Richard Sherman criticized the Los Angeles Rams for their use of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who were acquired from Kansas City. In an interview with ESPN host Kevin Clark, Sherman stated, "You don’t use a Corvette to Uber. You get in a Corvette, you’re racing." Sherman believes that the Rams have not utilized the players effectively, stripping away the conditions that made them valuable in Kansas City’s defensive scheme under Steve Spagnuolo.
Sherman noted that McDuffie and Watson excelled in Spagnuolo's system, which featured a mix of Cover 1 man, Cover 2 zone, and disguised pressure packages. He pointed out that the Rams, under defensive coordinator Chris Shula, have leaned more heavily on Cover 3, with less emphasis on blitzing and man coverage, which he argues does not play to the strengths of the cornerbacks.
During the Rams' 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in their season opener, Sherman observed that the team abandoned Cover 2 and reduced their defensive line movement. He stated, "There’s already a plan. There’s already a formula for how to use these guys effectively against condensed sets and all the crazy runs Kyle uses."
Sherman emphasized that the Rams' approach could waste the talents of McDuffie and Watson, who were significant investments for the team. He remarked, "You paid him and brought him somewhere else. Now play him the way he has played so he can have the success you brought him there to have." While one game does not determine the Rams' strategy for the season, Sherman’s comments highlight concerns about how the team is deploying its secondary talent.