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Lindsey ThiryESPN
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Thousands of OAKS, Calif. – An almost eerie silence peeked into the Los Angeles Rams ’defensive line as it stretched before a recent volunteer training session.
The silence was broken when a player yelled, “Dang, I miss Brock, it’s quiet as hell!” recalls defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Shifting the NFL roster is inevitable, and the 2021 Rams ’line of defense is not immune. After he was selected 14th overall in 2012 and played nine seasons with the Rams, he traded defensive lieman Michael Brockers to the Detroit Lions in March in an effort to create a salary space cap.
Brockers ’departure means not only less noise, but a gaping hole in front of the NFL’s top defensive standings and marks the end of a seven-year running game with the three-time NFL Defensive Player of Year Aaron Donald, who often praised Brockers ’efforts that helped but didn’t appear on the stat sheet.
“It’s different for sure and definitely an adjustment,” Joseph-Day said of the team’s Brockers sans dynamics. “But in this business it’s kind of expected.”
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The Rams ’defensive turnover value has been important since the unit led the NFL last season, allowing an average of 18 points per game.
The Rams hired Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator to take over Brandon Staley after he left following a season to become the Chargers ’head coach. The Rams have also lost their cornerback and linebacker coaches in promotions elsewhere, and have seen starting cornerback Troy Hill, outside linebacker Samson Ebukam and safety John Johnson III leave free agency.
Five-year pro Morgan Fox, a rotation player on the defensive line who had six sacks last season, also left free agency, signing a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.
“We have the right kind of guys in this building to get the laziness or get right where they left off,” said Joseph-Day, a sixth round pick in 2018 who is entering his third season as a starter. “I think that’s going to be the story of what’s going on here.”
Donald, who attended a portion of the voluntary workout in the offseason but was unprepared for the reporters, will now lead a team that includes Joseph-Day, A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines.
The Rams also added depth to the draft, picking Bobby Brown III in the fourth round from Texas A&M and Earnest Brown IV in the fifth round from Northwestern.
“There’s a lot to learn from me,” said Bobby Brown, who was the first defensive lineman drafted by the Rams since Gaines was selected in the fourth round in 2019. “I don’t think I’ve fully made the move yet but I would I would also say that it just shows me that I am no longer a premier defensive lineman. I need to learn again and I need to be as humble as being my freshmen year again. “
Gaines has played 26 games in the past two seasons and recorded 31 tackles and two sacks.
Robinson reported on the offseason program in the best form of his career after devoting himself to a new lifestyle in workouts and workouts. Listed at 330 pounds last season, Robinson said his goal this season is to play between 300 and 305 pounds.
“I just want to be the best for these people,” said Robinson, a Lions second pick in 2016. “I’m not going to come out here and take and let go of any of these people.”
A sixth-year pro, Robinson signed a two-year, $ 17 million free agent contract in the 2020 offseason to pick up for Brockers, who at the time agreed to free agency terms with the Baltimore Ravens but eventually returned to Los Angeles after the deal fell through.
Robinson spent the first half of last season sidelined due to unspecified health issues and played in eight games. Through organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, teammates noticed his readiness increased.
“He was really incarcerated,” Joseph-Day said. “I think a lot of guys were locked up especially with Brock’s departure. A lot of guys were locked up, a lot of guys were willing to rise up and very, very positive.”
Regarding how quickly the group is coming together, Robinson stressed the importance of the offseason program, which wrapped up last week in a three-day mandatory minicamp that Donald did not attend (Rams coach Sean McVay indicated that the two were talking and it was a cause absence) and Joseph-Day did not fully participate.
“That’s for OTAs, the foundation, you build the ground,” Robinson said. “… Everyone sees how everyone has to do it, how everyone comes together and puts the puzzle pieces together.”
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