LA Rams fans social media fury over team's latest move in free agency

If you wanted the LA Rams to address their pass rush this offseason, the team has done so. But if you were among the many vocal fans that insisted that the team land one of the top pass rushers in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market? Well, you are likely stewing in your own juices right now.

One of my 10 Bold Predictions for the 2024 NFL season was a prediction that the team would extend OLB Micheal Hoecht, C Coleman Shelton, and LT Alaric Jackson. So far, two of the three players will be back, and Shelton's future is still to be determined. While the return of Michael Hoecht is a step in the right direction in terms of the team's depth, many fans are already fuming, disappointed, and downright angry with this latest development.

So now the question is, why?

Hoecht may not be a Pro Bowler. He may not even be among the Top 20 outside linebackers in the NFL. But why are fans begrudging a guy who will earn under $3 million to rush the quarterback this season? It's not as though he is responsible for the team's inability to pay other players. Due to the Top-51 contract offset, Hoecht's contract will hit the 2024 salary cap for just over $2 million. That is a steal for the team.

Many of the arguments against extending Michael Hoecht have pointed to his inability to cover wide receivers. But that is more of a scheme problem then a Hoecht problem. Let me explain: Because the Rams show an odd-man front, they rush one of the two outside linebackers on the field on passing plays. Assuming that the defense has OLB Byron Young and Michael Hoecht on the football field at the same time, either Young or Hoecht rushes the quarterback, and the other stays back to cover the flat.

Why Michael Hoecht is great value to the 2024 Rams roster

1. The trade off at outside linebacker nobody like to talk about
2. Hoecht adds far more than pass coverage to the defense
3. Fans reactions are overwhelmingly disappointed

The trade off at outside linebacker nobody like to talk about

Everyone witnessed that effect when the Rams traded for OLB Von Miller. That dictated that the other OLB, Leonard Floyd, was repurposed to cover the flat. Von Miller started for the Rams in Week 10. Not so coincidentally, Floyd only managed to record 2.0 of his 9.5 quarterback sacks over weeks 10-18. That covered eight games. 7.5 of his quarterback sacks occured over the first nine games of the 2021 season.

The reason? With Miller rushing the quarterback, Floyd became the default cover guy. As fans react to adding an edge rusher, few consider the fact that a player like premier edge rusher Danielle Hunter or Brian Buns comes at a cost. As they rush a quarterback, they force young outside linebacker Byron Young to cover.

So yes, there is a trade off at the position no matter who the Rams added.

In all honesty, many of the plans to go big were a bit concenrning to me. Just like the addition of Von Miller, the team would be compelled to direct a big-ticket pass rusher to focus on rushing the quarterback. That would stymie the development of young outside Byron Young, a player who showed tremendous progress in the role in his rookie season.

Many cite the team's need to help out All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald, particularly due to the frequency of teams double-teaming Donald. Well, let's update everyone. Rookie NT Kobie Turner was double-teamed more frequently than Aaron Donald in 2023 and recorded more QB sacks. So yes, help is and was already on the way.

Hoecht may not have been double-teamed, but his presence certainly helped the team get to opposing quarterbacks as well as they did. And like any other young player (2023 was his first full season at the position), he improved significantly over the course of the season.

Hoecht adds far more than pass coverage to the defense

The image of Michael Hoecht attempting to cover a wide receiver has been difficult for many fans to shake off. But statistics simply do not support the 'he stinks,' consensus among Rams fans right now. Hoecht allowed just 24 of 31 passes to find their target (77.4 percent completion rate) for 232 yards and one touchdown. He recorded 81 tackles, 11 QB hits, seven tackles for a loss, and 6.0 quarterback sacks in 2023. He forced one fumble and even broke up two pass plays.

By comparison, rookie Byron Young allowed 13 of 17 passes to find their mark (76.5 percent completion rate. Nick Hampton allowed one of two passes to find the mark (50.0 percent completion rate). Ochaun Mathis was never targeted. Finally, Zach VanValkenburg allowed one of two passes to find the mark (50.0 percent completion rate).

What does all of this tell us?

Two things. First, it reveals that Michael Hoecht was targeted move than all of the other outside linebackers on the roster, combined. But what is also shows is that Hoecht dropped into coverage far more often than he should have, and far more often than fans realize. Hoecht was targeted more frequently because he was schemed by opposing offenses, and not protected by the Rams own defensive schemes.

But fans do not give him any credit for his willingness to do whatever the team wanted. Many prefer to penalize him for his willingness to become a defensive lightning rod and attract the lightning bolts that are tossed at him.

Thankfully, The Athletic's writer Jourdan Rodrigue stepped up to defend Hoecht against the fans backlash. Check out what she says specifically:

• He helps out the team in a couple of areas
• He sets the tone at practices
• He has done every job they've asked him to do

Wouldn't it be incredible if the LA Rams could roster All-Pros at every position. But some defenders have to gobble blockers. Some offensive players have to play decoy. Other offensive players must block. Finally, some defensive players must cover, and not rush the passer.

Championship teams are as much about role players as stars.

Fans reactions are overwhelmingly disappointed

So how did fans react to the news of the team extending RFA OLB Michael Hoecht an Original-Round Qualifying Tender Offer? Let's just say that many fans were very expressive on social media.

For example, some fans recognized his positive contribution to the defense in 2023 and considered that teams exploited his weakness, a weakness that was scheme-related and not talent-related:

Some fans objected to the fact that Hoecht was used too frequently in coverage:

Some fans disagreed with the team in a civil, but stern way:

Some fans were a bit less lucid, and a bit more ... opposed:

Some fans were so shocked that they believed the news to be a prank or a very early April's Fools joke:

Some simply let their emoji do all of their talking for them:

After the dust settles, and the fans grow weary of rejecting Hoecht's return for this season, we plan to revisit the team's entire offseason before the 2024 NFL Draft. But here is a silver lining to keep in the back of your mind.

With this move, there are not 'gotta do's,' for the front office in terms of the 2024 NFL Draft. Whether you want to agree or not, the Rams offense and defense is okay, if not desirably deep, at any position on the roster. The team even has kicker Tanner Brown on the roster for 2024.

That means that of the 11 draft picks scheduled for the team in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's about landing the best player available (BPA). That's a huge win for this team. And I cannot stress this enough, judge the team's final roster. Don't be too hasty to reject individual players this early in the offseason. The team clearly has a plan in place.

This thrilling ride is just 48 hours old. Sit back and enjoy. And as always, thanks for reading.