INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Coming out of the bye week, the Rams put an emphasis on attacking the football to cause more turnovers. Cornerback Cobie Durant did just that against the Raiders on Sunday, making key plays that led to back-to-back scores for the Rams.
Inside the two-minute warning in the first half, Durant came flying through the "B" gap untouched on a blitz that sent six Los Angeles defenders after Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew. As he was set to release, Durant slammed his whole body into the quarterback's blind side. The ball popped out, and safety Kam Curl ran 33 yards, high-stepping into the end zone for a touchdown.
It was Durant's only pass rush of the game, and it was the only one he needed to make a difference. After the game, he said he knew from film study that he would have a free path to the quarterback once the running back didn't pick him up. Durant was credited with a sack and forced fumble and the Rams registered their second defensive touchdown in as many games.
"When you (are) running free, it's just like, attack the ball," Durant said. "As I'm running, I'm like, this is the opportunity to strip sack. I wasn't even trying to wrap him up or anything, take him to the ground, it's just like, get the ball."
Up until Durant exited with cramps in the third quarter, he played all 44 of the Rams' defensive snaps. His two forced turnovers led directly to Rams touchdowns and helped them pull away in a defensive battle. Durant allowed just one catch on three targets as the closest defender, per Pro Football Focus, and helped Los Angeles secure a 20-15 win.
Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse said he tried to open up the gap on Durant's rush by looping outside for his bull rush. When the ball spiraled out of Minshew's hands, he knew the job was done. Durant's ability to influence three levels drove the Rams' defense forward against Las Vegas.
"(Durant) is one of the most versatile players I've ever played with," Verse said. "He can do it all and he does it at such a high intensity, such a high level."
With less than five minutes left in the first half, before his acrobatic sack-fumble, Durant dropped into zone coverage and picked up the Raiders' dangerous rookie tight end, Brock Bowers. As Minshew scurried away from pass rushers with yellow laundry on the field, he heaved a pass to Bowers, who wasn't looking – it wasn't far enough, and Durant fell to the ground to secure the interception.
Durant didn't have any interceptions last season, so this one was followed by a big sigh of relief. He tries not to force plays and let them come to him, but said it can get frustrating when that doesn't come to fruition. Today, he stayed patient, attacked the ball and the plays came to him.
"Yes, (it's hard to stay patient)," Durant said. "You be so anxious on a third down stop against the tight end. I knew that he was running that route, but I also had to play it honest because I didn't want to give up my leverage for him to beat me on the outside… Sometimes you just have to take chances, but right now I'm not in that position to take chances."
The Rams experimented with different personnel packages throughout the game, but Durant was a staple in the defense no matter what. With 31 snaps at outside corner, 10 in the slot and three in the box, Durant's multifaceted play style was invaluable as usual.
"Cobie's just being himself," said Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
A versatile playmaker is exactly who Durant is, and he showed that off against the Raiders. The "landshark," as he's called, feasted on Sunday.
