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St. Louis Rams: Predicting the Defensive Starters Pre Training Camp

By Curt Popejoy

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We are only days away from the St. Louis Rams kicking off the 2015 NFL season. Training camp is set to begin, and the promise of a turnaround season is just around the corner. This time around, let’s take a look at the defensive side of the football, and talk a little about who could end up being the starters for the Rams.

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The St. Louis defense is littered with former first-round picks, but as of yet those choices haven’t gelled into a cohesive and consistent unit. In going back and reviewing last season, what stood out were some exceptional individual efforts, but not enough team football to be successful. Nevertheless, there are some new pieces in place, and hopefully with a more aggressive defensive style, this group is going to be much better.

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A key difference between this group and the offense is this side of the football isn’t going to embrace the youth movement to such a degree. Where there could be as many as three rookies starting on offense, the defense is a more veteran group, and this should be considered a real positive. Let’s see if we can predict which of these veterans will be starting.

Defensive Line

Chris Long, DE

Michael Brockers, DT

Aaron Donald, DT

Robert Quinn, DE

The onus for this team’s success on this side of the football is going to fall firmly on this unit. St. Louis has assembled a group of first-round picks, and it is time to get some return on that investment. Even backup defensive tackle Nick Fairley is a former first-round pick. And speaking of Fairley, if there was something about this list I might change, it’s with he and Brockers. Don’t be shocked if Fairley beats Brockers outright for the starting spot next to Donald.

Linebackers

Alec Ogletree, OLB

James Laurinaitis, ILB

Akeem Ayers, OLB

The addition of Ayers to this group via free agency could really pay some benefits for this team. That’s not to say that Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a bad player, but Ayers brings size and strength at the point of attack that Dunbar lacked. This team needs to get better in stopping the run, in particular on first down, and this is the best combination to do it.

Defensive Backs

Janoris Jenkins, CB

E.J. Gaines, CB

T.J. McDonald, S

Rodney McCloud, S
This is the one unit on the defense that is still very much in the air in terms of starters. At cornerback, Jenkins and Gaines appear to have a hold on their spots, but the Rams coaches are going to give Trumaine Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner every opportunity to get reps. Johnson in particular is a guy that could steal a starting spot, and Joyner is a young player that can work at cornerback or safety. The other guy to keep in mind is safety Mark Barron. As a rookie he played in the Rams “big nickel” sets as a third safety. If St. Louis opts for more traditional nickel looks, Barron could get a bump to starting safety.

So, that’s my starting lineup. What would you change? Do you give Fairley the nod at defensive tackle? Maybe Dunbarr holds onto his spot. Regardless, it’s going to be an exciting year for this young, talented defense.

Next: Predicting the Offensive Starters

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