Rams' revamped defense showing knack for game-changing plays

THOUSAND OAKS, California (AP) -. When the Los Angeles Rams desperately need a big game in the final minute of their last two games, the defense has delivered.

This gift has the Rams (2-1) out of their best start in a decade, despite a litany of concerns about anything to score penalties.

"The sign of a good defense made big plays," Rams safety T. J. McDonald said. "Whenever you can come with a big tackle or a turnover, you have to do. You keep pressing, and good teams find a way to do it."

Los Angeles may need a little more game-changing parts to prosper in his visit to Arizona (1-2) on Sunday for its third NFC West game already this season.


The Rams offense less productive in the NFL through three games after finishing last season at the bottom of the league. They also hurt themselves repeatedly with penalties, ranking among the most frequent offenders of the league with 27 flags for 249 yards.

Of course, Los Angeles piled up last weekend points in their 37-32 victory over the Buccaneers after completing just nine points in his first two games combined. But the defense was responsible for much of this explosion: first half interception of Mark Barron has set up a unit TD court, and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks returned a fumble 77 yards for another score.

And when Jameis Winston led the Bucs in scoring position in the closing seconds, Robert Quinn finished the game chasing the star quarterback from behind in Los Angeles 5.

A week earlier, linebacker Alec Ogletree is the biggest game by recovering a fumble by Christine Michael of Seattle in the final minute, killing the last disc Seahawks and securing a victory in Los Angeles game back home .

Rams coach Jeff Fisher would prefer to get some wins that do not come down the last seconds.

"You take the wins but you can," he said. "In a perfect world, you want to think you do not need to do this game in the end. But something you can hang your hat, and you can always go back and say "Hey, you made the parts at the end, so if it happens again, just go. Do what you did before. "

Ogletree was all over the field for the Rams in his first four games as replacing the franchise leader fight against James Laurinaitis, who signed a free agent contract with New Orleans in March. While it approves the donation of defense for big games, Ogletree sharing Fisher's desire to make things a little simpler.

"We gave up almost 400 yards last week," Ogletree said of the Bucs 389 yards through the air. "There's a lot of work to do. It's good to win, but we know that we have created a lot of mistakes out there and gave them a lot of opportunities. "

Ogletree is directed to the stage where his 2015 season ended with a broken leg in the fourth game the Rams this year. He recovered to become a key part of Gregg Williams defensive coordinator system.

"I will not go there thinking, 'Oh man, this is where I'm hurt, and this is how my season ended last year," Ogletree said. "It ended because she ended. I hurt, and that was the end of it. It's a new year. I'm really looking forward to going back there and completing all of the game. "