It's easy for discussions about the [**Los Angeles Rams**](https://ramblinfan.com/) roster to ignore rotational players and focus on the starters. But few players on this team compete in every snap. Of course, you hope that starting quarterback Matthew Stafford is always under center. For that matter, you hope that the entire offensive line is healthy enough to start and play every snap of the football.
But at the same time, players who exert every ounce of energy on the football field need to stay fresh. It's a physical game that places huge demands on the players. While some groups need continuity, other groups need rapid rotations to keep players fresh. And the Rams' defensive philosophy under DC Chris Shula is to rotate many defensive linemen into the game to keep everyone fresh.
Last season, the Rams rotated six players through three defensive line positions. Of the group, versatile defensive lineman Kobie Turner had 77 percent of the defensive snaps. The least amount of defensive snaps on the line of scrimmage was run through DE Desjuan Johnson, with 120 defensive snaps. Of course, this team will need to absorb 736 defensive snaps lost by the exodus of NTs Bobby Brown III and Neville Gallimore.
Will defensive lineman Tyler Davis pick up some of the slack? [**He has certainly earned a larger role**](https://ramblinfan.com/get-ready-to-be-dazzled-by-5-2024-rams-rookies-as-they-fight-for-larger-roles-01jvz9q1ya1a) on the defense this season. But of the nose tackle defensive snaps, a solid rough estimate of distribution for the position is 50 percent to veteran NT Poona Ford, and 20-25 percent to both Tyler Davis and Ty Hamilton. Of 107o defensive snaps, that puts 535 with Ford and 265 snaps to both Davis and Hamilton.
Davis played about 300 defensive snaps last season, most occurring in relief of Kobie Turner or Braden Fiske. The Rams welcome Poona Ford, Ty Hamilton, and a healthy Larrell Murchison to the rotation this season.
So, even in the optimistic expectation that Tyler Davis will play a larger role on defense, he will still need to share playing time with rookie DL Ty Hamilton. But that's not a bad thing. Ideally, it's a perfect win-win scenario. Here's why:
(3) - Play the hot hand
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While everyone competes to the best of their ability, not every player shows up consistently. Whether it be the running back, defensive back, or defensive lineman, different games produce different results. As such, on-field production can ebb and flow. By platooning defensive linemen, DC Shula can extend the length of productive players and shrink the duration of struggling players throughout a game. Not only does that put the best players on the football field, but adds extra incentive in weekly practices for lagging players to perform better.
(2) - Keep everyone fresh
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Rotating defensive linemen is one of the ways defensive coordinators sustain pressure on the offensive line. While the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line was among the best in 2024, the Rams pass rush shredded their offensive line for seven quarterback sacks. That is not just due to the fact that the Rams have great pass rushers, but was also due to rapid rotation along the defensive front to keep players rested and fresh. Even as the run defense struggled, the Rams' pass rush dominated the game.
(1) - Seamless transition in case of injury
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The worst case scenario that the Rams have run against nearly every season is injury to one or more key contributors. But what happens if the Rams lose a key contributor from the rapidly rotating defensive front? Well, the good news is that the team absorbs that loss by modifying the rotation. New arrivals get cameo roles until they prove worthy of longer playing time. And veterans simply pick up the slack with longer or more rotations.
Is it a bad thing to split playing time between Tyler Davis and Ty Hamilton? It's a perfect situation, and one that builds both flexibility and additional capacity into the ranks along the defensive line of scrimmage. That is a huge positive to a young and very energetic defensive front that spends every ounce of energy on every defensive snap of the football.
The Rams have a new rookie class to integrate into thie roster and lineup. But the best way to do so is to gradually allow them to take the football field. And that same method is true as they enter their second season with the team.
DL Tyler Davis will bring a lot of production and experience to the defense in 2025. But the best case scenario is to bring rookie Ty Hamilton along for the ride. But the time the playoffs arrive, the defense has two competitive and productive players.
As always, thanks for reading.
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