Rams report card: Surprises, standouts, and disappointments from the first third of the 2025 season

Glue guy: LT Alaric Jackson

Alaric Jackson has been rock solid at left tackle this season, proving to be a value bargain for the Rams, who signed him to a three-year extension in February. A former undrafted free agent out of Iowa, Jackson has been a steady presence in pass protection and key in keeping Matthew Stafford upright. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson has allowed the 6th-lowest pressure rate (6.3%) and 7th-lowest quick pressure rate (1.1%) among left tackles this season.

Biggest surprise: RB Blake Corum

It's hard to pick any true "surprises" on the offense since the Rams returned so many starters from last year, but Corum's emergence as the RB2 has been an enjoyable breakout this season. Corum's numbers may not look like much with just 156 yards and a touchdown, but he's second on the team in explosive runs and he's added an effective change-of-pace presence to accompany Kyren Williams. Corum should get more run as the season goes on.

Biggest disappointment: OC Coleman Shelton

The Rams signed Coleman Shelton to be an upgrade over Beaux Limmer, who took over at the pivot last year as a rookie, but Shelton has proved to be anything but. Anything gained by an improvement in awareness has been lost by Shelton's ability in the middle of the Rams' offensive line. He's getting beat frequently in pass protection and isn't delivering much up the middle in the run game. I'm at the point where I believe the Rams should invest a high draft pick into solving their center problems, but I'm skeptical they will ever do so.

Turning point of the last six weeks: Game-winning drive vs. Indianapolis Colts

It's been an up-and-down roller coaster for the offense, so it's hard to pick one turning point, but the one that stands out in my mind is the Rams' game-winning throw to take down the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. LA was fresh off of a mind-numbing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at the last minute the week prior, and was stuck in a dogfight against the Colts.

With the game tied at 20-20 with 1:44 left, Stafford drops back, surveys the field, and finds a wide open Tutu Atwell on the left hash. Atwell's speed did the rest, taking it for an 88-yard touchdown to make it 27-20. The Rams' defense intercepted Daniel Jones on the next play, and the Rams took down the Colts to move to 3-1.

Offense overall grade: B+

Defensive superlatives

MVP: LB Jared Verse

I could make a case for Byron Young here as well, with his remarkable eight sack beginning to the season, but I'd be lying if I said Jared Verse wasn't the MVP. Verse's presence is the straw that stirs the drink for the Rams' defense. Him frequently drawing double teams (and winning) allows the rest of the Rams' defensive line to have favorable matchups, and he's often the anchor point for several of LA's stunts and blitzes up front. Verse is third in the NFL in pressures and sixth in total pass rush win rate, just narrowly behind Micah Parsons.

Glue guy: DT Kobie Turner

This one is perhaps the most difficult to choose from, as I could have made a case for three other players to be here like Poona Ford, Nate Landman, or Quentin Lake, but I have a hard time leaving Kobie Turner off of this list at all. Turner has been a stout playmaker up front who is going to earn a nice extension this offseason (or at least, he should) for his work up front. Turner has done a lot of the dirty work in the trenches for years, and he is a critical factor in the Rams' success.

Biggest surprise: SAF Quentin Lake

Nate Landman could also make sense for this spot, but I don't think anyone anticipated the season that Quentin Lake is having. Aligning essentially as the Rams' slot defender, Lake has been a dynamite coverage player, leading all safeties in forced incompletions and pass breakups while allowing just eight yards per target. He's also been stout in the run game, tying LB Omar Speights in run stops on the Rams with six and ranking eighth among safeties in the league in run stops. He recorded his first career interception this weekend against the Ravens as well. The Rams have never extended a safety under general manager Les Snead, but Lake's play has been deserving of one.

Biggest disappointment: The entire cornerback room

It was tough to choose between this or Omar Speights, but no room has shown up as flat as the Rams' cornerbacks have done this season, and the rest of the defense has suffered. Despite a ferocious pass rush, the Rams are getting gashed through the air seemingly every week, with no better examples than their Thursday night football loss two weeks ago to the San Francisco 49ers, where the team allowed Mac Jones to throw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams are getting zero production out of this room, and it's cost them in both of their losses this year. They should hopefully be looking to add reinforcements here soon.

Turning point of the last six weeks: Win over Baltimore Ravens

This is a bit of a weird pick, given that it just happened, but the Rams' defense hasn't had a lot of clutch or key moments this season up until last weekend. They rocked the Texans in Week 1 before getting clobbered in the second half by the Eagles and getting thoroughly outcoached by the 49ers two weeks ago.

However, their win over the Ravens might have bought them some more confidence. The offense sputtered against a Ravens' defense thoroughly decimated by injury, and that was made worse by an injury to superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua. The game was tied 3-3 at halftime, and the Rams needed something to jump start the team. After the offense scored a touchdown out of half, the defense responded the very next drive, forcing a fumble that set the Rams up for another touchdown drive. What was once 3-3 turned into 17-3 in five minutes of the second half.

While the Ravens were still missing several players, it was encouraging to see the Rams allow just three points and force four turnovers (two fumbles, two turnovers on downs) in the second half after collapsing in the second half of both of their losses this season. It could be the confidence booster the team needs moving forward.

Defense overall grade: B

2025 draft class superlatives

Overachiever: LB Josaiah Stewart

There was only one answer to really choose from, given that Stewart is the only rookie to actually see the field often. It's been a disappointing draft class from the Rams, but Stewart has been an effective part of LA's pass rush rotation, posting nine pressures and a sack on 60 pass rushing snaps. He's also been a surprisingly solid spot dropper in coverage, with as many PBUs as Cobie Durant and Kam Curl.

Rookie we need to see more from: All of them

The Rams' draft class has combined for a whopping 375 snaps across offense, defense, and special teams. 170 of those are from Josaiah Stewart alone. Terrance Ferguson has just 20 snaps on offense after appearing like the Rams' best threat in the tight end room. All that talk about a running back by committee and Jarquez Hunter adding "explosiveness" to the offense has manifested itself into zero attempts for the Auburn product. We just haven't seen any of these players do much of anything.

Underachiever: Everyone but Josaiah Stewart

See above. I could technically put Chris "Pooh" Paul since he didn't even make the roster, but the entire class sans Stewart has underachieved.

Draft class overall grade: F

Coaching report card

Grade: C

Sean McVay has been his usual self calling the offense, with his frequent flip-flopping between mad scientist and lunatic occurring every game and the team cramping in the red zone. He and Stafford have been stellar together, as you would expect.

The defense has two well-coached position rooms, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula is doing his best to get production from a linebacker room and secondary with little NFL-caliber talent. I don't have any issues with the defensive line, and OLBs coach Joe Coniglio has been outstanding. The LBs and secondary coaching, on the other hand, probably need to be re-evaluated in the offseason.

The worst part of the coaching is, without a doubt, special teams. The Rams have had the worst special teams unit for three years running, and it has already cost them both losses this year. Joshua Karty has had four kicks blocked this year, and between poor blocking and snapping, the kicking woes have Sean McVay steaming mad. Maybe they should have fired the special teams coordinator who had the sixth-worst STs by DVOA last season? Food for thought.