There's been some recent debate about who will take over in the nickel for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 season. By the end of the 2023 season, former safety Quentin Lake had begun to lock down that job and started virtually the entire second half of the season there.
However, the Rams have been trying out other defenders in that role throughout the offseason, sparking some debate over who will play there. During OTAs, new defensive coordinator Chris Shula said the team was trying out Russ Yeast and Derion Kendrick for their STAR/nickel spot. This led to speculation that the team might try Lake back at his safety spot next to Kamren Curl. The Rams also have Cobie Durant, who spent 2022 in the nickel and is better suited there than for outside duties. This also applies to last year's sixth-round pick Tre Tomlinson.
Yet, while on Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast, head coach Sean McVay took the time to highlight Lake as the guy who "plays STAR & nickel" for us. Does that mean Lake is the starting nickel? If so, does that mean third-rounder Kamren Kinchens will start right away at safety? Or is this McVay just giving a spotlight to Lake as a player who held that role down last year? I'm not sure anyone outside of the team really knows by now.
Who should be their starting nickel? For my money, it should be Quentin Lake after the way he performed in 2023.
Part of the reason Lake earned the role last season is his run defense. Lake's broken tackle/missed tackle rate was just 5.4%, finishing third in the NFL last season. For comparison's sake, Russ Yeast had 11 missed tackles and five broken tackles. Lake? Just two missed tackles and one broken tackle.
The Rams got away with being so reliant on light boxes because Lake was able to fit the run well, and his five "run stops" last season finished second behind Jordan Fuller in the Rams' secondary. His presence against the run fit the Rams' defensive philosophy and allowed them to use their 5-1 fronts as often as they did.
However, Lake's no slouch in coverage either. He allowed the third-fewest yards per snap out of the slot last season and allowed the second-fewest total yards in the NFL. His yards per caught target finished at 4.9, good for fifth in the league (ahead of nickels like Greg Newsome II, Brian Branch, and Trent McDuffie).
Lake's first down+TD rate finished 15th in the league. For comparison's sake, Cobie Durant finished 45th out of 47. He also only allowed two plays over 15 yards, finishing tied for third in the NFL behind Kyle Hamilton and Bradley Roby.
Lake isn't overly productive on the ball, with zero interceptions. Because of this, his overall success rate dips to 25th among nickel DBs at 50.4%. However, he's so remarkably solid everywhere else and allows so few yards after the catch that it feels like a wash. He might not be the type of playmaker that gets lofted into the elite territory, but he is an excellent system fit and a reliable player.
For that reason alone, I believe Lake has earned the right to be the Rams' starting nickel for 2024-and potentially beyond.
