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znModeratorCountdown to Camp: How will Myles Garrett’s arrival impact Rams’ defensive front?
Stu Jackson
The tape and the resume tell us what Myles Garrett will bring to the Rams defense. But because he arrived in Los Angeles the first week of June, his activity over those final two weeks of OTAs was understandably limited to just individual drills during his initial acclimation.
A longtime 4-3 defensive end, Garrett joins a defense that has primarily employed a 3-4 defensive front structure, and he initially worked with the outside linebackers. For a unit that already made headlines with the acquisitions of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the integration of the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Garrett will be one of the biggest developmental pieces to this year’s training camp.
“Obviously, we’re still going to have our principals with that stuff, but we’re going to let him do what he does best, and we all know exactly what he does best,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said on June 8. “You’re not going to take Michael Jordan, LeBron (James), all those guys and pull them out of their comfort zone. We’re going to work with him and put him in the best spots that we think for him and the defense to succeed.”
Beyond the traditional statistics, Garrett has the second-most pressures over the last two seasons with 161, per Next Gen Stats. He set the NFL’s single-season sack record last year despite facing 139 chip blocks, most in the NFL. Among players with at least 200 pass rushes in 2025, his average get-off time of 0.70 seconds ranked first in the league. Additionally, according to ESPN, Garrett won “more than 20% of his 448 pass-rushing attempts despite facing a double-team nearly 30% of the time.”
Garrett also has the most sacks (83) and quick pressures (218) over the last five seasons.
Then there’s this: According to ESPN research, 47 of Garrett’s 125.5 career sacks came while his team was trailing. He now joins a team that had the No. 1 offense in the NFL in 2025, led by the league’s reigning MVP, which in theory indicates there should be more opportunities to be in known passing situations for opponents – meaning, those opponents facing second- and third-and-longs trailing the Rams.
“I mean, that did play into the decision as well,” Garrett said. “Knowing I have the ability, late-game to pin my ears back, not just because we need a play to be made, but because we have the lead and it’s obvious passing downs, being able to make those game-changing plays to win the game for us, those are things that appeal to me, I’m sure appeal to all of us as d-lineman. So that is something I really look forward to.”
znModeratorSpain has somehow emerged from its long horrifying history to become a decently proggressive place.
The current Argentinian government is under a right-wing libertarian and is hostile to human rights groups and likes to prop up positive myths about the country’s old 70s and 80s military dictatorships.
In Mexico the Argentina’s defeat in the World Cup is being celebrated like a carnival. Thousands came to the streets to sing and dance.
Argentina is seen in Mexico as a bankrupted racist country. pic.twitter.com/W2oAFlLh5H
— Rodrigo Luis Veloso (@rodrigoluisvelo) July 20, 2026
znModeratorBlake Corum – Running back
Corum finished second in the NFL in rushing EPA last season (among 49 qualified running backs).Alaric Jackson – Offensive lineman
Jackson was called for four false start penalties in 2024. In the rest of his career, he’s only been called for nine penalties of any kind.Harrison Mevis – Kicker
Mevis set the SEC record for longest field goal with a 61-yard game winner to beat Kansas State in Sept. 2023.znModeratorQuentin Lake
Lake has been the Rams’ primary slot defender over the last couple of years, and while that certainly seems like his best position, he could move around a bit more in 2026. That’s because Los Angeles acquired Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs, and he’s excellent in the slot, too.
It’s a good problem to have, deciding who to play where. But it’s something the Rams must work through with two quality slot corners on the roster now. Last year, Lake played 535 snaps in the slot and only 129 as a deep safety, by far the widest discrepancy of his young career so far.
This coming season, the gap between those two positions could be much narrower – though Lake is still expected to play most of his snaps in the slot. While he may lack some pure speed, his short-area quickness and awareness make him a perfect fit for the “star” position where he has the size to match up with tight ends and the coverage skills to man-up slot receivers.
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When Lake was injured, his absence was certainly felt, particularly when it came to stopping the run. He’s underrated in that aspect, earning the 20th-best run defense grade of any safety in the NFL last season, according to PFF. He also had a missed tackle rate of 11.2%, which ranked in the top 30 at his position
…znModeratorJaylen Watson
Watson’s man coverage skills and size allow the Rams to be more creative with their coverages and plans of attack.
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With his 6-foot-2 frame and physical style of play, Watson figures to be almost exclusively a boundary corner, lining up outside against bigger receivers.
He only played 14 total snaps in the slot the last two years, and that’s not likely to change very much in Los Angeles. He can play man or zone coverage, but he’s particularly good when matched up man-to-man against tall receivers who don’t threaten vertically with exceptional speed.
