Key quotes from Sean McVay on the Rams’ 53-man roster​

Cameron DaSilva
Wed, September 1, 2021, 9:00 AM


After cutting their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday afternoon, Sean McVay met with the media to discuss the team’s decisions, highlighting a few players who were tough to move on from, as well as other positions that were difficult to trim.

He specifically discussed how tough it was to move on from Micah Kiser, the way Bryce Perkins earned his spot on the roster, the lack of depth at running back and outside linebacker, and other topics pertaining to the initial 53-man roster. Here are eight key quotes from McVay’s press conference.

Knowing how much talent the Rams had on their offseason roster, it was always going to be a challenge to get down to 53 players. McVay called it one of the toughest rosters to trim as he enters his fifth year as a head coach, which is a testament to the depth the Rams had. He and the Rams hope to get a lot of players back on the practice squad, but if they get claimed, it’s a sign of their ability. “I think this was as competitive of a roster and as tough of decisions to get down to however you look at it, 53 or there's a lot of moving parts with COVID IR and things like that. But there was a lot of really good football players that had to have some tough discussions with myself and Les (Snead) this morning. But I also think it's a reflection of what great men we have in that locker room. The way they handled it is with class and hopefully we'll get a lot of those players back on our practice squad, but if they move on or if other teams claim them, then that's a positive thing for them.”D-line, OLBs and secondary were harder to trim than other positions.

McVay was asked which position groups stood out as the most challenging to pare down, and he immediately mentioned the secondary, the edge rushers and the defensive line – particularly the interior of the defensive front. The Rams had to cut players such as Dont'e Deayon, Justin Lawler and Eric Banks, all of whom are talented and could land on another team’s roster. “I think that I could really go through a lot of different mechanics, but you look at the DB’s. I think the outside linebackers was very difficult. We have a lot of depth that you guys will see illustrated with our offensive line. But really, I think there was a competitive roster all around. … But I think every situation and every position was really competitive. I think if you said, ‘All right, where do we have a lot of really good depth?’ I think the interior D-line is a spot that really stands out to me.”

Excited to have Johnny Hekker back

There was real concern that the Rams might move on from Hekker, either by trading him to another team or outright cutting him. But the two sides worked together to figure out a solution. McVay said Hekker restructured his contract to stay with the Rams, which allowed them to trade Corey Bojorquez to the Packers in a swap of late picks in 2023. McVay praised Bojorquez, but he’s happy to have Hekker back in Los Angeles for another season. “Like I said, I think we had two starting punters on our roster, and clearly Corey did an amazing job of maximizing the upside and the interest from teams out there. Knowing that, I think everybody would agree that both he and Johnny are two of the best guys doing what they're doing. It's a very specific position and so less than a great job of really exploring some options. And I think what Johnny's done here, as I've mentioned long before I got here, is something that doesn't go lost on me, doesn't go lost on us. And I am confident that he's going to be the productive player that he's been throughout the course of his career. I know he's motivated in the right way. And we're excited about him leading the way for us.”

No surprise if Micah Kiser is claimed by a team

One of the more surprising cuts from Tuesday was Kiser, who was a fifth-round pick in 2018 and a starter for nine games last season. He even won Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2 for a standout performance against the Eagles. But the Rams couldn’t keep more than four linebackers, which led to the decision to cut Kiser. McVay gave Kiser a ton of credit for being a leader and a great person beyond his football ability, calling him one of the toughest decisions the Rams had to make. He wouldn’t be surprised if Kiser gets claimed by another team, which would prevent the Rams from bringing him back on the practice squad. “What a stud of a human being, an incredible person. You talk about a guy that's consistently overcome adversity, respond to the right way. Really what it came down to was we kept four, made it a really tough decision for us. There’s a lot of layers that go into it, but Micah Kiser is the guy that’s shown that he can be a starting caliber player in this league. He is somebody that I think I wouldn't be surprised if somebody claims him, and if they do, they're going to get a great man, they're going to get a great, competitive, tough football player. Really more than anything, it came down to we kept those four and I could go into a lot of depth, but part of it is defense. There's a special teams element that definitely contributes to some of those decisions. But Micah was one of the more difficult decisions that we had to make organizationally and he continued to epitomize all the things that make him a stud of a human being because of the way that he handled that. You’re not betting against him figuring it out, whether it ends up being with us or whether it's somewhere else, you're going to bet on him to be successful.”

Offensive line goes 10 deep

The Rams kept 10 offensive linemen, which isn’t surprising in the least bit. They may lack some top-end talent outside of Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein, but the depth is strong because of the young players they have on the second unit. McVay pointed to Tremayne Anchrum being a riser in that group, though he did note he could land on short-term IR due to a knee injury. Joe Noteboom has a bright future in McVay’s eyes, and Coleman Shelton will be on the active roster once he’s taken off COVID-19 reserve. “So, we kept ten offensive lineman and a large part of that is the fact that, for you to be able to get 48 up, you're having eight guys active on the roster. You’re having eight guys up on gameday, and so I think when you look at it, Tremayne did a great job of being able to play both the guard and the tackle spot. He's only gotten better. We've invested some time in him and then a guy that we were able to acquire in college free agency that Kevin Carberry did a great job along with the scouts of identifying as A.J. Jackson. He ended up making the active roster as well, but I think the depth that you have when you can go two deep up front is something that is really important. But we've got our starting five, and then got Joe Noteboom, who you feel like is as good as situation in your swing tackle that has starting-caliber resume. I think he's healthier than he's ever been. I really expect big things from him. Coleman Shelton is a guy that will place him on COVID IR, but he's going to be on that active roster. Then you look at Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum and A.J. Jackson kind of rounding out that group.”

