These 3 minor moves added up to a huge victory for the Rams in Week 7

When any NFL team struggles to find success, the door to questioning decisions swings wide open. And yes, the LA Rams falling to a record of 1-4 before the Week 6 BYE certainly created the opportunity for fans to second-guess the team's strategy. I myself have found plenty of evidence to question how the team had constructed the roster as compared to how the team game plans for the football field.

Failure to win games creates the 'What if . . . ' scenarios in the minds of fans organically. There is nothing wrong or disloyal about supporters of the team second-guessing the strategy and the decision-making process. In fact, it's not only a normal reaction, the very fact that fans open up their minds to apply professional skepticism is a sign of a healthy mind that thinks independently.

But is it just as necessary to give credit when and where credit is due. And to that point, here are three minor decision made by the Rams coaching staff that paid off huge dividends in Week 7:

(3) - Starting undrafted rookie IOL Justin Dedich at LG

Giving an undrafted rookie a shot to perform as a starter from the LA Rams roster is not an easy achievement to accomplish. If you doubt me, just consider the plight of undrafted rookie ILB Omar Speights, who continues to be benched behind both Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom. Fortunately, OL Coach Ryan Wendall is a bit more open-minded, as he started undrafted USC rookie IOL Justin Dedich in Week 7.

Dedich delivered.

Perhaps the team would have enjoyed a better run blocker at left guard, but Dedich did not surrender a single quarterback sack in his debut. That is about as good as it gets. And with the team anticipating the return of Joe Noteboom, Dedich's chapter as a starting Rams offensive lineman may be short-lived.

But the team needs backup players to step up, and Justin Dedich did exactly that.

(2) - Elevating veteran DB Ahkello Witherspoon from practice squad

There are plenty of questions over the team's reluctance to re-sign defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon. And there are just as many questions over the team's insistence to maintain Witherspoon on the practice squad. But now that the team has activated Witherspoon from the practice squad three times, the decision has come to a head. To benefit from Witherspoon's play any further, the team will need to sign him to the active roster.

Fortunately, the team elevated Witherspoon in Week 7.

In just 104 defensive snaps, Witherspoon has generated six tackles, has allowed seven of ten targets to be completed, and has one pass breakup. That PBU happened at a key moment in Week 7, and denied the Las Vegas Raiders from making a huge completion. Witherspoon arrived mid-season, and will only get better as he acclimates to the secondary over time.

Witherspoon has not gotten a fair shake by the Rams front office in 2024. But the team is forced to either leave him on the practice squad or sign him to the active roster. Hopefully, he will join his teammates. After all, this secondary has performed much better with him than without him.

(1) - Playing undrafted rookie DB Jaylen McCollough in Week 7

It's almost inconceivable to accept the fact that undrafted rookie defensive back Jaylen McCollough has only played 45 defensive snaps. In spite of such limited work, he leads the team with three interceptions. Two of those interceptions happened in Week 7 against the Raiders.

No other player on the Rams roster has more than one interception this season. And on top of that, McCollough has five tackles as well. Per Pro Football Focus, McCollough is having one heckuva season so far, with a 2024 grade at an eye-popping 86.4. But it agrees with the optics, as McCollough appears to be a bloodhound in the secondary to sniff out the football.

While the team emphasized ball-hawking defensive backs to add to the secondary, how ironic is it that an undrafted Tennessee rookie prospect is leading the team in interceptions with just 45 defensive snaps. One of those interceptions falls into the category of pick-six.

Three minor decisions, three significant impacts. We will never be shy or silent when it comes to lobbying hard for the team to make the right decisions quite often. But we also have no problem applauding the team for making the right decisions as well.

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