The 2024 NFL season was a rollercoaster for the Rams’ defense, marked by early struggles, a midseason resurgence, and a remarkable postseason performance. Under first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula, the Rams faced significant challenges, including the loss of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald and a young, inexperienced roster. Despite these hurdles, the unit showed resilience, finishing the regular season with mixed rankings but surging in the playoffs to become one of the league’s most disruptive defenses. Heading into the 2025 season, let’s take a look at the Rams’ 2024 defensive rankings, key statistics, standout players, the factors that defined 2024, and projections for defensive improvements in 2025.
Regular Season Defensive Rankings
As the Rams started the 2024 with a 1-4 record, the defense experienced a rocky start, with early games exposing weaknesses in both pass and run defense. According to data from various sources, the Rams’ overall defensive rankings for the regular season were as follows:
- Points Allowed Per Game (PPG): 22.7 (17th in the NFL)
- Total Yards Allowed Per Game: 344.7 (19th)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 240.9 (10th)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 103.8 (24th)
- Sacks: 38 (tied for 21st)
- Tackling Efficiency: 15th (per NFL Next Gen Stats)
- EPA/Play Allowed (Expected Points Added per play): Initially last in the NFL (0.165 through Week 5), improving to 2nd-best (-0.183) from Week 7 onward
These rankings reflect a defense that struggled early but found its footing after a pivotal Week 6 bye. The Rams allowed 41 points in a Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, highlighting issues with big plays, miscommunication, penalties, and tackling discipline. However, post-bye adjustments under Shula’s leadership transformed the unit into one of the league’s most effective defenses over the final stretch of the regular season.
Postseason Surge
The Rams’ defense truly shone in the 2024 playoffs, elevating their performance to historic levels. In their Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings (27-9) and Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (28-22), the Rams recorded 16 sacks, the most in a two-game span in NFL playoff history. Their non-blitz pressure rate of 54.5% was the highest in a single postseason since Pro Football Focus began tracking pressures in 2019.
Key postseason defensive grades included:
- Wild Card vs. Vikings: 88.5 (B+), with 70 of 74 tackle opportunities converted
- Divisional vs. Eagles: 82.1 (B-), though not enough to advance
This postseason performance vaulted the Rams’ overall defensive ranking (including playoffs) to 17th, a seven-spot improvement from their regular-season standing. The unit’s ability to generate pressure without relying on blitzes and their improved tackling efficiency were critical to this surge.
Key Statistical Highlights
Tackling Improvements
Tackling was a significant concern early in the season, with the Rams ranking 26th in tackle efficiency through Week 10 and rookie Jared Verse leading the league with 11 missed tackles in the first four weeks. However, the defense made strides as the season progressed, particularly after undrafted free agent linebacker Omar Speights emerged as a starter. Troy Reeder suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve (IR) on October 24, 2024, he had been a starter for the Rams and was the defensive signal caller before the injury. The defense improved from this point forward with Quentin Lake taking over as the signal caller and the missed tackle rate dramatically improved, helping the team rank 8th in tackle efficiency over the final eight weeks. Still, as we saw in the playoffs, the run defense (linebackers) required upgrades.
Turnover Production
The Rams’ defense thrived on creating turnovers, especially in the latter half of the season. They scored defensive points in four consecutive games, including a pick-six against the Green Bay Packers, a fumble return touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders, a safety against the Minnesota Vikings, and another pick-six against the Seattle Seahawks. Safety Kamren Kinchens led the team with 4 interceptions, tying for the team lead in defensive takeaways.
Pass Rush
While the regular season saw only 38 sacks, the Rams’ pass rush came alive in the playoffs. Rookies Jared Verse (DROY) and defensive tackle Braden Fiske were instrumental, with Fiske leading the team with 8.5 sacks during the regular season. With addition of veteran Poona Ford and selecting Josaiah Stewart in the 2025 NFL draft, the Rams are positioned well to elevate the unit’s pass rush in 2025.
Standout Players
Several players emerged as cornerstones of the Rams’ defense in 2024:
- Jared Verse (DE): Despite early tackling struggles, Verse developed into a dominant edge rusher, finishing with 10 missed tackles over the final 13 weeks after 11 in the first four. His postseason performance was pivotal in the Rams’ sack totals.
- Braden Fiske (DT): A rookie standout, Fiske led the team with 8.5 sacks and provided consistent pressure up the middle.
- Omar Speights (LB): The undrafted rookie became a tackling machine, ranking among the top-10 linebackers in tackling efficiency over the back half of the season.
- Kamren Kinchens (S): Kinchens’ 4 interceptions and playmaking ability in the secondary were crucial, with expectations of a starting role in 2025.
- Quentin Lake (S): Lake led the team with 111 tackles, anchoring the secondary with versatility and reliability.
Factors Behind the Turnaround
Coaching Adjustments
Chris Shula faced immense pressure replacing Raheem Morris and managing a defense without Aaron Donald. Early struggles were attributed to a lack of cohesion, discipline, and weak linebacker play. Shula’s adjustments post-Week 6 bye were transformative. By simplifying assignments and leveraging the athleticism of young players like Verse and Fiske, Shula turned the Rams into a top-tier unit in EPA/play allowed (-0.183) from Week 7 onward, trailing only the Philadelphia Eagles.