Never expected to keep 3 QBs

The Rams didn’t go into camp and the preseason expecting to keep three quarterbacks, but Bryce Perkins changed their mind. He impressed in his three preseason games, including the last two which he started and finished. His play caused the Rams to change their mind and keep him on the 53-man roster, though it is a fluid situation where he could be cut if there’s a player the Rams want to claim and add to their roster. But Perkins earned his spot with an impressive preseason. “If you told me a few weeks ago, ‘Did you envision keeping three quarterbacks?’ I would have told you no. And I think that's a real credit to Bryce Perkins earning a spot on the roster. “I think for the initial parts of it, really proud of what Bryce did. I think he can be proud of his body of work, the improvement. And that was what was reflected in that decision. But how that moves forward, it’s hard for me to kind of anticipate and make a prediction on that.”

Practice squad will add depth at RB, OLB

The Rams kept just three running backs and five outside linebackers on the 53-man roster, but they’ll be losing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to short-term IR, leaving them with only four edge rushers. They hope to keep guys on the practice squad at those positions who can be elevated on game days to add some depth, but the Rams always expected to only keep three running backs and Jake Funk earned that third spot behind Darrell Henderson Jr. and Sony Michel. “There's some hope that we get some guys back on the practice squad that with some of the things that carry over from last year's COVID (protocols), you do have the ability to potentially flex guys up. So, that gives you a little bit of peace of mind. The outside linebacker position was one that there was a lot of decisions, tough decisions, to be made. With the running back spot, I think when you look at it, you always thought it would be three. I thought Jake Funk did a really good job of making a case that I think you can really trust him to play a role on (special) teams and on offense for us in that September 12th game. We’ll be interested to see how quickly Sony gets up to speed. And then, you guys know the confidence that I have in Darrell Definitely things that you talk about, but I did always envision three guys going into the game, being up and active for us, no more than that.”

McVay said Tuesday that 52 of the 53 players on the team are vaccinated, opting not to disclose which player isn’t vaccinated out of respect for him. He noted that the unvaccinated player “has done an incredible job of demonstrating all the precautionary measures that you would ask and that you would require,” which gives McVay peace of mind. He was then added that vaccination status played no role in the team’s decisions when it came to cutting players. “No. Definitely not. That was a zero factor in terms of our decision-making,” he said.

So, I've never drank coffee in my life until recently. My wife got her a Starbucks Frappuccino and I tasted it. It was amazing. It's called the Mocha Cookie Crumble. Delicious!

Now. I've developed a problem like a damn crack head. I go every morning and drop $6 on a large Frappuccino lol. But. I'm scared to try anything new.

Was wondering, if you drink their stuff...what is the best for you? I like the Frappuccino being cold.

Now please don't yell at me because I have not really been watching the preseason this year and going off of reports, but has anyone seen him play? WHen I did watch any coverage of the Rams, I didn't see anything on him.

Is he potentially going to the practice squad or is he a true gem?

Hey Everyone!

Now that the final roster is mostly done, which position groups do you think are the weakest overall?

OL: Entering this offseason, McSneads plan was to move Corbett to C and promote Evans to starting RG, however, Bobby Evans struggled to hang on to the position and Brian Allen is now the starting C. Did McSnead realize Bobby wasn't ready or did Allen rise to the occasion? Allen has not started since 2019 and did not get any preseason game snaps.

ILB: Many considered this group to be the weakest position group on D in 2020. Kiser, who went into last season as a starter but he's been cut, and we're going into the year with Young and Reeder who were the starters at the end of last year. Behind them, we have the often injured Howard and the rookie Ernest Jones. Will Young and Reeder improve on their performance last year? Will there be new starters by years end?

RB: This group was promising before Akers went down for the season and we were left with the often injured Henderson and a group of RBs with no starting experience. After Henderson suffered another injury, the move was made to bring in Michel who couldn't stay healthy with New England as well. Can this position group stay healthy through the season?

CB: This group is top heavy with All-Pro Ramsey and Williams who was a ball hawk last year. But only 4 corners are rostered, and behind them is 3rd year David Long who hasn't played much yet and the rookie Robert Rochell. One injury could dramatically change the performance of this group.

I still think the RB room is too light. Again I'm not a Hendo fan due to his durability issues.

So for me I would acquire Trey Edmunds RB x Steelers 6'2 223 could be a ok #4 RB whom can grind a little.

It’s early, but here are some of my early takes.

