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LA Rams Playing Time Against Denver Broncos Clears Up Post-Cut Decisions

Here are the snap counts from Saturday’s game and what they mean.

Los Angeles Rams DE Ian Seau tackles Denver Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs
Los Angeles Rams DE Ian Seau tackles Denver Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Offense

Player POS Off Off%
Darrell Williams T 53 69.74%
David Arkin G 49 64.47%
Tyler Higbee TE 48 63.16%
Brian Quick WR 41 53.95%
Andrew Donnal T 37 48.68%
Eric Kush G 36 47.37%
Garrett Reynolds G 28 36.84%
Jared Goff QB 28 36.84%
Malcolm Brown RB 27 35.53%
Mike Thomas WR 26 34.21%
Cody Wichmann G 26 34.21%
Jamon Brown G 26 34.21%
Rodger Saffold T 26 34.21%
Lance Kendricks TE 26 34.21%
Tim Barnes C 26 34.21%
Tavon Austin WR 25 32.89%
Sean Mannion QB 25 32.89%
Greg Robinson T 23 30.26%
Case Keenum QB 23 30.26%
Austin Hill WR 23 30.26%
Duke Williams WR 20 26.32%
Justice Cunningham TE 19 25.00%
Pharoh Cooper WR 17 22.37%
Aaron Green RB 15 19.74%
Demetrius Rhaney C 15 19.74%
Paul McRoberts WR 14 18.42%
Terrance Magee RB 14 18.42%
Jordan Swindle T 14 18.42%
Temarrick Hemingway TE 13 17.11%
Benny Cunningham RB 13 17.11%
Brian Folkerts C 13 17.11%
Cory Harkey TE 12 15.79%
Kenny Britt WR 10 13.16%
David Richards WR 9 11.84%
Chase Reynolds RB 7 9.21%
Isaiah Battle OT 7 9.21%
Jake Stoneburner TE 2 2.63%

So just like last time, let’s look at who has gotten the most snaps through the preseason overall and not just the last game’s numbers per above. Here’s your top 12 from the offensive snaps:

  1. G David Arkin (55.10% of offensive snaps through three games)
  2. OT Darrell Williams (54.08%)
  3. OT Andrew Donnal (43.88%)
  4. WR Brian Quick (43.37%)
  5. G Eric Kush (39.80%)
  6. WR Mike Thomas (38.78%)
  7. QB Jared Goff (38.27%)
  8. RB Malcolm Brown (37.76%)
  9. G Cody Wichmann (34.69%)
  10. TE Tyler Higbee (34.69%)
  11. QB Sean Mannion (34.18%)
  12. C Demetrius Rhaney (33.67%)

That’s a pretty clear indication that the Rams needed to get more evaluation on that dozen. Not one of those 12 were cut yesterday in the initial chopping block. And yes, by my own roster projection, most of these will likely make the 53-man for Week 1.

But it’s blatant that the staff wanted to get these guys the most snaps to evaluate them more comprehensively and answer some core questions related to the necessary regular season decisions.

Who’s the better backup offensive tackle, Williams or Donnal?

Who’s the better backup interior offensive lineman, Arkin or Kush?

Who’s the better backup wideout, Quick or Thomas?

Who’s the better backup interior offensive lineman, Wichmann or Rhaney?

And how much experience should Jared Goff, Tyler Higbee and Sean Mannion be allowed to soak up in the preseason (answer: as much as possible)?

These are questions I’d expect to get clearer answers on from Thursday’s preseason finale as they’re likely still at the top of the staff’s question priority list.

Defense

Quinton Coples DE 37 53.62%
Nic Grigsby LB 35 50.72%
Bryce Hager LB 32 46.38%
Cam Thomas DT 31 44.93%
Matt Longacre DE 29 42.03%
Rohan Gaines DB 28 40.58%
Morgan Fox DE 27 39.13%
Coty Sensabaugh CB 26 37.68%
Dominique Easley DT 26 37.68%
Zach Colvin DT 26 37.68%
Jordan Lomax DB 24 34.78%
Michael Jordan DB 24 34.78%
Marcus Roberson CB 24 34.78%
Cory Littleton LB 23 33.33%
Jabriel Washington DB 23 33.33%
Troy Hill CB 22 31.88%
Eugene Sims DE 21 30.43%
Ian Seau DE 20 28.99%
Brandon Chubb LB 19 27.54%
Ethan Westbrooks DT 18 26.09%
Christian Bryant S 18 26.09%
Cody Davis FS 18 26.09%
T.J. McDonald SS 18 26.09%
Trumaine Johnson CB 18 26.09%
Mark Barron LB 18 26.09%
Alec Ogletree LB 18 26.09%
E.J. Gaines CB 18 26.09%
Michael Caputo S 16 23.19%
Jordan Kovacs DB 15 21.74%
William Hayes DE 14 20.29%
Akeem Ayers LB 14 20.29%
Lamarcus Joyner CB 12 17.39%
Michael Brockers DT 12 17.39%
Robert Quinn DE 10 14.49%
Darreon Herring LB 7 10.14%
Aaron Donald DT 7 10.14%
Cameron Lynch LB 6 8.70%
Josh Forrest LB 5 7.25%

