Rams DL & LBs … Verse, the new ILBs, & more

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  • July 31, 2025 at 1:17 pm #157272
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    from NFL.com: Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 60-53: Derwin James rises; Rams’ Jared Verse debuts after DROY season … https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/07/31/rams-nfl-top-100-jared-verse-ranking-best-players/85459001007/?taid=688ba3791872bd000134bc5d&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

    53
    Jared Verse
    2024 stats: 17 games | 66 tackles | 11 tfl | 4.5 sacks | 2 FF | 2 FR

    The Rams struck gold in the draft once again with Verse, adding to their rapidly growing young defensive core with an edge who terrorizes opposing quarterbacks at an obscene rate. Verse took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, the second year in a row an L.A. rookie was a finalist, but the first winner for the Rams since Aaron Donald in 2014. Finishing fourth in the league in total pressures and adding 12 more in the postseason, per Pro Football Focus, Verse’s performance as a rookie put him among some of the best at the position last year, even if the sacks didn’t follow. Verse even received a rousing endorsement of his uncanny talent from the recently retired Terron Armstead, a top offensive lineman over the last decade. After just one game lining up opposite Verse, Armstead decreed he never wanted to do so again and predicted a Defensive Player of the Year nod in the pass rusher’s future. Not a bad start to an NFL career.

    NFL Pro Insight for Verse: Jared Verse generated 76 pressures this season, the second-most by a rookie since 2018 (Nick Bosa, 81, 2019).

    August 2, 2025 at 12:41 am #157295
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    August 3, 2025 at 10:25 pm #157311
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    53: Jared Verse (LB, Rams) | Top 100 Players of 2025

    August 6, 2025 at 2:36 pm #157371
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    from https://www.lafbnetwork.com/nfl/la-rams/la-rams-news/rams-josaiah-stewart-perfect-fit/

    …rookie Josiah Stewart may be the dark horse ready to claim a larger role than many anticipated. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network has had Stewart on his radar for a while.

    “Josiah Stewart was a personal favorite of mine back in the fall,” Jeremiah said. “He didn’t test for a long time during the pre-draft process, and when he finally did, the results weren’t great. I think that’s part of the reason he was still available in the third round. He’s undersized, and some people dismissed him because of that.

    But Les Snead has shown over the years—look at someone like Kyren Williams, who didn’t run a great time—that he can find really good football players who may not fit the traditional height-weight-speed profile many teams prioritize.

    I haven’t talked to anyone at Rams camp or heard his name as a standout yet, but I know the kind of player they tend to hit on, and Stewart fits that mold perfectly. I can see him carving out a role on what is already a very talented, fast, and athletic front seven.”

    …

    Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com sees Stewart’s situation as tailor-made for development.

    “I haven’t heard anything specific about Josiah Stewart, but he’s in a great situation—maybe similar to a Bryce Huff type of role—where he’s playing behind two strong edge rushers in Byron Young and Jared Verse. It could be an opportunity for the Rams to mix him in strategically.”

    That rotational role — OLB3 on the Rams’ depth chart — is up for grabs after Michael Hoecht’s departure in free agency.

    August 6, 2025 at 2:45 pm #157372
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    from Tommy Yarrish@tommy_yarrish
    Some thoughts/observations from the #Cowboys joint practice with the #Rams:

    …

    – Jared Verse is a straight up monster. The Cowboys offensive line had their hands full with him and didn’t come up with many answers. He’s going to be a great player for a long time in this league.

    August 11, 2025 at 11:04 am #157452
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    from Albert Breer: https://www.si.com/nfl/rams-training-camp-2025-high-hopes-for-davante-adams-in-los-angeles

    The defensive front might be the best in football. Jared Verse and Byron Young give the unit real strength on the edges, and rookie Josaiah Stewart is positioned to back them up. And the hope is that the Rams can get Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner attacking upfield more, with steady veteran nose Poona Ford capable of eating up blockers and taking hits off of them. Second-year man Tyler Davis and rookie Ty Hamilton should be part of the equation as well, as rotational run stoppers. Overall, the massive investment the Rams are making post–Aaron Donald in their front—-one that showed up in the playoffs in a big way—is paying off.

    August 11, 2025 at 10:15 pm #157479
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    Brandon Thorn@BrandonThornNFL
    Studying Kobie Turner for a huge project. Turner was one of the few higher-end DTs I hadn’t sat down and really studied yet. But to me this is a clone of Jurrell Casey for how adept he is on stunts. Slasher with natural leverage, excellent hands and motor.

    August 12, 2025 at 9:40 am #157482
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    August 14, 2025 at 9:06 pm #157513
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    August 15, 2025 at 11:50 am #157519
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    from One potential first-time Pro Bowler from each NFC team heading into the 2025 NFL season: https://www.nfl.com/news/one-potential-first-time-pro-bowler-from-each-nfc-team-heading-into-the-2025-nfl-season?campaign=Twitter_atn

    et, but the upside is there for Cooper in Hafley’s scheme.