Rams had to release some high quality and very promising young players but then we knew that that was inevitable. Still stings, though, doesn’t it? Like a Mutha, really.

Perkins showed enough promise in preseason to have value as a possible #2 QB in 2022. And he just might make it. Some pretty shrewd Ram coaches felt his ‘22 potential value justified giving him a VERY valuable spot on the 53 here in ‘21 at the expense of another promising young player that would have been much more likely to contribute on the field this year. Obviously, they also feared that the risk of him being claimed was just too high. Gotta trust the coaches on this one.

I don’t care what McVay says in his presser. The Rams are gonna get a 4th RB from among the final cuts and it will happen rather quickly because that new RB must be quickly be brought up to speed. To pretend that 3 RB’s, including the oft-injured Hendy, is enough is just absurd. Bank it.

Carrying 10 OL? Seems excessive, but maybe they’re hedging their bets for ‘22 when so many players will retire? Another thing. Evans is NOT an NFL caliber OG. He’s had ample time to prove himself there and the results haven’t been pretty.

Don’t know about you, but that OLB group looks thin even when Obo goes to short term IR. Lewis simply can’t stay healthy. Hope Lawler clears waivers. Gulp…

I get the strategy with carrying only 4 CB’s due to 6 Safeties including the flexibility of Burgess and Reed. But still…

Snead put another feather in his cap with that Bojo trade at the last minute. Heck, bringing in Bojo to compete with Hekker was a brilliant move in the first place. I just LOVE having Snead as GM.

There’s gonna be a few tweaks to this roster still but one thing seems clear. This roster seems loaded and it’s easy to see why they’re in the SB conversation.

Great times to be a Ram fan, huh?

These 3 scrappy (training camp/preseason) players survived the first wave of Final 53 man cuts on Aug 31, 2021.

Will all of these players still be on the 53 man roster when Rams host the Bears on Sep 12?


DT Michael Hoecht

The Rams signed Hoecht as an undrafted free agent last year and stashed him on the practice squad for the entire season. As disappointing as it was for him to not make the active roster, it’s a testament to how the Rams view him that he maintained a spot on the practice squad for all 17 weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Now with a full offseason of work – given last year’s restrictions due to the pandemic – Hoecht is a player for Rams fans to know in 2021. Defensive line trainer Eddy McGilvra works with Hoecht and other Rams during the offseason, and he says people shouldn’t sleep on the second-year player.

“Someone I think a lot of people don’t know of because he was on the practice squad, undrafted, is Mike Hoecht,” McGilvra told Rams Wire via phone recently. “His progression over this last offseason has been tremendous.

He’s moving 10 times better than I’ve seen him move. His pass-rush toolbox has grown. He’s added a lot of stuff.

He’s so powerful but has added a lot of finesse moves to his game now, which is going to help him combine that power into finesse-type chops and clubs and swipes. It’s hard to fill the shoes of Morgan Fox, because Fox was so valuable in that sense and so good at what he did, but you can see Hoecht kind of playing that role. He’s going to be playing over the inside of the tackle, shade the guard type of stuff.”

Hoecht is listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds on the Rams’ roster, which is slightly bigger and heavier than Morgan Fox, who’s 6-3 and about 260. But if Hoecht improved his quickness and movement skills, his bigger stature shouldn’t limit him as a situational pass rusher.

He’ll have some stiff competition in training camp from the likes of Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV, Eric Banks and Jonah Williams, among others, but Hoecht has as good a chance as any of those players to make the 53-man roster.

Keep an eye on him during camp and listen to what the Rams’ coaches have to say because he’s a sleeper along the defensive line.

Brown University defensive lineman Michael Hoecht has signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams.

Hoecht was not selected in the NFL Draft but retained a strong chance to further his career as a professional. He played in 37 games over his four-year tenure with the Bears, including 10 in each of the last three seasons. Hoecht broke the news on his personal Twitter page.

Hoecht is an Ontario native who emerged as a priority target on Canadian Football League draft boards. He posted a virtual combine workout video in March that showed a 4.65-second clocking in the 40-yard dash. The CFL Draft will be held Thursday and Hoecht checked in at No. 6 in the final rankings issued by the league’s central scouting bureau.

Hoecht is capable of playing tackle in a 4-3 defensive look or end in a 3-4 scheme. He made 174 tackles and totaled 16½ sacks with Brown. Hoecht was listed in his predraft work anywhere between 295 and 310 pounds.

Hoecht posted a career-high 69 tackles in 2018 and was generally disruptive up front, combining for 19 tackles for loss in his sophomore and senior campaigns. He also finished with four fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. Hoecht was named a second team All-Ivy League selection in 2019 and was a two-year team captain.

The Rams’ coaching staff includes a significant Rhode Island connection. Former La Salle Academy star Liam Coen is entering his third season with Los Angeles, all on the offensive side of the ball. Coen served as quarterbacks coach with the Bears in 2010 and added pass game coordinator to his title in 2012 and 2013 after a one-year stint at the University of Rhode Island.


