The Los Angeles Rams made waves this offseason with the addition of Pro Bowl players such defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh alongside cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Meanwhile, the looming return of defensive tackle Aaron Donald has created plenty of hype around the defense.
However, one player that has flown under the radar is defensive tackle Michael Brockers. According to Cameron DaSilva of The Rams Wire, head coach Sean McVay feels Brockers is one of the most underrated players in the NFL:
“I think he means a whole lot. You’ve heard us talk about him a lot. I think he’s one of the more underrated players in this league,” McVay said after practice Sunday. “I think in terms of a dominant presence at the defensive end spot in base, especially on some of those normal down-and-distances. He’s got the position flex to really be able to play all along the line where he can rush. He’s got great strength, gets his hands on balls.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to McVay's comments. Most of the discussions regarding the Rams' defensive line is usually centered around Donald and Suh. Meanwhile, Brockers' name is hardly ever mentioned despite being one of the best interior defenders in the league.
Brockers has been a stalwart on the defensive line for quite some time now. He is coming off perhaps his best year yet after registering 55 tackles, 4.5 sacks and four passes defenses in the 2017 campaign. However, his numbers are hardly indicative of the impact he has on defense. Aside from taking care of the dirty work at nose tackle, Brockers has committed himself to becoming a leader for the younger players on defense. That said, it is clear his efforts have not gone unnoticed by McVay.
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