Struggles on the Field
The Los Angeles Rams faced significant challenges on Thursday night in Australia, falling to their rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, with a score of 27-7. Expectations were high for the Rams’ revamped defense, highlighted by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Yet, the team’s performance was lackluster, allowing 379 total yards while forcing only one turnover and failing to record a single sack.
Defensive Woes and Analysis
The defensive line, which includes Garrett, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young, has been under scrutiny for the lack of impact. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, on Friday’s episode of “First Take,” shifted the focus to defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Orlovsky expressed concern about Shula’s inability to adapt or provide an advantage in recent games.
“I’m concerned about their defensive coordinator,” Orlovsky stated. “In the last four games, the Rams defense has been exposed by quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, and Brock Purdy.”
The statistics are telling; over the last four games, the Rams’ defense has allowed a QBR of 98.3 on third downs, just short of a perfect score of 100. They have secured only one sack on third down during this period. This ongoing issue carries over from last season.
Offensive Strengths Amidst Defensive Struggles
Last season, the Rams completed 12-5 and came close to the Super Bowl, narrowly falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Their offensive prowess led them, boasting league-best performance in total yards and points per game. The Rams’ offensive power came from key players like MVP Matthew Stafford and All-Pro receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. However, the defense lingered in the middle range for both yards and points allowed per game.
Concerns for the Rams’ Future
In playoff matches, the Rams gave up 31 points to both Bryce Young and the Panthers and Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, in addition to 17 points to Caleb Williams and the Bears. Historically, Kyle Shanahan has fared well against Rams’ head coach Sean McVay, and the recent game highlighted continuing defensive vulnerabilities for the team.
Chris Shula, who has been with the Rams since 2017 and became the defensive coordinator in 2024, was highly regarded before this season. However, if he cannot turn the defense around, it poses a significant issue given the talent available.