Any thought that new Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would stick with the vestige of Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams’ 4-3 defense has already been tossed out the window. This isn’t Phillips’ first rodeo and he knows what works. He also knows how to use the personnel he’ll have with the Rams when they open their 2017 season.
Four of the last six defenses Phillips coached were 4-3s when he was hired. All of them made the switch to positive results, the last in 2015 with the Denver Broncos that brought the team a Super Bowl title.
Great to be in L A! Going to The Griddle tomorrow-can't wait.
— Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) February 11, 2017
The biggest change cosmetically will be how the Rams use Robert Quinn. Quinn was drafted as a defensive end and, when healthy, is one of the best in the league. That “when healthy” asterisk looms pretty large. Over the last two seasons Quinn has missed 19 games with various injuries, mostly to his hips, back and shoulder. Life in the trenches has been tough on Quinn’s body and a move to an upright 3-4 outside linebacker should pay dividends immediately, not only with his pass rush stats, but with his durability. Quinn is 26 and 6-foot-4, 264 pounds and ran a 4.6 40 back at the rookie combine. He’s one of the best in the business at the strip sack and with Aaron Donald earning more and more attention on the inside, Quinn should be a dominating outside passrusher in a 3-4 scheme.
The biggest issue for Phillips, new head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, are two key defensive free agents, both in the defensive backfield.
Trumaine Johnson played last season under the franchise tag and, once again, showed he’s an elite NFL corner. The Rams are looking at about $40 million in available salary cap, so there’s money to spend. Johnson is just 27 and, with the exception of 2014, not dealt with a lot of injury issues as a pro. He’s worth the money and somebody will pay him. The Rams might as well do it.
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Phillips’ defense works better with corners like Johnson. In Denver, he had Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. It’ll be hard to replicate that kind of skillset if the Rams let Johnson go.
Safety T.J. McDonald should be much easier to keep. McDonald is one of the hardest hitting players on the Rams’ defense and a legit NFL starter. His problem is he keeps getting into trouble off the field for dumb shit. He was busted for a DUI and will probably face at least a four-game suspension next season regardless of where he ends up. If the price is right, it should still be with the Rams.
Phillips could move Mark Barron back to strong safety, which would make it easier to let McDonald go. Los Angeles needs major upgrades at their linbacker positions. Alec Ogletree will be a superstar under Phillips and Quinn on the outside leaves two big holes. Bryce Hager is a decent prospect, especially at inside linebacker but Josh Forrest, a rookie out of Kentucky, didn’t impress me much last season when he played. Which wasn’t a lot.
#Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero on DC Wade Phillips: "He’s been in the NFL for so long, he’s like an encyclopedia of defensive football.”
— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) February 11, 2017
I’d like to see the Rams target a guy like Jarvis Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency or even bring back Akeem Ayers, who Fisher stupidly cut last season. There are a lot of options on the inside too and that position is consistently undervalued. Dont’a Hightower is exactly the kind of player Bill Belichick lets walk. D’Qwell Jackson is sitting free too after getting cut by the Indianapolis Colts. Zach Brown in Buffalo had a completely insane seasdon with 149 tackles, two forced fumbles, four passes defended and an interception.
The Rams can spend some money, but have to be smart. There are offensive holes too and two wide receivers, Brian Quick and Kenny Britt, hitting free agency that McVay would be smart to keep and develop.
But the biggest move I would make if I was Phillips, McVay and Snead… the most money I would spend… it would be on Eric Berry. If the Kansas City Chiefs don’t franchise Berry again, I would toss a Brinks truck at him. With Berry, you’re completely locked down on the back end with one of the two or three best safeties in the sport. A player like Berry, with the pass rush the Rams can bring, completely changes the complexion of what Phillips can do on defense.
Make it happen, Wade.
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