Youth Development
The Rams’ defense was notably young, with rookies Verse, Fiske, Kinchens, and UDFA linebacker Speights playing significant roles. The team’s draft strategy of selecting slightly older rookies paid dividends, as players like Kobie Turner and Verse adapted quickly to the NFL. The growth of these players, particularly in tackling and situational awareness, was evident in the team’s late-season and playoff performances.
Strategic Acquisitions
The additions of veterans like Darious Williams and Kamren Curl provided stability in the secondary, while the trade of linebacker Ernest Jones before the season allowed younger players like Speights to step up. The Rams’ ability to integrate cost-effective veterans with high-upside rookies created a balanced unit by season’s end.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Despite their late-season success, the Rams’ defense faced challenges that impacted their rankings:
- Run Defense: Allowing 103.8 rushing yards per game (24th) was a persistent issue, with opponents exploiting gaps in the front seven.
- Early-Season Discipline: Penalties and missed tackles plagued the unit early, contributing to blowout losses like the Week 2 game against Arizona.
- Sack Consistency: While the postseason sack totals were impressive, the regular season’s 38 sacks (21st) suggest room for improvement in generating consistent pressure.
Projected Improvements for 2025
The Rams’ defense is poised for significant strides in 2025, building on their 2024 momentum and addressing key weaknesses. Here are the projected improvements:
- Strengthened Run Defense: The addition of veteran defensive tackle Poona Ford, known for his run-stopping prowess, should bolster the Rams’ interior and the changes to the linebacker group with the addtions of Nate Landman, Chris Paul Jr, and UDFA Shawn Dola could potentially pushing their run defense ranking into the top 15 or higher.
- Enhanced Pass Rush: Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, both entering their second NFL seasons, are projected to take significant leaps. Verse’s improved tackling efficiency and Fiske’s knack for interior pressure suggest the duo could combine for 20+ sacks in 2025. The Rams’ non-blitz pressure rate, already elite in the 2024 playoffs (54.5%), should remain a strength, with Shula likely refining schemes to maximize Verse’s edge presence. This could elevate the team’s sack total into the top 10, addressing the regular season’s 21st-ranked output.
- Secondary Concerns: The young secondary, led by Kamren Kinchens and Quentin Lake, is expected to improve its ability to create turnovers. Kinchens, with 4 interceptions in 2024, could emerge as a Pro Bowl-caliber safety, while Lake’s versatility may see him take on more coverage responsibilities in the slot. The return of Ahkello Witherspoon, and Cobie Durant provides continuity while former first round pick Emmanuel Forbes Jr. could be a surprise for 2025. The depth of this group is questionable. Darious Williams performance in 2024 showed obvious decline and prior to his ACL injury, Derion Kendrick was a liability. The backups, Charles Woods, Josh Wallace, and Shaun Jolly, have not shown they are ready to step up for larger roles. Trading for Jalen Ramsey could elevate this group althought the cost could be prohibitive.
- Tackling Consistency: The Rams’ late-season tackling surge in 2024 (8th in efficiency over the final eight weeks) sets a strong foundation. With Speights, Landman and Chris Paul Jr. anchoring the linebacker corps and Verse continuing to be a destructive force, the Rams are projected to rank among the top 10 in tackling efficiency for the 2025 season. Offseason emphasis on fundamentals, as demonstrated by Shula’s 2024 adjustments, will be key to sustaining this improvement.
- Scheme Refinement: Chris Shula’s ability to adapt midseason suggests he’ll enter 2025 with a more cohesive game plan. Expect a focus on reducing early-season penalties (a 2024 issue) through better pre-snap communication and leveraging the experience gained by his young roster. The Rams’ EPA/play allowed, which ranked 2nd-best post-Week 6, could position them as a top-5 defense in this metric if Shula builds on his aggressive, pressure-heavy approach.
- Depth and Injury Resilience: The Rams’ 2024 defense relied heavily on young players, a few UDFA, and candidly, a few players that are practice squad canidates which exposed them to inconsistencies when backups were needed. The changes made to the linebacker group is a postive sign, while the secondary (corners) remain a concern.
With these improvements, the Rams’ defense could realistically climb into the top 10 in total defense and points allowed by 2025, potentially ranking as high as 8th or 9th if the pass rush and run defense gel. The combination of returning talent, strategic acquisitions, and Shula’s growing command positions the unit to compete with elite defenses like the Eagles and Ravens.
Final Thoughts
The Rams’ 2024 defensive season was a story of growth and redemption, evolving from a last-place ranking in EPA/play allowed early in the season to a top-tier unit by Week 7. While regular-season rankings placed them in the middle of the pack (17th in points allowed, 19th in total yards), their postseason performance—highlighted by a record-setting 16 sacks in two games—showcased their potential as a top 10 defense. Looking ahead to 2025, the Rams are primed for a breakout defensive campaign. With a bolstered run defense, an elite pass rush, a maturing secondary, and refined coaching under Chris Shula, the Rams could establish themselves as one of the NFL’s premier defenses, potentially vaulting into the top 10 and setting the stage for a deep playoff run.
For more news and discussion on the Los Angeles Rams, please visit The Rams Forum – On X @RamsFansForum