Roster Spot "Battles"

by DekaJ on Jul 16, 2011 3:19 AM CDT

Once the lockout ends, expect there to be many "controversies" solved by either some guys getting cut or by way of trade. Some will not be as shocking as others but IMO its pretty obvious out of the current players on the roster who will stay and who won't. I will go through each position except the O-line, Kicker and Punter.

Offense

QB: This is pretty set as to who's the starter. However between AJ and Thad I think AJ will make the roster with Thad staying on the PS.

Battle to watch: None

Starter: Sam Bradford

2nd String: A.J. Feeley

Cut/PS/Traded: Thaddeus Lewis

RB: This is also set at starter. And your guess is as good as mine as to who else makes the 53 man roster. I expect once the lockout ends for a RB or two to be signed. I think Keith Toston is still on the roster and I would expect him to be 3rd string. (Sidenote)- Something I did on Madden which won't happen most likely is make Mardy Gilyard into a Runningback. I think HB would better suit his abilities anyway.

Battle to Watch: B/U RB. Will it be a current player on the roster or a free agent?

Starter: Steven Jackson

2nd String: ???

3rd String: Keith Toston

Cut/PS/Traded: Kenneth Darby, Chauncey Washington

FB: Ummmm, well we only have one now and that's Brit Miller. So, yeaaa. However I think we might not keep a FB but use an H-Back which would be one the TE's we have.

WR: Probably where the most "controversy" will be. We have 8 receivers right now and will have 9 if Clayton is re-signed. I believe 6 will make the roster. Some just outright SUCK *cough*Laurent Robinson*cough*. And others are just in a bad position. My view might conflict with your's but here it is.

Battle to Watch: Not really a battle but if Clayton isn't resigned Mardy Gilyard will make the roster and Avery will move into the starting spot Clayton would have resided in.

Starters: DX and Clayton

2nd String: Avery* and Pettis (Avery might play slot)

Slot: Danny Amendola

3rd: Brandon Gibson

Cut/PS/Traded: Laurent Robinson, Greg Salas, Mardy Gilyard

TE: There's been quite a bit of focus on this position after the slightly puzzling pick of Lance Kendricks in the draft. Still some hate it some love it. I am one those that love the pick. I actually play TE at my school and I know what a WR playing TE can do for you, which is what Kendricks is. It creates mismatches constantly. And paired with Uh-Oh in the 2 TE set we're apparently going to run we should be giving defenses trouble all season long.

Battle to Watch: None

Starters: Kendricks and Uh-Oh

2nd String: Fells & Fendi

Cut/PS/Traded: Bajema and Derek Schouman.

Defense

DE: Spags is trying to create a monster-like D-line. The pick of Robert Quinn in the draft is proof of this. In a few years this line should be unstoppable.

Battle to Watch: If Quinn somehow beats out Hall for a starting job this season.

Starters: Chris Long and James Hall*

2nd String: George Selvie and Robert Quinn*

(Quinn will come in on passing downs and occasionally throughout games. He will not be starting.)

DT: There's a lot of talk that we'll pursue Barry Cofield once free agency starts. I am convinced that we will as well.

Battle to Watch: 2nd string spot between Cudjo and Scott. Maybe Clifton Ryan if he's brought back.

Starters: Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield* (Clifton Ryan)

2nd String: Jermelle Cudjo and Gary Gibson.

SLB: I'm not even sure as to who will make the roster outside of David Vobora.

Starter: Vobora

2nd String: Jabara Nelson

MLB: Starter is obvious. Kehl should be backup.

Starter: James Laurinaitis

2nd String: Bryan Kehl

WLB: This position will probably receive a huge makeover once the lockout end but for right now who knows.

Starter: Larry Grant

2nd String: Chris Chamberlain

3rd String: Eugene Sims (Yes I think he will be moved to LB)

CB: We're pretty set here as well as far as starters go. Backups as well.

