Los Angeles Rams

SI: Rams will have the best defense in the NFL in 2015

Published Aug. 12, 2015 6:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Seattle Seahawks' defense has been nothing short of dominant the last three seasons.

But they won't be the best in 2015, at least according to one NFL expert.

Andy Benoit at Sports Illustrated pegs the St. Louis Rams to finish as the league's best defensive unit.

Of course, Benoit cites the defensive line, which boasts Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Chris Long and Michael Brockers, plus offseason addition Nick Fairley.

The Rams' defensive front certainly gets a lot of the attention - and deservedly so - but will the linebacking corps and secondary take the next steps as a unit?

Alec Ogletree, James Laurinaitis and newcomer Akeem Ayers will man the middle. Janoris Jenkins, T.J. McDonald, E.J. Gaines, Trumaine Johnson and Rodney McLeod will roam the secondary.

If there's any optimism to carry over into 2015, it's how the Rams' defense performed in the second half of the season.

Per ESPN: "Over the final eight games, the Rams were tied for fourth in sacks with 26, fifth in average points allowed at 16.8 and fourth in run defense at 84.4 yards per game allowed."

That included two shutouts in back-to-back weeks and limiting six teams to seven points or less in that span.

If that momentum can carry over to a full season, perhaps the young Rams' defense could challenge the Seahawks as the best defensive unit in the West.

(h/t Turf Show Times)