As the soap opera around Los Angeles Rams star quarterback Matthew Stafford prepares to take another plot twist, the cast of thousands (well, actually 89) that back him up are showing the stage lights are not too bright for them. Both the L.A. offense and defense are telling the NFL they are ready for their close-ups, improvising on the scripts and playing ensemble football.
This week, their roommates, the Los Angeles Chargers, looked to stake out more space in SoFi Stadium, but the Rams sent them back to the small bedroom with a 23-22 last minute comeback win. The Bolts had backed out of a live scrimmage earlier in the week, but then boldly claimed to run out their first units for a series or so. After safety Tanner Ingle cold-cocked a Charger receiver on that first drive, the lodgers decided that “the better part of valour is discretion” and sat their starters.
This week is the last of preseason and big roster decisions loom. Although the win was fun and exciting, the depth chart movement was incremental. Here’s how I see the depth chart adjusting.
Quarterback
Didn’t play: Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garappolo
My depth chart: Stetson Bennett
Bennett stacked another strong performance, looking comfortable and confident over the course of the game and in control on the game winning drive. His on-field play and grasp of the offense are in stark difference to his past. While the drama around Stafford’s back makes him indispensable to the roster and he undoubtedly has made strides in his game, sorry, I don’t buy into the narrative that he’s ready to challenge for QB#2. He’s still prone to locking in on his intended receiver and he makes a high percentage of turn over worthy throws.
Running back
Didn’t play: Kyren Williams
My depth chart: Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, Cody Schrader, Ronnie Rivers, Jordan Waters
Corum only played in the first series and has a lock on RB#2. Hunter gives inspiring glimpses at what he’s capable of as he develops. Schrader added special teams play to his workload and with Rivers out because of a rib injury, sets himself up for a roster bid, if the Rams keep four running backs.
Wide receiver
Didn’t play: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington
My depth chart: Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield, Brennan Presley, Mario Williams, Britain Covey, Drake Stoops, Tru Edwards
Smith played only in first three series’, a strong hint that he’s locked in. Once again, it was a stellar performance by the entire unit. Mumpfield continues to be pushed by Presley, who stacked had a second stellar outing. His versatility could end up being the difference. Williams and Stoops both added receptions and kick return potential. Just off the PUP List, Edwards looked hungry to make up ground with a good showing, hauling in some tough catches.
Didn’t play: Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson
My depth chart: Davis Allen, Mark Redman, McCallan Castles
Quiet day for this group, with Allen remaining a likely lock. Redman had three short catches, but looked to need work on blocking, while new acquisition Castles got his feet wet with seven reps. Ferguson is still not up to speed and practicing with the team.
Offensive line
Didn’t play: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein, DJ Humphries
My depth chart: Beaux Limmer, Warren McClendon, David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich, Garrett Bowles, KT Leveston, Willie Lampkin, Dylan McMahon, AJ Arcuri, Ben Dooley Trey Wedig
Big surprises abound here, the biggest being their outstanding play, up and down the depth chart. Another was Quessenberry starting at left tackle (in the Saints scrimmage as well) and McClendon at right. A couple of others are DJ Humphries and Dylan McMahon, who have not played at all in the two preseason games. Humphries was reportedly not on the field with the 1’s or 2’s in the New Orleans scrimmage. There have have been no injury reports on either. Interesting to note how deep Limmer is playing into games and McMahon not at all. Dedich has been the#2 center as well as guard. Lampkin left with a tweaked ankle, if he misses more than a couple days, he’s at a disadvantage. Undrafted guard Bowles led the unit in snaps for a second week, showing improvement over his debut and working most of the second half at center. Leveston gave up a bad pressure on the final drive, but was nails throughout the game. The others held their mud as well, but this has proven to be a deep group to make a lot of ground on.
Special teams
My depth chart: LS Alex Ward, P Ethan Evans, PK Josh Karty
While the three specialists are doing stellar work, it was a rather sloppy day by the coverage and return units. Penalties forced drives to start in the hole and the punt return for touchdown was distressing. This area needs to be cleaned up for the regular season. As an aside, it’s a struggle to understand why the Rams use running backs as kickoff returners. Yes, they all are known for good vision, burst, and quick cuts, but do their work in tight spaces and amidst high-traffic. None are considered true open-field threats. I prefer the wide receivers longer strides to the choppier gait of running backs. Returners who are better in space, set up cuts at a distance and make those cuts at full speed.
