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Rams secondary continues to surrender season-best rookie offensive performances

Patriots QB Drake Maye is the latest rookie to play far better against this Rams secondary than they have all season.

By Bret Stuter

Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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The LA Rams won a tough battle on the road in Week 11. Despite the victory, there is a trend that is increasingly concerning. That trend is the way the Rams secondary seems to offer up season-high performances to offensive rookies this season. It's concerning, because it's more than a one-off anomalous data point. It's becoming a bad habit.

The pattern first reared its ugly head in Week 2, when Arizona Cardinals rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. exploded for 130 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He has not bettered that performance yet this season. The Rams also allowed a huge game to Chicago Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams in Week 4, And the secondary seemed powerless to stop Las Vegas Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers in Week 7.

In Week 11, the Rams allowed New England Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye to appear like a seasoned veteran. Maye completed 30 of 40 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns, and a fatal interception in the game's closing seconds.

That's going to be a problem if not corrected.

The LA Rams pass defense is not the worst in the NFL. With 223.3 passing yards allowed on average per game, the Rams clock in as the 22nd-ranked pass defense in the NFL. But the group has allowed 18 passing touchdowns so far this season (24th-ranked) while taking the football away with 10 interceptions (eighth-ranked).

Meanwhile, the team's pass rush continues to skyrocket up the board. With 27 quarterback sacks in 10 games, they are the 12-ranked pass rush in the league.

Still, the Rams rolled the dice on their defensive strategy, opting to blend veteran cornerbacks with younger safeties. But so far, it's the young safeties that seem to be dropping jaws and raising eyebrows. Starting cornerbacks Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon are struggling this season, allowing far more completions in 2024 than in 2023. While the third starting cornerback, Cobie Durant is solid, he can only be in one place at a time.

Hopefully, the group will settle into a groove now that everyone is healthy and learning to play more cohesively together. But if not, the Rams are going to struggle to sustain success this year.

As always, thanks for reading.

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