Throughout the first three games of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Rams were awaiting second-year edge rusher Jared Verse to take over a game. While Verse had strong moments to start the season, he had yet to eclipse five pressures in a game and over a 15 percent pressure rate. Again, that’s not to say that Verse had been bad, but he simply hadn’t had that elite-level performance that he showed he was capable of at the end of his rookie year.
That changed in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Verse may have only ended up with one sack, but his presence was felt throughout the entire game. It was his strip-sack that changed the math as the Indianapolis Colts were driving to take the lead. Verse won with power, but his strip-sack came on a speed move and winning around the edge. That play was a sign of development as Verse looks to diversify his game.
Verse recorded a season-high six pressures against the Colts and out of those six pressures, three of them came in under 2.5 seconds. In the previous three games, Verse had just three “quick pressures” combined. While Byron Young may be stealing headlines with five sacks through four games, Verse showed why he is still the more dominant pass rusher on the edge.
The viral play from Verse came in the third quarter. The Rams are in one of their packages, utilizing three edge rushers on the field with Verse blitzing as the middle linebacker. This is where the Rams used Michael Hoecht last season. Verse converts speed to power and absolutely bulldozes through Tanner Bortolini. Verse doesn’t get the sack, but Daniel Jones can only throw the ball away.
Verse simply makes moving 300-pound offensive linemen backwards look easy. He had one of the best bull rushes in the game last season and that hasn’t changed. However, in areas he struggled last season, he’s improved in year two. He has a 6.3 percent missed tackle rate which is down from 25.6 percent as a rookie.
While he’s not perfect against the run, he has the upside to completely blow up any run play because of how aggressive he is. His six run stops are tied for the sixth-most among edge rushers. In the play below, he once again converts speed to power and pushes the left tackle directly into Jonathan Taylor in the backfield. Verse created a tackle for loss on this play.
There were some concerns about Verse because of how quiet he had been throughout the first few weeks of the season, despite favorable matchups. Following the Colts game, it appears that the rust has worn off and the Rams edge rusher has officially arrived to the 2025 season.
Kyren Williams leads the run game
The cool thing about the Rams run game this season is that when one running back is struggling, the other can provide a spark. This isn’t an offense that’s reliant on one player. In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Kyren Williams struggled to find space while Blake Corum averaged 8.8 yards per carry. It was the opposite against the Colts. Corum struggled to find space and it was Williams creating as he went on to average 5.9 yards per carry.
Against the Colts, Williams had an 84.6 percent success rate. At this point, it’s clear that Williams simply isn’t going to be a player that breaks off long runs. However, to keep the offense on track at the rate that he did against the Colts is also extremely valuable.
The broadcast brought up Williams’ pass protection ability multiple times. While it may have been over exaggerated to an extent, he did have a strong day in pass protection. That is crucial considering how much the Rams offensive line has struggled. Even if Williams is able to buy Stafford an extra half second, it can be the difference.
Rams safeties steal the show
The Rams might have one of the stronger safety rooms in the NFL. Kam Curl may not have had the start that some expected to his Rams career, but he’s really come into his own. Last offseason, the Rams coaching staff was very excited about Curl and we are starting to see that more on Sundays. In both of Curl’s interceptions, he covered a lot of ground to make a play on the ball. On the first interception, he comes from the far hash and jumps in front of the wide receiver for the interception. It was Curl’s first interception with the Rams and there are likely more to come. Through four weeks, Curl is the eighth-highest graded safety according to Pro Football Focus and ranks number two in the run game.
What’s great about the Rams safeties is that it is such a diverse group and they all provide unique skillsets. Quentin Lake has been fantastic in coverage this season and leads all safeties in pass breakups. Jaylen McCollough brings a physical skillset and can play the dime linebacker with the ability to make tackles in space. Lake ranks eighth in coverage via PFF and McCollough is one of nine safeties to have not missed a tackle.
That doesn’t even mention Kam Kinchens. Kinchens nearly had an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles and had another ball hit his hands against the Colts. It’s only a matter of time before he capitalizes on one of those opportunities as he’s processing the play extremely well right now. Still he’s been very strong against the run. Kinchens remains a playmaker on the ball and the turnovers will come.
Honorable Mentions
Matthew Stafford Bounce Back
Stafford may have had one of the quietest 375 yard and three touchdown games for any quarterback. When the Rams needed a drive from Stafford against the Colts, he produced. On ‘gotta have it’ drives, Stafford was 16-for-20 for 268 yards and three touchdowns. His touchdown pass to Davante Adams was very good, but he had some clutch throws on third down throughout the game as well.
Finally Tutu Atwell gets involved
Atwell is much better than the one-trick pony that he sometimes gets painted as because of his speed. He can excel as a deep threat, but he’s much better at other things as well. When the Rams are going in to tie the game, Atwell route timing allows Adams to create a natural pick. Atwell sells his route to the flat and beats Hilton inside as he turns up-field. This forces Hilton to commit a penalty. The Rams run a similar concept later with Adams and Atwell running a combination route. Atwell starts inside and then comes back outside as he turns upfield. Hilton trips, but the Rams would have also created a natural pick to open up Adams or Atwell. Atwell comes open and Stafford hits him for the game-winning touchdown.
