Pro Football Focus Week 5 Interesting Stats: Rams Edition

The Rams were expected to have a revamped secondary this season. After losing Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, many projected the Rams to take a step back, especially at safety with no outside help coming via the draft or free agency.

Here’s how the Rams have done so far this season, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

24. The Rams are one of two teams where both starting safeties have allowed a catch rate of 50 percent or lower.

This offseason, Los Angeles lost Rodney McLeod to the Eagles, so Maurice Alexander joined T.J. McDonald at safety. The position then projected to be a weak spot in the defense, but so far both safeties have played well in coverage. They have allowed fewer than 100 yards between them when they are the primary men in coverage, and have yet to allow a touchdown. This week they face the Bills, where Tyrod Taylor has been one of the least-accurate quarterbacks on deep passes, with an adjusted completion percentage of 31.3 on deep attempts. Despite the low accuracy, Taylor remains among the top 10 QBs in deep-passing yards (throws traveling 20+ yards in the air). If the Rams’ safeties can help prevent any big plays out of Buffalo, that will help keep this a low-scoring game.

The Rams safety combination of T.J. McDonald, Cody Davis, and Maurice Alexander have been outstanding this young season. Let’s hope they continue to play well as the Rams look to win their fourth straight game, a feat that the team hasn’t accomplished since 2003.