Kiser, Young a tough tandem among linebacking corps

The Rams’ first-year starters have posted solid numbers in the opening weeks.

Micah Kiser already had collided with Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders on the first two plays of the game — once on a run and once on a pass near the sideline.

On the next instance, he mixed things up.

The Eagles called an interior run play, and the Rams inside linebacker met Sanders in the hole. As Kiser wrapped his arms around Sanders, his hand slid toward the ball and caused a fumble. When inside linebacker Kenny Young recovered the ball, it placed the offense in prime field position, setting up the Rams’ first score.

“That’s just one thing you’re going to get out of me, running to the ball and just trying to get guys down,” Kiser said.

Kiser said it wasn’t anything special, just a simple technique he refines every practice with position coach Joe Barry. But it set the tone for the Rams’ 37-19 victory, a game in which he produced a team-high 16 tackles. That performance earned him NFC defensive player of the week, which was announced by the NFL on Wednesday.

Through two games, Kiser has a league-high 17 solo tackles. Young ranks fifth on the Rams in total tackles with nine. Against the Eagles, Young added four total tackles and landed a hard quarterback hit on Carson Wentz.

The early performance of the tandem hasn’t come as a surprise to their teammates, but it might have answered questions from observers regarding the Rams’ linebacker corps after they shuffled personnel in the offseason.

“Both these players, when they arrive at the point of contact, you feel them,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “There’s a second level of physicality that our defense has from those two in particular, where you’re making teams earn every yard. I expect them to continue to improve as they gain experience, which we know is so valuable for those younger players.”

In the offseason, the Rams let edge rusher Dante Fowler and inside linebacker Cory Littleton sign multiyear deals as free agents with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively. They then released veteran outside linebacker Clay Matthews.

The Rams signed outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who played under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley when Staley was his position coach with the Chicago Bears.

Fourth-year pro Samson Ebukam was moved into the other starting outside linebacker spot. Travin Howard, expected to be a key contributor, suffered a knee injury in training camp.

All eyes then shifted to Kiser and Young to fill the void in the middle in Staley’s 3-4 scheme.

Kiser, a 2018 fifth-round draft pick, had not started a game before this season after missing last season because of a preseason pectoral injury. Young, a thirdyear player, is in his first full season with the Rams after being traded by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019.

Their statistics show quality production, and at a low price. Both players’ base salaries for this season are less than $1 million, according to overthecap.com.

Through two games, Kiser and Young tallied 32 total tackles.

On their new teams, Littleton and Fowler have a combined 15 tackles. Kiser and Young were instrumental in containing Eagles tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert to 72 combined yards and no touchdowns.

Defensive back Troy Hill said Kiser has been a vocal leader, helping get everyone lined up. Young has been “playing fast and leaving everything out there,” Hill said.

“They are out there balling,” Hill said. “They are surprising everybody else, but I feel like they never had any doubt in themselves. I’m loving what I’m seeing from them.”

Etc.

For Rams receiver Robert Woods, the game Sunday marks his return to Buffalo, where he started his NFL career in 2013 with the Bills . ... Running backs Cam Akers (ribs) and Malcolm Brown (finger) and cornerback Darious Williams (Achilles) did not practice. Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and defensive tackle Aaron Donald were given veteran’s rest days. Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (calf), who was declared out for Sunday, has not been placed on temporary injured reserve, but McVay said “you can expect to see him placed” there “in the near future.” ... Receiver Cole Beasley (hip, thumb), tight end Dawson Knox (concussion) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (knee) did not practice, according to the injury report. Cornerback Tre’Davious White and linebacker Matt Milone (hamstring) were limited.