Even without Aaron Donald, Thursday night in Australia was supposed to be a coming-out party for the new-look Los Angeles Rams defense, featuring two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Instead, they let their rival San Francisco 49ers run up the scoreboard, allowing 379 total yards, forcing just one turnover, and not recording a single sack, as the Rams fell 27-7. For a defensive line featuring Garrett, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young, that group has taken much of the blame.
But on Friday's episode of "First Take," ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky quickly turned the attention to defensive coordinator Chris Shula. "I'm concerned about their defensive coordinator," Orlovsky said. "In the last four games that this Rams defense has been on the field, they've been gutted by Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, and Brock Purdy, with all kinds of different talent on the field now.
This isn't a team that has lacked talent over the last four games defensively. Myles Garrett was completely ghosted by Kyle Shanahan, and there was nothing done by Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator, to change things up or try to create some form of an advantage. "In the last four games, going back to last season, this defense on third down has given up a QBR of 98.3.
They have one sack on third down. That is an issue that over two years is a carryover." More news: Patrick Mahomes’ Week 1 Return Raises ‘Significant Concerns’ for Ex-NFL QB The Rams finished 12-5 last season and were one play away from the Super Bowl, falling 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. But it wasn't their defense that got them there, despite all the talent they had.
The offense led the league in total yards (394.6 per game) and points (30.5 per game), behind league MVP Matthew Stafford and All-Pro receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Their defense, meanwhile, was middle of the pack in both categories, allowing 327.5 total yards and 20.4 points per game. In the playoffs, the Rams gave up 31 points to Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers, 17 points to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, and 31 points to Sam Darnold and the Seahawks.
Kyle Shanahan has historically played well against Sean McVay, but Thursday's performance showed that the defense remains a very real sore spot for the Rams right now, not exactly what fans were expecting after the offseason they just had. More news: Top Sports Doctor Fears the Worst for 49ers Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling More news: Rams Defender Had to Take Pay Cut Because of Aaron Donald Shula has been with the Rams since 2017 and took over as defensive coordinator in 2024. He was a well-respected coach heading into the season, but if he can't make it work with the defense the team has assembled, that's a real problem.
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