Puka Nacua and 7 other Rams to face the 49ers for 1st time in 2024 on TNF

(3) - ILB Omar Speights

The LA Rams faced the San Francisco 49ers behind the tandem of ILBs Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom in Week 3 this season. Reeder ended the game with 10 tackles and one tackle for a loss. Rozeboom likewise ended that game with 10 tackles. Can the Rams get better production out of their ILBs in Week 15? Yes. And the reason for that improvement is the presence of a snarling, ticked-off terror who patrols the heart of the Rams defense name Omar Speights.

And Speights is growing up quickly as an undrafted rookie in his first NFL season:

In reviewing the stats from that Week 3 contest, the San Francisco 49er piled up 137 yards rushing without RB Christian McCaffrey. Jordan Mason, the backup RB who churned out 77 yards against the Rams in Week 3, is on IR as well. Even RB Elijah Mitchell is on IR for the 49ers. The 49ers leaned heavily on the rushing of RB Isaac Guerendo to pound the Chicago Bears in a lopsided win in Week 14. But Guerendo suffered an foot sprain, and is questionable to face the Rams.

The 49ers love to run the football against the Rams. And they often have success in doing so. That's why I love Omar Speights in this one. He is focused on defending the run, filling the holes, and putting the running back on their backsides. In Week 3, the 49ers passed 30 times and rushed 34 times. You can expect more of the same in Week 15. But that lands right in Omar Speights wheelhouse.

Scouting report: This could be Omar Speights' coming out party. With far more weapons to fear in their aerial assault, how can the Rams defense not consider the 49ers aerial assault as the greater danger. That means that it will be up to Speights to harness the 49ers running backs. Look for 12 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and perhaps a forced fumble or recovery in this one.