Last week, theRams.com highlighted Pro Football Focus' (PFF) highest-graded Rams defensive player, defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
This week, we're taking a broader look at other noteworthy performances by him and his teammates throughout the season. In the second of a three part series, here's a look at notable games put together by L.A.'s defensive players according to data compiled by PFF.
LB Cory Littleton: Week 1 at Carolina, 94.3 overall grade, 83.5 tackling grade, 82.7 pass rush grade and 94.1 pass rush grade
While he had a couple second-half performances that would appear to come close, what Littleton put on film against Carolina remains his highest-graded performance.
Statistically, Littleton posted 14 total tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Combined with PFF's evaluation, it helped contribute to an 83.5 tackling grade, 83.3 pass rush grade and 94.0 coverage grade. His pass rush and coverage grades were both best in a game this season, while his tackling grade was third-best.
Overall, those marks were strong enough to land him a spot on PFF's Team of the Week for Week 1.
LB Dante Fowler: Week 7 at Atlanta, 90.6 overall defensive grade
It was awfully close, but Fowler's performance against the Falcons in Week 7 remained his best of the season.
Fowler's first 3-sack game of his career produced his highest overall defensive grade and best pass rush grade of the season. In addition to the three sacks, Fowler also had one QB hit and three QB hurries for seven total pressures against the Falcons, tied with the Cleveland game for second most for him in a single game this season. He received a pass-rush grade of 90.9 as a result.
The former Florida star later posted another 3-sack game against the 49ers in Week 16 which produced a 90.2 overall grade and 89.3 defense grade. What was the difference between that and Week 7? In Week 7, he had four more pressures – one quarterback hit and three quarterback hurries.
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman: Week 11 vs. Chicago, 81.8 coverage grade
Robey-Coleman posted a season-high 81.8 coverage grade against the Bears. He allowed just three receptions on six targets, but only 17 receiving yards off those catches. The longest reception Robey-Coleman allowed was eight yards to wide receiver Anthony Miller.
His two other highest coverage grades came in Week 10 at Pittsburgh (81.1) and Week 10 vs. San Francisco (80.4).
CB Jalen Ramsey: Week 16 vs. San Francisco, 86.1 coverage grade
The game which saw Ramsey secure his first interception as a Ram also saw him author his best performance in coverage in an L.A. uniform.
Of note, only 40 percent of targets thrown his way were caught. He was targeted five times and allowed only two receptions – a 9-yard catch by wide receiver Deebo Samuel and a 3-yard catch by wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Ramsey was matched up with Sanders when he snagged the pick.
DT Aaron Donald: Week 11 vs. Chicago, 93.3 overall grade
It's likely no surprise that the same game which led to Donald taking home NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors also became his highest-graded performance this season.
Donald generated eight total pressures, including two sacks, two quarterback hits and four quarterback hurries in a 17-7 Rams victory. Those numbers also contributed to a season-high 92.6 pass rush grade.
CB Troy Hill: Week 8 vs. Cincinnati, 88.4 coverage grade
Hill's coverage grade against the Bengals in London was fifth-best among the 117 players at his position evaluated by PFF that week.
Furthermore, he allowed just three receptions despite seeing a season-high 11 targets – in other words, only 27.3 percent of targets of targets his way were caught.
He also posted his best overall grade of the season (85.5) in the Rams' 24-10 victory at Wembley Stadium.
Safety Eric Weddle: Week 14 vs. Seattle, 86.1 tackling grade
Weddle's best tackling performance of the season came in the second meeting with the Seahawks after posting eight total tackles in 28-12 Rams win.
A symbol of a larger trend, three of Weddle's four highest tackling grades came across the final month of the season – 84.9 at San Francisco in Week 16, 84.1 against Arizona in Week 17.
LB Samson Ebukam: Week 6 vs. San Francisco, 87.8 run defense grade
Ebukam scored well against a divisional rival, posting his best game against the run Week 6 against the 49ers. He also excelled as a pass-rusher, generating a season-high five pressures (all quarterback hurries).
DE Michael Brockers: Week 3 at Cleveland, 86.2 run defense grade
Donald said this season Brockers is a big part of the Rams' ability to stop the run, and that was certainly the case against the Browns in Week 2.
Of note, Brockers had four stops – defined as tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense, per PFF – in L.A.'s 20-13 win.
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day: Week 11 vs. Chicago, 85.9 overall grade
This game was the first time Joseph-Day's parents got to see him play in an NFL game – his first home start, no less – and he certainly made them proud.
Per PFF, Joseph-Day finished with his best overall grade and best run defense grade (85.2) of the season against theBears. All four of his tackles were categorized as stops.
Safety Taylor Rapp: Week 13 vs. Arizona, 82.2 coverage grade
Despite playing his fourth-fewest snaps of the season in this game, Rapp still made the most of it by registering his best performance in coverage.
Highlighted by a pick-six for his first career interception, Rapp allowed three receptions on six targets. That reception percentage marked matched his lowest in games which he saw five or more passes come his direction.