Safety J.R. Reed

The Los Angeles Rams have signed former Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed to their practice squad. Reed was a first team Walter Camp All-American last season for the University of Georgia.

Reed went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft despite his accolades. He originally signed an undrafted deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they cut him before the season.

Reed will be reunited with former UGA defensive back Tyrique McGhee on the Los Angeles practice squad. Reed has the instincts and skill to compete in the NFL, but his physical traits have been questioned.

For Los Angeles Rams fans unfamiliar with J.R. Reed, they should know that they are landing a playmaker. Reed forced seven turnovers in three seasons with Georgia. He racked up 199 tackles during this time.

He’s a veteran who played in 42 games throughout his decorated college career Jacksonville Jaguars Reed signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. He was waived on September 5, 2020.

Los Angeles Rams On September 9, 2020, Reed was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on November 23 and November 28 for the team's weeks 11 and 12 games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game. On December 5, 2020, Reed was promoted to the active roster.


DE Jonah Williams

Apr 25, 2020 Rams sign Weber State’s Jonah Williams

After the University of Utah shuffled a handful more players into the NFL via the draft, the frantic signings of undrafted free agents kicked off Saturday evening as soon as the draft concluded.

The Los Angeles Rams scooped up Weber State defensive end Jonah Williams

Williams, a defensive end, was an All-American as a senior and the Big Sky Defensive MVP. He finished fifth in the conference in sacks and was 12th in tackles for loss. He recorded 15 career sacks, ninth in school history.

A native of Meridian, Idaho, Williams totaled 194 tackles, including 28 for loss, forced three fumbles and recovered three more while anchoring what became one of the country’s best defenses at the FCS level.

The Meridian, Idaho native ended a successful career at Weber State in 2019 where he earned All-America honors and was named the Big Sky Co-Defensive MVP. Williams was a part of the winningest senior class in Weber State history, a team that won three Big Sky titles and appeared in the FCS Playoffs four times.

Williams appeared in 54 games at Weber State throughout his career and finished with 15 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 194 total tackles, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

During his senior season in 2019, Williams started in all 15 games for the Wildcats, helping them win their third straight Big Sky title and advance to the FCS Semifinals. He is the fifth player in Weber State history to be named Defensive MVP. While serving as a team captain, Williams ranked fifth in the conference with 7.5 sacks and 12th in the Big Sky with 11 tackles for loss.

Williams joins two local players on the Rams roster which includes Utah safety Terrell Burgess who was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft as well as BYU defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku who signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent.

It was between Brewer and Kiser, for me. I thought Brewer was in all along and is Reeder really better than Kiser?

Rams 2021 practice squad tracker​

Who will make it to LA’s practice squad?

By Kenneth Arthur

The Los Angeles Rams announced their final 53-man roster on Tuesday and had to make a lot of difficult cuts to get there. Head coach Sean McVay would like to keep a lot of the players who were released this week and get them on the practice squad, so we’ll keep track of the ones who return to the team right here.

As of this writing, we do not yet know who will be on the practice squad, but updates will go here soon.

These are the players who were released by the Los Angeles Rams this week, some of whom will end up on the 17-player practice squad. They will definitely retain offensive tackle Max Pircher, a part of the International Pathway Program, which means that he will not count against the 16-player limit that teams have for their practice squad.

Practice Squad candidates:

OLB Justin Lawler

WR Jeremiah Haydel

S Troy Warner

OL Jeremiah Kolone

OL Jordan Meredith

CB Donovan Olumba

CB Brontae Harris

WR Landon Akers

DL Eric Banks

ILB Christian Rozeboom

TE Kendall Blanton

ILB Micah Kiser

OL Max Pircher^

RB Otis Anderson

C Coleman Shelton

WR Trishton Jackson

WR J.J. Koski

CB Dont’e Deayon

DL Marquise Copeland

DL Earnest Brown IV

DE John Daka

CB Tyler Hall

DB Kareem Orr

S J.R. Reed?

LB Jake Gervase

The LA Rams will have a 16-player practice squad, with Pircher in addition to that as a 17th player on that unit. This is an expanded roster that will continue from 2020’s rule changes and can include up to four veteran players.

It appears that 8 of the 9 players picked in the last draft made the final 53. I know there will be some adjustments but this still looks like a very productive draft for a winning team, without a 1st round pick.

I don't see anything about cuts for the Rams here, but the official app appears to have a 53 man roster.

Anybody actually know who our cuts are?

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We have a lot of folks here who are either vets or dirty old war buffs or even both. So who's ready to smoke cigars and fart salt while we swap "sea stories" or other interesting military history shit.

I'll kick things off with a "cool" (well to nerdy fucks) vid. One of my favorite reads was an account of the War in the Pacific which included the drama between the leaders like Nimitz, MacArthur, etc. This is a similar vid, and starts with discussion of one red-blooded and bad MFing American in George Marshall laying down some truth.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxZWxxZ2JGE&ab_channel=UCBerkeleyEvents

We all think we have a good idea of how the Rams view their players after training camp and after the final preseason game ends.

