LA Rams enter final preseason game with questions to answer

Sheriff Joe Bags | @SheriffJoeBags

Well here we are. Still so many questions to answer with just one preseason game to go.

This week, the LA Rams travel to Colorado to get some practice time in with the Broncos ahead of their Saturday exhibition match up. This week of practice against the Broncos is critical for what is certainly some pretty tough decisions for the Rams staff on not only who to keep around, but who to start when week 1 kicks off in Seattle just a few short weeks from right now.

I am preparing to give my full predictions on the final 53-man roster later this week, but for now I want to talk about some of the questions that we have in each position group and the players who are being watched closely this week as the coaching staff and front office make some difficult decisions.

QUARTERBACK

We know exactly what to expect when it comes to who is starting at QB for the Rams. Matthew Stafford will certainly be that guy, but there is still a few questions here. Mainly, how much do the Rams trust that Stafford will make it through the season healthy? The reason this question is so important is because that could ultimately tell us how many the Rams keep at this spot. I’m inclined to believe that the Rams will roll with just Matthew Stafford and rookie Stetson Bennett. Brett Rypien would be the third guy kept considering Dresser Winn hasn’t even seen the field in preseason. I’m not convinced that Rypien will stick around and I think he could get a look as a back up somewhere else if cut, but either Rypien, Winn, or both could make it to the practice squad as some insurance.

RUNNING BACK

The lack of preseason reps for Kyren Williams tell me that the Akers-Williams combo is real this season. The question again, and in most position groups, is how many do the Rams keep at this spot? Rookie Zach Evans feels like he should be making the roster, but Ronnie Rivers and Royce Freeman are putting together strong preseason performances and are making the decisions here difficult. I’d be surprised if the Rams kept more than 4 here, but even 4 feels like a lot of RB for a team that sits in 11-personnell quite a bit. Running back is certainly a position we’ll see guys cut at that could easily make the roster.

WIDE RECEIVER

This position group is maybe the most difficult to predict. There are so many players that feel like they could make the final roster, but the Rams are not likely to keep an obnoxious amount. Seven WRs feels like it’s a lot, but with the group the Rams have right now, it makes sense that it’s a real possibility especially if the Rams choose to only keep two QBs or if they pull that number from the offensive line. If we count Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, and Ben Skowronek, that puts us at 5 already. Then you factor in the play of Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson and it makes sense to keep 7. That leaves names like Lance McCutcheon and Xavier Smith off the roster. McCutcheon hasn’t made much of a splash in this preseason like he did last year, but Smith has shown that he can play well in this system. I don’t envy the coaches making the decisions in this group.

TIGHT END

Another position that we just really aren’t sure of yet. Tyler Higbee might be the only true lock here, but Brycen Hopkins has a good history with the team and that could help him stick around for more than one more week. Hunter Long who was brought in via trade with the Dolphins has gotten plenty of praise from the coaching staff but has been dealing with some bumps. Rookie Davis Allen had a really strong preseason game against the Raiders and it has clearly made a statement. Do the Rams NEED to keep more than maybe three guys here? I would say no, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see 4 stick around. This final preseason game and week of practice could provide some clarity here, but correctly being able to guess this position group is more difficult than it appears on the surface.

OFFENSIVE LINE

This is a group with a little more clarity than I think it’s getting credit for. Based on the conversations that took over the storylines last year, I’m surprised how many people have forgotten that last year is not reasonable to look at when talking about the Rams line entering 2023. The injuries that the Rams saw last year in this group were historical breaking the record for most different OL combinations in a season and didn’t see back-to-back continuity here until week 14. The center position is one I don’t understand since Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton both have not appeared in preseason games so it’s difficult to gauge who is leading that battle. Every other starting role seems to be locked in although I will venture a guess that if Allen wins the center job, then we could see Shelton at guard again. In fact, I think it’s reasonable to say that the Rams have more than 5 guys who could be starters in this group. Alaric Jackson, Joe Noteboom, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Tremayne Anchrum, and Rob Havenstein all have what it takes to start on this team. The underappreciated strength of this group leads me to believe that we could see lower numbers here than some fans expect. It makes sense that some of these guys will be brought back on the practice squad, but with health, the offensive line could end up being one of the better units for the Rams this season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

