For the first time all season in Week 4, an outside linebacker besides Leonard Floyd played more snaps than Samson Ebukam. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo played 30 snaps compared to Ebukam’s 21, which isn’t a huge difference but was certainly notable.
Okoronkwo has been improving throughout the season, culminating in a strong performance against the Giants with a sack and a batted pass. He hasn’t taken over as the starter opposite Floyd just yet, but the competition is narrowing and Okoronkwo could continue to get more playing time.
For now, the Rams will keep the competition at outside linebacker going because Brandon Staley likes the way both players have played thus far.
As it relates to Obo and (OLB) Samson, that’s just the way it worked out,” Staley said Wednesday. “Obo’s been practicing well, and we feel like he gives us something different off the edge. Those guys are competing, and we feel good about both of them and the more Obo plays, the better he gets. Samson has been playing his tail off, too, improving, So we’re just going to keep that healthy competition going and we’re going to need all those guys to be successful.”
The edge rushers as a whole had been struggling until Sunday’s game against the Giants, but they came alive with a productive game. Ebukam, Okoronkwo and Justin Hollins all got in on sacks, and Floyd had one called back due to a penalty on Troy Hill.
This battle at outside linebacker is far from settled and the snap counts are likely to vary from week to week as the season goes on.
