WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – He slowly walked toward the line of scrimmage. As the ball was snapped and Eagles backup right tackle Matt Pryor – and running back Saquon Barkley – turned their attention to Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse, safety Jaylen McCollough shot through the B gap untouched on the defensive back blitz, delivering a huge hit to quarterback Jalen Hurts.
It forced the second of what became four-consecutive three-and-outs forced by Los Angeles' defense in the first half.
Whether he's been lined up at dime linebacker or one of the traditional safety positions, McCollough has been a Swiss-Army knife for the Rams this season.
"It's just playing football, man," McCollough said Monday. "Just being ready when my number's called, and making the most of the opportunities, like I always say. And it's not really just me, it's just playing within the confines of the scheme and of the defense. When coach (defensive coordinator Chris) Shula scheme something up, when coach AP (pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant) and safeties coach (Chris) Beake give us our play opps, being present enough to understand when those things like come to fruition and making the most of it."
McCollough established himself as a playmaker his rookie season sharing with draft classmate Kam Kinchens for the team lead in interceptions with four (including one returned for a touchdown).
His sack against the Eagles marked the second time this season McCollough has delivered a sack for a double-digit loss; he took down the Texans' C.J. Stroud for a 12-yard loss in Week 1 which led to Houston settling for a field goal after reaching the L.A. 15-yard line. It also came on a DB blitz, that time from the right side instead of the left like the sack against Hurts, but with the same outcome: The quarterback being drill while never seeing McCollough coming.
"He's been that way, really, since he got in the game last year," Shula said. "And we love Tank. He does a lot of different stuff for us. He's smart, he's tough, he's versatile, he's a great tackler, and based on the game plan, situationally, we can match him up with certain things. And he always makes the most of his opportunities. He always seems to make a big play, whether it's a pick, whether it's a sack, something like that, and he's just continued to do that. Picked up where he left off last year."
McCollough's playmaking in and near the box will be needed once again this week as the Rams face a Colts offense led by third-leading passer Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor, whose league-leading 338 rushing yards are more than 17 other NFL teams.
"Just continue to grow and continue to learn, and continuing to find my play opps in the scheme," McCollough said. "I enjoy being around the football. I enjoy being on the field, having the ability to make plays, so wherever they line me up, whether it be in the box or back on the hash, wherever it is, just being comfortable in the fundamentals of my technique and making the most of my opportunities."
