Enter Landman 😤

🎥 More highlights on https://t.co/bPpSS6zu02 pic.twitter.com/JRBJPUnLvq

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 18, 2026

LAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Nick Emmanwori says beating the Rams felt bigger than the Super Bowl

“Stafford’s a hell of a quarterback. McVay always got a hell of a plan… that game was different.”

***

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/02/18/rams-seahawks-nick-emmanwori-nfc-championship-super-bowl/88740625007/?taid=69960573c3409600017a3d58&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Seahawks star defensive back Nick Emmanwori admitted the NFC championship felt different. Being a rivalry game, a matchup between arguably the two best teams in football, it carried extra weight.

Here’s what he said about that marquee matchup on Richard Sherman’s podcast.

“It was just a different feeling. No disrespect to the Patriots or nothing like that. I don’t want to take nothing away from them, but that game – that game was, like, legit,” he said of the NFC Championship tilt. “You know how it is with the rivalries. The Rams, they come in, Stafford, he’s a hell of a quarterback. McVay always got a hell of a plan. That game was definitely different. It was a different type of game. It was live. I was in my zone. I was focused.”

Free Agent Spotlight: Jimmy Garoppolohttps://t.co/3sOq4TCo5E

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) February 17, 2026

5 interesting stats from the Rams’ 2025 defense: Kobie Turner elevates pass rush, early success against the run leads to advantageous third-down scenarios

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/5-interesting-stats-from-the-rams-2025-defense-kobie-turner-elevates-pass-rush-early-success-against-the-run-leads-to-advantageous-third-down-scenarios

The Rams’ disruptive front fueled their defensive success in both the run and pass game. Defensive end Kobie Turner was the lynchpin of the pass rush, while offseason additions turned what was an ineffective run defense last year into one of the league’s best.

Here are five interesting stats from the Rams’ 2025 defense.

With Kobie Turner on the field this season, the Rams generated a 43.2% pressure rate, which would have ranked first in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats

With Turner off the field, the Rams’ pressure rate dropped to 27.2%, which would have ranked third-lowest. The 15.9% on-off differential ranked second-largest among interior defensive linemen with at least 200 snaps, trailing only Chris Jones of the Chiefs (18.9%). The Rams’ overall pressure rate of 38% ranked fifth in the NFL.

Turner’s eats up double teams and gets after the quarterback with a ferocity that is second-to-none. He doesn’t take plays off when he’s between those white lines, and it made a difference for the Rams’ defense this season.

The Rams were the second-best team at defending the run on first down, allowing just a 31.8% success rate, per Next Gen Stats, after finishing second-to-last in that same stat last season

The offseason additions of inside linebacker Nate Landman and nose tackle Poona Ford turned the Rams’ early-down run defense from a debilitating weakness in 2024 to a strength in 2025. The Rams were the second-worst run defense on first down in terms of success rate last year (41.6%), and they flipped the script completely this season.

Success rate is defined as the percentage of carries resulting in plays that “keep the offense on schedule” to score on a given drive. For defenses, the lower that number is, the better.

The Rams’ opponents averaged the second-most yards to go on third downs (7.5), according to Next Gen Stats

Their success defending the run on first down often led to third-and-longs (seven-plus yards). And on those third-and-longs, the Rams allowed the third-lowest conversion rate (17.7%). Shula often brought simulated pressures, stunts and disguised coverages in those scenarios to confuse opposing quarterbacks and give the rushers opportunities to truly get after the passer.

The Rams’ 32.4% dime personnel rate (six defensive backs) is the highest by any defense since the 2023 Cowboys, per Next Gen Stats

When asked why the Rams took this approach, defensive coordinator Chris Shula said they want to get their best players on the field based on the situation. Safety Jaylen “Tank” McCollough adds value in the box, back deep or in the slot with his range and physicality on late downs or two-minute drills, which is when the Rams used dime personnel most often.

“You don’t want to be in it so limited that you’re playing the same thing every single time with the coverage variation and things like that, so we want to be able to play a lot of stuff out of dime, and Tank allows us to do that,” Shula said.