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The Rams have struggled against bigger receivers in recent years, players such as Michael Wilson, A.J. Brown and even Tetairoa McMillan. Watson will help against those types of receivers with his physical play style and size on the outside.
He can press at the line of scrimmage and re-route receivers to not only throw off the timing of the play, but also give the pass rush more time to get home. And with how strong the Rams’ pass rush is projected to be, he can be aggressive when it comes to jumping routes and trying to create turnovers.
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Watson was one of the NFL’s best run-stopping cornerbacks last season. He earned a grade of 83.5 from PFF, the fifth-best of any corner in football – slightly ahead of McDuffie at No. 8. He only missed four tackles all year, with a minuscule miss rate of 5.9%.
znModeratorPro Football Network@PFN365
The highest-graded NFL rushing offenses in 2025, per PFN’s Offense Impact metric:1. Rams – 92.4
2. Bills – 89.1
3. Colts – 87.2
4. Ravens – 85.2
5. Bears – 84.9
6. Bengals – 83.4
7. Steelers – 81.6
8. Cowboys – 80.3
9. Dolphins – 78.2
10. Falcons – 78.0znModerator…i hate all this super-team, front-runner stuff. Especially since they havent won anything, unlike Seattle. Rams as favorites. What do we even do with that? I dont like it.
w
vI have the exact same feeling. I don’t really like it much either. The last time the Rams were absolute pre-season favorites was 2001, and in the end of course they lost that super bowl.
znModeratorThe Seahawks have a secret weapon against Aaron Donald?
Let me guess: it’s that they traded Russell Wilson?
Besides. Let’s say Donald does come back, and let’s say Seattle still knows how to keep his impact down a bit. That’s not going to be much consolation while facing Garrett and Young and Turner at the same time (Young has grown up and only a nagging knee held him back at the end of the season in 2025). Plus Ford and Fiske can play too, more so than any other DL who played alongside Donald from 2017 to 2023. And maybe Stewart steps up too.
Any attention Donald gets would just open things up for the others. Any attention any team would give to both Garrett and Donald at the same time would just do that even more.
Let’s say you’re facing Garrett and Young on the outside and Donald, Turner, and Fiske on the DL. That’s 5. You have 5 OL, a TE, and a chipping RB to block. That’s 7. If you double MG and AD, then it’s 3 on 3. You can’t triple either MG or AD without giving someone else less attention. If the Rams rush just 4, then someone is singled up. And that would not be just any “someone”–that would be someone of the caliber of Turner or Young.
Assuming the Rams rush 5 in that set (and they would probably rush just 4), that would leave 3 WRs against 6 or 7 DBs (or DBs and an LB or 2 in coverage). So you have 3 WRs going against a dime or dime+ coverage, while the qb would be facing one of the most ferocious pass rushing defenses of all time.
If you add another TE or 6th OL to the offense for more secure pass blocking, that’s only 2 WRs.
Plus–imagine blitzing from that defense. 😮 With either 3 WRs going against 6 in coverage or just 2 WRs going against 6 in coverage.
Short version: if he comes back, limiting Donald a bit is not going to be as much help as it used to be before Garrett, Turner, Young, Fiske, and Ford (plus maybe Stewart too).
But like many others I assume that even without Donald, the combination of Garrett, Young, Turner, Fiske, and Ford (plus maybe Stewart) will be plenty good all on its own.
Garret btw did well against Seattle the 2 times he has faced them (2019 and 2023). Cleveland lost both times but he himself played well against them.
znModeratorLegendary OBJ in the Super Bowl… would’ve won SB MVP if he didn’t get injured.. 😓 https://t.co/JLnuBD2qME pic.twitter.com/Yp0cbAaZnb
— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) July 19, 2026
znModeratora different list
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from NFLPFN’s Top 100 NFL Players Entering 2026: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/pfn-nfl-top-100-2026/
3) Myles Garrett, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
The splash of the 2026 NFL offseason came remarkably late, as the Rams acquired Myles Garrett from the Browns for a massive trade haul. That haul was well-earned, seeing as though Garrett literally broke the NFL’s single-season sack record with a whopping 23.0 sacks. As one could expect, he won Defensive Player of the Year and had the highest EDGE Impact Score in our system at 95.1 last year.
Garrett predictably placed first among edge rushers with a 94.0 pass-rushing grade and also had the second-highest run-defense grade at 95.0. He’s graded in the top six at his position every year since 2020, and he’s won DPOY twice in the last three seasons. His 51 sacks in the three-year evaluation period are absurd, and that earns him the spot as the best defensive player in our NFL Top 100 this year.
5) Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua has just been on another level since entering the NFL in 2023; it’s crazy to think he was only a fifth-round draft pick. He was a top-ten wide receiver by our WR Impact Scoring metric in each of his first two years in the league, but his third year with the Rams was by far his best. His 96.3 score led the NFL, and it’s also the third-highest score that any wide receiver has tallied since 1999.
Leading the league in receptions, placing second in receiving yards, and tying for fourth in receiving touchdowns, Nacua was a deserving first-team All-Pro receiver in 2025. His 115.7 receiving EPA was by far the most in the league last year, and he came in second with 173.1 YAC over expected. He’s a tough, intelligent, coordinated, explosive receiver who just finds a way to get open, no matter what type of coverage he’s facing.
14) Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Had the reigning MVP graded better in 2023 and 2024, there’s no telling how high Matthew Stafford would be ranked. He finished No. 15 and No. 19 in those years, respectively, but shot all the way up to No. 2 after his stellar 2025 campaign. Few players can say they had the best year of their career in their 17th year in the NFL.
Stafford led the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total first downs thrown for, and he finished third in both EPA per dropback and success rate. He’s currently sixth in NFL history in all-time passing yards, and even though he’s 38, he’s still in his prime right now. If he plays two more years, he’ll likely crack the top three and cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
66) Kobie Turner, DT, Los Angeles Rams
It’s hard to imagine that Kobie Turner wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine heading into the league in 2023. Not only was he an impact player from the moment the Rams drafted him, but he’s been a steady force along their interior defensive line who hasn’t missed a single regular season game in his three years with the team.
With 24.0 sacks since 2023, Turner’s total is the second-highest among all defensive tackles since he entered the league. He’s ranked in the top ten in PFN DT Impact Scoring each of his last two seasons, most recently finishing seventh in 2025. He’s in the last year of his rookie deal and feels primed for a massive contract in the open market.
91) Kevin Dotson, G, Los Angeles Rams
A top-ten guard in each of his last three seasons and a top-five guard in his last two, Kevin Dotson has quietly been the glue keeping the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line together. He had just two penalties all year in 2025, and his 88.6 PFN run-blocking grade ranked third in the NFL among all guards.
Despite his success, Dotson hasn’t been named to a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team yet. If he continues his high level of play, it feels like it’s only a matter of time. It’s hard to find too many interior offensive linemen who have been as reliable as he has since joining the Rams in 2023.
znModeratorfrom Kobie Turner poised to reach new heights with Myles Garrett aboard
Turner has already been highly productive for the Rams, but with Garrett now in the mix, he’s bound to get even betterBrock Vierra
…the prospect of seeing Myles Garrett and Kobie Turner attacking quarterbacks will be must-watch TV. Especially with an offense that will force the opposition to pass.
Both players were recently honored by Pro Football Network, being named to the site’s list of the 100 best players in the NFL. Garrett, the record-holder for single-season sacks and the current Defensive Player of the Year, was unsurprisingly ranked third, only behind quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Current NFL MVP Matthew Stafford was ranked 14th.
Turner is a player who divides opinion mainly due to a lack of a narrative being written about him, often causing his outstanding play to be overlooked. He was properly honored by PFN with a ranking of No. 66. Turner has come a long way since being a late bloomer in college.
“It’s hard to imagine that Kobie Turner wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine heading into the league in 2023,” wrote PFN’s Jacob Infante. “Not only was he an impact player from the moment the Rams drafted him, but he’s been a steady force along their interior defensive line who hasn’t missed a single regular season game in his three years with the team.
With 24.0 sacks since 2023, Turner’s total is the second-highest among all defensive tackles since he entered the league. He’s ranked in the top ten in PFN DT Impact Scoring each of his last two seasons, most recently finishing seventh in 2025. He’s in the last year of his rookie deal and feels primed for a massive contract in the open market.”
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
Now, Turner is pairing his high sack rate with the NFL sack king. Considering the improvements made to the Rams’ secondary and their other teammates on the defensive line, Garrett and Turner are in a prime position to become the NFL’s next top wrecking crew.znModeratorBen Winoker@winokercommaben
What is the narrative explanation for why cautious Kirk is more successful than gunslinger Stafford? Because the smart money is on Small Sample Size NoiseScott Kacsmar@ScottKacsmar
Stafford (2016) and Cousins (2022) both hold the NFL record for most 4QC wins in a season (8).Stafford and Kirk were like two sides of the same coin for most of their careers.
