Rams Prepare to Face Eagles’ Challenging Offense
Los Angeles has been gearing up for a tough matchup this Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that boasts one of the most formidable rushing offenses in the NFL. The Rams’ young defensive line knows they must embody their mantra of “earning the right to pass rush” as they look to contain an attack featuring quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula commented on the importance of maintaining control at the line of scrimmage: “You want to prevent the offensive line from gaining any ground. Our goal is to corral the runner and focus on creating population tackles.” After a shaky start to the season, the Rams (5-5) have made improvements against the run, but they will need to step up against the Eagles (8-2), who lead the league with an impressive average of 181.3 rushing yards per game.
Barkley has emerged as a key player in the Eagles’ offense, flourishing behind a robust offensive line after signing a three-year deal during free agency. However, Hurts’ mobility enriches their running strategy and adds another layer of complexity for opposing defenses. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner elaborated on this point, stating, “When facing a quarterback who is a significant threat on the ground, it alters the blocking scheme. It’s challenging to account for all elements when one of the defenders can be compromised.”
Typically, the Rams can effectively assign their three down linemen and two outside linebackers to manage the five offensive linemen. Nonetheless, when the quarterback poses a legitimate running threat, the dynamics shift; a defender can be unaccounted for but still affect the play’s outcome. As Turner explained, “The backside defender has to hesitate, honoring the quarterback’s potential to run.” This results in adjustments in the blocking scheme, with an interior lineman like Turner potentially facing double teams instead of single blocks.
This strategic nuance will be crucial, as evidenced by last season when the Eagles outgained the Rams on the ground, rushing for 159 yards in a 23-14 victory that included Hurts accumulating 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Many of those yards came from Philadelphia’s signature “tush push” quarterback sneak, a move that is notoriously difficult to defend against. According to Shula, simulating this play during practice is nearly impossible. “It’s not something you can replicate with full pads, regardless of the season. It’s a highly effective play for them, and we try to run through it in walkthroughs to devise an effective strategy,” he remarked.
Should the Rams manage to neutralize the Eagles’ “tush push,” Shula believes their chances to pressure Hurts significantly increase. The Rams’ defense has found momentum in recent games, racking up 16 sacks over the last four contests, primarily thanks to their rookie duo, standout outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske, who have combined for 7.5 sacks.
Shula recognized the positive impact of these rookie performances on the entire defensive front, which also includes emerging talents like second-year players Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young. “There’s a healthy competition for who gets to the quarterback, and they genuinely celebrate each other’s successes,” he said. “It’s refreshing to see such teamwork and camaraderie as they continue to improve week after week.”