The Los Angeles Rams kicked off their season by getting absolutely flattened, falling 27-7 to their arch rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, in an opening game that saw them out-coached, out-played, and flat-out out-classed. It’s obvious they’ve got some serious holes to fill if they want to live up to those “high expectations” everyone had for them. One of the biggest issues? Their reliance on undrafted linebackers, a weakness the 49ers exploited all night long.
The Middle of the Field Is a Ghost Town
Let’s talk about the linebackers, because wow, what a rough start. This unit has been a weak spot for a while now, and with the Rams shifting from that old 5-2-4 defense to primarily four-man fronts, these guys gotta step up. They need to plug holes, shed blockers, and at least clog up running lanes. The problem? L.A.’s crew isn’t exactly gifted in pass coverage. Nate Landman played 98% of snaps (64 total), Omar Speights got 46% (30 snaps), and Shaun Dolac saw 29% (19 snaps). Together, they notched 15 tackles. But here’s the kicker: only one, maybe two, of those tackles were made within three yards of the line of scrimmage. Most of their stops came four yards or more past the line! You can’t win in today’s NFL if your linebackers aren’t making plays for loss or no-gain.
Defensive Line and Edge Rushers: Where Was the Pressure?
The defensive line had a rough night across the board, with nobody really standing out. The 49ers’ game plan was smart: short, quick releases, often just one read. While there was some pass rush pressure, Purdy rarely felt it up the middle. San Francisco successfully ran the ball both inside and off-tackle. Kobie Turner (66% of snaps, 43 total), Poona Ford (51%, 33 total), Tyler Davis (49%, 32 total), Braden Fiske (45%, 29 total), and Ty Hamilton (18%, 12 total) just couldn’t get it done. And the edge rusher unit? “Quiet” is an understatement. Outside of Myles Garrett, who was on the cusp of a solid initial game with seven tackles (five assists, none for loss, one QB hit, zero sacks), the unit was invisible. Byron Young (72%, 47 total), Josaiah Stewart (43%, 28 total), and Desjuan Johnson (23%, 15 total) contributed almost nothing.
Safeties: A Mixed Bag, Some Big Plays Given Up
The safety group had some highs and some very clear lows. Quentin Lake played a full game, 100% of snaps (65 total), and had a solid outing. He’s at his best in underneath coverage, where his smarts really shine, and he even nabbed a 49ers interception! You’d want to see him tracking bigger receivers and tight ends, though, because over the long haul, he’s probably gonna struggle against those smaller, shifty, faster guys. On the flip side, Kamren Kinchens (80% of snaps, 52 total) looked like he lost track of coverage on two of the 49ers’ passing touchdowns. That’s just inexcusable when your deep center fielder in Cover3 lets a receiver run right by him for a huge play. Jaylen McCollough (60% of snaps, 39 total) put in a workman-like effort, playing a smart, steady game and getting in a lot of special teams work.
The Rams need to figure out their defensive identity, and fast. After that brutal 27-7 opener, they’ve got to find a way to stop the run and generate some pressure. This coming weekend, they’ll need to show serious improvement on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the middle, or it’s gonna be a long season for the L.A. faithful.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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