We study and read and watch the preseason games over and over.

How accurate are we from our recliners?

Every year at this time, I've made some strong 53 man predictions based on my convictions and watching every preseason game 2 or 3 times.

There is always surprises and waiver claim/FA additions that we simply can't predict.

It's very interesting to look back at the last (3 years) of Rams final 53 man cuts from 2018 through 2020.

2020 Season LA Rams 53 man roster (Sep 5, 2020)

QB (2)
Jared Goff
John Wolford

RB (4)
Cam Akers
Darrell Henderson
Malcolm Brown
Xavier Jones

WR (6)
Robert Woods
Cooper Kupp
Van Jefferson
Josh Reynolds
Nsimba Webster
Trishton Jackson

TE (4)
Gerald Everett
Tyler Higbee
Johnny Mundt
Brycen Hopkins

OL (10)
Andrew Whitworth
Joseph Noteboom
Austin Blythe
Austin Corbett
Rob Havenstein
David Edwards
Bobby Evans
Brian Allen
Tremayne Anchrum
Coleman Shelton

DL(6)
Aaron Donald
Michael Brockers
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Morgan Fox
Greg Gaines
Eric Banks

OLB/EDGE (6)
Leonard Floyd
Samson Ebukam
Terrell Lewis
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Justin Hollins
Jachai Polite

ILB (3)
Kenny Young
Troy Reeder
Micah Kiser

CB (4)
Jalen Ramsey
Troy Hill
Darious Williams
David Long

S (5)
John Johnson
Taylor Rapp
Terrell Burgess
Jordan Fuller
Nick Scott

ST (3)
Sam Sloman
Johnny Hekker
Jake McQuaide

NFI: A’shawn Robinson, DT
_______________________________________

2019 Season LA Rams 53 man roster (Aug 31, 2019)

QB (2)
Jared Goff
Blake Bortles

RB (3)
Todd Gurley
Malcolm Brown
Darrell Henderson

WR (7)
Brandin Cooks
Cooper Kupp
Josh Reynolds
Mike Thomas
Robert Woods
Nsimba Webster
JoJo Natson

TE (3)
Gerald Everett
Tyler Higbee
Johnny Mundt

OL (8)
Brian Allen
Austin Blythe
Jamil Demby
Rob Havenstein
Joseph Noteboom
Andrew Whitworth
David Edwards
Bobby Evans

DL (6)
Michael Brockers
Aaron Donald
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Tanzel Smart
Greg Gaines
Morgan Fox

OLB/EDGE (5)
Samson Ebukam
Dante Fowler Jr
Natrez Patrick
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Clay Matthews
Justin Lawler

ILB (4)
Cory Littleton
Bryce Hager
Travin Howard
Troy Reeder

CB (6)
Troy Hill
Marcus Peters
Nickell Robey-Coleman
Aqib Talib
Darious Williams
David Long Jr

S (5)
Eric Weddle
John Johnson III
Taylor Rapp
Marqui Christian
Nick Scott

ST (3)
Johnny Hekker
Jake McQuaide
Greg Zuerlein
_______________________________________

2018 Season LA Rams 53 man roster (Sep 1, 2018)

QB (3)
Jared Goff
Sean Mannion
Brandon Allen

RB (4)
Todd Gurley
Malcolm Brown
John Kelly
Justin Davis

WR (6)
Brandin Cooks
Robert Woods
Cooper Kupp
Josh Reynolds
Pharoh Cooper
Mike Thomas

TE (3)
Tyler Higbee
Gerald Everett
Johnny Mundt

OL (8)
Andrew Whitworth
Rodger Saffold
John Sullivan
Rob Havenstein
Joseph Noteboom
Brian Allen
Jamil Demby
Austin Blythe

DL (8)
Aaron Donald (exempt did not count against roster at this time)
Ndamukong Suh
Michael Brockers
Tanzel Smart
Ethan Westbrooks
John Franklin-Myers
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Dominique Easley

OLB/EDGE (4)
Samson Ebukam
Matt Longacre
Justin Lawler
Trevon Young

ILB (5)
Cory Littleton
Mark Barron
Micah Kiser
Ramik Wilson
Bryce Hager

CB (5)
Marcus Peters
Aqib Talib
Nickell Robey-Coleman
Troy Hill
Sam Shields

S (5)
Lamarcus Joyner
John Johnson
Blake Countess
Marqui Christian
Isaiah Johnson

ST (3)
Greg Zuerlein
Johnny Hekker
Jake McQuaide

Which Rams “Bubble” players will you be most disappointed to see cut?

Sean McVay: "The tough decisions, those are positive problems for us"​

The preseason schedule has concluded. Now comes the tough part.

With three games against the Chargers, Raiders and Broncos, plus joint practices against the Raiders and Cowboys, to evaluate off of, the Rams shift their attention to Tuesday's 1 p.m. pacific time 53-man roster deadline with difficult choices to make ahead.

"The tough decisions, those are positive problems for us," Rams head coach Sean McVay said after Saturday night's preseason finale against the Broncos.

