The Rams defense took a hit when Dante Fowler Jr. opted to leave for Atlanta in free agency, signing a contract with the Falcons. He was the team’s best edge rusher in 2019 and a key part of the front seven.
The pass rush hasn’t been great through eight weeks, but it has come alive recently, led by Aaron Donald and his nine sacks. It’s taken a host of players to pressure the quarterback, including Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Michael Brockers.
While it might not be one of the best units in the league, the Rams pressure the quarterback on third down more than just about every other team. They rank third in third-down pressure rate (40.8%), behind only the Steelers and Buccaneers.
These defenses create the most pressure on opposing quarterbacks on 3rd down this season:
🥇 @steelers
🥈 @Buccaneers
🥉 @RamsNFL
🏅 @Lions
🏅 @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/UhySQyFCqh— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 12, 2020
Sacks and pressure on third down are drive-enders, which helps the defense get off the field and limit points on the scoreboard. It’s a big reason the Rams have the third-best third-down defense in the NFL and rank first in yards and points per drive.
If Los Angeles can generate pressure at a higher rate on first and second down, this defense will rise to new heights.
