The Los Angeles Rams focused on bringing in veteran leadership this off-season on the defense, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is excited that Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews have joined the mix.
Eric Weddle comes in after having some strong years with the Baltimore Ravens, while the consensus is that Clay Matthews lost a step the last few years with the Green Bay Packers. Phillips thinks both of these guys can have a leadership role on the team, but also play at a very high level on the field too.
“Matthews and Weddle both give us a veteran influence coming in, and are both still really athletic and can play their position well, but it gives you a lot of experience,” Phillips said, via the team’s website. “Weddle especially, I think in the secondary gives you a lot of things that you can do as far as changes and working against our offense, which gives you a lot of problems.”
Weddle is a very smart player, and Phillips has been impressed with just how much influence he has already had on the secondary.
Phillips points out one play where a receiver went in motion and the cornerback didn't follow him through the motion like he was supposed to. Weddle told the cornerback to take his place and switched so they could see how it was supposed to be run.
“So Weddle went over and took his place and then hollered at him to go and take his place,” Phillips said. “It’s those kinds of things that you don’t normally see, most players they just play their position, but he understood the concept and said, ‘Hey, he didn’t have to go, so I’ll go, but he needs to go back where I was.’ That’s what he adds, certainly.”
The Rams offense was the side of the ball that got the attention, but if the defense can be improved this year maybe they can win the Super Bowl this season.
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