WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – What seemingly sticks with Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse the most from his first NFL season is not winning Defensive Rookie of the Year or the plays made that contributed to it, but rather the missed opportunities that hurt the team.

"The biggest thing I realized was how many sacks — and not even just sacks but big plays — I missed out on," Verse said after Tuesday's OTA practice, when asked about his takeaways from watching film from last season. "Dropping in coverage, I could have done this; or rushing the pass, I could have done that. Even in the run game a couple of times, there were things where I'm a little too far inside, I'm a little too far outside, and I could have made a big impact play. So realizing that this really is a game of inches — whether it's just stopping the ball or actually just doing your job — there's a couple of things I could've done better."

Verse went further on a recent appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast, telling the ESPN Senior NFL Insider he felt like he missed out on 10 sacks because of those mistakes. Which, hypothetically, would have put the former Florida State standout at 14.5 sacks.

Still, his QB hits (20), pressures (77) and hurries (56) led all rookies last season, according to TruMedia. Verse's 11 tackles for loss were second-most among first-year players, his 4.5 sacks fifth-most. Additionally, his hurries were second-most and pressures fourth-most among all defensive players in the NFL. He added 66 total tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while playing in all 17 regular season games (16 starts).

The accolades and strong start to his career could create a very high bar to clear, but defensive coordinator Chris Shula has stressed to Verse to just be himself.

"It's not really (about getting him to) elevate… we were just talking about it this morning," Shula said. "We don't want him to put any extra pressure on himself, just like we talked about with Kobie Turner last year. You don't got to replace (former Rams defensive lineman) Aaron Donald. You don't have to do anything else — just be the best version of yourself. That's all we're challenging him to do is understand his ops (opportunities) within the scheme of the defense, which we started to do in the middle of the season last year, and to just be himself. We're not looking for any stats, not looking for anything — just want him to play hard and be his best self every single day."

"I don't really feel too much pressure," Verse said. "If I am who I am and I take the strides that are needed to be taken, I'm going to be the best version of me and I'm going to be able to help the team in any facet that they need."

One of the traits that Verse who he is is the amount of talking he does – in-game or during practice against his own teammates. He has carried that over into challenging a franchise legend in the weight room.

During that same appearance on Schefter's podcast earlier this week, Verse said he saw Donald's "little Instagram posts" and challenged him to a work out. "He's not ready for that," Verse said on the podcast.

It got back to Donald, who responded Wednesday by challenging Verse to an "old man workout" at his Los Angeles home. Verse answered telling Donald, "all I need is a date and time," and upping the stakes further by telling Donald that if he gets through the old man workout, Donald has to come to the Rams' facility to get a "young man workout" in.

As of Wednesday afternoon, those details are undetermined. But it's Verse being himself, and surely it will help him accomplish the main goal he and his coaches have for himself.

"I feel more prepared than I've ever been because you get the whole offseason — you get time to work on this, that, and the third," Verse said. "I had one of the alumni at Florida State who reached out to me — he played in the NFL for a long time — he told me the number one thing I should do is watch all of my past film, unsolicited. (Not just) trying to be high on myself and only watch the good plays, watch more of the bad plays than the good and realize what I could work on. I did that, and I feel more prepared than I've ever been."