Concerns Over Rams Defense Despite Star Talent

The Los Angeles Rams faced their rival, the San Francisco 49ers, in what was expected to showcase their revamped defense on Thursday night in Australia. Missing Aaron Donald, the spotlight was on Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. However, the Rams struggled, conceding 379 total yards and losing 27-7, managing only one turnover and no sacks.

The defensive line, featuring Garrett, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young, didn’t perform as anticipated. On ESPN’s ‘First Take,’ analyst Dan Orlovsky addressed concerns over defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s strategies. ‘I’m concerned about their defensive coordinator,’ Orlovsky stated. ‘In the last four games, they’ve been outplayed by quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, and Brock Purdy. Myles Garrett was effectively neutralized by Kyle Shanahan, with no adjustments made by Shula.’

Analyzing their performance, the defense has allowed a QBR of 98.3 on third downs over four games, with only one sack recorded. This issue appears persistent, carrying over from previous seasons.

Last season, the Rams finished with a 12-5 record and reached the NFC Championship Game, losing narrowly to the Seattle Seahawks. Their success was fueled by an offense led by MVP Matthew Stafford and All-Pro receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, leading the league in total yards and points. The defense, however, ranked average, allowing 327.5 total yards and 20.4 points per game.

In the playoffs, the Rams gave up substantial points to the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and the Seahawks. Historically, Kyle Shanahan has fared well against Sean McVay, and Thursday’s game highlighted ongoing defensive weaknesses despite offseason efforts.

Chris Shula, with the Rams since 2017, took over as defensive coordinator in 2024. While he was regarded highly entering the season, if improvements don’t occur with the current defense, the team faces a significant challenge.