Rams defense faces growing pains heading into Week 3

LOS ANGELES — In the wake of Sunday’s humiliating loss to the Cardinals, Rams coach Sean McVay and the defensive staff had a consistent message for the players as they try to turn the page.

“We didn’t play the right way because we weren’t capable of doing it,” linebacker Troy Reeder said. “We didn’t play the right way because we didn’t do what we were capable of doing.”

After an encouraging performance in Week 1, the Rams (0-2) received a wake-up call in a 41-10 loss to the Cardinals. Kyler Murray eluded every sack attempt. James Conner broke nearly every tackle in the running game.

Heading into this weekend’s game against the San Francisco 49ers (1-1), the Rams rank 32nd and last in the NFL in yards allowed per game (426), 31st in points allowed per play (.545) and 30th in opponent first downs per game (22.5).

Now, two games in a 17-game season is a small sample size, not necessarily indicative of how the Rams will finish the season, but of where the team is as its young players adjust to bigger roles and rookies adjust to the NFL.

That was the most likely scenario for the Rams defense entering the season. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald retired, completely reshaping the way opponents can play the Rams. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and captains Jordan Fuller and Ernest Jones IV left, completing the leadership change on that side of the ball.

“This group, a lot of new faces and we’re going to have to figure out how to play together as a team,” Reeder said. “There’s things we’re learning as we go, and we’re learning them in practice before the week starts. But it’s obviously different playing a first-team offense that operates that way.”

New defensive coordinator Chris Shula kept the Rams’ game plan simple heading into Week 1. Safety John Johnson III said it helped the team play fast, without having to overthink its assignments. The result was a solid performance against the Lions, before the attrition of using one of the NFL’s best offensive lines resulted in a deflated overtime.

The Rams still want to play fast; as defensive captain Kobie Turner said, “our style of football is flying everywhere.” But that doesn’t mean Shula and his staff aren’t looking to make adjustments ahead of Sunday’s game against an NFC West rival.

“As coaches, you try to identify the issues and see if there’s something we can do schematically to put them in a better position. With players, is there something that’s slowing them down that could be the reason they’re not playing with the best technique that they should be using from a physical standpoint?” Shula explained. “You kind of look at everything and then you also look at each play as a whole. What’s happening and how teams are attacking us.”

The Rams believe their mistakes from Sunday can be corrected. Staying in the rush lanes and not taking their feet off the tackle are easy enough for the pass rush to work on.

And staying disciplined to stop the run is at the top of the priority list this week against the 49ers, even without Christian McCaffrey (Achilles).

“It’s about getting back to blocking, being physical, being able to escape, tackle, pursue and recover. It starts with the run game,” Turner said. “We have a lot of guys that are really excited to get the passer, but it’s really about earning the right to do that. So we take it step by step, break it down and make sure we emphasize getting out of blocks, being physical, setting up that line of scrimmage so we can earn the right to get to those fun downs.”