The Rams were the only team with two edge rushers in the top 10 for stops, per PFF: Byron Young (47, first) and Jared Verse (35, sixth)

A stop is defined as a tackle that constitutes an unsuccessful play for the offense and keeps them off-schedule to score on a given drive. People have lauded the Rams’ edge duo for their ability to impact the quarterback, and rightly so, seeing as they finished sixth among edge rusher duos in combined pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. But this duo separated themselves from the others with their impact in the run and screen game, where they were consistently disruptive.

InvaderRam wrote:

and it wasn’t just kupp. it was jones, gurley, and goff too.

Add Woods, Talib, Peters, Ramsey too in a way, Orlovsky, Akers.

Each of those had in it a little touch of the “uncermonial.”

…

@speed_kills@speedk1lls
One of the biggest developments for the Rams this past year was the emergence of the tight ends as a true strength of the offense. For years, Sean McVay talked about evolving the system — mixing up personnel groupings and leaning more into 12 personnel. This season, he finally fully committed to it, and not only did it show up in 12, but the Rams had tremendous success out of 13 personnel (three tight ends).

The tight end room became a major factor in both phases — a legitimate part of the passing attack and a physical advantage in the run game against smaller defensive fronts. Including Seattle. The Rams dictated terms with size.

See video for highlights of the TEs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA9G_HNr_tM

Colby Parkinson – 43 receptions, 408 yards
The biggest but least dynamic of the group turned into one of Matthew Stafford’s most trusted targets. Early on, it felt like the Rams simply said, “If you’re not going to cover him, we’re going to keep throwing it to him.” But then something unexpected happened: he started making tough, contested catches. Clutch grabs. Even the one-handed highlight plays. His emergence was a major surprise and a huge boost to the offense. He looked like the player the Rams believed they were signing from Seattle in 2024.

Tyler Higbee – 25 receptions, 281 yards
Old reliable. It was great to see him return from injury and step right back into the rotation. Higbee’s chemistry with Stafford and his understanding of the offense remain valuable assets. If the price is right, bringing him back would make sense (I know not likely) his veteran presence and leadership still matter in that locker room.

Terrance Ferguson – 11 receptions, 231 yards
We saw flashes. His vertical ability gives the offense a different dimension, and he made splash plays late in the year. Yes, there were some drops, and he clearly needed this season to develop above the shoulders. He also needs more time in the weight room. But the upside is undeniable.

Davis Allen – 24 receptions, 208 yards
Allen has reshaped his body since his rookie season in 2023 and it shows. He’s tough, competitive, and a better athlete than people realize. He brings real physicality in the run game and continues to grow as a reliable option underneath.

Combined production:
103 receptions
1,128 yards
17 touchdowns

That’s not complementary production — that’s impact production.

For a team that has often been defined by its wide receivers, the tight end room became one of the most important and productive position groups on the roster and I just didn’t see that coming.

InvaderRam wrote:

The #Rams are expected to hire Tennessee’s Michael Hunter as a defensive backs coach, sources tell @CBSSports.

zn wrote:

Brian Allen back in the building, this time on the headset instead of in the huddle.

Former Rams center now stepping in as assistant OL coach.

zn wrote:

Sources: The LA Rams are set to hire Robert Wright as a defensive assistant. Wright is the former DC at Syracuse and Buffalo…Wright is a Mike Elko disciple

Smart. They’re adding guys to the absolute lowest rank of assistant/position coaching, the idea, I am guessing, being to layer in promotable future assistant/position coaches for when the Rams lose coaches to other teams.

The new guys, particularly on defense, also bring new ideas and new approaches.

And it looks like they are preparing to have the manpower to teach new players in depth. So it’s defense, including the secondary, and the OL.

In that respect it looks like a mirror of their next draft. CBs, more front 7 on D, OL. They will probably add WRs too but their WR coaching is already completely maximized.

Pete Thamel@PeteThamel
Sources: The LA Rams are set to hire Robert Wright as a defensive assistant. Wright is the former DC at Syracuse and Buffalo. In his first year at Syracuse, the Orange went 10-3 and defeated No. 6 Miami. Wright is a Mike Elko disciple with stops at Duke and Texas AM.