EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Despite racking up the tackles and other somewhat artificial statistics during the first half of the 2014 season, it wasn't until the final eight games that St. Louis Rams safety T.J. McDonald finally felt comfortable in coordinator Gregg Williams' defense.

McDonald entered last year's camp as a returning starter but also faced the task of adjusting to a defense that would ask much more of him. Aside from middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, it's McDonald who has the most responsibility in Williams' defense. With all of that on his agenda, the process didn't go as fast as anyone would've liked, not just for McDonald but for the defense at large.

When the light came on for the defense after an ugly Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, it was no coincidence that it perhaps burned the brightest for McDonald. When it did, the results were hard to ignore. He finished with 104 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery with the sacks and turnover production all coming in the final eight games.

As the Rams embark on the 2015 season, McDonald doesn't have as much to learn and is mostly hoping to simply carry over what he accomplished from the season's second half into this year.

"I just have to keep growing, keep competing, keep learning," McDonald said. "Just go out with the guys, communication is a big thing. Being in Gregg's defense longer, you get more comfortable and the game slows down a little and it makes communication easier and allows you to be on the same page with the guys so we can all jell at once."

McDonald does, however, have catching up to do after sitting out during organized team activities. While he opted not to disclose the exact nature of the injury that kept him out of OTAs, he had no problem acknowledging how antsy he got being confined to the sidelines while his teammates went through practice. If nothing else, those lost practice reps were a direct blow to his efforts to continue his second-half surge.

Since he couldn't play, McDonald attempted to make the most of the time anyway. He was often one of the most vocal players on the field, shouting instructions and encouragement for his replacement, second-year safety Maurice Alexander.

"I was trying to take advantage of it as much as I can to help other guys," McDonald said. "It was hard being on the sideline so I would try to get out there and help my guys and try to encourage the guys from the sideline between periods, say a couple words. I love the game so it's tough being on the side."

McDonald arrived for this camp back at 100 percent and hasn't appeared to have any real limitations in his return. He's also carried over some of the advanced leadership traits he showed during the spring. The former USC captain has natural leadership instincts and now that he's in his third year is hoping to take on a bigger role in that regard.

"I definitely want to take on more of a leadership role," McDonald said. "I'm just coming out here and showing what I can do and trying to get better."