    Los Angeles Rams

    Braden Fiske

    DT · Year 2
    Seemingly every report out of Rams camp this summer has touched on Fiske standing out in a crowded defensive front. The focus most of the offseason had rightly been on Jared Verse, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but Fiske deserves some love. Last season, Fiske generated 44 pressures and 8.5 sacks — not too shabby for a rookie DT. His 10.9% QB pressure rate ranked ninth among all defensive tackles last season. While big men rarely walk from college to the Pro Bowl, we do generally see sizeable leaps from the truly elite after a full offseason in the NFL. Fiske boasts the power, interior quickness, strength and hands to be a menace alongside Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford and the rest of the Rams’ fearsome front.

    August 15, 2025 at 8:30 pm #157524
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    August 20, 2025 at 12:18 pm #157589
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    From Doug Farrar, The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 80-71: https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1075393/the-nfls-101-best-players-for-the-2025-season-80-71

    74. Kobie Turner, DI, Los Angeles Rams

    Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead became famous for his “F Them Picks” philosophy in recent years when it was time to exchange draft capital for what the franchise thought would be better ways to win with established stars. That said, when the Rams rolled without a first-round pick every year from 2017-2023, they were very good at plucking future franchise cornerstones from the later rounds.

    One such cornerstone is Kobie Turner, who the Rams stole with the 90th pick in the third round of the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest. Turner was a credible enough quarterback disruptor in college, with three sacks and 34 total pressures for the Demon Deacons in 2022 after four years at Richmond, but it’s safe to say that few expected what Turner would do in his rookie season and beyond.

    In 2023, Turner amassed 12 sacks and 50 total pressures. That wasn’t just the most sacks for any rookie interior defensive lineman – it was more than any rookie edge-rusher had. Not that we’re comparing Turner or anybody else to Aaron Donald, Destroyer of Worlds, but with Donald’s retirement following the 2023 season, it was Turner who took the crown as the undersized (6’3, 288-pound) guy on that line who could blow things up from every gap on a play-to-play basis. I am fortunate to have an AP All-Pro/MVP vote, and Turner was my Defensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide.

    Turner proved that 2023 was no fluke with a 10-sack, 62-pressure season in 2024; he also added 44 solo tackles, 47 stops, 14 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. Like Donald, Turner is primarily an explosive three-tech player determined to crash through guards, but he’s just as conversant with pressure everywhere from nose tackle to the edge.

    The only people saying “F That Pick” when it comes to Kobie Turner now are the opposing quarterbacks and running backs who have to deal with him.

    August 21, 2025 at 12:47 pm #157598
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    from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/08/21/rams-tyler-davis-defense-starter-chris-shula/85754881007/?taid=68a742ad62f2f100014ce206&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

    One player who’s been lurking in the shadows is Tyler Davis, the second-year pro out of Clemson. The Rams drafted Davis in the sixth round last year and while he was active for 16 games, he only played 29% of the snaps.

    Heading into Year 2, the Rams view him as one of four starters on the defensive line – high praise from defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

    “We really liked him and trusted him last year. Giff (Smith) always handles the rotations in games and I just think of him like a starter,” Shula said Wednesday. “If I see him out there, I never even think twice about it and I felt that way last year. I think it was more of the level of play and how he did it and how he played the run, how he was able to hit blocks and play combination blocks and understand the nuances. I think this year, what he’s done is he’s kind of upped his level of communication. Kobie Turner’s obviously the leader, the guy communicating up front. We put a lot of on those guys where with the front adjustments, we don’t have our linebackers trying to align those guys. Those guys align themselves and he’s taken a step in that direction where if he’s in and Kobie’s not in, he’s the guy that they’re all looking to communicate.”

    …

    ME: from “the archive”…old draft report on Davis:

    from https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Tyler-Davis-DT-Clemson

    Scouting Report: Strengths

    Elite athletic skills — Made Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ at number 55. He wrote: “bench-pressed 405 pounds, doing 30 reps of 225. He’s squatted 680, front-squatted 465, power-cleaned 350 and deadlifted 655. He also was timed this offseason at 4.95 in the 40”
    Exceptional at utilizing natural leverage and proportional length, enabling him to effectively engage and combat larger offensive linemen.
    Demonstrates high-level explosiveness off the snap, paired with the first-step quickness to disrupt offensive schemes early.
    Possesses remarkable upper body strength and suddenness in movements, facilitating potent hand usage and impactful punches.
    Shows a relentless motor in pursuit, complemented by impressive lateral quickness and agility to adjust and penetrate gaps efficiently.
    Exhibits solid bull rush capabilities and the ability to collapse the pocket against guards, showcasing his strength and technique.
    Proven effective against the run, with the ability to absorb and displace blockers, thereby freeing up teammates for playmaking opportunities.
    Capable of maintaining strong leverage and leg drive against double teams, underlining his utility in disrupting run plays.
    Brings versatility to the defensive line with the capacity to align in various techniques, offering strategic flexibility.

