The Los Angeles Rams made quick work of their rebuild in 2023 with the help of an impressive 14-member draft class and behind the star performances of QB Matthew Stafford and DE Aaron Donald. They seemed like a team primed for contention in 2024 and beyond, but that was maybe derailed over the weekend when Donald announced his retirement.
Donald’s sudden absence leaves a massive void in the middle of the Los Angeles defense that has several promising young players but overall lacks star talent. It’s unfair to expect former third round picks Byron Young and Kobie Turner to step into the shoes of a first-ballot hall of famer and one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NFL. LA has added some reinforcements to the defensive side of the ball so far into the 2024 offseason, but how much do CB Darious Williams and DB Kam Curl move the needle?
Players like Donald, of course, don’t grow on trees and the opportunity to acquire such a player doesn’t come around very often. It’s clear that the Rams need to bring a defensive star into the fold, but the more difficult question to answer isn’t “if” but “how”.
One of Sean McVay’s most remarkable pivots to date was LA’s offensive revival in the 2023 campaign. It’s no secret that the Rams have had difficulty generating significant ground production since 2021. Sure, injuries along the offensive line and subpar running back play by players like Darrell Henderson, Cam Akers, and others may have contributed to part of that, but McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur totally changed how LA ran the football.
Los Angeles abandoned the zone-heavy run scheme that had formerly made them a formidable attacking team in favour of a very “at you” gap-based scheme, with duo being their most often used run idea. Power and duo are similar in most aspects, although there are
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