The Los Angeles Rams have built one of the NFL’s more aggressive and versatile defenses under Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The unit has the talent to make life difficult for opposing offenses, but there is always room for improvement. As the Rams prepare for another season with Super Bowl aspirations, perhaps the biggest question isn’t whether the defense needs a major overhaul, but whether one strategic change could make it even better.
The interesting part is that there are
several directions the Rams could take. There isn’t necessarily one obvious answer, and that is what makes this discussion worth having.
Option 1: Change the Scheme
The Rams have frequently utilized nickel and dime personnel, allowing them to put more defensive backs on the field and counter modern passing attacks. But could there be a point where the defense becomes too light?
Teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions have shown an ability to generate offense against lighter defensive personnel. Physical offensive lines and strong rushing attacks can create problems when defenses prioritize speed and coverage over size.
Perhaps the Rams should consider using more size in their base defense.
That doesn’t mean abandoning nickel and dime packages. Those formations are essential in today’s NFL. But mixing in more traditional personnel could give the Rams another way to defend teams that want to establish the run and impose their physicality.
Another question is coverage. Should the Rams lean more heavily into man-to-man coverage rather than relying so extensively on zone concepts? Man coverage could allow the pass rush more time to get home, but it also places greater responsibility on the defensive backs.
Option 2: Change a Player
Sometimes the simplest solution is who is on the field.
The biggest question marks on the defense right now for the Rams are LB2 and CB3.
The Rams could evaluate whether they have their ideal combination at off-ball linebacker. Nate Landman is clearly the Rams “MIKE” linebacker. But Omar Speights is a question mark, only producing middling results when on the field. Could Shaun Dolac or Grant Stuard provide something different?
Neither player necessarily has to be viewed as a replacement right now. Instead, the question is whether the Rams could benefit from giving another linebacker more snaps and seeing whether that player provides improved instincts, tackling, coverage ability or physicality.
Option 3: Change the Amount of Blitzing
The Rams could also look at how frequently they send additional pressure.
More blitzing could create more one-on-one opportunities for the defensive line and force quarterbacks to make quicker decisions. On the other hand, excessive blitzing can leave the secondary vulnerable and create explosive plays.
Perhaps the answer isn’t simply “blitz more” or “blitz less.” It could be finding the right situations to bring pressure.
Option 4: Add More Disguises
Another possibility is changing what opposing quarterbacks see before the snap.
The Rams have utilized plenty of quarters coverage over the last 5 seasons, but could they benefit from presenting more varied looks? Showing one coverage before the snap and rotating into another afterward can force quarterbacks to process information differently.
The goal wouldn’t necessarily be to abandon what already works. It would be to make the defense more unpredictable.
Option 5: Different Defensive Coordinator
Chris Shula has done a good enough job for the Rams as the defensive coordinator in his two-plus seasons but is good enough what the Rams need? The Rams have a Super Bowl caliber roster. The team added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson this offseason. It’s time to deliver. Is Chris Shula the right man for the job?
So, Rams fans, if you could make exactly one change to this defense, what would it be? Would you alter the scheme, change a player, adjust the amount of blitzing or add more pre-snap disguises, a new defensive coordinator? Or something else altogether?
There may not be one correct answer. The fun is deciding which adjustment could give the Rams the biggest defensive advantage.
