The Los Angeles Rams defensive personnel underwent some changes this offseason, and because of that, defensive end Michael Brockers may be asked to move around this season.
Brockers has spent the bulk of his career making his bones as an interior lineman in the trenches. However, the arrival of Ndamukong Suh last offseason resulted in him making the switch to the outside.
Suh will not be back in Los Angeles this season after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the team essentially replaced him with Clay Matthews, who typically plays on the outside.
According to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, Brockers is hoping to stay at defensive end moving forward but if the addition of Matthews forces him back to the inside, he is willing to do whatever is best for the team:
“Now that I’ve kind of gotten comfortable playing defensive end, I like playing this position,” Brockers said, via video from the team. “But if it happens that I have to play nose, I’ll do that, too. I told them whatever I can do for this team, I’ll do. So I think that’s the most important thing.”
Perhaps the most interesting part about Brockers hoping to stay at defensive end is that the 28-year-old did not play particularly well in his new position. In fact, he largely underwhelmed after finishing the 2018 campaign with just 33 tackles and a sack despite starting all 16 games.
The Rams spent a third-round draft pick on defensive tackle Greg Gaines, so he should also see some time on the inside along with the reigning two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Aaron Donald.
Brockers’ versatility should help the Rams out in a big way this season as not only can he help give Gaines and Donald adequate rest, but the same can also be said for Matthews and Dante Fowler Jr. Additonally, Matthews could also see some time at inside linebacker which would allow Brockers to see more time at his preferred position.
