Weak Rams pass-rush has become a frustrating flaw aside from Byron Young

Stop if you've heard this before: the Los Angeles Rams did not record a sack in Week 6, the fourth time this season they have finished a game with one or none. Their four against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 remains half the year's total. 

Great job, guys.

Well, actually, great job Byron Young, who has registered a respectable 3.5 sacks and ranks sixth out of 115 edge defenders with 29 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Young has done his part. Problem is, he's not getting any help. 

You know it's bad when inside linebacker Omar Speights is second on the team in sacks. He has two. Edge rushers Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey have one. Safety Kamren Kinchens has half a sack. That's it. Only the Dolphins have fewer as a team.

It's far from a sacks problem. The whole rest of the active edge-rushing rotation - Stewart and Bailey plus Desjuan Johnson - has 12 pressures. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett had all day to dink and dunk the Rams to death. Fans have seen it far too often this season, and it's one of the many things sinking LA's ship.

Rams pass rush isn't getting home nearly often enough

The elephant in the room is, of course, Myles Garrett's injury. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year and single-season sacks record holder is sitting on injured reserve, where he's been ever since playing hurt in Week 1. That's a problem, and despite Young's best efforts, it's showing up. 

The Rams are getting pressure on the interior. Braden Fiske has 15. Kobie Turner has 13. Aaron Donald has seven in four games played. 

That helps, to be sure, but thus far no one has gotten home. That, also, is a problem. 

Other than Week 4 in Philadelphia and Week 2 against the Giants, when the pass rush only came up with two sacks but terrorized Jameis Winston all night long, this group has not produced much in the way of pressure. 

Pro Football Reference has the Rams 24th in pressure rate, once place behind Miami. They're 13th in hurry rate, at least, but only 23rd in knockdown percentage. That's despite LA's defene blitzing at middle-of-the-pack frequency (15th).

Rams need more than Byron Young by himself

Even Young has suffered somewhat from feast or famine. He has a sack in two games and none in the other four. He certainly did not play his best against the Cardinals. 

But he can't do it all by himself, every single week. The Rams need more options. So far, they haven't found any. Stewart has been banged up, though he did take down Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 5. He's done what he can. 

Garrett is rehabbing steadily but does not seem particularly close to a return. He's not coming to save them. 

The secondary did not play a tight game against the Cardinals. The absence of cornerback Trent McDuffie made an obvious impact, as did the loss of Jaylen Watson in the second half against the Broncos in Week 3. Other than that, however, it's been a very good group. 

It's the pass rush holding this Rams defense back, and a run-stopping unit that can't seem to stop a nosebleed when it counts. In other words, the real problems are up front, which was supposed to be a historic strength with Garrett, Donald, and company. 

Well, scrap that. Young needs help and the Rams need answers. Right now, neither is in sight. 

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