One of the Rams' biggest additions in the first week of free agency – literally – was 5-foot-11, 310-pound defensive tackle Poona Ford.
His size and frame meet the basis of what any defensive coordinator looks for in an A gap-plugging nose tackle, but his skill set could also open things up for teammates like Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner.
The Rams' own D'Marco Farr explains further on what Ford will bring to Los Angeles' defense.
Skillset
How would Farr describe the kind of player the Rams are getting in Ford?
"A rolling ball of butcher knives at nose tackle," Farr told theRams.com. "You don't have to be very tall to play nose tackle. You have to be very willing, and you have to be an absolute tree stump. And he is all of that."
Ford's stout frame makes him unique for a defensive tackle, not to mention the long arms for a short defensive tackle.
In addition to that physicality, strength and toughness, Ford also brings a high football IQ.
"Everything we used to give AD (Aaron Donald) credit for, like diagnosing blocks, understanding how they're tying to eliminate you – he's got that too, but just at the nose tackle spot," Farr explained. "So when AD makes a smart play, AD makes a smart play. When Poona makes a smart play, somebody else makes the play, but that's how good he is, that's how much he's going to help you. A good nose tackle is invaluable in football, no matter what level."
At the same time, Ford has enough quick-twitch to his game to also be a viable pass rusher, and therefore the ability to play on all three downs, according to Farr.
"So he's a complete guy that, I guess you'd say he mastered the art of playing the run, but he's a credible guy you can actually leave out there for three downs if you wanted to," Farr said.
Ford made waves in recent weeks after Jason Kelce said on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast how he hated playing against nose tackles like Ford, who have shorter statures but longer arms. Farr explained further how that technical advantage plays into a defensive line's favor.
"You've seen Rob Havenstein, you've seen Andrew Whitworth, these skyscrapers at tackle, right? Tackles have to come down and block on inside guys or guards, even tall guards and centers," Farr said. "When you have to squat down to come down to this level to block a guy like that, he's got the advantage. He's already down there. And if he's got long enough levers, long enough arms like Jared Verse, if he gets you extended from that position, you're not moving him. He just drops anchor, bench presses you out, and you just stay there. So imagine seeing that as a running back. There is a road block here and nothing else backside, because of his stature, he won't move, and then his long levers."
The Los Angeles Rams welcome cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, linebacker Nate Landman, wide receiver Davante Adams, and others to the facility to sign their contracts and officially join the team.
Scheme and personnel impact
When it comes to the Rams' defensive front, Farr expects Ford to play a "a shade over the center," or asked to pinch down in the A gap and not move.
"Every defense, pretty much – 3-4, 4-3 – no matter what you're doing, you all have an A gap presence," Farr said. "And usually you want that filled by a big body, because if they can move that spot, they win the football game. So every defense is looking for a top-flight nose tackle, especially on first and 10, second and whatever, when they're going to run the ball, when it's just the running game."
It remains to be seen exactly how that will look alongside players like Turner and Fiske, but Farr said that he assumes Turner would be moved out to the 5-technique (outside shoulder of the offensive tackle) and Fiske to the 3-technique (outside shoulder of the offensive guard), or vice-versa.
"It's great for Kobie and great for Fiske, which means you are now off the tough-guy stuff, and you've got a specialist here which will open you up to do what you do best: jump up the field and make plays," Farr said. "So Poona coming in, kind of holding down the fort in the middle is going to free up those other two guys in the middle almost immediately to go one-on-one a lot more than they did, especially Kobie Turner. What he did last year was phenomenal – play nose tackle, and then when it became a passing down, straighten out and get some good pass rush and actually get there. So imagine if he didn't have to go through the double-team stuff now that Poona is here, you get a better Kobie."