We know that when Aaron Donald is on the field, it’s a different ball game entirely. Judging the Rams pressure and ability to stop the run in the preseason games in which he does not play, is basically useless. It has been good to see the other guys get reps in these practice games and Bobby Brown has shown a clear cut improvement from seasons before. Marquise Copeland returns after a strong ending to last year and the rookie Kobie Turner figures to get into the rotation as well. Jonah Williams and Earnest Brown IV are names that should make the roster as well.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Ernest Jones is the leader of this defense and appears to be in position to have a break out season if all goes according to plan. From what we know right now, I would imagine that Christian Rozeboom is going to get his chance to get some real action here after spending time helping special teams all of last season and for a bit in 2021 when he first came to the Rams. Jake Hummel was able to get a pick six against the Raiders, but showed some rough angles on a few tackles that make me feel more comfortable guessing that Rozeboom will make his first career start in a few weeks. Deandre Square or Jaiden Woodbey could stick around for their contributions on special teams.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Back to position groups with a lot of questions with a major one being “how many do we keep?” Michael Hoecht and Byron Young feel safe. Outside of that it feels like a full on royal rumble. Daniel Hardy has shown that he spent the offseason getting stronger while Keir Thomas has seemingly gotten better every single time he wakes up in the morning. Rookies Oschaun Mathis and Nick Hampton have gotten plenty of playing time but have yet to elicit a single “golly” from me while watching. Make no mistake, that is the highest compliment that I can give a player. We’ve seen the Rams cut drafted rookies under McVay before and I’m not sure if I’m locking that in as a prediction quite yet, but I’m feeling close.

SAFETY

The combination of John Johnson III and Jordan Fuller has my eyebrows raising their elevation in the best way. If the Johnson-Fuller safety combo was any cooler it would be hypothermic. That does raise some question marks in the group though as Johnson was added recently and now gives the Rams 5 safeties who feel like they should be making the roster, but again… how many do the Rams keep here? Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Jason Taylor II, John Johnson III, and Jordan Fuller? Does that feel like a real possibility? I’m going with yes, but it’s worth keeping our eyes on this group in Denver.

CORNERBACK

I think I feel better about this group than the average fan does, but I will admit to my appreciation of corners as I do have a massive amount of respect for this extremely difficult position. We know how sick some of these NFL wide receivers have gotten and the ability to read, stick on, and play the ball will forever be impressive to me. I sure couldn’t do it (not as if you were thinking I could) and to play this position at a top level will forever be awesome to me. All of that being said, Cobie Durant seems to be in position to solidify himself on this team and in the league. Derion Kendrick, Akhello Witherspoon, Tre Tomlinson, and Robert Rochell should join Durant on the final roster, but arguments can be made in the defense of Jordan Jones who has been flying around all preseason and Cameron McCutcheon who has flashed the ability to play at a high level. Shaun Jolly also could stick around and in conclusion, I have no idea what to expect here. I think this is also a good time to mention that I consider myself more of a storyteller than an analyst. Diving into the Xs and Os (shout out, Atreyu) is maybe outside of my skillset, but I have watched enough football to be able to see when someone is good at this game. That being said, I also like to believe in people and like to find the positives.

While we truly have no idea how this season will unfold, I’m excited to see what this group can do when the action begins. With any level of health, I’d have a difficult time thinking this team will be worse than it was last year so I will put the teams ‘floor’ at 5 wins. If our luck can see even a little deviation in the good way, this team could be fielding one of it’s best rookie classes of all time. That paired with some veterans who have Super Bowl rings, a strong coaching staff led by what might be the best Head Coach the team has ever had, one of, if not THE best defensive player in the history of the game, the leagues most recent Triple Crown winner just one full season removed from the best single season for a WR in league history… maybe I’m just optimistic. Maybe I just like to believe that things will work out for this team. Maybe I’m wrong and it’ll be terrible, but I don’t see the harm in looking for ways this season could be fun to watch.

One thing I am certain on is I refuse to throw in the towel before the battle even begins.

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