As Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse reviewed his rookie tape—multiple times over—one thought kept resurfacing: *too many bull rushes*. Former NFL lineman Corey Simon had advised him to study every play, not just the highs and lows, and the repeated viewings made one thing clear—he had become too predictable. While his raw power was hard to stop, opponents were beginning to catch on.
Determined to evolve, Verse spent the offseason expanding his pass rush arsenal. Throughout OTAs and training camp, he limited power moves to just a handful of reps in order to focus on refining his speed rush and developing counters he rarely used in 2024.
“We’re working with him on broadening his toolkit,” said Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
Now, Verse feels more confident in his ability to win with speed. “That’s going to be dangerous,” he told theRams.com. “A lot of times I don’t use my speed enough, and that might actually be my deadliest trait after my strength.”
He’s not wrong. According to Next Gen Stats, Verse reached top speeds of 21.6 and 21.48 mph in the Rams’ playoff loss to the Eagles—among the fastest for defensive linemen in 2024. Tapping into that speed more regularly could change everything.
Despite finishing with 6.5 sacks (including playoffs) and ranking fourth in the league with 77 pressures (per PFF), Verse was unsatisfied. He believes he left around 10 sacks on the field.
One turning point came in a Week 14 game against the Bills, where offensive tackle Dion Dawkins repeatedly neutralized Verse’s bull rush. That game exposed the need for a more dynamic approach—and lit a fire.
“I’m faster than you,” Verse later told the *Rich Eisen Show*. “There’s not many kick steps that can stop me.”
To sharpen his game, Verse trained for three weeks this summer with renowned pass rush coach Ed McGilvra, alongside NFL linemen including Rams DE Kobie Turner. McGilvra—who’s worked with stars like Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald—called Verse “one of one.”
“Jared might be the strongest player I’ve ever seen in person,” McGilvra said. “He has the power of a three-tech, but the speed and size of a defensive end.”
That power was so intense that McGilvra had to ask him to ease up during bull rush drills—for safety reasons. That lighter hand technique also helped Verse stay more fluid and adaptable when linemen try to counter him.
By diversifying his rush and improving his hand usage, Verse now has more options after first contact. He’s also better at recognizing what offensive linemen are about to do based on subtle cues like foot placement or stance width.
When he *does* win, he’s been trained to land at the quarterback’s set point—converting pressures into actual sacks.
Verse is also building chemistry with his fellow linemen. He’s long had a connection with Braden Fiske, his former college teammate, and now he’s developing a similar rapport with Kobie Turner. In a recent practice, he and Turner silently recognized a blocking weakness and executed a coordinated rush that would’ve resulted in a sack had contact been allowed.
That moment showed how much Verse has grown. He’s learned that the best rush isn’t always the most aggressive—it’s the one that fits the situation.