Surrounding Aaron Donald, and garnering not as much recognition, the Los Angeles linebackers will present the Cincinnati Bengals with a headache. On so many fronts, the key to winning the game could rest on the shoulders of the linebackers. Within the complexities of their defense, the Rams will need a stellar effort to raise the Lombardi.
Still Galloping
When the Rams trades second and third-round picks for Von Miller, the goal remained the same. Many believed that the veteran lost a step after missing the 2020 season. Granted, Father Tine remains undefeated. However, Miller continues to defy time with elite play. As his career progressed, Miller evolved into a technician, combining moves and footwork to confound blockers. He relies on technique and guile, with the ability to occasionally convert speed to power. Miller gives that big-game experience and edge to this defense. The Bengals cannot consistently block for Joe Burrow. As a result, Miller brings the worst-case scenario to life.
Renaissance
When Leonard Floyd left Chicago, the fans and press cheered. A player with an undeniable explosion off the corner failed to live up to expectations. Even with Khalil Mack commanding attention on the other side, Floyd could not get right. A change of scenery saw Floyd tally twenty sacks in his first two seasons in Los Angeles. Unlike Miller, who feasts with nuance, Floyd prefers to scream off the edge, beating tackles to the corner, barreling down on the quarterback.
The Underdog
After a standout career at the University of Delaware, Troy Reeder didn’t hear his name called on draft day. Instead, Reeder found the Rams as an undrafted free agent. The term grinder applies to favorites of a certain disgraced head coach. Yet, it fits perfectly here. Reeder is not the twitched-up athletic phenom that you see around the majority of the league. As the kids say, Reeder fully understands the assignment. He stays within himself to make plays. While he posts consistently strong tackle numbers, Reeder misses more than he share of stops. In fact, he missed fifteen tackles in 2021.
Bengals’ Probable Approach
With Von Miller and Leonard Floyd attacking the edges and Aaron Donald in the middle, the Bengals need to pick their poison. Joe Burrow needs to exploit the holes vacated by the edge rushers. Now, Miller excels at setting the edge, but Floyd will veer too wide, opening a hole to operate through. Whatever Burrow does must be quick. The Rams’ linebackers will get downhill in an instant and the Bengals possess a rather porous offensive line. To keep vertical, Burrow must get rid of the ball or hand it off.
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