'He's the linchpin': Rams DC Chris Shula praises Quentin Lake's rising impact

Yahoo

26-07-2025

Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake might not be a household name, but within the building, there is no doubt how important he is to the defense.
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula praised Lake's role and efforts, as he enters a contract year. From his communication to tackling to versatility, Shula referred to his safety as the "linchpin" of the Rams' defense, and a do-it-all player who helps elevate those around him.
'He's everything,' Shula said following Friday's training camp practice. 'Communicator, he moves around. How I like to say it is he allows us always to get our best guys on the field.'
Lake's role isn't just defined by a single position. Shula, in his second season coordinating the team's defense, noted that the former UCLA product has the ability to seamlessly transition from playing nickel to covering receivers in the slot to dropping deep in the post as a safety, all while bringing a physical style of play near the line of scrimmage.
'These days, a lot of times when you are playing nickel, you get put in the run-through,' Shula said. 'You're almost like a linebacker sometimes in a 4-3 defense. He does that. The next thing, he's covering a slot receiver and then the next thing, he's deep playing middle of the post safety. Now he's playing a half field.'
In three seasons, the former 2022 sixth-round pick, who has seen his role grow year after year, has recorded 174 tackles, 12 pass deflections, three sacks, and nine pressures. Last season, Lake finished second on the team in combined tackles (111) and first in solo tackles (73) while recording a pair of sacks and seven pressures, all of which were career highs. His ability to play all over the field speaks volumes to his football IQ and toughness, two traits that Shula has praised a ton on the 26-year-old.
'I think he's one of the best tacklers on the team,' Shula added. 'But I think he's probably one of the most underrated physical players in the league. He's always been one of our best tacklers and he's been one of our best communicators—smart. You can do a lot of stuff with him just because you're not going to overload him and he's going to get everybody right around him. In addition, I think he makes the guys around him play better, too.'
As the team's 2025 training camp is just underway, Lake's name might not be trending the most, but his impact will surely be felt on every snap. For a Rams defense looking to improve upon its 26th overall ranking from a year ago, having a versatile player who can help anchor the back end and do a little bit of everything his coaches ask of him is everything the Rams value.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Chris Shula praises DB Quentin Lake as LA's do-it-all defender