Rams’ pass rush is doing its job as the rest of the defense struggles

Posted by Michael David Smith on November 17, 2018, 7:00 AM EST
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Given that the Rams are 9-1 and favored to beat the 9-1 Chiefs on Monday night in a matchup of the two teams with the best records in the league, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the Rams’ defense has not been particularly good this year.

The Rams are allowing opposing runners to average 5.2 yards a carry, worst in the NFL. And the improvements the Rams made in the secondary during the offseason have turned out not to be improvements at all, with cornerback Marcus Peters struggling all season and cornerback Aqib Talib on injured reserve.

But there is one thing the Rams are doing well: Pressuring opposing passers.

According to Chris Trapasso of the Buffalo News, using data compiled by Pro Football Focus, the Rams are getting pressure on 41.6 percent of the passes they face this season, the best in the NFL. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams are getting a lot of sacks — they’re tied for 10th in the league with 26 sacks — but they are consistently hurrying opposing quarterbacks.

And that underscores just how disappointing the secondary has been. If the defensive front is hurrying the opposing quarterback, and the opposing quarterback is completing passes anyway, that doesn’t reflect well on the secondary.

Getting to Patrick Mahomes on Monday night will be important, but the rest of the defense has to do its job as well. Given the way both teams’ offenses and defenses have played this season, expect a shootout.

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10 responses to “Rams’ pass rush is doing its job as the rest of the defense struggles”

  2. The chiefs defense gives up less yard per play and points than the saints and rams. This will favor them moving fwd.

  3. Haha…. I remember Suh tweeting “right up the Gut LOL”. He and the Rams are worse than the Dolphins! Just goes to show you can suck with average paid players or extremely overpriced ones too. What is really great is the Dolphins don’t have any Penalties from Unsportsmanlike Conduct: tripping, grabbing a QB by the throat or stomping on ankles anymore and saved $60M in the process.

  4. The Rams defense has been disappointing without a doubt. The defensive backfield has been a mess. Peters is always going for the home run INT and Joyner has been invisible at safety after having a stellar year last season. They would be wise to play zone. If they can’t shore that or the Run D up, Hunt and Hill are going to pick them apart on Monday night.

  6. Suh is and has always been a me first player. When he wants to be dominant there is probably nobody better. The problem is he does not always play that way. You will see him ball out for the final part of the year and playoffs because he wants that next contract. Once that happens back to the same player going half speed and freelancing.

  8. They’re 9-1 with a shaky defense, often saved by Aaron Donald. If they can improve over the last 6 games with Talib back and Fowler balling out, look out.

  9. lastl00 says:
    November 17, 2018 at 11:18 am
    They’re 9-1 with a shaky defense, often saved by Aaron Donald. If they can improve over the last 6 games with Talib back and Fowler balling out, look out.

    0 1 Rate This

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    talib done and fowler wildly overrated as well as immature

    with talib, you can’t be 32 and have midseason foot surgery and “come back”

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