Rams cannot take these Bears lightly, and here's how to avoid a trap game:

(3) - Rams run defense remains unproven

The LA Rams rush defense was a weakness long before the season started. It was one of the areas that the roster never quite addressed effectively. The Rams tinkered with the defensive line in Week 3, with some effect, But this defense has a lot of things on the punch list to fix, and that's problematic for a team that struggles to defend the pass as well.

The team seemed to fare better in Week 3 after shoveling more defensive snaps to rookie DT Tyler Davis and DT Neville Gallimore. The team also started to move DT Kobie Turner back to his former nose tackle position with impressive results as well.

I won't sugarcoat this. The Rams' decision to entrust their inside linebacker positions to Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom was a mistake. Neither veteran has shown the wherewithal to handle the responsibility of diagnosing plays, knowing where to be, and stuffing the ball carrier in the hole. Instead, the two ILBs prefer to retreat to a safe distance of five yards off the line of scrimmage, plant their feet, and then move laterally to the ball carrier.

Oftentimes, they are drug two or three more yards downfield.

So far in 2024, ILB Troy Reeder has missed three tackles, and recorded one tackle for a loss. His teammate, Christian Rozeboom, has missed five tackles and failed to record a single tackle for a loss. Out of a total of 49 tackles between the pair, they have missed eight tackles (16.3 percent missed tackles) and gotten one tackle for a loss (just two percent).

It's time to give rookies Omar Speights and Elias Neal some playing time.

Could it be disastrous? Perhaps. But we know the ceiling of both Reeder and Rozeboom. And this defense simply needs much more from the defense than either veteran has shown so far. If the team is hesitant to roll both rookies in, Why not rotate Omar Speights in for a defensive series. Later in the game, the team can rotate Elias Neal into the game.

Refusing to play either Speights or Neal because they haven't demonstrated their ability is a self-fulfilling prophecy. They cannot get experience until given the chance to play. Let's rip the bandaid off and let the rookies play. Like playing rookie Beaux Limmer at center, or rolling with two tight ends on offense, I expect the results will exceed expectations.