Chief among them after last night's game: Whether or not to keep a third quarterback, and what to do at punter.

With Matthew Stafford and John Wolford not playing throughout the preseason, the offense was mostly directed by Bryce Perkins, who made a strong case to make rostering a third quarterback a consideration for the Rams.

Building on the last-year plus of practice squad experience, he completed 56 of 91 pass attempts for 451 yards and three touchdowns against one interception, also rushing a combined 22 times for 114 yards. His poise while operating the offense against the Raiders and Broncos earned praise from McVay.

"To Bryce's credit, he's definitely making it a very difficult decision," McVay said. "Because you know you got Matthew and you got John, we feel excellent about those guys. But I think Bryce can be really proud of the body of work he put on tape throughout the three weeks of the preseason. I think that's a real credit to (offensive coordinator) Kevin O'Connell and (assistant quarterbacks coach) Zac Robinson."

Perkins likewise credited the coaching he's received since joining the Rams as a big piece to his development. He said people would think he was a starter with how they coached him in practice.

"Whatever happens in these next few days, I know that I'm a better player because these guys gave me a shot," Perkins said. "Whether I'm here or somewhere else, I'm going to take the teachings I learned from the coaches and the players and the staff anywhere I go."

Punter Corey Bojorquez is also in a similar wait-and-see mode as the Rams figure out how to move forward at that position.

He and Johnny Hekker took turns punting in the preseason opener against the Chargers, with each punting twice. Both players then got placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list the morning of the Rams' Week 2 preseason game against the Raiders. After being activated off the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week and with Hekker still on it, Bojorquez handled punting duties in the preseason finale against the Broncos, averaging 55.4 yards per punt across five punts, including a 48-yarder and a 70-yarder that each ended at the Broncos 1-yard line.

"It is very clear that you have two starting punters on our roster, and that's a positive thing for us," McVay said. "And so we'll see what that looks like as we move forward."

Bojorquez, who joined the Rams in April, called Hekker "one of the greatest guys I've ever met," and figured by signing with Los Angeles, he'd be able to learn something from Hekker, a four-time AP First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. Sure enough, he credited Hekker's work with him on the banana punt – a side-spinning punt meant to make it more difficult for returners to catch the ball – for giving him the confidence to successfully execute it against the Broncos.

"It's been a fun ride," Bojorquez said. "I just kind of go with the flow, that's usually how I am. Whatever happens, happens."

As is the case each year, there's also the question of how many offensive linemen and defensive linemen the Rams will carry on the initial 53-man roster.

Similar to Perkins, Los Angeles' coaching staff got extended looks at players in both groups thanks to resting several projected starters.

Along the defensive line, Eric Banks (made the initial 53-man roster in 2020) Jonah Williams and Michael Hoecht (spent the 2020 season on their practice squad) – flashed with the opportunities given. Banks and Williams each had one sack and one tackle for loss against the Chargers, with Banks adding another of both against the Raiders. Hoecht had four total tackles and a sack-fumble against the Broncos.

"I think personally I've had a good camp, but I'm gonna let Coach McVay and the other coaches make their decisions," Hoecht said.

"I didn't play perfect, but I gave it my all out there," said offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum Jr., a seventh-round pick last year. "And I feel like I did carve out a place on the team, and I'm giving it to God and praying and hoping that I get to make this 53-man roster, because I truly believe that I can help this team win."

On Thursday, McVay also said the depth at cornerback and safety will present some difficult choices too due to the play of younger defensive backs like defensive back J.R. Reed and safety JuJu Hughes.

"The depth of those rooms, at the corner and the safety positions, is exciting for us," McVay said after Thursday's practice. "There's definitely going to be some really tough decisions."

defiantly a staple of my TV viewing as a kid


Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj286uBKCu0

Gets harder every danged year as Snead continues to load this roster, frankly.

Some doozies that I’m not sure which way they’ll go:

Will Perkins be waived in an attempt to stash him on the PS? I think so, but I’m not absolutely certain.

I’m wondering if Evans can make the 53 now. What a comedown for this guy. He now seems only capable of playing RT at an NFL level and even that’s iffy. Major disappointment for me but I’ve gotta say he could be among the cuts, IMO. I suspect that Carberry has higher standards for his OL.

Will Rams keep Blanton over Hopkins at TE? Assuming that they still are calling Harris a TE, that is? I’m leaning Blanton over Hopkins because Hopkins’ early apathy kinda ticked me off. Hopkins’ late surge was a little too late to suit me.

OMG, how many WR’s can the Rams keep given the talent at other positions that they want to protect? I’m guessing Trishton Jackson as the 6th and everybody else has to slip through waivers. What a loaded WR room they have, one that we would have killed for during those Fisher years. Heck, is it actually possible that they roll with only 5 WR’s to save a slot for another hot prospect?

Does Lewis make the 53? I’m serious. Rams now have many legit (and healthy) options at OLB. Wouldn’t stun me if Rams cut bait because Lewis’ knee has reduced him to such a tease. An unthinkable possibility until very recently.

