Key Takeaways

• Early in the season, Rams fans and observers criticized the defense for a perceived soft zone and insufficient blitzing, despite injury-related limitations and a struggling offense.
• After Week 1 losses, coordinator Chris Shula shifted toward more aggressive pressure schemes; blitz rate rose from 13.9% to 38.6% over the next three weeks, while man coverage rose modestly to maintain balance.
• Against the Eagles, the defense dominated in the second half, allowing only four first downs and forcing multiple exploits on a depleted offensive line, including a pivotal sequence on a two-yard line stand.
• The Rams achieved a franchise-first by holding an opponent to 0-for-12 on third down, with Hurts completing only 5 of 16 passes when blitzed; overall, the defense blitzed on 53.1% of Week 4 plays, the third-highest rate in the NFL.
• Key players stepped up: Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young each logged multiple pressures, with Young delivering game-changing pressure and sacks in critical moments.
• Turner’s role expanded, as the team dropped him into coverage more often, increasing his coverage snaps from near-zero in 2025 to five through four games, creating confusion for opposing offenses.
• Despite the improvement, the defense remains imperfect—health remains a constraint, and the Bills will offer a sterner test where Josh Allen’s familiarity with blitz resistance could challenge the Rams’ balance between man and zone coverage.