This Rams veteran addition is doing everything right at camp (and people notice)

The Los Angeles Rams defense underwent a significant learning curve in 2024 under new Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula. Shula inherited the defense and faced the challenge of transitioning it to his scheme, all while having to replace the now-retired superstar Aaron Donald. Without established stars, Shula utilized a clean slate, starting rookie and second-year players who had to learn both a new defense and Shula's specific philosophy throughout the season.

Despite gradual improvement, the defense discovered a critical flaw: it consistently lacked the ability to stop the run against determined offenses. This weakness became the defining issue for the unit in 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, stopping the run is identified as the paramount question for the Rams defense, especially given their schedule features matchups against the top five running backs from 2024, plus Christian McCaffrey, James Conner, and Kenneth Walker III twice, making it a matter of survival rather than a luxury.

To address this critical weakness, the Rams took a significant step by signing former Los Angeles Chargers nose tackle Poona Ford, known as a run-stuffing specialist. Ford, described as small but powerful with long reach, is already making a positive impression during training camp. Teammate Braden Fiske praised Ford's quickness ("twitchy") and movement, suggesting he could be a "key piece" or even the "missing piece" the defense needed.

While Ford won't be solely responsible for fixing the run defense, his addition is seen as vital. Embedding him in the middle of the defensive front adds his proven run-stopping ability and is expected to elevate the run defense of the entire young, eager-to-learn defensive unit. His teammates recognize the value he brings, and his strong performance in camp is currently the best indicator of potential improvement until proven on the field against star running backs.