Rams this season
Things did not get off to a good start for McVay and company in 2024. After a tough overtime loss to Detroit in week one, they were blown out by Arizona in week 2, trailing 34-3 midway through the third quarter. They rebounded with a gutty win over the arch-rival 49ers but then lost another two straight to fall to 1-4. 2023 breakout star Puka Nacua was hurt. Steve Avila and free agent signee Jonah Jackson were also hurting, seriously damaging the interior of the offensive line – the very position that the Rams had tried to address in the off-season.
But once again, McVay didn’t panic. Aside from the Cardinals game, LA was playing tight games against quality teams. They were beginning to get healthier and beginning to figure out which of their youngsters could perform. That came to fruition in the outstanding effort against the Vikings last week.
With Nacua back on the field and with a healthy Cooper Kupp, the Rams have a formidable passing attack. Stafford can still throw the ball with the best of them and if he gets time, he will pick apart a defense. Slot receiver Tutu Atwill hasn’t done much this year, now has Parkinson, but the Rams have a lot of receivers who can make plays now that defenses will have to focus on the top two options.
They also have one of the best young workhorse runners in Kyren Williams. His emergence last year is one of the main reasons the Rams were able to turn the 2023 season around. After a modest start this year, Williams has averaged better than 90 yards per game and scored eight TDs in the last five weeks. Shutting him down will be job one for the Hawks’ defense on Sunday.
The Rams have righted the ship on their offensive line. It may not be among the league’s best, but it is not the liability that it seemed to be after some early injuries. Rookie sixth-round draft pick Beaux Limmer has filled in well at center and the recent shift to UDFA Justin Dedich seems to be paying off as well. Logan Bruss had been filling in at guard for Avila and Jackson but was not up to the task. (If this sounds familiar to Hawks fans, just think of Bruss as Stone Forsythe and Dedich as Michael Jerrell.)
On defense, the Rams' defensive line was not totally bereft after Donald’s retirement. Donald had mentored Kobie Turner rather well. Turner obviously isn’t the same player that Donald was, but he is a force in his own right. Rookie Fiske may take time to develop but he is showing promising signs.
Even more encouraging for the Rams, edge rusher Jared Verse has been coming on very strong in his last few games. He has eight QB hits, one-and-a-half sacks, and a couple of tackles for loss in his last two games. He will test Jerrell and the rest of the Seahawks' shaky line on Sunday.
The Rams have a solid corps of linebackers and a secondary that is getting healthier. They had to replace their leading tackler from 2023 – another name well-known to Seattle fans – Ernest Jones. The edges and interior backers had not distinguished themselves early on but seem to be improving as new defensive coordinator Chris Shula begins figuring out what they can and can’t do.
The Hawks can pick on the Rams’ inside backers in coverage, and UDFA Omar Speights is likely to make just his second start. But Shula has been mixing and matching his personnel to greater effect over the last few weeks.
As the pass rush improves, so too does the secondary. Part of it is health. Part of it is simply getting a lot of new players comfortable with each other. Cobie Durant is a very good top corner who will not have to worry about DK Metcalf. Veteran Darious Williams’ return from injury has been major. With Ahkello Witherspoon and Josh Wallace, the Rams have very good depth.
And the Rams’ safety play may be the best part of their defense. Quentin Lake has been very solid at free safety and Curl is making big plays from his strong safety spot. Jaylen McCollough has three interceptions in the last three games.
The Rams have a very good directional punter in Ethan Evans but rookie kicker Joshua Karty has struggled this year – one of the few Snead draft picks that has underperformed. Despite missing a potential game-winner the last time these teams met, should it come down to a big kick at the end, the Hawks should have an edge.
The Rams are a tough out for any team. They are well-coached across the board. With their star receivers back in the lineup, the offense can put up a lot of points and the defense is getting better week by week. LA swept the Hawks in 2021 and 2023, but the Hawks pulled off a sweep in 2022. Let’s hope this Sunday is the first part of another Hawks sweep in 2024.