Chris Shula finally has the kind of defense that can back up everything he’s been building in Los Angeles.
The Rams spent 2025 attacking the run game, and they had good reason. After Eagles running back Saquon Barkley carved them up twice the year before, including in the playoffs, the front office went to work with two low-key moves: nose tackle Poona Ford and inside linebacker Nate Landman.
The result was a major swing. In their one meeting in 2025, Barkley went from averaging 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns a game against LA to being held to 46 yards and no TDs.
That’s the kind of turnaround that changes how a defense is viewed.
But while the run defense tightened up, the secondary started to fade as the season wore on. By the playoffs, that part of the unit had thinned out. So this offseason, the Rams shifted their attention to the passing game.
This time, the upgrades were much bigger. Jaylen Watson arrived in free agency, and the Rams pulled off blockbuster trades for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. With those additions, Shula now has a coverage group that can work in tandem with a pass rush that already looks dangerous on paper.
And that’s the bigger point here: Shula may be coaching one of the best defenses the Rams have put together in a while.
Rams fans know the drill by now. When a coordinator or position coach starts becoming a real success story in Los Angeles, he usually doesn’t stay long.
Someone else comes calling, and the Rams lose another piece. That hasn’t happened with Shula yet, but the third-year defensive coordinator is probably on borrowed time.
This is the kind of roster construction that fits his vision almost too neatly. The Rams can stop the run.
They can get after the quarterback. They can also close off passing lanes with McDuffie and Watson making life miserable for receivers.
Garrett is the kind of pass rusher who changes everything on his own, and he’s just one part of the front.
It’s not hard to picture what this defense could become. If a team wants to slow down a fast, powerful pass rush, it has to get the ball out quickly and lean on the run. The Rams already have answers for both of those problems.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed before the games are actually played. Opponents will adjust, and the defense will have to keep responding.
But the ingredients are there now in a way they weren’t before. If Shula has earned your trust, this may be the season to enjoy it, because he’s likely to be a head coach somewhere else when it ends.
In Other News...
Aaron Donalds Rams Return Just Became A Real Possibility
Aaron Donalds comeback talk has moved beyond idle offseason speculation. The former Rams star recently conducted a workout with Los Angeles as part of evaluating whether a return from retirement makes sense, a sign that both sides are at least serious about what a reunion would look like after his dominant run in horned gold.
Sean McVay has made it clear the bar is still the same: Donald would only come back if he is able to meet the standards that made him one of the most feared defenders in the league. The Rams have also reportedly put together a plan to ease him back by trimming his workload if he does return, but for now there has been no official decision, which leaves the situation sitting right where the team cant quite ignore it. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Wideout Situation Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Realize
The Rams wide receiver room already carried its share of intrigue, and Davante Adams only added to it when he talked about the realities of being a veteran heading into his 13th NFL season. For a team trying to balance short-term expectations with longer-term planning, that kind of perspective matters, especially when Adams is one of the more experienced voices in the locker room and has settled into the role of the veteran in the room.
Meanwhile, Puka Nacuas off-field business is moving forward in a way that usually signals serious next-step planning for a young star. He has hired Win Sports Group to handle his contract negotiations, a development Rams fans will be watching closely as the team continues sorting out the future of a pass-catching group that already has plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Addressed A Cornerback Concern Fans Couldn't Ignore
The Rams moved to shore up a thin spot at cornerback ahead of the preseason by signing Zech McPhearson, a veteran defensive back whose career has largely centered on special teams. Its the kind of low-profile roster move teams make when they need another body in camp, but it also speaks to how quickly depth can become an issue once practices and preseason reps start piling up.
McPhearson arrives with some draft pedigree after coming into the league with Philadelphia in 2021, and Los Angeles is clearly counting on him to help stabilize the back end of the secondary. The timing matters, too, with Dre Norwood going on injured reserve and opening up a need for another corner who can at least keep the rotation moving while the Rams sort out who sticks. [Read more 🡒]