Rams may witness a lot of Jared Verse in Rhino-mode in Week 11

When the kickoff of Week 11 finally arrives, the Los Angeles Rams will almost certainly defer. It's just a good strategy to set the offense to come out after halftime, knowing the opponent's strategy. It also allows edge rusher Jared Verse on the football field sooner.

Verse is more than a good defensive player. He is a lightning rod for fans' focus, both cheering for and against him. But that works both ways. In the days leading up to the 7-2 Seattle Seahawks' visit to SoFi Stadium, the NFL media has focused on how good the Seahawks are playing on both sides of the football.

For Los Angeles, the chatter has been about the offense. That won't sit well with Verse. Particularly not when he is a game-changer. And his defensive coordinator, Chris Shual, knows how to use him to devastating effect:

The mix-and-match defensive front engineered by DC Shula is not for the faint of heart. He knows where the weak link is located on the opponent's offensive line, and then hammers at that position with his best and most physical players.

Seahawks center injury sets up Jared Verse for more Rhino havoc

It's difficult enough for a starting offensive lineman to withstand edge rusher Jared Verse in a normal scenario. But a backup trying to stop Verse in his tracks with a full head of steam is nigh impossible. And with Seahawks starting center being placed on injured reserve, the former Florida State phenom is a safe bet to see some opportunities to rush the A-gap today:

That is not a new wrinkle for Week 11. The Rhino package has been deadly effective in the past. Verse may play the edge, but his bull rush is power-packed, and can stuff the run by forcing a center into the handoff to a running back. And the A-gap pass rush is terrifying to a quarterback.

The Rams defense is taking a back seat in this one, and that's completely undeserved. Everyone is touting a very good Seahawks defense. But LA's defense has been just as impressive this season, and nobody is talking about it. Well, not many are.

Verse can change the narrative against Seattle, and he likely will. There are great players on both teams. But don't think for a minute that the former Seminoles defensive star will let someone step into SoFi Stadium without announcing himself.

Grab your popcorn for this one.

As always, thanks for reading.