the 2018 defense … May thread

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Wildflecken. sez:

Absolutely love the Veteran Savvy of Wade Phillips. Wade being the Defensive Coordinator is the number one reason I am so pumped to watch the 2018 version of the Rams Defense in action.

With Wade Phillips as your defensive coordinator, throw the whole idea of “poor scheme fit” out the window. Wade Phillips is unique. He designs his defensive scheme to suit the talent he has on his roster, to utilize their strengths and turn them into schematic advantages on game day. With Wade Phillips as your D/C, you don’t have to settle for a mediocre talent addition in the offseason merely because the elite talent available plays the same position as the best defensive player on your existing roster. Wade Phillips loves that very challenge.

Wade puts his players in the best position possible to play to their strengths on game day, he exposes the weaknesses in the opponents roster and maybe most importantly, he lets his players have fun doing so. He understands the mental make up of elite talent and knows they thrive on making plays and winning. They thrive on the media attention that results from success.

Jack Youngblood said Phillips reminds him of Ray Malavasi, the Rams defensive coordinator from 1973 to 1977 and head coach from 1978 to 1982.

“Very intelligent about what the offense is going to do to you, and therefore, what am I going to do to offset that,” Youngblood said. “He puts his talent in position to be able to play and to be able to excel.”

[InvaderRam]

that’s good and all but none of this works unless the rams have production on the edge. and while i have faith that ebukam and longacre and ogbo will come through, i still need to see it on the field.

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InvaderRam wrote:

that’s good and all but none of this works unless the rams have production on the edge. and while i have faith that ebukam and longacre and ogbo will come through, i still need to see it on the field.

That’s a fair point.

Here’s a possible view of that.

My take is that they manufactured edge production last year out of nothing. A mostly (till the final games) ineffective Quinn, an effort guy in Longacre, an on his last legs Barwin, a rookie in Ebukam. They got 21 sacks from that bunch though 5 of them were from a resurgent Quinn at the end of the year.

So I guess my point is, that was not an imposing bunch, but the Rams still managed to put guys in a position to be productive. As you well know they were 4th in sacks and 4th in sack percentage.

I think that was all just Wade setting guys up and using Donald to make it happen.

I think they can do that again though this time it will be with younger guys.

But if an edge rusher DOES come through and play well consistently all season, getting into the (say) 8-10 sack range, then IMO it’s gravy and would just make everything that much stronger.

But barring that, they have already shown they can just get by with their edge rushers, or they can as long as they have Donald forcing defenses to react to him.

So I bet they can do it again.

..

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Rams search for leadership on defense after offseason changes

RICH HAMMOND

link: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/05/21/rams-search-for-leadership-on-defense-after-offseason-changes/

THOUSAND OAKS – The locker stalls have been occupied, but the roles might be tougher to fill.

In a span of two weeks in March, the Rams said farewell, via trades or free agency, to four of their former defensive team captains. That’s the type of roster-cleansing one might expect after a dismal year, but the Rams went 10-6 last season and won their division for the first time since 2003.

Don’t panic. In all, the Rams’ defense should be improved in 2018, perhaps dramatically so. Offseason upgrades have given them arguably the best defensive line and the best secondary in the NFL.

Still, there’s the matter of chemistry, made more complicated by the absence of Aaron Donald, who wants a new contract and did not report Monday for the start of optional offseason practices at Cal Lutheran.

Life goes on, and leaders must rise. Who will step up – in the locker room, in practice, during important in-game moments — to replace Alec Ogletree, Robert Quinn, Trumaine Johnson and Conner Barwin? Leadership works best when it is claimed, not awarded, but there are some names to watch.

“I have to be me, man,” veteran cornerback Aqib Talib said after practice Monday. “I just go play football. I’ll be me. I’ll be vocal and energetic out there. If that’s a leadership role, then that’s what it is.”

The Rams’ dizzying series of transactions two months ago sent away three players – Johnson, Ogletree and Quinn – who played a combined total of 18 seasons and 247 games for the Rams.

Ogletree gave spirited pep talks in pregame huddles. Quinn, with his old-soul personality, projected calm and steadiness. Johnson sparked emotion on the field with his ability to conduct world-class trash talk.

There are some candidates. Two of the Rams’ top additions since the end of last season, defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and cornerback Aqib Talib, are veterans who served as captains of their respective teams last season, but Coach Sean McVay said nothing would be forced.

“I think the best way that happens is organically,” McVay said. “I think it’s about guys collaborating and playing together. … There are vocal leaders, but I think what our players would tell you resonates more than anything is going about your work and being consistent in your approach.”

The Rams’ OTA practices, which are held three days a week until early June, present an opportunity to see which players naturally gravitate toward others. It’s complicated by the fact that Donald, arguably the NFL’s top defensive player and a team leader, isn’t in OTAs because of a contract holdout.

Donald was a captain in 2016 but didn’t get selected last year, almost certainly because of that holdout. The Rams now find themselves in a similar situation, but must progress without Donald.

That’s because there’s a lot to learn, particularly for new defensive players such as Talib, Suh, Marcus Peters and Sam Shields.

“We got an introduction to that McVay offense,” Talib said. “It’s crazy. There’s a bunch of movement and a bunch of speed on it. You’ve got to have your eyes in the right places.”

It seems that Talib already is stepping up to help. He has prior experience, having played under Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips when the two were together in Denver.

Talib said Peters has been sitting next to him in defensive meetings and asking questions, and Peters said he Talib has been important in helping him learn the defense.

“For sure,” Peters said. “He won a Super Bowl in this defense, so why not take his knowledge of this defense? Our styles are similar, so why not watch and learn from him?”

DONALD NO-SHOW

As expected, Donald informed the Rams that he would not attend this week’s practices, and Donald is not expected to join the optional offseason program unless he gets a new contract. Donald’s deal is set to expire after this season, and on-and-off negotiations with his agent have taken place for the past year.

McVay said he anticipated that Donald would stay away from the offseason program unless he signs a new deal.
“We’re in constant dialogue and communication with his representation,” McVay said. “It is something we want to get resolved. As far as a timetable, I don’t really have any dates on that.”

Rams players who spoke to reporters Monday were supportive of Donald.

“Pay the man,” Peters said. “I mean, (shoot). I mean, you win the MVP, man, come on.”

OBO OKORONKWO OUT

Rookie linebacker Obo Okoronkwo recently underwent foot surgery, and McVay said he expects the fifth-round draft choice to return sometime during training camp, which starts in late July.

Some veteran players were held out of drills Monday for precautionary reasons, including linebacker Mark Barron and offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan.

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RICH HAMMOND

…the Rams went 10-6 last season

There we go.

Professional Rams reporter.

Doesn’t remember they went 11-5.

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