Same thing with Obo. Can’t stay healthy and has never fulfilled his promise. And I’m a Sooner honk. Might be a law-of-the-jungle thing.

Turns out that ILB was a stronger position group than certainly I thought. Kiser being cut is not only possible but apparently quite likely.

Handicapping the final cuts at CB and Safety is gonna be agonizing for these coaches. Multiple players with both talent and heart will have to be released and many will not make it to the Ram PS. Nice ‘problem’ to have, I suppose. I’ve never seen a better synergy of scouting and coaching for Ram secondary players. Ever. The good news is that they can probably keep filling the pipeline every year which means that they can avoid those hyper-expensive extensions every year. Impossible to overstate the importance of that.

Last, but certainly not least, will Hekker be traded or released? This is another proposition that was unthinkable just 8 months ago. And yet, I’ve gotta say that it looks not only possible but quite likely.

The winds of change are blowing strongly through Ramsville this summer, indeed.

And we all know it’s a total snub. Our boy is #1 and it’s not close

Six NFL teams headed for ugly 2021 season: Giants, Texans among those with suspect rosters, rough offseasons​

After talking to coaches and evaluators, Jason La Canfora breaks down the bumpiest roads ahead​

By Jason La Canfora

Aug 27, 2021 at 10:48 am ET


Sometimes, it's simply not your year. Sometimes, even in a league of parity, it gets very late, very early.

As much as the NFL preseason is used to determine rising players and hidden gems and ascending teams and fantasy-football sleepers, alas, it is also a time when the worst of the league begins to stand out for very different reasons. With the preseason wrapping up and major roster cut-downs just ahead, it's impossible not to watch what is going on, talk to other coaches and evaluators and begin to get a sense for which franchises are quite likely to be drafting very high next spring. And it looks like many of the usual suspects, sadly enough for those fanbases.

August has not been particularly kind to some teams, with bad luck, mounting injuries, self-inflicted errors, and bad juju all swirling around. For teams already very much on the margins, and facing a talent imbalance and in many cases with very inexperienced hands overseeing the coaching staff and/or the roster, suffering even one critical injury to a key starter can undermine any gains. Unfortunately for these half dozen teams, they already check far too many of the above boxes, with the potential for overwhelmed coaches and/or facing immediate crisis at key roster spots, with not much going their way heading into the final exhibition contests.


(This is not merely a list of the worst teams – Atlanta surely has a case to be made for that, among others. Nor is it just a list of teams having a rough summer, because the Bills' anti-vax contingent continue to make trouble. But if you are looking for teams with suspect rosters, who have had repeated instances of bad luck or strange occurrences or bizarre situations, all the while trying to dig out of am ongoing malaise, then we have you covered here.)


Conversations with execs and coaches who have faced these teams in the preseason did not paint a very pretty picture, and the rumblings around the league may not bode particular well for them rising from among the cellar dwellers this season. But there's always next year!

Houston Texans​

The Deshaun Watson investigation into over 20 claims of sexual impropriety and in some cases sexual assault, coupled with his pre-existing demands to be traded, the roster carnage inflicted by ex-coach/GM Bill O'Brien and a bizarre coaching search that further exposed organizational fissures would be enough to rock a solid franchise. Factor in that this is the Texans, ripe with tumult under Cal McNair, and you are looking at an outfit that will be way out of its depth most weeks. There isn't a real position group that stands out, rookie coach David Culley has been dealt a raw hand ("Do we really think that's who Nick Caserio will have coaching this team long-term?" as one general manager put it) and changing the culture there will be quite challenging. Winning games on even a quasi-regular basis would be, as well.

​

Detroit Lions​

Several evaluators pointed to Detroit as the next-worst roster going right now. One front office exec whose team faced the Lions this preseason told me the competition was so poor it was hard to draw conclusions from it. "They don't have players," he said. "It's bad. Good thing (coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes) got six-year deals. It'll take three years just to dig out of this." There is no history of this team sustaining any real measure of success for ages, primary ownership keeps getting shuffled around and game-management could prove to be a problem for this group, too. They are going to give up a ton of points and offensive coaches who I trust believe Jared Goff is really going to struggle without Sean McVay in his ear. "They will be in the market for a QB in 2022," as one exec put it.

New York Jets​

Zach Wilson is going to take his lumps, as virtually all raw rookie QBs do. And losing left tackle Mekhi Becton recently, who was a stud as a rookie last year, is the last thing anyone around there needed. It remains to be seen which receivers can or will step up beyond free agent signing Corey Davis, who is having a nice camp. They lack a proven go-to tight end, and perpetually hoping on a Chris Herndon breakthrough might not be nearly enough for the kid QB. And just when you could start believing this group would finally have a front seven with some bite, key signee Carl Lawson was lost for the season before it even began. Hard to build any momentum this way, and the rest of the AFC East looks to be improved. Maybe their luck will turn, but so far the hits just keep coming.