Battle to Watch: Nickel Corner

Starters: Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher

2nd String: Jerome Murphy and Justin King

3rd String: Quincy Butler

FS: A position many were hoping us to upgrade through the draft. Well, we did if you expect 7th round pick Johnathan Nelson to have an impact. I do believe Butler will slide to FS.

Battle to Watch: None

Starter: Darian Stewart

2nd String: Johnathan Nelson

SS: Could maybe be changed slightly through free agency. We have two similar players in Butler and Dahl and IMO both should split time evenly.

Battle to Watch: None

Starter: Craig Dahl* (Free agent could take this this spot......Quintin Mikell? Brodney Pool?)

2nd String: Jermale Hines*/ James Butler

*- He could see some LB time.

Oh and I'd like to know which WR's wont make the roster in your opinions.

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Comments

I thyink that ...

Josh Hull has to fit the scheme (LB) somewhere. Why else did Spags keep him?

We sure need...another Dick Bass,
or someone like him.

Go RAMs !!!

by VETT on Jul 16, 2011 5:20 AM CDT reply actions

I was pretty tired writing this so i know i left out a lot of ppl.

I’ll revise it later today.

by DekaJ on Jul 16, 2011 7:07 AM CDT up reply actions

You can't cut a player on IR can you? I forgot

But yeah hopefully he can get a spot coming back from injury

Is that great man formally known as Tevin T. Broner, also I'm on twitter T_bron

by Tevin Broner on Jul 16, 2011 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Good point VETT....

….I like Hull’s potential a lot too.

The truth is always the right answer....

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jul 16, 2011 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

WR's

To cut IMO: Avery, Robinson, and Gilyard.

by ValdezY on Jul 16, 2011 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

salas will make the roster, i dont see him getting cut as to robinson, and maybe even dx...

i dont give a hoot if DX was 6’-9’!! and ran like a cheetah! the guys got bad knees. if anything, he will be one of the cuts. thats mho. i just dont see him going through a full season healthy.

by Mark Jaramillo on Jul 17, 2011 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

DX

I can’t argue with cold hard facts: The knees of DX are a major concern and could prove a major liability to the offense. If The Rams can acquire Plax, I could understand releasing DX.

by ValdezY on Jul 19, 2011 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

the rams

Are most likely not going to get plax even with his bad knees DX has lots of potential

Touchdown St.Louis Rams Won the SuperBowl

by WaZuP cReAtOr on Jul 19, 2011 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Yet

They still need that #1 WR. Plax, DJax, or Rice: WR’s that force defenses to account for them. This opens up holes on the defense.DX and his knees are question marks.Time will tell.

by ValdezY on Jul 20, 2011 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

But you have to understand

DX would have been a 1-2nd rd. pick if he didn’t have the knee problems. He’s extremely talented and if he’s fully healthy he could turn out like Calvin Johnson. I’m a little biased as I’m a Mizzou fan but I truly believe that.

by DekaJ on Jul 20, 2011 1:20 AM CDT up reply actions

DX

Is a first round talent. IMO; I thought The Rams made a huge error in judgement by suiting DX up for regular season action. He was an UFA. It would have done no harm to let him sit for a year. When the Bills drafted Willis McGahee; they did so with the understanding that a year was needed to rehabilitate his knee.They knew when healthy’ he was an extremely talented player. The Rams unlike Buffalo, got a very talented player without making such a risky investment.

by ValdezY on Jul 20, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

yes sitting him out wouldnt have been a bad idea...

but, you just cant shake the fact, that dx, had 6 surgeries on his knees, not knee…KNEES! that accounts for alot man. i dont think sitting him out would have done any good. you just cant count on dx for a full season, im sorry, just the way it is.

by Mark Jaramillo on Jul 20, 2011 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

DX

I could not discount his knee injuries even if I wanted to. In the end; The Rams should select those players who give them the best chances of winning. I remember Vince Lombardi saying what a cruel business pro football could be. I think he was right.

by ValdezY on Jul 20, 2011 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Fendi Onobun is nowhere on this list

Disgrace.
and
I love Kendricks but I hate where he was picked.

