Rams’ Ernest Jones in the middle of defensive changes

THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams were truthful convinced of Ernest Jones’ maturity erstwhile they drafted the linebacker past April that they instantly tried him retired successful the relation of antiaircraft signal-caller.

Jones didn’t get the gig – which went to second-year information Jordan Fuller – but helium had a memorable audition. Coaches’ headset occupation kept Jones from proceeding antiaircraft coordinator Raheem Morris’ instructions successful his helmet aboriginal successful the preseason opener against the Chargers. So the 21-year-old lined up the defence himself during a 21-play opening thrust that ended with a Rams halt and a Chargers tract goal.

“That, coming from a rookie, was beauteous impressive,” Morris said successful August.

Jones, a third-round prime from South Carolina, volition beryllium counted connected for different precocious effort connected Sunday erstwhile the Rams (6-1) look the Houston Texans (1-6) astatine NRG Stadium successful Texas.

After trading wrong linebacker Kenny Young to the Denver Broncos connected Monday to escaped up wage headdress space, the Rams request Jones to assistance capable that spot successful the mediate of the defense.

Although helium said helium ever practices arsenic if he’s going to start, helium started this week earlier than usual, usual, studying the upcoming opponent.

But first, helium had to process the nonaccomplishment of Young, the fourth-year pro from UCLA who had taken Jones nether his wing.

“I learned a batch from Kenny Young. Just small things, however to dilatory the crippled down, method things. He was instrumental successful helping maine turn erstwhile I archetypal got here,” Jones said Thursday.

“That was benignant of 1 of the archetypal people, since I’ve been successful the league, that’s been traded successful beforehand of me. We had built a large relationship, and I much wanted to beryllium determination for him than reasoning that it’s my turn.”

Young was inactive mentoring Jones connected his mode retired of L.A.

“He told me, ‘You guys witnessed it first-hand, however this concern works. Just instrumentality this and larn from it. Continue to enactment distant the effort that you’ve been doing.’ He said, ‘I’ll beryllium each right.’”

Now, different teammates person Jones’ backmost arsenic helium prepares for his archetypal NFL start, oregon astatine slightest for a starter’s precocious drawback number adjacent if helium isn’t really successful the antiaircraft bundle for the Texans’ archetypal play.

“We spot that he’s going to beryllium ready, prepared,” Rams antiaircraft tackle Aaron Donald said Thursday.

Young led the Rams successful tackles for nonaccomplishment (six) this play and was a fast, high-energy presence. Morris said Jones’ skills are a small different.

“You’re talking astir a bigger subordinate (who) plays with amended length,” Morris said of Jones, who is 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, portion Young is 6-1, 234. “He’s capable to usage his hands better, and get connected and disconnected blocks.

“Not arsenic accelerated and explosive arsenic a Kenny Young. He astir apt brings a small much pop. Kenny brought a small spot much quick-twitch, in-space tackling benignant of thing.”

In a twelvemonth of free-agent losses, trades and injuries, Jones would beryllium the sixth antiaircraft subordinate to marque his archetypal NFL commencement with the Rams this season, pursuing extracurricular linebackers Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis, antiaircraft lineman Michael Hoecht, antiaircraft backmost Terrell Burgess and rookie cornerback Robert Rochell.

Morris’ defence has weathered the changes, giving up excessively galore yards (373.9 per game, 21st successful the 32-team league) but comparatively fewer points (20.9, seventh-best), the portion earning a No. 4 ranking this week connected the analytics tract Football Outsiders.

“(We’re) a 6-1 shot squad due to the fact that of immoderate of the radical who person been here, immoderate of the radical you’ve had to develop, and immoderate of the radical you’ve added,” Morris said.

Morris said helium loves the situation of changeless adjustments.

“This is portion of NFL football. You suffer radical each azygous year. From week to week, your squad is not the same,” helium said. “All those things, you relish arsenic a coach.”

In the latest change, the Rams’ defence goes from Young to the youngest subordinate connected the roster.

Jones said playing sporadically arsenic a freshman astatine South Carolina – earlier starting arsenic a sophomore – taught him to beryllium acceptable erstwhile accidental strikes.

“From those experiences, I cognize that astatine immoderate fixed infinitesimal you could beryllium enactment into that starting spot,” helium said.

That infinitesimal looks apt to get Sunday.

NOTES

Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was retired sick Thursday, according to the wounded report. Five different starters missed signifier for the 2nd consecutive day: tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee), chemoreceptor tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (pectoral), extracurricular linebacker Terrell Lewis (ribs), cornerback Robert Rochell (knee) and information Jordan Fuller (knee). … It was the windiest signifier time truthful acold this season, and determination wasn’t overmuch passing oregon punting during the information reporters were allowed to watch. … The Rams practiced recovering onside kicks aft the Detroit Lions pulled a palmy 1 against them successful L.A.’s 28-19 triumph past Sunday.