New York Giants​

New York's other team has had an even more eventful summer. For all the wrong reasons. A flurry of sudden retirements, some among veterans being counted on. Kenny Golladay missing time. Kadarius Toney missing time (at least he finally has two cleats that fit him), Daniel Jones ending up at the bottom of pile-ups during fights among his teammates. No one quite sure when Saquon Barkley will be back, and whenever he is back, there will still be big-time concerns about this porous offensive line. "They built that offense backwards, which goes against everything Dave believes in," one executive said of GM Dave Gettleman, noting the outlays to receivers and dependent positions but not up front. Head coach Joe Judge had a rocky first season and drama seems to follow this bunch around on a weekly basis. Plenty of evaluators are skeptical that Jones will thrive in this environment.

Jacksonville Jaguars​

Where do we even start? The faux QB competition? The Tebow experiment? The strength coach debacle? The systematic disregard for upgrading any spot on a bad offensive line from a one-win team? The inner-strife already among a staff struggling to marry college concepts and experience with the pro game? Issues with handling an NFL style installation and schedule? Urban Meyer's unfamiliarity with losing and being seemingly unaware that a 1-15 team ain't turning it around tomorrow? Losing do-everything rookie running back Travis Etienne for the season? Looking completely overwhelmed from an offensive standpoint, even against backup talent on other teams? "Urban and that staff are having trouble getting that thing off the ground," said one long-time executive who is friendly with numerous Jags staffers. "It's not good." Many a college star coach has struggled with this stuff in the NFL. And Trevor Lawrence is a generational talent. They need to prioritize keeping him upright above all else, but is Meyer wired that way?

Cincinnati Bengals​

Joe Burrow has been very upfront about the mental demons he is facing coming back from major knee surgery. And all the coaches are saying the right thing … But this is going to be an arduous process and no one is flicking a switch Week 1. Last year's injury will bleed into this season and there remain major questions about the linemen comprising the first-team offensive line. "The interior offensive line is a problem," said one exec who has watched the Bengals. Ja'Marr Chase will ultimately be fine, but a case of the yips or the drops or whatever you want to call them can in no way be construed as a positive development. Playing in the AFC North does them no favors. The specter of how Burrow's rookie season ended will hang over them, and this team should be better in December than it is in September, but anytime your franchise QB is going through something like this it's going to color your training camp panorama, and conjure questions.

10 Things with JuJu Hughes​

1: I got energy, got a lot of energy

Sarina: Who has more energy than [Special Teams Coordinator] Joe DeCamillis?

JuJu: More energy on this team? I don't think anybody has more energy than Joe.

2: I've got a tooth to pick

Sarina: How many toothpicks have you gone through today?

JuJu: Yeah, this might be the third one today. I'm kind of rolling through them today. That's a high number for me.

3: A full Kupp

Sarina: Favorite player to defend on the Rams?

JuJu: My favorite player to defend probably is Cooper Kupp. He's a fun guy to go against. He gives his all every time. He's a great receiver. He's my favorite guy to guard.

4: Bron Bron

Sarina: If you could trade lives with anyone for a week, who would it be?

JuJu: It would probably be with another professional athlete. I'd be an NBA player. I'd be LeBron [James]. He's a real businessman. He has a lot going on. So, like on the court, I'm getting to be Bron Bron and off the court I would get all the benefits that come with that.

5: Speak it into existence

Sarina: What do you envision your first NFL touchdown to be? Is it a pick six?

JuJu: Definitely a pick six. I'm jumping on a little out route, you know, breaking on it. So hopefully, that's coming here soon. Speak it into existence.

6: We hear you JuJu

Sarina: If you ever got mic'd up, what should fans expect out of you?

JuJu: They're gonna hear me talk a lot of ball. I talk to all the guys about everything going on. A little profanity, so excuse my language, haha. Fans excuse my language. I'm hard on myself. But yeah, they'd have to edit out some of the stuff they hear me talk to myself. Definitely talk to myself, because I'm hard on myself while I analyze what I do as I'm doing it.

7: Halftime show

Sarina: Which teammate would you pick if you had to perform at a Super Bowl halftime?

JuJu: Terrell Burgess. He could give me every dance move. He is not a shy dude. So, he would be bouncing out there. He would perform. Steal the show. I'd be the back-up and let him do his thing.

8: Bugging out

Sarina: This defense is scary. But what are you scared of?

JuJu: I don't like bugs and things crawling and spiders and stuff. Not a big fan of things like that. I can go without any of that.

9: Go for variety

Sarina: Tacos versus In-and-Out?

JuJu: I'm gonna go tacos. There's different varieties.

10: All abs

Sarina: Favorite exercise?

JuJu: Core work. Nothing specifically. But you gotta look fresh. All abs.

This last week Rams Raiders was Horrible. Worst I’d ever seen.Won’t get into name calling.

Play by play is not looking into the camera first off.Yes Talib is great & beautiful.His connections with Ram players is cool,but he is still raw & learning.
The first Holding Call. Does anyone know who it was on ? I could go on.

The Garrett tip.Can you please report it when it happens.Telling us by the way Garrett tipped the ball 2 series ago before those 2 sacks.

Game Day Thread

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While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles;we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

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