• Verse was held to at least one strain within the Rams’ earlier assembly with the Eagles: Philadelphia’s top-tier offensive line held PFF’s Defensive Rookie of the 12 months in examine. He’ll now have an opportunity to redeem himself.
• May an inside alignment be the answer? If the Eagles get to 3rd down in an apparent passing scenario, don’t be shocked to see Verse rush from the inside extra usually in an try to reap the benefits of the higher pass-rushing matchup.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated Studying Time: 5 minutes
The Los Angeles Rams journey to tackle the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend within the divisional spherical, one thing that didn’t appear seemingly a couple of months in the past after beginning the yr 1-4. Since then, they’ve gained 10 of 12 video games (excluding their Week 18 recreation towards Seattle after they sat their starters), together with a dominating efficiency towards the 14-win Minnesota Vikings within the wild-card spherical.
Jared Verse is an enormous purpose for the Rams’ success this season. The nineteenth general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft was the straightforward alternative for PFF’s Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award, establishing himself as one of many premier edge defenders within the league in his first season. He was extraordinarily constant week-to-week, grading out at 63.7 or greater in all however one recreation.
Verse is coming off a robust postseason debut, incomes an 84.4 PFF general grade throughout 52 snaps. He generated seven pressures, however the play of the sport got here on his 57-yard scoop and rating of a Sam Darnold fumble, giving the Rams a two-score result in propel Los Angeles to a blowout win.
YEAH THAT’S A V8 ENGINE
📺: @ESPNNFL | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/9EbfjPwvRL
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 14, 2025
With the Vikings within the rearview mirror, Verse turns his consideration to an Eagles offensive line that shut him down earlier within the season. In that Week 12 matchup, the rookie’s 40.8 PFF general grade, 38.2 PFF run-defense grade and one strain generated have been all season lows. His 57.0 PFF pass-rush grade for the sport was his second-worst mark of the season.
Philadelphia’s limiting of opposing defensive fronts mustn’t come as a shock, because the workforce owns the most effective offensive line within the NFL this season. All 5 starters rank among the many high 18 at their respective positions, and the Eagles have the league’s finest sort out duo in Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson.
In Mailata and Johnson, the Eagles have two elite pass-blockers who’re trusted extra on an island (no assist from a guard, operating again or tight finish) than every other tackles within the league. Verse recorded only a 10.5% pass-rush win charge within the November matchup, effectively beneath his sixth-ranked season-long clip of 19.6%.
Jared Verse’s lone strain of their Week 12 matchup reveals the game-breaking potential he has on any given rep
Pre-snap motion to shift inside TE Calcaterra helps keep away from a possible chip and a superbly timed leap/bullrush forces quick strain on Hurts on third and lengthy pic.twitter.com/oT9k0fqbye
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 16, 2025
Verse’s lone strain within the recreation was a reminder of his game-wrecking means. He shifts inside tight finish Grant Calcaterra, who’s lined up within the slot pre-snap, avoiding a possible chip whereas completely timing the snap within the course of. He then fully runs over Mailata with a bull rush to power Hurts out of the pocket on third-and-long, with the drive finally leading to a field-goal try.
Jared Verse’s lone strain of their Week 12 matchup reveals the game-breaking potential he has on any given rep
Pre-snap motion to shift inside TE Calcaterra helps keep away from a possible chip and a superbly timed leap/bullrush forces quick strain on Hurts on third and lengthy pic.twitter.com/oT9k0fqbye
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 16, 2025
Producing strain is a key issue for Verse and the Rams to return away with the upset on the highway, as Hurts’ passing splits will present. He sports activities an 86.2 PFF passing grade for the season when saved clear, however that quantity drops to 32.8 when below strain.
The Rams might try to generate strain by getting their star pass-rusher in additional favorable matchups. Verse has lined up as a defensive sort out simply 5 occasions all yr, three of which got here towards the Eagles in Week 12. Mailata (92.2 PFF pass-blocking grade), Johnson (87.9) and Landon Dickerson (72.1) are all wonderful in go safety, however Cam Jurgens (55.9) and Mekhi Becton (62.5) are susceptible at occasions. If the Eagles get to 3rd down in an apparent passing scenario, don’t be shocked to see Verse rush from the inside extra usually in an try to reap the benefits of the matchup.
Jared Verse lined up as a defensive sort out simply 5 occasions this season, 3 of which got here vs the Eagles in Week 12
It could not be a shock to see the Rams dial up this look extra on apparent go conditions to keep away from Philly’s elite sort out duo & goal the extra susceptible inside OL pic.twitter.com/5huq2bA83L
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 16, 2025
With that mentioned, it’s fully conceivable that the Eagles will management the sport on the bottom and Verse will not have the chance to disrupt as a pass-rusher. Philadelphia ran the ball greater than any workforce within the NFL this season (50.7% of the time), with Hurts dropping again 35-plus occasions in simply 5 video games, 4 of which got here within the first 4 video games of the season. A run-heavy recreation script for the Eagles doesn’t bode effectively for the Rams’ probabilities.
Los Angeles scored a landing and took management of the sport early on towards Minnesota, one thing the workforce will hope to repeat to maintain the strain on Philadelphia. By doing so, Verse and the Rams’ protection can have the chance to pin their ears again and get after Hurts on passing downs. Coming off a record-setting nine-sack efficiency within the wild-card spherical final week, they actually gained’t be missing in confidence in a hostile surroundings this weekend.
