he has started in just 21 games for the Bills. While he has always managed to claim at least one interception in each NFL season, since 2020, he has never managed to pick off more than one pass per season.

That led to his release, and eventual signing with the LA Rams. The Rams entire roster was thrilled to welcome him to the team:

Rams receivers have a lot of pride in their craft, pay a lot of attention to detail, and spend a great deal of time studying film. That all falls right up Tre White's alley because he takes a similar approach from the defensive perspective. And as we all know, iron sharpens iron. White takes pride in himself at his approach to preparing for games and a new season.

Here he was, surrounded by teammates on offense, who also prepare. So he is challenged on the practice field by receivers who excel in preparation.

White has had a prolonged streak of bad luck on the injury front. Bad as in an ACL injury from 2021 impacted his 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons. In 2023, he suffered a torn Achilles Tendon, ending his season after four games.

After his Achilles Tendon injury, the Bills patience was exhausted, leading to his signing with the Rams.

Rams unleashing a White Out at Ford Field on SNF

In seven seasons, Tre White has suited up for six season openers. Curiously, not one of his 18 interceptions has come in Week 1. In fact, of his 68 pass breakups in his career, he has only managed to break up one pass in a season opener over his career.

I'd say that he is long overdue, wouldn't you?

The Rams know QB Jared Goff, perhaps as much as the Detroit Lions know him. But Goff does not know this version of the Rams defense. This is a new version, a manifestation of new DC Chris Shula. And Shula has reloaded this defense to sack quarterbacks and pick off passes.

Do you find it to be a coincidence that those are two areas of extreme vulnerability of Jared Goff? As long as Goff could follow the offensive script, he can be dangerous. But as soon as the play breaks down, or the coverages change, he struggles to process what he is seeing, and improvise accordingly.

The defense's goal in Week 1 is to get Jared Goff off script. If that happens, Tre White will be waiting like a spider waits for a fly to get tangled in his web.

Goff threw two interceptions when he faced the Rams in 2021. He didn't throw a single pick in the 2024 NFL Playoffs. I think Tre White can coax one or two interceptions out of Goff on Sunday Night Football.

I like this matchup. The Lions have far too much confidence, and the Rams are far too hungry and face far too much disrespect right now. The Rams are unleashing a White Out on Ford Field in Week 1. And I don't think Jared Goff understands what that means.

It means that former All-Pro defensive back Tre'Davious White is out to be honored with another All-Pro season.

As always, thanks for reading.