In the first episode of “Behind The Grind”, the Los Angeles Rams’ new video series, new defensive coordinator Chris Shula broke down the Rams’ three key free agent acquisitions in the secondary this offseason. Shula detailed the thought process behind the acquisitions and what each player could bring to the team in 2024.
On cornerback Darious Williams, who returned to the Rams after two years in Jacksonville:
“Darious is a guy that has a well-rounded game. He can play on, he can play off in different versions of man [coverage]. In Jacksonville, he showed a lot of different stuff where he can play some zone and play some vision stuff. Now seeing him two years later and watching his tape, it’s just interesting to see how he’s evolved as a player.”
On safety Kam Curl, a former Washington Commander:
“Those core fundamentals we were talking about [getting off blocks, tackling, pursuit to the football], he’s got all that. He’s gonna be a guy that brings guys with him on the field, he’s got a great play energy about him. Safety in this defense can be a playmaker. That’s what we see him as.”
On cornerback Tre’Davious White, the former All-Pro in Buffalo:
“When Tre came in for his visit, I spent about three or four hours with him just watching tape and really just talking about leadership and his journey and where he’s at. He’s in a place where he feels like a lot of guys helped him along the way and now he feels like he can pass that knowledge along. He’s a complete player.”
It definitely feels like the Rams understood they couldn’t rely solely on youth in the secondary anymore and sought to bring in key veterans to turn that unit around. White and Williams will be tremendous mentors for players like Cobie Durant and Tre Tomlinson.
