Rams borrow a page out of offense to bet on undrafted rookie ILBs in 2024

Whether intentionally, or simply an accidental byproduct of how events turned out, it appears that the LA Rams defense is taking an even more drastic makeover for 2024 than originally planned. Not only will this team face a new season without All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, and former DE Jonah Williams, but now the team will face the season without one of the most productive players to compete on the defensive side of the football, ILB Ernest Jones.

And so it goes. I have shared my views on the team opting to trade away veteran ILB Ernest Jones. Now, we have to unpack what this means for the team, and the inside linebacker position, for the 2024 NFL season.

Whenever a team drafts a rookie quarterback who is intended to become the face of the franchise, there are two schools of thought. The team can either thrown him into the fray, let him start Week 1, and figure it out on the job. That is the approach that the Chicago Bears are taking with rookie QB Caleb Williams. Or, the team can start a veteran, and allow the rookie to earn a starting role eventually with the team. That is the approach that the New England Patriots are taking with rookie QB Drake Maye, having named veteran QB Jacoby Brissett as the starter.

Okay, so why am I bring this up over the inside linebacker position? Well, the two development tracks are eerily similar. Here's what I mean:

The LA Rams have been nothing short of amazed over the preseason performances of undrafted LSU rookie ILB Omar Speights, aund undrafted Marshall rookie ILB Elias Neal. Both have exhibited passion, ferocity, and panache at the position. But, neither have enough NFL experience to run this defense.

Yet.

So the team is borrowing a page from the offensive development book of rookie quarterbacks, and pitting them behind veteran ILB Troy Reeder (five seasons, 83 games, 31 starts) and veteran ILB Christian Rozeboom (three seasons, 44 games, 5 starts). While this will not open the season with the best that this defense hopefully will become, it does give both Speights and Neal a chance to start when they are ready.

And that will allow them to take over a very young, but passionate and swarming defense this season:

This may not be how I hoped the defense would appear for Week 1, but I have to admit that this scenario is growing on me. I loved what I saw from both Omar Speights and Elias Neal so far, and now both have a chance to take over as starters this season.

While they may not do so, I believe that both can.

We have a lot of ground to cover, but I don't believe that starting Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom is a 'Sky is falling,' scenario for the defense. I loved the thought of ILB Ernest Jones running this defense. But with him gone, I have to say that I am excited to see what either Omar Speights, Elias Neal, or both can do as his successor.

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