Rams' DEs have only 11.5 combined sacks this year. I think Westbrooks has been their best DE this year. I like what Longacre has done in limited reps and I would have him be the primary backup RDE next year and jettison Sims (and his $3.2M salary). And Fox has some potential.
They withstood lack of consistent pressure for majority of the season but it came back to haunt them once they faced Brees, Brady, Ryan and Russell the past 4 games. And lack of pressure cost them in those final 5-6 minutes vs. Miami...
I was concerned coming into this year with Hayes' role changing from rotational guy to starting LDE. I would get him back to that role and limiting him to 25-30 snaps per game next year.
The young CBs Jordan and Hill are learning on the fly and being pressed into roles they're not ready for. But if you told me they'd be the Rams 4th and 5th CBs next year I think they could handle it.
Defensively they need to add another blue chip DE to the mix. And the new coaching staff needs to decide if Ogletree is best suited in the middle or outside. I think he's done pretty well overall this year at MLB and has been a workhorse but I do think his talent is probably best suited outside. But that's probably partly dictated by who's available at MLB and OLB in FA and the Draft. And I think Forrest did show some steady improvement in the 90 defensive snaps he played before he went down.
