Los Angeles Rams: Top 3 training camp battles in 2019

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Dante Fowler #56 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his sack and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter during a 36-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Dante Fowler #56 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his sack and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter during a 36-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Battle #2: Dante Fowler Jr., Samson Ebukam, Clay Matthews (EDGE)

As good as the Rams’ defense has been with Wade Phillips calling the shots, they have lacked a true edge presence, which is something that has obviously made all the difference for the Son of Bum in the past.

That’s why the Rams went and traded for Dante Fowler Jr. last year at the trade deadline, and it’s why they went out and signed (kicked the tires on) Clay Matthews this offseason in free agency.

Right now, Fowler and Matthews have to be the favorites to lead the Rams off the edge in snaps, but you can’t discount the possibility that Samson Ebukam edges one of them out (pun fully intended) for total snaps this season.

Ebukam started 14 games for the Rams last year, and while he only racked up 3.0 sacks in the regular season, he had three forced fumbles and an interception, proof he can create some big plays for the defense.

The Rams need some juice off the edge, and they need someone to actually be productive.

Between these three guys, they combined for 10.5 regular season sacks last year (Matthews had 3.5 with the Packers in 16 starts).

Aaron Donald can’t do it all by himself. The Rams need more closers.