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Los Angeles Rams Defense Struggles Against the Lions

By Marquis Munson

Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers (90) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers (90) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Final. 31. 50. 28. 51

Although Case Keenum threw a late interception causing the Los Angeles Rams to fall to the Detroit Lions, it was the Rams defensive unit struggles, not Keenum.

Until the interception thrown by Keenum, he was having a solid performance throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns. The offense was moving the ball against a struggling Lions defense.

However, the Rams defense against quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense is what caused the loss in Detroit.

Stafford threw for 270 yards on 23-31 passes and four touchdowns. Outside of a few missed throws and drops, Stafford had one of his most efficient games this season.

One of the Rams best secondary defender Trumaine Johnson was sidelined due to an ankle injury and the Lions offense exploited the disadvantage with wide receiver Golden Tate, who had 8 receptions for 165 yards.

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Although E.J. Gaines and Troy Hill did a good job containing Marvin Jones, who had two catches for 10 yards, Tate took advantage of a weaken secondary.

The secondary wasn’t the only part of their defensive unit weakened due to injury. The defensive line struggled to put any pressure on Stafford giving him plenty of time inside the pocket.

The Rams only had one sack against Stafford and that came from defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Defensive end Robert Quinn was sidelined due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals. Although Quinn practiced on Friday, it wasn’t enough for head coach Jeff Fisher to put him into the rotation. Quinn should return next week against the New York Giants.

William Hayes and Michael Brockers were schedule to be sidelined along with Quinn, but decided to pull through and play. Both Hayes and Brockers recorded one tackle respectively. Brockers re-aggravated hid hip injury and did not return.

Although fans want to see Jared Goff replace Case Keenum at quarterback, or Jeff Fisher lose his job, the problems are also in the secondary.

The Rams knew they had a problem at the quarterback position before the season. Outside of running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Tavon Austin, no one expected a lot out of that offensive unit.

It was the defensive unit that made critics and fans believe that this Los Angeles Rams team was going to do something special this season. With injuries and lack of production through the first six games of the season, that hasn’t been the case.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and Jeff Fisher will have to re-evaluate this defensive unit because they will have a difficult task containing the Giants offense next week with Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. finding their groove.

Next: Are the Rams Pretenders?

Bringing in Goff isn’t going to change any of the Rams defensive woes this season.

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