The Los Angeles Rams snatched their second straight win Sunday, taking down the Chargers 24-9, and while the offense is grinding, their defense is quietly developing some serious talent. Leading that charge, an undrafted rookie from Louisville, edge Wesley Bailey, just had his biggest workload of the season and made it count.
Bailey’s Rise From Raw Prospect to Defensive Disruptor
Bailey’s college report card called him a highly athletic prospect, with the NFL frame, length, and motor you dream of, even if his technical skills and toolbox of moves were a bit raw. The Rams brought him along slowly, with just a couple of special teams reps in Week 1, but then a lane opened up when Myles Garrett went down with an injury. And man, Bailey has absolutely seized the opportunity! Sunday was his biggest test yet, logging 32 reps, a whopping 52% of the defensive snaps. He delivered with five tackles, a pressure, and the absolute highlight reel fourth-quarter strip sack that sealed the deal. You can see the growth, both in his game logs and on the field, with more reps and increasing production each week. He’s still learning the ropes, needing to get better at setting the edge and dropping into flat coverage, but his twitch and effort are impossible to miss on film. For a league minimum salary, this guy is proving to be a solid value.
Offense Still Finding Its Groove, Running Backs Heating Up
While Bailey is shining, the offense is still trying to find its footing, especially with depth issues for injured playmakers. Quarterback Matthew Stafford played 100% of the snaps, and it looks like pass rush pressure is really bothering him this season. That’s so out of character for his fearless, gunslinger style, right? He was effective on quick, underneath throws, but when he had to hold the ball and read the field, his accuracy struggled. The Rams absolutely need to figure out how to give him time to stretch the field, otherwise, this passing game is going to stay compressed.
Good news on the ground, though! The running back duo of Kyren Williams (37 snaps, 69%) and Blake Corum (17 snaps, 31%) put in another solid “ham and egg” performance, combining for 27 carries, 129 yards, and two touchdowns. Both backs have over a 50 percent success rate for the season. Early in the season, through Week 6, Williams was the clear RB#1, taking 70% of snaps, 64% of touches, and 65% of yards. Now, it looks like they are alternating full drives, and even though Williams is still getting more snaps, Corum’s touches and production are very similar. Over at wide receiver, Puka Nacua (52 snaps, 96%) keeps climbing the record books, passing Robert Woods for #9 on the Rams all-time receptions list with 368. Tutu Atwell (21 snaps, 39%) chipped in with an explosive play, something the Rams need to throw 2-3 of every game, completed or not, just to loosen up those underneath areas. Konata Mumpfield (27 snaps, 50%) is getting the snaps but still isn’t a factor in the passing game, with few targets and even less production.
The Rams are now even at 4-4, and while the offense still has some serious questions, the emergence of Wesley Bailey on defense is a massive boost. They need to keep finding ways to get Stafford comfortable and let Bailey keep developing. What does this defensive spark mean for the rest of their season? We’ll be watching closely.
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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