On Sunday, Rams outside linebacker Byron Young displayed his physical growth with a game-changing strip-sack against Tennessee. His description of the play on Monday showcased his mental maturation.
Young "sensed" that running back Tony Pollard was going to chip him, he said. So instead of forcing a speed rush, as he had originally planned, Young "played more heavy" on the tackle so he could regain leverage quickly after Pollard rammed him off the edge. Because he was braced for that contact, Young was able to keep a strong base and beat the tackle around the corner after swiping his right arm aside. The ensuing forced fumble on quarterback Cam Ward was recovered by inside linebacker Nate Landman, giving L.A. the ball just outside the red zone.
"My mindset then was just to be relentless, to keep going," Young said. "I knew like those type of plays, hustle plays, (are) plays that you just got to keep going. You got to keep the motor going regardless of (if) you get chipped, you get double-teamed."
Head coach Sean McVay called that play "the turning point in the game," and the analytics agreed, as it increased the Rams' win probability from 73% to 88%, according to Next Gen Stats, the largest swing of the Rams' 33-19 win over the Titans. Afterward, Young had a simple message for the road crowd as he skipped to the Rams' sideline: "That's what I do."
McVay said that Young "took his game to the next level," both mentally and physically. That showed up on Sunday, as he led the team with two sacks and six pressures (via Pro Football Focus). After an offseason of pilates, detailed film work and asking pointed questions, Young sees that growth in himself as well.
When outside linebacker Michael Hoecht left in free agency this past offseason, Young knew he had to step up. He's now "the veteran in the group," said defensive coordinator Chris Shula, which is unusual for a third-year player in the NFL, but Young has leaned into that responsibility by intensifying his process. Although he's no longer in the building, Hoecht set an expectation of excellence with his work that Young has strived to meet.
"Coming a lot earlier, studying a lot more film, asking more questions or just knowing what to do when the time comes and knowing your options on the field," Young said. "I feel like (Hoecht) taught me that there's more than one way to fill a gap, to win a pass rush. Like, regardless of what it is, he always just was a step ahead I think. For me to better my game, I just had to step up in those roles and just understand the game and our sets a little bit more, just how he does."
Through two weeks, that's resulted in a relentless motor, great hands, violent rushes, quick get-offs, increased anticipation and an enhanced understanding of how to work edges on opponents, McVay said.
Young talked extensively about the benefits of his offseason pilates training during OTAs and training camp, but now he's starting to see the effects of it on game days. His bend and ability to stay loose during rushes have improved significantly. Young has been "replaying" his strip-sack in his head, not because of the result, but because of the ankle bend and flexibility he showed in the process.
All the training he put in during the offseason, whether it was on the field, in the meeting room or at the pilates studio, has elevated his confidence, leading to more self-assured movements and decisions on the field.
"I put in so much work this offseason," Young said. "I know I can do it. I know I belong here. I know I'm good enough to get a job done."
The third-year pro out of the University of Tennessee was angry at how his alma mater had lost the day prior in a heartbreaking overtime collapse against Georgia. Young made it clear to his teammates that he he was going to take that rage out on Tennessee's pro team, and so he did.
On the Titans' second play from scrimmage (discounting penalties), Young swiped down on John Ojukwu's hands, beating the backup right tackle off the edge for his first sack of the day. That was the same player Young would beat later on, and forced the Titans into a third down with eternity to go, one they didn't convert. Young got up immediately after the play, did a celebratory gesture and said, "We clockin' it early today."
Young's more intentional approach has led to high-energy reps on each and every snap, no matter the context, Shula said. "As far as his down-in, down-out, pre-snap demeanor... he's playing at an extremely high level. Like we talked about with (defensive end) Kobie Turner, you can't find many bad snaps (on tape)."
Through two games, Young leads the team in sacks (three), pressures (nine) and pass rush win rate (24.5%). Among edge rushers league-wide, those marks rank fourth, 13th and 12th, respectively.
He was arguably the most physically gifted edge rusher in the 2023 draft class, with a 9.23 out of 10 Relative Athletic Score. That ranked 128th out of 1636 edge rusher prospects from 1987 to 2023. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest among edge rushers in that year, and put up 22 reps on the bench press, which tied for 11th.
Since he's been in the league, Young has developed his strength to match his speed, said outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio. Now, he can win in whatever way the situation calls for.
"The one thing that you want to make sure that you can and show in a game is that you can rush with power," Coniglio said. "So just having the ability to go power the way that he's developed that, the way that he's developed his body, and the way that he can use that unique trait of his because he's such such an explosive athlete, and then really kind of setting up a lot of stuff off of that, that's been the coolest thing to see."
McVay felt that Sunday was somewhat of a coming out party for Young.
"I think the relentless pursuit, the energy, the ability to be able to make a bunch of different plays in both phases (were impressive)," McVay said. "You guys have heard me talk about it. I think there are certain guys on game day, you feel them. I felt him all day. I felt the way that he was able to pursue, to force the ball out of Ward's hands a couple times when he was scrambling, his ability to relentlessly play through the echo of the whistle, which was reflected on his sack fumble, his production in the run game to be able to win on some two-man games."
In the locker room, Young received a game ball, the first one he'd ever gotten during the postgame festivities.
McVay was surprised by that, as he's had some spectacular performances before, but Young's dominant showing in Tennessee was one he couldn't possibly wait a day to celebrate.
"It was cool to be able to give him the game ball," McVay said. "He said it was the first one, so I've been shorting him for a couple times because he deserved it before in the locker room, actually, instead of waiting until Monday."
Sunday's matchup against the Eagles will serve as a litmus test versus a team with two All-Pro tackles in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. But fellow outside linebacker Verse will take Young over anyone in a one-on-one matchup.
"I don't know why people (are) surprised BY's dominating," Verse said. "You give him the chance to just go win, which we've been giving him that chance, that's exactly what's gonna happen. I expect a lot more of that."
