Ram's defense is ready to face the Titans

After not allowing a touchdown in Week 1 against the Texans, the Rams’ defense once again looks poised to pick up where it left off last season, when it finished third in opponents points per game.

Following Thursday’s practice, Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula spoke to media and offered glowing remarks about the unit’s development. He praised the depth on both the defensive line and in the secondary, highlighting the group’s preparation and commitment to honing their craft as they aim to make this year’s defense a memorable one.

One moment that stood out during Shula’s press conference was his comments about linebacker Nate Landman, who sealed Sunday’s win with a game-changing forced fumble.

“He's you know, we love to say it-he’s a Ram. However, you define what a Ram is: someone who loves football, who’s a great person in the locker room, someone you really enjoy talking to. He works hard and he loves the game. From very early on, you just knew he fit in really well here. Honestly, what he did on Sunday wasn’t a surprise to anyone, coaches or players, because he’d been doing it all camp. He punched a few balls out throughout training camp, and he punched one out on Sunday. He’s been awesome. I was just glad to see him do it in a game and get some recognition for it.”

That’s high praise from a defensive coordinator, especially for a player still carving out his role. Landman’s effort reflects the collective mindset of this Rams defense: focused preparation, steady growth, and a relentless drive for success both this season and beyond.

This Sunday September 14th, the Rams travel to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans and rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shula’s defense will look to lean on its preparation and do everything possible to disrupt the young signal-caller in just his second career start. By playing stingy, disciplined football, the Rams hope to give their high-powered offense the freedom to play their style and take control of the game.

During the press conference, when asked if he strategizes any differently with a rookie quarterback as opposed to a veteran, Linebacker and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse said “That’s a number one pick, it doesn’t matter. He’s a number one pick for a reason, like it doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie quarterback, a vet quarterback, it’s all the same. I’m going to treat you the exact same way, I’m not going to change anything in my preparation.”