Defensive line
Didn’t play: Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis
My depth chart: Ty Hamilton, Desjuan Johnson, Larrell Murchison, Bill Norton, Jack Heflin, D’Jon Terry, Decarius Hawthorne
The Chargers only employed their running backs on 17 of 56 (30%) of plays, so it was a day for the pass rushers to show out, and Johnson did just that. His get-off had him taxing blockers from the start. I don’t feel Hamilton is playing as bad as many other fans, but he’s not making any splash plays, even as the competition ebbs later in games. He seems tentative to me, settling on locking up blockers rather than attacking them. It makes him look limited to nose tackle work and the Rams like to move their pieces around. Murchison and Heflin didn’t play badly, both need to break some dishes to garner attention. Norton’s girth will limit him to nose tackle, but in 19 snaps over two games, he’s logged a pair of tackles, a quarterback hit and deflected a pass.
Didn’t play: Jared Verse, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart
My depth chart: Keir Thomas, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, Josh Pearcy, Jamil Muhammad
Thomas may leading the charge for E#4, he reportedly took snaps with the first team in Thursday’s scrimmage, started vs the Chargers, and played only early snaps in the Charger game. He’s bounced between the roster and practice squad in each of his first three seasons, but flashed some game when inserted. Jackson upped his game with a pair of sacks, but gave up the edge on a couple of outside runs. Hampton didn’t play badly, but appears the odd man out.
Off-ball linebacker
Didn’t play: Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Troy Reeder
My depth chart: Chris Paul, Shaun Dolac, Tony Fields, Elias Neal
Dolac wore the green dot and led the team in tackles. He’s played well, but probably not enough to pass Paul and that leaves him on the bubble. Fields and Neal did fine, just nowhere for them to go. With the Chargers attacking outside and vertically, there wasn’t as much for the linebackers to clean up inside.
Didn’t play: Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough
My depth chart: Josh Wallace, Nate Valcarcel, Malik Dixon-Williams, Tanner Ingle
I moved Wallace into the safety room. A strong hint that he’s made the roster was given when he started and played only the first quarter. That gave Valcarcel, Dixon-Williams, and Ingle plenty of snaps. Again, with the Chargers predominantly attacking outside, the safeties weren’t consistently thrust into the thick of action. Some of it may because Ingle was patrolling the middle with bad intention, making three bone-rattling hits.
Cornerback
Didn’t play: Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes
My depth chart: AJ Green, Derion Kendrick, Charles Woods, Cam Lampkin, Shaun Jolly
The battle for CB#5 tightened for Green, Kendrick, and Woods. Green had another nice coverage game, batting away a pair passes, that’s four in two games. Kendrick showed life by batting down one pass, almost intercepting another, and making a tackle on special teams. Woods allowed a couple of catches, but was sticky in coverage on them. Lampkin and Jolly are not in a practice squad battle.
What to expect next week
Expect next Saturday’s match up with the Cleveland Browns to be a mop-up special devoid of fireworks. But leading up to the preseason finale, this final week of 90-man practices could be a smoldering tinderbox, with a precious few roster battles ready to burst into flames. The Rams will be finalizing their opening roster in workouts leading up to the last game.
It wouldn’t be in keeping with their past form to risk injury in the finale, so who plays and who sits will be the biggest indicator of the final decisions. While the Rams won’t likely disclose any such moves until the Monday August 26, 1 p.m. PST is near, but expect cuts to start leaking out by Sunday.
The Rams sat 37 players versus the Chargers and of those, all but QB#4 Dresser Winn are likely locked onto the roster. If you include the special teams trio and add Stetson Bennett, Blake Corum, Xavier Smith, Beaux Limmer, that leaves only 10 open roster spots to be had. That’s a safe assessment, there are 3-4 others that could fit roster criteria by their in-game use. Possible injury clarifications, or designations, to Matthew Stafford, Alaric Jackson, DJ Humphries, Dylan McMahon, and Terrance Ferguson could add a few extra openings and completely change the complexion of final decisions.
Preseason or not, the comeback win over the Chargers was exciting. But by this time next week, fans will have a good idea of what the personality of this team will be, and the the excitement really begins.