Countdown to Camp is a series breaking down the Rams roster by position group heading into training camp. The second installment examines the defensive line.
The Rams' young defensive line broke out in a big way last season. Defensive ends Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner ranked first and second on the team in sacks with 8.5 and 8.0, respectively. As the season progressed, the line gained a better understanding of how to rush together, capitalizing on stunts and creating opportunities for others as much as themselves.
"As time goes on, they learn by the communication within the game, it gives them more opportunities to make plays," defensive line coach Giff Smith told theRams.com this offseason. "… When they can (communicate) with a wink or a nod or a hand signal, that's when, as a coach you go, 'all right, now they're figuring it out.'"
Turner is entering his third year in the NFL and is coming off a season where had the fourth-most stops (denoting an unsuccessful play for the offense) of any interior defensive linemen with 40, according to Pro Football Focus. Fiske, meanwhile, led all rookies in sacks and had twice as many pressures (51) as the next-closest rookie at his position, ranking 11th overall.
Last season, Bobby Brown III was the run stopper in the middle of the defense. But after he left in free agency, the Rams signed veteran Poona Ford. Ford is the shortest defensive lineman in the league, but his combination of agility, arm length and football IQ more than makes up for that lack of height.
Tyler Davis, Desjuan Johnson and Larrell Murchison will serve as depth at defensive end, while rookie Ty Hamilton along with Jack Heflin will do so at defensive tackle.
Smith said that finishing plays was a priority for the defensive line this offseason. They created consistent disruption throughout last year, but couldn't capitalize on some opportunities for big plays. Now, with a year of experience under their belt and a new, chaos-inducing nose tackle in the mix, Smith is hoping the defensive line can take the next step in 2025.
