Week 17 will prove to be the make or break game for the Rams young pass rush

Rams hot pass rush has cooled off lately

There is nothing new to an NFL defense's need to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And in terms of how the Rams have addressed that aspect of the game, the team is ahead so far this season. That is, the offensive line has allowed 28 quarterback sacks in 2024, while the defensive front has racked up 32 defensive sacks.

But all is not well in terms of the Rams pass rush lately. You see, the Rams had been getting plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Lately, whether by use of a running game, a quicker release, or simply better blocking strategies, the Rams pass rushers have been less effective.

Heading into Week 17, the Rams top five pass rushers are:

• NT Kobie Turner - 7 sacks
• OLB Byron Young - 6 sacks
• DT Braden Fiske - 6 sacks
• OLB Jared Verse - 4.5 sacks
• OLB Michael Hoecht - 3.0 sacks

But if you look at their production over the last six games in terms of sacks recorded, you find:

• NT Kobie Turner - 2 sacks
• OLB Byron Young - 1 sack
• DT Braden Fiske - 3 sacks
• OLB Jared Verse - 0.0 sacks
• OLB Michael Hoecht - 0.0 sacks

The most alarming part of the Rams pass rush is that the players who are paid to sack quarterbacks have hit a prolonged dry spell. Only Kobie Turner has recorded any sacks in the past four games. So the Rams top five pass rushes have generated just two sacks in four games, and six sacks in six games.

That is not something the Rams want to see as the team closes in on the playoffs.