The Los Angeles Rams team from 2023 looks very different from this one, even though the uniforms are the same. With so many variables changing in the lead-up to the season, the team will have a lot to learn. The Rams will spend the offseason searching for answers to all of these concerns, from an aging quarterback to a totally redesigned defense.
This question might be better suited for 2025 or 2026. Nevertheless, word leaked out of Matthew Stafford’s demand for a reorganized contract, and neither party to the talks has publicly acknowledged any progress toward a new agreement. Though head coach Sean McVay has towed the company line with military precision to keep everything “in-house,” this does not mean that the wheels are not in motion.
On defense, there are just too many questions to address. What kind of defense will Chris Shula, the new defensive coordinator, put in place? How are they going to handle Aaron Donald’s passing? And what about the defensive line’s lack of experience? Will Tre’Davious White fully recuperate from his two horrific injuries?
All of these are significant queries that won’t truly have responses until the defense enters the game. However, once training camp starts, we will find out more about the more specialized ones.
How will the post-Donald world’s defensive alignment shift?
Verse and Byron Young on the outside, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske in the middle, will probably make up the front five. That fifth place, though, remains a riddle. While there are a few choices, Bobby Brown, who is in the last year of his rookie deal, has not yet seen regular use. Tyler Davis was also included in the draft. Michael Hoecht could be moved back inside. Last year, he lost weight and was playing the edge. Among the players on the roster, he has the most NFL experience, but he would need to bulk up. In Rams training camp, Larrell Murchison is a dark horse to watch.
Nickel Corner will be portrayed by whom?
Russ Yeast (194), Cobie Durant (349), and Quentin Lake (378 snaps) shared slot duties with the Rams in the previous campaign. At the position, Jordan Fuller also saw 131 snaps of action. Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White will probably continue to be outside players. The Rams training camp is when this clash will take place.
Kyren Williams missed much of this year’s spring sessions because of a recurring foot issue. During his rookie season’s spring training, he initially fractured his right foot. Following that, he had a grade three high ankle sprain, which kept him out of action for the first eight games of the season. He had a five-week stay on the injured reserve due to the same ailment to his right ankle that occurred the previous year.
Williams has stated he will be prepared for the Rams training camp, which is encouraging because he has already lost a significant amount of practice time because of injuries. However, there’s a chance that the early return will cause further lost time. The Rams will need to weigh which is most advantageous.
The two most significant changes were the addition of Jonah Jackson as a left guard and the subsequent centering of Steve Avila. Though most anticipate a smooth transition, there are still unanswered questions. Jonah Jackson had surgery to address a meniscus issue, therefore there are concerns about his injuries.
Avila has previous collegiate experience in this role. Despite the fact that he hasn’t held the office since 2021. While at TCU, he excelled as a guard but was also a good center.
Although the position move isn’t completely unusual, there is a learning curve. Since the center serves as the offensive line’s central hub for communication, there is also an increased workload.
At Rams training camp, it will be clear whether this works out based on rep counts. However, the Rams’ large wager will be very expensive if it doesn’t.
