LOS ANGELES – As soon as Davis Allen caught the pass, inside linebacker Nate Landman cocked his fist. The tight end only took one step upfield before Landman punched the ball loose from under his left arm, and the pigskin skittered away, recovered by the defense.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said that two plays prior to that, Landman had addressed the defense shouting, "Hey, we're going to get a ball out here at some point," and then he made it happen himself.
Over the past two seasons, Landman has forced six fumbles, tied for third-most among off-ball linebackers in that time, according to Pro Football Focus. Last year, the Rams' 10 forced fumbles were tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL, so Landman's expertise in that area can certainly help improve that rank. The key, he said, is to find opportunities to rip the ball out while not sacrificing the tackle.
"Sometimes when you're tracking the hip on the tackle, it shows up right there and there's your opportunity," Landman said. "I'm a stronger ball puncher with the right hand than I am with the left. I'm definitely more comfortable moving that way, and that's when I tend to seek those opportunities with the carrier going away (from me)."
"I almost want to call him 'Peanut Punch Landman,'" said safety Quentin Lake with a smile, referring to the move made famous by former Bears cornerback Charles 'Peanut' Tillman.
Throughout the first two weeks of training camp, Landman has acted as a ball magnet whose violent precision has constantly threatened to jar the ball loose. The 26-year-old from Zimbabwe is entering his fourth NFL season, and has already built a reputation as a sound tackler, leader and turnover creator in the middle of the field.
In 2023, when Landman started 14 of 16 games for Atlanta, he was one of the best run defenders in the league at his position, ranking third in run stops (constituting a failed play by the offense) with 46, and missing just 6.8% of his tackle attempts, via PFF.
He attributed some of that tackling successful to his rugby background.
"The game has kind of moved on from keeping your head out of it into wrap and roll, and those are the kind of fundamentals they teach in rugby when you're growing up and starting it because, obviously, you're playing without pads," Landman said this offseason. "That translates to football really well, especially in the open field, outside zone, or different schemes like that."
Throughout two weeks of training camp practice, Landman has been shooting gaps and beating running backs to the edge, often throwing jabs at the football when he does. His elite instincts have given the Rams' offense fits.
"If he feels a lineman leaning or something like that... he's not afraid to trigger, and you like that from guys," LaFleur said. "He's testing himself out here in July, getting himself ready for September. I think we're lucky to have him and the leadership he's bringing right now. He's going to be a good player."
His familiarity with the Rams' defensive scheme has helped him transition "seamlessly" this offseason, inside linebackers coach Greg Williams told theRams.com during OTAs.
Rams senior defensive assistant Jimmy Lake, quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone and former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris coached Landman in Atlanta. Everything L.A. heard about him from those coaches has materialized, from his proclivity for being in the right place at the right time to his "natural leadership traits," said head coach Sean McVay.
Whether he's barking orders in the middle of the defense or sprinting to congratulate teammates after a big play, his presence is felt as much before and after the play as it is during.
"I've always grown up in the defense where the... middle linebacker is kind of the quarterback of the defense, directing traffic," Landman said. "That's the place where I feel comfortable in. I think it elevates my game, allows me to know what the front's in, where the defensive backs are coming down (and) if this safety's coming down here on this motion."
"He's become one of the leaders of the defense and he's such a vocal guy," said defensive coordinator Chris Shula. "He's a glue guy. He can organize the whole defense, he can put a lot on his plate, he's always in the right spot, and you just feel how physical he is."
That physicality was put on display in pads when he stuffed running back Blake Corum in a short-yardage situation. Landman squared his shoulders, got low to the ground and stopped Corum in his tracks, pushing him back behind the line of scrimmage.
That textbook tackle was just one of the many impressive plays he's made during training camp that have drawn the attention of everyone on the field and in the stands at Loyola Marymount University.
"He practices the right way (and) communicates at an All-Pro level," Lake said. "He's setting himself up for a lot of success and he's going to do it this whole season. I truly believe that."