Onobun > Gates

by Carneros on Jul 16, 2011 12:28 PM CDT reply actions

Fendi is a scrub....no point of mentioning his name.

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no PLAYOFFS."
Winston Churchill

by SMASH44 on Jul 17, 2011 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

As hard as he has been working to make the cut, He just might make it.

A lot of reports and some video’s indicate that he was the first to begin the off-season program of weight and strength training with private coaches, practiced 8 hrs daily on the mechanics of running, cutting and body symetrics. (rather alignments? same as track sprinters hip, leg and foot placements). Also caught passes from an ex NFL and college QB’s in the meantime. He’s very serious about making the team.

by Ram newbee on Jul 17, 2011 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions

*plus he has gotten a lot faster in the 1st 10 yards-

by Ram newbee on Jul 17, 2011 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions

You have no idea how happy reading this made me.

I can’t wait for camp to START!

"I kind of stepped my swagger up. You look at the Madden game and the swagger's so low, maybe they'll bump me up. Before it was a meatball flex, so you've got to liven it up a little bit." - Animal Jr.

by douchiedude on Jul 18, 2011 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Music to my ears.

Any links to these videos or anything?

Onobun > Gates

by Carneros on Jul 22, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

It has been well documented

that Onobun > Gates

Onobun > Gates

by Carneros on Jul 22, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Its been a while, but I believe the safety's were

supposed to be Dahl at free and Butler? At strong. At least for now.

Is that great man formally known as Tevin T. Broner, also I'm on twitter T_bron

by Tevin Broner on Jul 16, 2011 12:47 PM CDT reply actions

I think we keep 7 receivers and 4 tight ends.

We kept 6 and 4 last year right? Now that we have two tight ends who can play H-Back I highly doubt we keep a fullback which opens up an extra receiver spot which is, of course, important to have in McDaniels’ offense.

by douchiedude on Jul 16, 2011 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

Coupla points:

1. What do people think of Jermale Hines (5th rd pick from Ohio State)? Probably not a starter, but could take some snaps.
2. WRs? I think Avery (because of his speed) and Clayton (a possession guy) will be the starters. DX is a little too young to pencil in as a starter IMO, but he should be the 3rd WR for now. Pettis and Salas will be the young guns to be used sparingly til they get the system down. Amendola will also make it as the slot receiver. And I REALLY don’t think they’ll cut Gilyard. You can’t cut a 4th round pick cause he had a crappy rookie year. You just can’t. And you can’t cut any of these other guys. So that makes 7 WR we’ll keep…at least for awhile, or until injuries start to take their toll. Lots of competition, lots of productivity from these guys. Goodbye to Gibson, who doesn’t have the potential of any of the 7 I listed, Robinson, who’s just not that good and whoever else is remaining.
3. I was shocked at the Kendricks pick, but must trust in the coaches and Devaney. Personally, I hate TEs, but maybe our duo will produce like Hernandez/Gronkowski.
4. I’m not sure we’ll get Cofield. Sounds like a lotta teams are interested in him, and I just don’t see us winning a bidding war. Maybe we’ll get another steady, sturdy DT from FA, like Robbins was last year.
5. We gotta get a S, maybe Mikell? Or Huff?
6. I don’t give a sh!t about the schedule next year. The rams are starting to resemble a professional football team and I’m psyched to watch it unfold.

The truth is always the right answer....

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jul 16, 2011 3:40 PM CDT reply actions

Hines is really versatile

I think he’ll be an instant ST stud and have the range to play WLB or SS or FS.

Other notes: Quincy Butler has always been a training camp stud- wouldn’t be surpised to see him outplay Justin King.
Dahl and Butler were penciled in as the 2 starting safeties when the lockout started.
Pretty sure Vobora will be the starter at WLB barring any additions. Kehl is a liability…hope he doesn’t play much.
Larry Grant was another training camp star and I hope he emerges as a reliable LB.
I think it’d be crazy to see Salas not get playing time, he’s as hard working and hard nosed as recievers come and I think Spags values that (almost to a fault).

