SPORT NEWS: Jared Verse remains confident in NFC success despite Rams’ 2024 struggles.giang

Jared Verse is confident the Los Angeles Rams have what it takes to make noise in the crowded NFC West as the 2024 NFL season continues toward the latter part of the schedule.

Verse is the Rams’ first first-round pick in the NFL Draft – No. 19 in the 2024 draft – since selecting Jared Goff in 2016 with the No. 1 overall pick that year. And Los Angeles made the right decision in selecting the explosive linebacker, with the 24-year-old being named the Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.

When the Rams faced off against a revitalized Miami Dolphins squad on ‘Monday Night Football,’ Los Angeles certainly had a tough task ahead of it to contain an offense led by Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. In the end, the Rams fell to the Dolphins 23-15 to drop to 4-5 with Los Angeles’ playoff hopes appearing to slip by the week.

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However, Verse believes the Rams have what it takes to make noise as the season progresses, especially considering how many teams in the NFC have very similar records. Speaking exclusively to Mirror US Sports after the loss, the budding star admits Los Angeles has the same “spark” that Tagovailoa’s return gave the Dolphins – it is all about harnessing it.

“Oh, we already have it,” Verse explained, regarding the team needing a much-required boost. “I mean, I think it’s just now, it’s a short week. We don’t have time to dwell over this [loss]. You know, we got one day. You can focus on it, you can kind of dwell on it.”

The star linebacker also added that while dwelling on how he played and how the team played as a whole could be productive, there are times when all that’s needed is to turn the page to focus on what lies ahead. Verse made that aspect of football clear as he spoke about what happened in the game.

“Think about the things you could have done better,” he continued. “You know, slowing my feet down, doing this. But, you know, the offense, they have their own things that they have to worry about. For us, the defense, we all have our things we have to worry about. So it’s a short week. You just gotta turn it over quick.”

For his part, Verse played well against Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. On that particular night, the 24-year-old had three tackles and even sacked Miami’s star quarterback, forcing a fumble, which he recovered as well.

Still, Verse wished the defense’s effort translated to a more successful outing for the Rams. “Yeah, but you know, it’s so easy to look at the plays that you did make,” the star recalled.

“Sometimes, it’s just, you focus on the plays that you didn’t, You know, if I made that play, now they’re backed up. They have to go for that field goal. They don’t get the touchdown instead. You know, this happens, that happens.”

With a short week ahead of them – the Rams are set to face the New England Patriots on Nov. 17 – Verse understands that Los Angeles will be keeping an eye on specific tendencies during the film session.

That said, with every game being of the utmost importance in a relatively wide-open division, how the Rams bounce back after their loss to the Dolphins could dictate their season. As it stands, the Rams are only one game behind the San Francisco 49ers and two games behind the Cardinals – with Arizona having a bye in Week 11 – on top of the division.

“I think it’s just a simple fact that, you know, the NFL’s a dogfight like you said,” he added. “The NFC, yeah, but it’s the NFL. Everybody’s good. Everybody gets paid good money. Everybody’s here for a reason. Nobody’s here by accident. Nobody just fell into the NFL one day.

“So, you know, our next team [the 3-7 Patriots], their record doesn’t show how good they are. Just like tonight, the Dolphins’ record didn’t show how good they are. You know, so we just have to go out there, forget about today, let it just roll over, and move on.”