You’re not making any valid point here.
znModeratorOpinions about the Rams offensive line are split around the NFL
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/opinions-rams-offensive-line-split-181806335.html
If you love to talk about offensive line play, it’s been a banner week of NFL content for you.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is publishing his annual lists of the top 10 players at each position in the NFL, as voted on by coaches, scouts and front-office personnel ( https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49306202/top-10-nfl-players-every-position-2026-jeremy-fowler-best-quarterbacks-running-backs-wide-receivers ). That includes the lists of best tackles and interior offensive linemen, which have been revealed this weekend. And earlier this week, Mike Clay, also of ESPN, published his updated offensive line rankings, which are actually an aggregation of grades from different sources, not his raw opinion.
How do these different sources view the Rams’ talent on the offensive line? It’s a mixed bag.
The rosier picture comes from the grading/charting/advanced metrics department, which ranks the Rams as the fourth-best (starting) offensive line in the league. They only trail the Broncos, Eagles and Bears in this particular analysis. On an individual level, Clay’s compilation shows Los Angeles with all five starters grading out above average, or above a 5 out of 10 on a normalized scale. Alaric Jackson is tied for the fifth-highest graded starting left tackle in the NFL, while Kevin Dotson is fourth among right guards and Coleman Shelton is tied in seventh for centers.
Suffice it to say, that’s an encouraging list.
Then we get to the opinions of league personnel, where things change dramatically.
Two Rams received votes for Fowler’s offensive line rankings, with Dotson and Steve Avila both coming up short of even making the “honorable mentions” section for interior players. Jackson, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found on the list of offensive tackles.
Obviously, these are all just grades on paper, we won’t know what these players will look like in 2026 until they take the field, etc. But it is interesting to note that there is such a disparity between the grades and the front offices around the league.
If you wanted to hitch your wagon to one particular set of data/opinions, it feels like the advanced charting would be the safer bet, and that’s not just because it has a higher opinion of the Rams. You’re getting more data points that inform the final score for all these players, and you’re getting them either from objective computers or from people that chart the tape. It’s not perfect, but there’s a little less subjectivity involved.
Meanwhile, when you inject the human element into anything, you’re going to get more variability and volatility. And when you work for a team and only see opposing players once, maybe twice during the year and you can’t watch a ton of other games, your sample size to grade from is relatively tiny.
The interior linemen list is particularly wonky and it’s obvious to see where the blindspots are. For example, Elgton Jenkins took a slight step back two years ago in Green Bay, played downright poorly last season after switching from guard to center, but still was an honorable mention because of his name recognition. Then there’s the absolute debacle that is the NFL’s annual top 100 list that the players vote on, which is comically bad year in, year out.
This isn’t all to argue that the Rams have a flawless offensive line and you need to take advanced metrics as gospel. And there could be a major shuffle along the line if Alaric Jackson misses any time due to a suspension, which is still up in the air.
But if you’re trying to come to a conclusion on how you feel about the L.A. offensive line as training camp approaches, it’s likely safer to go with consensus grading over anonymous league personnel
znModeratorThe Rams stopped just 15.3% of opponent carries for zero or fewer yards, according to Nutshell Sports. That was the third-worst in the league on 417 attempts, ahead of only the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a notable soft spot for a defense otherwise near the top of ESPN Analytics’ run stop win rate metric, where L.A. actually ranked No. 1 in the NFL at 34%. The disconnect points to a defense that wins reps up front but still allows too many manageable gains.
Enter Garrett…. Beyond his pass-rush pedigree, Garrett gives L.A. a considerably more reliable presence against the run than Verse provided.
Per Pro Football Focus, Garrett has posted PFF run-defense grades of 83.7, 78.4 and 82.5 over the past three seasons, a marked turnaround from four straight marks below 71.0 to begin his career. Verse, by contrast, saw his run-defense grade fall from 81.0 as a rookie to 62.0 in Year 2, and he’s missed 21 run tackles in two seasons — more than Garrett has missed in his nine-year career.
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A look at Defensive Rush Stuff Rate.
The Buccaneers stopped rushes for 0 yards or fewer on more than a quarter of attempts. The Bengals finished dead last, but the addition of Dexter Lawrence should be a massive boost this season. pic.twitter.com/XhpFJ6Rn2O
— Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 16, 2026
znModeratorIf Nate Landman can get past the occasional coverage lapse in 2026, the @RamsNFL's defense could be legit unstoppable — especially in dime (which they called more often than any other NFL defense in 2025). pic.twitter.com/0GgtmjjITB
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 17, 2026
znModeratorPossibly, something.
from the wiki
Synopsis
Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA officers Chris and Lee are dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief
The director, Martin McDonagh, is the guy who did In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
znModeratorznModeratorn the vid above. Around the 25 minute mark or so:
Grey Zabel: “Kobie Turner is like my kryptonite right now, I dunno what it is, but he’s just got my number, he just works me every single game…but as much as you wanna hate the rams, they are all really good dudes across the board, Kobie for instance, he’s out there and he just smiles, he plays the game for the love of the game…he got a little banged up and couldnt finish that NFC Championship game, it was sad, I told him how awesome he was after the game….”
