Rams PFF grades: 5 best and worst defensive players in 1st half of 2023 season

[Cornell29]

Top 5
DT Aaron Donald: 89.1
LB Ernest Jones: 72.1
DT Kobie Turner: 70.4
OLB Byron Young: 69.1
NT Bobby Brown III: 68.9

There’s Aaron Donald, and then there’s everyone else. He has by far the best grade of any Rams defender, 17 points higher than the next-closest player, Ernest Jones. Donald leads the team with 40 pressures and 5.5 sacks this season.

Jones is having a fantastic season himself, recording 24 stops (2nd on the Rams) and allowing just 166 yards in coverage.

Turner has been a standout rookie on the interior of the defensive line, stepping up with Bobby Brown III out. He ranks third on the team with 20 stops and also has 13 total pressures.

Young is the Rams’ second-best pass rusher, having a massive impact as a rookie through nine games.

Brown was playing well before he got hurt, clogging up the middle of the line with his size as a run defender.

Bottom 5
CB Derion Kendrick: 55.6
DT Larrell Murchison: 51.5
CB Cobie Durant: 50.9
OLB Michael Hoecht: 50.0
LB Christian Rozeboom: 47.1

Kendrick has been targeted 34 times and has allowed 20 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and three passes defensed. Penalties have been his biggest issue, committing seven of them already.

Murchison has been asked to take on a bigger role with Brown out but he has only two pressures and 11 total tackles.

Durant is allowing 14.4 yards per reception, giving up 20 catches on 30 targets for 287 yards a second-most on the team. He’s also missed five tackles.

Hoecht has improved over the last few weeks but he still struggles in coverage and doesn’t often take advantage of his one-on-one opportunities on the outside.

Rozeboom has been the weakest link on defense among the team’s starters, missing 11 tackles and allowing 193 yards in coverage.

Source: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/ ... irst-half/

[Cornell29]

Nice to see the rookies on this list making a impact. Rams going to need another good draft in 2024. Looks like the Rams FO finally has some talented people in the scout positions.

[brasilrams]

mediocre pass rush doesn't help the corners but I was expecting a much better season from Durant. He is playing like a JAG or worse . Kendricks is dog shit we all know but I was thinking durant could be a good corner . Guess not .

[Guest]

Top 5
DT Aaron Donald: 89.1
LB Ernest Jones: 72.1
DT Kobie Turner: 70.4
OLB Byron Young: 69.1
NT Bobby Brown III: 68.9

There’s Aaron Donald, and then there’s everyone else. He has by far the best grade of any Rams defender, 17 points higher than the next-closest player, Ernest Jones. Donald leads the team with 40 pressures and 5.5 sacks this season.

Jones is having a fantastic season himself, recording 24 stops (2nd on the Rams) and allowing just 166 yards in coverage.

Turner has been a standout rookie on the interior of the defensive line, stepping up with Bobby Brown III out. He ranks third on the team with 20 stops and also has 13 total pressures.

Young is the Rams’ second-best pass rusher, having a massive impact as a rookie through nine games.

Brown was playing well before he got hurt, clogging up the middle of the line with his size as a run defender.

Bottom 5
CB Derion Kendrick: 55.6
DT Larrell Murchison: 51.5
CB Cobie Durant: 50.9
OLB Michael Hoecht: 50.0
LB Christian Rozeboom: 47.1

Kendrick has been targeted 34 times and has allowed 20 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and three passes defensed. Penalties have been his biggest issue, committing seven of them already.

Murchison has been asked to take on a bigger role with Brown out but he has only two pressures and 11 total tackles.

Durant is allowing 14.4 yards per reception, giving up 20 catches on 30 targets for 287 yards a second-most on the team. He’s also missed five tackles.

Hoecht has improved over the last few weeks but he still struggles in coverage and doesn’t often take advantage of his one-on-one opportunities on the outside.

Rozeboom has been the weakest link on defense among the team’s starters, missing 11 tackles and allowing 193 yards in coverage.

Source: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/ ... irst-half/

Kendrick and Durant should not be starting, they still need another year or 2, Kendrick needs to look in the mirror and decide is he wants to waste all that talent, they were not late round picks for nothing. Hoecht has really made great strides this year, but he is to big and slow for the position and Rozeboom is a ST stud, but should not be starting.

[DelMar]

Top 5
DT Aaron Donald: 89.1
LB Ernest Jones: 72.1
DT Kobie Turner: 70.4
OLB Byron Young: 69.1
NT Bobby Brown III: 68.9

There’s Aaron Donald, and then there’s everyone else. He has by far the best grade of any Rams defender, 17 points higher than the next-closest player, Ernest Jones. Donald leads the team with 40 pressures and 5.5 sacks this season.

Jones is having a fantastic season himself, recording 24 stops (2nd on the Rams) and allowing just 166 yards in coverage.

Turner has been a standout rookie on the interior of the defensive line, stepping up with Bobby Brown III out. He ranks third on the team with 20 stops and also has 13 total pressures.

Young is the Rams’ second-best pass rusher, having a massive impact as a rookie through nine games.

Brown was playing well before he got hurt, clogging up the middle of the line with his size as a run defender.

Bottom 5
CB Derion Kendrick: 55.6
DT Larrell Murchison: 51.5
CB Cobie Durant: 50.9
OLB Michael Hoecht: 50.0
LB Christian Rozeboom: 47.1

Kendrick has been targeted 34 times and has allowed 20 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and three passes defensed. Penalties have been his biggest issue, committing seven of them already.

Murchison has been asked to take on a bigger role with Brown out but he has only two pressures and 11 total tackles.

Durant is allowing 14.4 yards per reception, giving up 20 catches on 30 targets for 287 yards a second-most on the team. He’s also missed five tackles.

Hoecht has improved over the last few weeks but he still struggles in coverage and doesn’t often take advantage of his one-on-one opportunities on the outside.

Rozeboom has been the weakest link on defense among the team’s starters, missing 11 tackles and allowing 193 yards in coverage.

Source: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/ ... irst-half/

Kendrick and Durant should not be starting, they still need another year or 2, Kendrick needs to look in the mirror and decide is he wants to waste all that talent, they were not late round picks for nothing. Hoecht has really made great strides this year, but he is to big and slow for the position and Rozeboom is a ST stud, but should not be starting.

Ummmm imo Kendricks should not be on a professional football team. Maybe not even in the CFL as well. The kid is flat out horrible. You say he has all this talent, I would love to know where you saw this 'talent'.

Sorry, I am not hater. But I will call a spade a spade. The dude is not a professional football athlete.