The departure of one player doesn’t define a dramatic shift in team production. That is a general rule of thumb outside of the quarterback position but the numbers never lie and the numbers say the Rams are missing Ernest Jones IV.
Jones, the Rams’ former starting middle linebacker, was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason after spending the last three years in Los Angeles.
From 2021-2023, the Rams run defense was ranked fifth, 13th and 13th in terms of opponents rushing yards per game according to Teamrankings.com
In 2024, the Rams rank 31st. Against the Bears, the Rams surrendered 131 yards rushing.
Now there’s many factors that have contributed to such a change but Jones’ departure and then the lack of production by Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom has to be No. 1 on that list.
Regardless, only two questions remain for the Rams. Was Jones that expensive and why not give someone else a chance? Omar Speights, anyone?
