The Rams Newest Corners Fit Perfectly

The Los Angeles Rams’ newest additions this offseason won’t impact the scheme.

Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will “unleash” the Rams playbook. He believes schemes should cater to the player’s strengths.

The Rams’ Newest Corners Fit Perfectly

McDuffie and Watson’s Skills

“(Physicality) is my strength. That’s why I think me and Trent complement each other so well,” Watson said. “His strengths are short-area quickness and small, shifty guys, my strengths are (guarding) the bigger receivers, so we should be pretty diverse. We should be able to match up pretty well against a lot of different teams.”

McDuffie and Watson are elite corners with top-tier skillsets. Both corners have been among the best in yards allowed per coverage snap since they entered the league in 2022.

Last season, the Rams’ secondary was undersized, but this year, they can play with more aggression. McDuffie and Watson’s physical gameplay fits perfectly with the Rams’ new defensive style.

Rams Potential New Schemes

The Rams focused mainly on a 3-4 or 4-3 defense and often shifted to a zone defense, like Cover 4, with deep safety help. Shula became an expert in disguising the defense because he didn’t have a roster with elite corners. The defense was designed to limit the explosive plays and keep everything in front of the defenders rather than take risks.

This upcoming season, the Rams could continue to disguise the defense but shift from zone to man coverage post-snap. The two new Los Angeles corners played in a 4-3 system in Kansas City with more man than zone. The Chiefs’ defense was based on winning man-to-man matchups and shut-down pass defense on third down and in the red zone.

Shula might adopt several schemes from the Chiefs defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. Spagnuolo was big on pressure through surprise blitzes. Like Shula, he disguised the defense but added cover 0 with all-out blitzes to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Should Shula choose to use the Chiefs’ defensive schemes, he could merge two of the league’s best defenses. Elite in offense but average in defense last season, the Rams could be one of the few teams that are dominant on both sides of the ball.

McDuffie and Watson’s talent proves that team success in the NFL is based on the level of talent. Shula’s new potential scheme wasn’t an option last season because of Emmanuel Forbes’s lack of size. At 6-foot, 170 pounds, Forbes’ weakness is matching up against bigger, more physical receivers. His build limits defensive scheme options.

“His wire-thin frame does not work in his favor,” Lance Zierlein said on his pre-draft scouting report. “His slender build and lack of tackle strength will make him a target for opposing running games.”

Watson’s Mindset

Watson said he has already talked with the Rams’ defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, Jimmy Lake. Watson’s aggressive play style is excellent against big defenders and makes him a dominant defender in the pass game and a dynamic tackler against the run.

“It’s just a mindset. You either want to, or you don’t,” Watson said. “So, I just go out there, put my head down. This is football, it’s a physical sport, and just be physical. Put violence on tape.”