Grey Zabel has nothing but respect for Kobie Turner and the Rams’ D-line pic.twitter.com/mBDmv3p6WL
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) July 16, 2026
znModeratorLook at the Rams – the most plays under center and a perfect 50/50 – that's great playcalling, really hard to predict. https://t.co/b2yfXug956
— WackyPacks (@rufusjonz) July 17, 2026
znModeratorfrom PFF Wide Receiver Rankings: The top 32 players ahead of the 2026 NFL season — https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-wide-receiver-rankings-2006?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null
1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Little was expected of Nacua when he entered the league as a fifth-round pick in 2023, but he has quickly developed into one of the best receivers in football. His 3.19 yards per route run since entering the league leads the NFL, while his 4,191 receiving yards rank second over that span behind only Ja’Marr Chase.
Nacua earned a 96.1 PFF grade in 2025, the highest mark among all players regardless of position. He also led all wide receivers in forced missed tackles (25) and contested catches (27) this past season.
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24. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Adams continues to age like fine wine at 33. He led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns in his first season with the Rams, while his 84.8 PFF receiving grade ranked ninth among wide receivers. Adams is entering the final season of his contract with Los Angeles and will look to capture the first Super Bowl title of his career in 2026.
znModeratorLAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Myles Garrett added another accolade to his resume, taking home the ESPY for Best NFL Player after his historic 2025 season. Garrett also became the first defensive player to ever win the award, adding to a year that included Defensive Player of the Year honors and the NFL’s single-season sack record.znModeratorRussell S. Baxter@BaxFootballGuru
56–# of OL Doug Smith, 187 games (160 starts), 10 postseason games (8 starts), 6-time Pro Bowler in 14 seasons w/ #RamsznModerator.@RamsNFL @PoonaF_95 always a place in this league for players like Poona..Strong as an Ox; healthy as a horse; heart of a lion! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/TdYGZXtpje
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 16, 2026
znModeratorThat was when the Dodgers had that Japanese guy who played WR and CB and scored 3 TDs on offense, and had 2 pick-sixes. IIRC.
Of course, that was back before the salary cap.
That was a real AAFC team.
znModeratorA look at quarterback EPA per play inside and outside the pocket.
Brock Purdy, Matthew Stafford, and Jordan Love all stood out as highly effective in both situations last year.
Inside/outside pocket designation via @FTNFantasy charting. pic.twitter.com/17zsw8L2ly
— Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 15, 2026
znModeratorznModerator.@richeisen shares his top 5 QBs list 👀
5️⃣ Joe Burrow
4️⃣ Lamar Jackson
3️⃣ Matthew Stafford pic.twitter.com/ubTOb6HHvq— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 15, 2026
znModeratorNFL Stats@NFL_Stats
Highest scoring games in #NFL history:113 – Redskins vs. Giants (’66)
106 – Bengals vs. Browns (’04)
105 – Rams vs. Chiefs (’18)
103 – 49ers vs. Dodgers (’48)
101 – Saints vs. Giants (’15)
101 – Raiders vs. Oilers (’63)
99 – Broncos vs. Cowboys (’13)
99 – Seahawks vs. Chiefs (’83)
98 – Chargers vs. Steelers (’85)
98 – Cardinals vs. Giants (’48)
97 – Rams vs. Colts (’50)
96 – Browns vs. Bengals (’07)
96 – Jets vs. Dolphins (’86)
95 – Bucs vs. Rams (’19)
95 – Packers vs. Redskins (’83)znModerator.@RyanPaganetti on the @RossTuckerPod talked about 2 high shells & how duo runs are the best counter to it:
“3 of the last 5 years the Super Bowl winning team has played the most 2 high shells on 1st & 10. Raheem Morris in ‘21, Vic Fangio in ‘24 & Mike Macdonald in ‘25. You’re… pic.twitter.com/Ssp43Fllz4
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) July 16, 2026
znModerator"The Rams don't need him to play 60 or 70 snaps a game… What a nightmare that's going to be for offenses if he's anything close to what he was before."@colincowherd and @AlbertBreer discuss Aaron Donald potentially returning to the Rams pic.twitter.com/AosdCzg9h8
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 15, 2026
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