The young front-seven pass rush of the Los Angeles Rams was doing so well prior to Week 5, but according to Next Gen Stats, Jared Verse and company were not effective enough in pressuring Jordan Love. Not just ineffective, but in one way the least effective game of any team’s defense in any game in the NFL in 2024.
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Per Next Gen Stats, the Rams had one pressure on 16 non-blitz dropbacks for a 6.3% pressure rate, the lowest of any team in any game this season:
The Rams defense generated 8 pressures on 29 dropbacks against the Packers, their lowest pressure rate (27.6%) generated in a game this season.
The Rams struggled when not blitzing Jordan Love, generating just 1 pressure on 16 non-blitz dropbacks, the lowest pressure rate when not blitzing (6.3%) of any defense in a game this season. The Rams also used less base personnel, utilizing 3-4 or 4-3 defenses on 19.6% of snaps, compared to 49.6% in Weeks 1-4 (2nd-highest rate in the NFL).
When the Rams did not blitz, Jordan Love was 11-of-15 for 217 yards with both touchdown passes. When the Rams blitzed, Love was 4-of-11 for 7 yards with an interception, also according to Next Gen Stats.
Chris Shula dropped his team’s blitz rate from 47% in the first half to just 30% in the second half, which is also when the Packers scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter.
The combination of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner is a great core to build around for another one to three years. But clearly sending just four won’t be going four enough.
