Rams' Nick Fairley says weight loss has 'bettered' his game

St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley has battled to maintain his playing weight throughout his NFL career and it's clear he's at his best when he lands on the right side of the scale.

Fairley conceded as much Saturday, when talking to Mark Inabinett of AL.com.

"I think it kind of bettered my game, being able to get that weight off and use my quickness," Fairley said. "That's the type of player I am. I'm able to get off the ball real fast. Up in Detroit, when I was able to shed the weight, that's what kind of player I was."

The Rams actually wanted Fairley to put on a few pounds this offseason, something he wasn't used to while with the Detroit Lions. It's a challenging balance for a defensive tackle. On the one hand, you need quickness off the snap, but you also need the bulk to absorb blocks from powerful offensive linemen.

Fairley understands it takes a lot to adjust his weight when need be.

"Really, it takes hard work and dedication," he said, "and if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want to."

With Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, and Chris Long already in the mix, a productive Fairley would only add to a potent Rams defensive line.