Rams need Trent McDuffie to deliver a strong homecoming 'back in Cali'

Should the NFL allow Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie to wear ruby red cleats in Week 2? Much like Dorothy in the The Wizard of Oz, when McDuffie was interviewed this offseason he expressed how gratifying it was for him to finally return home:

"Honestly, I almost cried. ... And then you come back to my family, who can see me play all the time now. ... And then just knowing I'm back in Cali."

Well, home is where the heart is. McDuffie was born in Westminster, just over 31 miles from SoFi Stadium. After four seasons with the Chiefs, he's landed back in the neighborhood of his youth.

Now, he'll hope to reclaim that hometown energy as the Horns try to turn their season around. Touted as Super Bowl favorites, they never resembled a contender in Week 1.

After traveling thousands of miles and getting humiliated on prime time on an international stage, Los Angeles is eager to return to the friendly environs of SoFi. But even this welcome homecoming is no easy matter. Still reeling, McDuffie and the defense now face an impressive Giants squad that just defeated the Dallas Cowboys.

Trent McDuffie was one of Rams' few positive performers vs 49ers

The Rams were walking wounded in Australia. But although they lost edge rusher Myles Garrett to injured reserve, they did get promising news on a handful of other players. Health will be vital if the team wants to improve on both sides of the football.

While LA surrendered 27 points and struggled to stop the 49ers offense, McDuffie was not the problem. He did allow four of six passes to find their targets, but he also notched two breakups, with one nearly becoming a circus interception. Those four completions only gained 23 yards.

That works out to 5.8 yards per completion, 3.8 yards per attempt. McDuffie did not miss a tackle and only allowed a total of nine yards after the catch. He was consistently in position to make the play.

That's something new for this secondary.

As promising as his debut was, the secondary will need much more from him this season. While the Rams signed his teammate Jaylen Watson at a healthy $17 million average salary, McDuffie's lucrative extension reset the market post-trade. That kind of price tag comes with commensurate expectations.

It was difficult to discern amid the chaos, but McDuffie made a positive impact as his teammates struggled. If this group hopes to put up a stingier effort, McDuffie will need to make Week 2 a homecoming worth remembering.

As always, thanks for reading.

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