Now that we’re full-on into the playoffs, it’s time to stop looking in the rearview with our Secret Superstars series, and start looking forward to the next game with Postseason X-Factors. The principle is the same — using game tape and metrics to uncover those hidden gems for every team who are primed to bring their best when their franchises need it the most.
The Los Angeles Rams face off against the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round after their comeback win over the Carolina Panthers in the Wild
Card frame. And they now have a major factor back on the field in the person of defensive back Quentin Lake, whose injury absence had a clear negative effect on Chris Shula’s defense.
Football is the most interdependent sport, so when we’re discussing the effect of not having one particular player on your roster, you have to look at a lot of different things. Just because things are falling apart on one side of the ball, it doesn’t automatically mean that things would be this or that much better with Player X back in the fold. While Player X has been out, Player Y could have been playing with his own serious injuries, and Player Z, who is replacing Player X until he’s healthy, simply isn’t qualified to run his coaches’ concepts.
But in the case of Rams defensive back Quentin Lake, the issues in his absence were pretty clear. Lake suffered an elbow injury in the 21-19 Week 11 loss to the Seahawks, and from then through the end of the regular season, L.A.’s defense was not the same. The Rams went from 8-2 to 12-5 without Lake. In the second half of the season, their defensive EPA rose from -0.04 to 0.0 (defensive expected points added is better when it’s negative), the defensive DVOA dropped from third to ninth, pass defense DVOA dropped from second to eighth, and the run defense DVOA dropped from fourth to 14th.
Plus, Lake got himself a new three-year, $38.25 million contract extension on January 1 — while he was still coming back from injury. That’s quite a statement.
Lake returned for the Wild Card Round, and while there were a few rusty spots, his value was very much in evidence.
Why is Lake so key to what the Rams want to do? Sean McVay will tell you that Lake is crucial on a team with a lot of younger defensive backs with his ability to communicate Shula’s concepts on the field, but the fourth-year man, selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft out of UCLA, isn’t just there for his big brain. This season when healthy, Lake has allowed 38 catches on 55 targets for 420 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, nine pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 96.0, Lake also has a sack, seven pressures, 51 tackles, 19 stops, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Maybe it’s the football smarts he got growing up — he’s the son of Carnell Lake, who made five Pro Bowls, a First-Team All-Pro Team, and is a member of the Hall of Fame All-1990s team for his work with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baltimore Ravens from 1989-2001 — but Quentin Lake’s on-field acumen is no joke.
“It’s extremely important,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said on January 7 of Lake’s return. “He’s a great player, whether you’re just talking about scheme-wise, or what you can do, and all the things that he does for us. Really what he brings to the team as far physicality, communication, and the questions he’s asking in the meeting room. It’s awesome to have him back.”
It didn’t take Lake long to re-establish his value in the Wild Card round. With 1:24 left in the first quarter, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young tried to hit receiver Jalen Coker on a backside dig route. Lake, who was playing the deep third, read it all the way and came down for what was almost his own interception, but instead turned into a pass deflection into the hands of cornerback Cobie Durant.
“Communication and the command,” McVay said on Monday, when asked how he thought Lake did on his return. ”I thought he played tough at the point of attack, and I thought there were some things, like anything… Steph [Curry] and Kobe [Bryant] when they’re off a little bit, I said this to [receiver] Davante [Adams] too, they need to get their shots up and knock some rust off. I thought it was amazing having both of those guys out there. I know you didn’t ask about ‘Tae’ [Davante Adams], but to get Davante and Quentin back out there brought a big boost to the swag, the confidence, the communication, and overall command.
“Then there are some things that I think are great to knock some rust off. They’ll be the first to tell you because of the standards they have. There were some plays they were proud of and some things that they can learn from. But overall, it was great having ‘Q’ back out there. Then there’ll be some technical things and some things just in space that I think he’ll say, ‘I can be better there,’ and he will be.”
It wasn’t a perfect game. Lake gave up a 22-yard pass interference penalty while covering Coker with 1:05 left in the first half, and Coker beat him for a 37-yard gain on the very next play. You could see Lake hoofing it a bit when he’s usually more smooth and in phase downfield. As McVay said, it takes a minute.
But when you have a defense that plays more snaps in dime (six defensive backs) than any other, someone on the field has to be in charge of making sure everybody is in the right place. This will be equally important against the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round, because at any time, quarterback Caleb Williams can make plays with his arm and his legs, and you could be wondering what happened too often. There’s also the matter of Chicago’s massively effective run game. You need a veteran who can play every DB position on the field as Lake can to set the tone.
“I’m really happy for him,” McVay said of Lake on January 2, the day after Lake got all that new money. ”He’s well deserving. He’s a guy that, similar to some of the other players that we’ve talked about, that have gotten these extensions or that we’ve onboarded, represents everything that we love about what we want be about with the values and the principles.
“I think he’s had great production and great versatility, but more importantly, there’s a reason why he’s basically been unanimously voted as a captain the last couple years. He’s got an incredible way about himself. I think some of these special players elevate people that they’re around in situations they’re a part of. You’ve heard me talk about that before.
“That’s who Quentin Lake is. I love him. I love the journey that he’s been on, and I’m really happy that he stuck with me for a few more years.”
A fully returned-to-form Quentin Lake could be a big reason the Rams are able to stick in the postseason last Sunday’s game.