    Scouting Report: Weaknesses

    Faced multiple injuries throughout his college career, raising concerns about durability at the professional level.
    Lacks ideal arm length, which sometimes hinders his ability to extend and disengage from blockers effectively.
    At times, plays with a higher pad level than desired, diminishing his leverage against opponents.
    Pass rush arsenal could benefit from further refinement and diversity, particularly in developing and executing counter moves.
    While possessing a strong initial burst, needs to enhance consistency in hand-fighting and leveraging his lower body for maximum impact.

    Scouting Report: Summary

    Tyler Davis enters the NFL Draft as a battle-tested interior defensive lineman. His Clemson game tape shows a player with the ability to anchor the defensive line, disrupt running lanes, and pressure the quarterback. His explosive first step, combined with the natural leverage and raw power, enable him to penetrate gaps and challenge offensive lines consistently. His agility and hand usage make him equally able defending the run and pass rushing from the inside.

    However, concerns about his durability cannot be overlooked. His history of injuries may raise red flags for teams looking for reliability. Additionally, Davis’ lack of ideal arm length and occasional high pad level could limit his effectiveness against the larger, more powerful offensive linemen at the next level. While his motor and pursuit are decent, there is a need for a more diversified pass-rush arsenal.

    August 26, 2025 at 8:07 pm #157678
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    August 31, 2025 at 4:10 am #157737
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    August 31, 2025 at 7:12 am #157738
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    “….Verse said Thursday. “Just watching everything I’ve done wrong and everything I’ve done right. And you realize how many bad plays you had with all the accolades and all that stuff. You realize how much [more] you can grow. And, don’t let your head get too high because now, I’m thinking of how much better I can get. People are like, ‘oh, you’re good, you’re good.’ No, I’ve got so much farther to go.”
    ——–

    Well, that is exactly what you want to hear from any young player. It ‘ought’ to be the norm, but, ya know, theeze-kids-today….

    w
    v

    August 31, 2025 at 7:22 am #157739
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    wv wrote:

    Well, that is exactly what you want to hear from any young player. It ‘ought’ to be the norm, but, ya know, theeze-kids-today….

    w
    v

    How in the hell did Verse drop to 19.

    And they didn’t trade up. They just sat there waiting for it, like patient lawn gnomes.

    Rams have their first 1st round pick in ages, they absolutely need an edge rusher no escaping it, and…one of the best edge rushers in their entire very storied history (a history that is full of great edge rushers) drops right to them. And is then defensive rookie of the year.

    On top of it, as you point out, he’s a motivated self-starter who is very genuine about working on his game.

    If I made this up in a novel about the Rams, the board would scoff at my goofy optimistic worldview.

    ….

    August 31, 2025 at 10:09 am #157742
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    zn wrote:

    How in the hell did Verse drop to 19.

    And they didn’t trade up. They just sat there waiting for it, like patient lawn gnomes.

    Rams have their first 1st round pick in ages, they absolutely need an edge rusher no escaping it, and…one of the best edge rushers in their entire very storied history (a history that is full of great edge rushers) drops right to them. And is then defensive rookie of the year.

    On top of it, as you point out, he’s a motivated self-starter who is very genuine about working on his game.

    If I made this up in a novel about the Rams, the board would scoff at my goofy optimistic worldview.

    ….

    I thought they waited for it like a sausage in a refinery fire. Or am I mixing my synecdoches?

    Yeah, the workout with Aaron Donald seems to have made an impression on our boy, Verse. You gotta love it. I think it’s reasonable to expect a breakout year. If a guy can have a breakout year following DROY honors. I think the DL is the most exciting thing to watch this coming season. Goodness, what a load of young, energetic talent they have up front.

    September 2, 2025 at 5:58 pm #157770
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    from Brock Vierra, Rams Mailbag: https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-jared-verse-poona-ford-troy-reeder-sean-mcvay-houston-texans

    How does Verse’s arsenal look besides the bull rush? There were articles on him trying to improve those.

    Deadly. Verse has taken the time and made the effort to expand his arsenal, not necessarily adding a bunch of moves but getting the stuff he did at Florida State to NFL quality with minor modifications. Verse himself also stated he’s set to bring out those moves because he trusts the secondary to hold up enough to pull out the moves that require an extra second or two to execute.

    However, it’s not the moves that’s the big difference. It’s the effectiveness of how he’s able to rush with different teammates. The Rams in general but especially Verse have worked on fine-tuning their moves to be more succinct with one another. The Verse and Braden Fiske attack looks to have taken that third-year jump but his work with Kobie Turner has been mindblowing.

    Who is the X Factor on that D line besides Verse?

    Poona Ford. He’s the reason, along with Nate Landman that I’m so confident about the Rams’ run defense. He turned them from a line looking to control the line of scrimmage to a team that’s just bullying offensive lines, especially in joint practice. His ability to defeat double teams has allowed everyone else to eat.

    Don’t sleep on Josaiah Stewart either. Motor for days with the hunger for greatness.

    September 5, 2025 at 7:59 pm #157813
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    September 6, 2025 at 8:56 am #157822
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