Quentin Lake, the Rams’ defensive captain, might be the catalyst that helps mend the Rams’ tattered secondary forward of their wild-card showdown with the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.
Via the primary 11 weeks of the season, the Rams held opponents to 17.2 factors per recreation, simply behind the Houston Texans because the NFL’s second-best protection. Over the seven video games Lake missed since sustaining a dislocated elbow towards the Seahawks in November, the Rams gave up a median of 24.8 factors per recreation.
-
Share through
Gary Klein breaks down what went proper for the Rams of their 37-20 win towards the Cardinals because the workforce shifts its focus to the Carolina Panthers.
The 26-year-old security, who is anticipated to make his return towards Carolina, has confirmed to be a cornerstone on the Rams’ protection along with his management expertise and private versatility.
Lake has additionally endeared himself to his teammates, as evidenced by Kobie Turner‘s widened smile when Lake’s identify got here up with reporters following the Rams’ 37-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
“Captain Q,” mentioned Turner, who performed a job in serving to the Rams document six sacks towards the Cardinals. “There’s not likely phrases that may clarify — you activate the tape and also you see precisely what he’s.”
Added security Kamren Kinchens: “Him being off the sector, you realize, after all, I wouldn’t say, a letdown — but it surely’s Q, proper? He brings that additional juice that we want.”
Lake often is the “juice” that helps the Rams cease a repeat of the explosive performs that Bryce Younger orchestrated within the Panthers’ 31-28 win over the Rams on Nov. 30. Younger related on landing passes of 35, 33 and 43 yards in that recreation.
On Sunday, the Cardinals additionally had success towards the Rams’ secondary. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett related with receiver Michael Wilson — who stutter-stepped, earlier than bursting previous cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon — on a 43-yard landing move within the third quarter.
The play finally went down as a bend-don’t-break second for the Rams, one by which coach Sean McVay mentioned he was glad his workforce received “pushed.” However it was a reminder of how explosive performs have compromised snug victories for the workforce.
“You make just a few performs, you get beat generally,” Witherspoon mentioned. “However it’s all about the way you reply.”
Response is on exterior linebacker Jared Verse’s thoughts. Verse, who recorded 7½ sacks this season, nonetheless had the five-week-old Carolina loss contemporary in his thoughts Sunday. He pointed to operating again Chuba Hubbard’s 35-yard screen-pass landing from that recreation as a lesson — and reminder — for the Rams.
“It’s a pure factor,” Verse mentioned. “If a workforce will get you, a workforce beats you, you all the time need to get them again. We’re excited.”
Carolina (8-9) affords an attractive probability for the Rams to show they could be a pressure once more on protection with Lake again within the lineup. The Panthers averaged the sixth-fewest factors per recreation (18.3) within the NFL and the seventh-fewest passing yards per recreation (179).
There doubtless received’t be room for errors in judgment, nevertheless, if the Rams are going to maneuver on to the divisional spherical.
