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The St. Louis Rams kick off their preseason schedule on Thursday in Cleveland. It also means the Rams, for the first time since camp opened, released an unofficial depth chart. Let's take a look.
Quarterback
Sam Bradford
Austin Davis
Kellen Clemens
Tim Jenkins
Wide Receiver
Chris Givens
Austin Pettis
Tavon Austin
Brian Quick
Stedman Bailey
Nick Johnson
Demetrius Fields
Raymond Radway
Andrew Helmick
Emory Blake
Justin Veltung
Halfback
Daryl Richardson
Isaiah Pead
Zac Stacy
Terrance Ganaway
Ben Cunningham
Chase Reynolds
Fullback
Eric Stevens
Tight End
Jared Cook
Lance Kendricks
Mike McNeil
Zach Potter
Phillip Lutzenkirchen
Corey Harkey
Cameron Graham
Colby Prince
Left Tackle
Jake Long
Joe Barksdale
Left Guard
Shelley Smith
Chris Williams
Center
Scott Wells
Tim Barnes
Barrett Jones
Right Guard
Harvey Dahl
Brandon Washington
Ryan Lee
Right Tackle
Rodger Saffold
Ty Nsekhe
Sean Hooey
Graham Pocic
A few thoughts about the offense ...
- Smith and Williams have been, essentially, interchangeable at the left guard spot. Williams seems to have an edge based on what we've seen in practice, but the games will go a lot further toward deciding that.
- Quick has improved since his rookie season, but he's still battling consistency issues. The Post-Dispatch said "he still has work to do." Not a huge surprise. The good thing is that he's getting plenty of reps, the kind that you just don't get in OTAs or off-site workouts. Keep a close eye on Quick as we head into the regular season.
- Offensive line depth is a little more of a concern than initially thought, mostly at the tackle position. Remember, both Long and Saffold missed time with injuries last year.
- Depth on the interior line in much better. Remember too that Barrett Jones got a late start to camp because he was recovering from a foot injury.
- It's a long shot, but watch to see if any of the other tight ends on the roster leap Kendricks on the depth chart. He's still not practicing, and will likely miss this week's game.
Left Defensive End
Chris Long
William Hayes
Mason Brodine
Gerald Rivers
Left Defensive Tackle
Kendall Langford
Matt Conrath
Garrett Goebel
Right Defensive Tackle
Michael Brockers
Jermelle Cudjo
Al Lapuaho
Right Defensive End
Robert Quinn
Eugene Sims
Sammy Brown
Left Linebacker
Alec Ogletree
Jabara Williams
Middle Linebacker
James Laurinaitis
Josh Hull
Darren Bates
Joseph Lebeau
Right Linebacker
Jo-Lonn Dunbar
Will Witherspoon
Jonathan Stewart
Ray-Ray Armstrong
Left Cornerback
Cortland Finnegan
Brandon McGee
Trumaine Johnson
Drew Thomas
Andre Martin
Right Cornerback
Janoris Jenkins
Quinton Pointer
Darren Woodard
Robert Steeples
Free Safety
Darian Stewart
Rodney McLeod
Cody Davis
Rashard Hall
Strong Safety
T.J. McDonald
Matt Giodano
Matt Daniels
A few thoughts about the defense ...
- No real surprises here. The only positions with new faces in the starting lineup are the two safety spots and the linebacker spot Ogletree is manning.
- Speaking of linebackers, this group could end up being one of the strongest units on the team. If Ogletree plays as well in coverage as he's practiced in camp (and did in college), it gives the Rams that much more flexibility with their defensive backs.
- Trumaine Johnson is listed as the fourth corner, but he'll see the third most reps of any corner because the Rams play so much in the nickel and dime.
Kicker
Greg Zuerlein
Brett Baer
Punter
Johnny Hekker
Brett Baer
Holder
Johnny Hekker
Long Snapper
Jake McQuaide
Jorgen Hus
Punt Return
Tavon Austin
Austin Pettis
Kick Return
Tavon Austin
Isaiah Pead
Janoris Jenkins
- There it is, writ large for all the world to see ... Tavon Austin, kick and punt returner. That's fluid too, if one of the other players can step up or if they get concerned about the impact on his offensive workload.
- Long snappers don't get much love, but the Rams have two pretty good ones. Of course, McQuaide has a new long-term contract. Hus will catch on somewhere else, I'd be willing to bet.