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
-Mark Twain

by kinzav29 on Jul 16, 2011 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

My 2 cents

Robinson and Gibson are gone
Gilyard goes to the PS
Our 1 and 2 are Avery and Clayton because of experience and our 3 is Pettis. Slot is of course Amendola with Salas as back up. Danario will also be back up. That’s 6 WRs

Onobon goes to PS as well
Kendricks and Uh-Oh starts
Fells back up
So that’s 3 TEs

Sam Bradford to Austin Pettis
Kinda has a ring to it

by RG31 on Jul 16, 2011 5:09 PM CDT reply actions

I think that the biggest battle of this coming training camp will be that of safety !

All of the possible safeties are: Shocker = D Curry no more WR.
J Hines, M Lewis, J Murphy, D Stewart, J Nelson, J Butler, C Dahl, M Johnson and that is before whatever the FO does in FA. Whew, thats alota beef !

We sure need...another Dick Bass,
or someone like him.

Go RAMs !!!

by VETT on Jul 17, 2011 4:00 AM CDT reply actions

Are you projecting Curry as a Safety?

That’s interesting. He is a head-hunter on coverage teams. Veddy veddy intedesting.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jul 17, 2011 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

That really is.

Have the coaches actually said something about that?

by douchiedude on Jul 18, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Hines, Stewart, Nelson, Butler, Dahl

make the cut and we get Mikell :). Murphy and Johnson stay as cornerbacks in my opinion.

by douchiedude on Jul 18, 2011 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

No LB's are safe except JL. All the others are backup caliber or worse.

Quincy Butler, Clift Ryan, David Vobora and both Gibsons very likely get cut. Gary Gibson may have to be retained as a b/u. And since you didn’t address the O-Line, I will. Goldberg will always be a weakspot if he has to start. There’s gotta be a plan for the critical OG position. Does little good to have stout OT’s and mush OG’s.

by RamChop on Jul 17, 2011 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

I agree. I personally believe OLB is our weakest position.

They were a liability every time we stepped on the field. And arguably the main reason we lost to San Francisco in WK 10.

by DekaJ on Jul 17, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm gonna say the reason

we lost to Tampa as well. Josh Freeman should have NEVER gotten that first down.

by douchiedude on Jul 18, 2011 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Quote: "arguably the main reason we lost to San Francisco in WK 10." Absolutely correct.

by RamChop on Jul 18, 2011 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Quote "I'm gonna say the reason we lost to Tampa as well." Absolutely right.

by RamChop on Jul 18, 2011 11:35 PM CDT reply actions

THE REASON WE LOST WK #10, cb PLAY ...

& THE BOGUS CALL ON OJ IN THE 4th Q.

Oh YEAH !

We sure need...another Dick Bass,
or someone like him.

Go RAMs !!!

by VETT on Jul 20, 2011 4:37 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

QB FB & WR

while there’s no debate over the starter here I’m surprised you think the Rams don’t keep 3 QB’s on the 53 man roster. The 3rd QB wouldn’t necessarily be active on gameday but i can’t see the rams entering the season with just 2 QB’s on the 53 man roster

I don’t see them keeping a FB and instead using a H-back (most likely Uh-oh). I’d like to see Jackson used more in single-back sets. If the defense has to cover a flexed H back and a slot WR then i think Jackson can do some damage. Uh-oh or Fells can line up in the backfield in shrot yardage and goal situations too.

if there is no FB kept then i think there will be 7 WR’s kept. If it was up to me i’d keep Clayton, Avery, DX, Amendola, Pettis, Salas and Gibson active and maybe stash Gilyard on the PS to see if he can learn the new playbook

by IrishRamsFan on Jul 20, 2011 6:44 AM CDT reply actions