2016 LA Rams 53-Man Roster Projection: Training Camp Week 4

Time for this week’s 53-man roster projection. Here was last week’s for reference.

QB

(2015: 3 kept on initial 53-man roster, 2014: 2, 2013: 2)

2016 projection: 3

In: Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion

Out: Dylan Thompson

Change from last projection: N/A

The real question is if the Rams will keep Sean Mannion on the roster. They did so last year for minimal effect. Do the Rams need him more than they need depth and special teams support elsewhere?

RB

(2015: 5, 2014: 5, 2013: 4)

2016 projection: 4

In: Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham, Chase Reynolds, Malcolm Brown

Out: Aaron Green, Tre Mason, Terrence Magee

Change from last projection: N/A

Yeah, Malcolm Brown did absolutely nothing to change his inclusion on the 53-man. If anything, he helped solidify it in pretty obvious terms.

You don’t put guys on the 53-man because of a lone play...but that TD reception was pretty ridiculous for a running back.

WR

(2015: 6, 2014: 5, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 6

In: Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Bradley Marquez, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Brian Quick

Out: Nelson Spruce, Duke Williams, Marquez North, Paul McRoberts, Austin Hill, David Richards

Change from last projection: N/A

No changes yet. Spruce’s absence on Saturday obviously didn’t help his cause. Brian Quick’s performance didn’t help his...

And while he got some early camp hype, it’s hard to see Duke Williams making the cut after being such a non-factor in both games.

Remember, the first round of cuts come a week from tomorrow. Not a ton of opportunities left...

TE/FB

(2015: 3, 2014: 5, 2013: 4)

2016 projection: 3

In: Lance Kendricks, Cory Harkey, Tyler Higbee

Out: Temarrick Hemingway, Zach Laskey, Justice Cunningham, Benson Browne, Jake Stoneburner

Change from last projection: N/A

Hemingway’s big reception was entertaining, but it was more a factor of the defense messing up than T-Way winning a skills battle. Rooting for him nonetheless.

OL

(2015: 10, 2014: 9, 2013: 10)

2016 projection: 10

In: Tim Barnes, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Rob Havenstein, Garrett Reynolds, Demetrius Rhaney, Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Cody Wichmann, Darrell Williams

Out: Isaiah Battle, Eric Kush, David Arkin, Brian Folkerts, Pace Murphy, Jordan Swindle

Change from last projection: N/A

No changes to the unit that looks the most improved from 2015.

Remember. Isaiah Battle is a de facto fifth-round rookie. Is he going to make this roster?

DL

(2015: 8, 2014: 10, 2013: 9)

2016 projection: 10

In: Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, William Hayes, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, Ethan Westbrooks, Quinton Coples, Dominique Easley, Cam Thomas, Matt Longacre

Out: Ian Seau, Morgan Fox, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Zach Colvin

Change from last projection: Longacre in

“Longacre and Seau certainly helped themselves on Saturday.”

I said that after the first game. Saying it again. I’ve bumped Longacre into the 53 at the expense of a certain defender below. I’ve got Seau heading to the practice squad.

LB

(2015: 6, 2014: 5, 2013: 6)

2016 projection: 5

In: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Nicholas Grigsby

Out: Josh Forrest, Brandon Chubb, Darreon Herring, Cory Littleton

No longer on roster: Zack Hodges, Matthew Wells, Kache Palacio

Change from last projection: N/A

The wide receiving and linebacking groups are gonna need all four preseason games to gauge effectively. There’s probably five or six different combinations you could argue here.

CB

(2015: 4, 2014: 6, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 5

In: Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, Coty Sensabaugh

Out: Troy Hill, Michael Jordan, Jabriel Washington

No longer on roster: Melvin White

Change from last projection: N/A

If the O-line looks the most improved unit, the secondary (led by the cornerbacks) looks to have undergone the most regression.

It’s only two preseason games. There’s time to turn this around...but not a ton.

S

(2015: 5, 2014: 4, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 4

In: T.J. McDonald, Mark Barron, Maurice Alexander, Cody Davis

Out: Christian Bryant, Jordan Lomax, Rohan Gaines, Jordan Kovacs, Michael Caputo

No longer on roster: Brian Randolph

Change from last projection: Bryant out

Dropped Bryant to make way for Longacre. Remember, Bryant didn’t make the cut initially last year before bouncing up and down the active and inactive roster as a teams contributor. At this point, the Rams are healthy enough to have sufficient teams personnel that Bryant isn’t immediately necessary.

Week 4 of the regular season after an injury or two sidelines someone on that new injury report? He’s probably getting called up.

ST

(2015: 3, 2014: 3, 2013: 3)

2016 projection: 3

In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide

Out: Taylor Bertolet, Jeff Overbaugh

Change from last projection: N/A

Yeah, still no.

Bubble Watch

Close calls: RB Aaron Green, WR Duke Williams, WR Nelson Spruce, TE Temarrick Hemingway, OT Isaiah Battle, OL Eric Kush, DE Ian Seau, LB Josh Forrest, LB Brandon Chubbs, S Christian Bryant, S Jordan Lomax, S Rohan Gaines

The weekly bubble update is coming up later today, but these cuts are gonna be really close. Plenty of arguments to be made on these guys. Getting down to 75 might include a surprise or two. Getting down to 53 could be chaos...