Rams' Raheem Morris Empowering Young Defense

The Los Angeles Rams' defense will look very different in 2023, with longtime staples moving on and younger players stepping in to take their place.

With so many new players on defense, it will take some time and quality coaching for the unit to gel together. No one knows that better than defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who is entering his third season with the Rams. Morris realizes that his defense is much younger than in previous years, and is catering his coaching style to help the young guns develop.

"It's the simple part of the game and if you can keep it simple and you can speak a simple language to them and let them relay a simple language back, that's what empowers those guys," Morris said Thursday. "Having the ability to go out there and be able to play fast, the tempo that Sean [McVay] provides for us within practice or will naturally bring out leadership and who's going to step up and make those calls along with Ernest [Jones] and it's really starting to come to fruition as we go out there and we practice every single day, so those things are happening as we go and time passes."

While having such a young defense comes with some growing pains, it has its share of positives as well. Morris says the enthusiasm from the younger players is infectious, and it's made coaching the unit much more enjoyable.

"The authentic energy and enthusiasm is what you enjoy," Morris said. "I mean, every knockdown pass is like we won the Super Bowl. That's the stuff you love... I enjoy it just so much because I get a chance to watch the guys go out there and have fun and then really go coach and really go detail it up in the classroom."

One young player who has particularly caught Morris' attention is second-year cornerback Cobie Durant. The former fourth-round pick had an impressive rookie season, and with other losses at the position, the Rams are counting on him to step in as the No. 1 corner. Morris says Durant has impressed him with both his play and leadership, and he's looking forward to seeing what the corner can do in Year 2.

With the Rams looking to remain competitive this season, they are counting on Morris to get the most he can out of this young defense. So far, it seems like he's doing a good job on that front.

You can follow Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News

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