Los Angeles Rams’ pass defense o to another strong start
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Just like the rest of the pigskin-loving world, the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary was dazzled by Odell Beckham Jr.’s latest feat of one-handed brilliance when they watched Monday night’s game.
“I mean, we already know what (Beckham) can do, but that was crazy,” Rams safety John Johnson said after watching Beckham’s catch against the Jets. “I really liked the throw, too.”
When they get an in-person look at Beckham, Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns (11) this weekend, the Rams’ (2-0) defensive backs are hoping to keep up their strong start to the season with another shutdown game. And if they give up any big plays in Cleveland, they don’t plan to let it distract them from their goal of another strong season for a relatively unsung section of the defending NFC champions’ defense.
“Any cornerback will tell you, it’s all about the next play, the next play,” Nickell Robey-Coleman said.
“We’ll just play the best defense we can play, and at the end of the day, Odell Beckham is still going to do something like that. We just have to move on.”
Not many opponents have done something like that lately to the Rams. After capping three straight strong playoff games by holding Tom Brady to 262 yards and no touchdowns in an otherwise miserable Super Bowl for Los Angeles, the Rams are off to a superb start in passing defense again over the first two games of this season.
Los Angeles has allowed an NFL-low one reception longer than 20 yards, and opponents are managing just 5.52 yards per reception — third fewest in the league. The Rams and Patriots are the only teams that haven’t allowed a touchdown pass.
The Rams are seventh in the league in yards passing allowed (201.5) even though they haven’t trailed in a game, which means their opponents have been throwing the ball urgently while playing from behind in the second half.