Thomas: Is this the year for Rams defense?

Is this the year for Rams defense?

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/is-this-the-year-for-rams-defense/article_bff42e9d-8c3b-52cf-bd3b-6eb4b010442e.html%5B

A year ago at this time, the Rams’ defensive front had a slick nickname, considerable national hype and every reason to believe quarterbacks throughout the league were quivering at their mere approach.

Well, you saw what happened to #SackCity. It became #SadSackCity for the first third of the 2014 season. Defensive mainstay Chris Long was lost for most of the season with a foot injury in the opener. On the heels of a 19-sack season, Robert Quinn got a ton of attention from opposing blockers.

Five games into the season, the Rams had one measly sack, not to mention a 1-4 record. And no one was calling them #SackCity. Granted, pass-rushing can be a streaky thing, and teams were getting the ball out quick. But no one, absolutely no one, expected this.

“As far as the nickname’s concerned, that’s something we never really — I mean maybe we re-tweeted something or favored it on Twitter,” Long said. “But it wasn’t something that came from us. We don’t want a nickname, we just want to go out and earn it, and earn our reputation.”

If the start of 2014 did anything, it reinforced the notion that nothing should be taken for granted in the NFL.

“And just because we look good on paper doesn’t mean if we don’t execute that it’s gonna work out,” Long said. “So we need to stay on the grindstone and keep working.”

That’s the approach the unit took after the rough start in 2014, and the final results were impressive. Over the final eight games of the season, the Rams were fifth in scoring defense, fourth in rushing defense, tied for fourth in sacks and tied for sixth in takeaways.

“We know who we are no matter what,” Long said. “Even in those low points last year where people were (wondering) what the hell is going on with us, we know who we are and nobody hits the panic button.”

So now, as the Rams embark on the 2015 season, there are no nicknames. But if anything, expectations are higher — and this time not just for the front four, but for the entire defense. Here’s why:

• Continuity. Ten of 11 starters are back, which is unheard of in this age of free agency and the salary cap. The only newcomer, free-agent pickup Akeem Ayers, replaces the departed Jo-Lonn Dunbar at outside linebacker.

• Depth. Not only are all the starters back, but most of the Rams’ two-deep from a year ago returns on defense. Of the 23 defensive players on the 2015 roster, 19 were with the squad last year.

• Pedigree. With the addition of another free-agent pickup, Nick Fairley, the Rams have five former first-round picks on their D-line. Ten of their 11 defensive starters were drafted in the first, second,or third round.

• Leadership. For the first time since Jeff Fisher’s arrival in 2012, the Rams are entering a season with the same defensive coordinator (Gregg Williams).

• Experience. Although the Rams remain one of the league’s younger teams, they have some seasoning on defense. With the exception of 2014 NFL defensive rookie of the year Aaron Donald, every member of the team’s top 11 has at least two seasons of NFL starting experience.

“They’ve set this thing up well with the way they’ve gone about it,” said linebacker James Laurinaitis. “It’s about that time for us. It’s not a young team anymore. It might be young still by age, but there’s a lot of experience out there. A lot of guys that have played a lot of minutes.

“So the expectations are going to be extremely high. And we have a lot of guys holding each other accountable more.”

Laurinaitis, the quarterback of the defense from his middle linebacker position, enters the year with 901 tackles, just 14 shy of Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen’s franchise record of 915. He’s been around long enough to realize the unique nature of returning basically an entire defense intact.

“It’s very rare. And it’s exciting,” Laurinaitis said.

And a defense littered with high draft picks and stocked with better depth.

“When you have five first-round D-linemen, it makes your short-yardage package a lot better. And your goal-line a lot better,” Laurinaitis said. “How do you utilize all five guys? What’s the rotation? … How do you utilize certain guys for certain talents?”

If there’s a way, Williams will do it. The mad scientist of the St. Louis defense has a package for just about every scenario known to man. He has a knack for finding what players can do well, and then finding ways to let them excel in those roles.

“We don’t have to learn a whole new playbook again,” said defensive end Robert Quinn, a two-time Pro Bowler. “Same defense. Same calls. So now we can play faster. Now we can relate faster.

“It makes it more comfortable for us to be out there on the field and not trying to second-guess ourselves. ‘Should we do this? Should we do that? What have we got?’ Having stability in coordinators and players and all that has allowed us to stay comfortable and go out there and succeed.”

So despite what you may have seen or not seen in the preseason, there are plenty of reasons to think this is the year for the defense.

There’s Donald, who led all NFL rookies in sacks a year ago and may have had the best camp of any Ram. … Consider also that Quinn (12) and linebacker Alec Olgletree (10) rank 1-2 in the league in forced fumbles since the start of the 2013 season. … Cornerback Janoris Jenkins has the most defensive touchdowns in the NFL (six) since the start of the 2012 season.

Put it all together and this could finally be the year the Rams take their place as one of the NFL’s elite defenses. They have been building toward this for several seasons, fortifying their ranks with the extra draft picks acquired in the so-called RGIII trade with Washington, and sprinkling in free-agent additions here and there.

There are question marks in the secondary, particularly at cornerback, where the team’s one major preseason injury was a season-ender for E.J. Gaines (foot). The back end needs to minimize the number of busted coverages and big plays allowed.

Even so, anything less than a top 10 finish on defense will be disappointing. Simple as that. No more excuses, ifs, ands, buts.

“Oh, no doubt about it,” said veteran defensive end William Hayes. “I’ll be disappointed if we’re not a top-five defense. And I’m not saying that just because I play on this team.”

Hayes paused for an instant, and then reaffirmed his point to a reporter.

“I’ve never shot you wrong,” Hayes said. “I’ve always shot you straight. This team is gonna be special. And I’m not saying that just to say it. I played on some really good football teams in Nashville (with the Tennessee Titans). And if you put this roster up against any roster I played on, it’s not even close. That’s my personal opinion.”

Can this defense be special?

“With the youth and the depth and the talent level, we have a chance,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “When you talk about Rodney (McLeod) playing at his level and T.J. (McDonald) and Mark (Barron), just the options we have within our packages.

“I think Brock’s (Michael Brockers) gonna have his best year. And Aaron’s gonna be better than he was last year, and you add Nick to the mix inside, it’s gonna be pretty impressive.”

Can this defense be dominant?

“You expect that,” general manager Les Snead said. “They did a heck of a job last year when they tipped and turned and got to gel, and it was fun to watch (over the second half of the season). The goal is to carry that over into this year, and sooner rather than later.”

Can this defense be elite?

“We always think that,” Williams said. “You know, I’ve had some really good defenses in the past. I’ve had some really good ones across the leagues on other teams. We have the makings of it. But again, we have to stay healthy. And you know, some of the offenses, hopefully they’ll cooperate, too, and not play as well.”

Some “cooperation” would come in handy early in the season from the likes of Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Carson Palmer. Last season, the Rams’ defense had a fancy nickname and nowhere to go. This year, it wants to make a name for itself.