The Los Angeles Rams defense has utilized what is referred to as a STAR defensive back since Brandon Staley introduced his scheme to the team in 2020. The position is a highly versatile key position for the Rams. Most famously, the role was occupied and mastered by Jalen Ramsey. In other nomenclatures, it is called “big nickel.”
This week during organized team activities Chris Shula was asked by the New York Times, Jourdan Rodrigue, for an update on who is standing out to fill the STAR.
“Russ (Yeast) and DK [Derion Kendrick] have been doing have been doing a great job kind of switching in in that spot. It’s always a spot that there’s a lot of nuances to it. It’s a guy that’s got to be smart, he’s got to understand the defense, a lot of stuff uh goes through that guy. He’s got to be able to tackle he’s got to be able to hit blocks.”
Unlikely Los Angeles Rams Standouts
Russ Yeast and Derion Kendrick may be surprising names to many Rams fans as standouts to play this important role, especially considering the amount of investment the team has made so far in the offseason. But Yeast played a highly diverse role in the defense last year.
Yeast played 44.3 percent at free safety, but 21.2 percent of his snaps at slot corner and 24.2 percent of his snaps in the box. That breaks down similarly to Ramsey’s 2021 heyday as the Rams STAR.
As for Kendrick, he has some of the most familiarity with the Rams defense having played the most defensive snaps for this team in the secondary over the last two years. If there is anyone who knows the defense well enough to carry the load in OTA’s, it is Kendrick.
This may change as more players are worked into the defense. Shula also noted that Tre’Davious White has not yet taken on a full offseason workload as he continues his rehab from injury. But it should be noted that neither Darious Williams nor White have played good football as anything other than an outside cornerback.