Let’s go 15 deep on defense:

  1. LB Bryce Hager (51.20%)
  2. DE Matt Longacre (50.72%)
  3. DT Dominique Easley (47.85%)
  4. DT Cam Thomas (47.37%)
  5. CB Coty Sensabaugh (46.41%)
  6. DT Ethan Westbrooks (40.67%)
  7. DE Quinton Coples (39.71%)
  8. FS Cody Davis (38.28%)
  9. CB Marcus Roberson (36.36%)
  10. DE Ian Seau (35.89%)
  11. CB Troy Hill (35.41%)
  12. CB Lamarcus Joyner (34.45%)

I had to get down to 12 to include the obvious cornerback depth chart decision between Sensabaugh, Hill and Joyner.

And obviously, there’s an effort to sort out the D-line. With Coples not making the cut yesterday, I can only glean that these snaps were meant to isolate at least one candidate between he, Longacre, Easley, Thomas, Westbrooks and Seau who was the most clearly beyond the threshold for Week 1. Coples missing out certainly means good things for Longacre and Seau.

As for Hager and Davis, I’d guess these snaps are to identify whether both are limited as special teams candidates or could possibly provide legitimate depth on defense if pressed into action.

Special Teams

Brandon Chubb LB 16 55.17%
Jordan Lomax DB 12 41.38%
Darreon Herring LB 12 41.38%
Temarrick Hemingway TE 11 37.93%
Jordan Kovacs DB 11 37.93%
Cory Harkey TE 10 34.48%
Chase Reynolds RB 10 34.48%
Cory Littleton LB 10 34.48%
Troy Hill CB 10 34.48%
Johnny Hekker P 10 34.48%
Justice Cunningham TE 9 31.03%
Aaron Green RB 9 31.03%
Paul McRoberts WR 9 31.03%
Cameron Lynch LB 9 31.03%
Josh Forrest LB 9 31.03%
Nic Grigsby LB 8 27.59%
Bryce Hager LB 8 27.59%
Rohan Gaines DB 8 27.59%
Mike Thomas WR 7 24.14%
Michael Jordan DB 7 24.14%
Marcus Roberson CB 7 24.14%
Jabriel Washington DB 7 24.14%
Terrance Magee RB 6 20.69%
Jake McQuaide LS 6 20.69%
Greg Zuerlein K 6 20.69%
Eric Kush G 5 17.24%
Duke Williams WR 5 17.24%
Eugene Sims DE 5 17.24%
Benson Browne TE 5 17.24%
Malcolm Brown RB 4 13.79%
Pharoh Cooper WR 4 13.79%
Demetrius Rhaney C 4 13.79%
Jake Stoneburner TE 4 13.79%
Coty Sensabaugh CB 4 13.79%
Ethan Westbrooks DT 4 13.79%
Jeff Overbaugh LS 4 13.79%
Andrew Donnal T 3 10.34%
Cam Thomas DT 3 10.34%
Christian Bryant S 3 10.34%
Cody Davis FS 3 10.34%
Tyler Higbee TE 2 6.90%
Garrett Reynolds G 2 6.90%
Cody Wichmann G 2 6.90%
Jamon Brown G 2 6.90%
Greg Robinson T 2 6.90%
Dominique Easley DT 2 6.90%
T.J. McDonald SS 2 6.90%
Trumaine Johnson CB 2 6.90%
Mark Barron LB 2 6.90%
Michael Caputo S 2 6.90%
Lamarcus Joyner CB 2 6.90%
Darrell Williams T 1 3.45%
David Arkin G 1 3.45%
Jordan Swindle T 1 3.45%
Benny Cunningham RB 1 3.45%
Brian Folkerts C 1 3.45%
Matt Longacre DE 1 3.45%
Morgan Fox DE 1 3.45%
Zach Colvin DT 1 3.45%
Ian Seau DE 1 3.45%
Taylor Bertolet K 1 3.45%

Let’s go top 6 for teams since P Johnny Hekker’s #7 with recently cut LB Darreon Herring #8 and established ST contributors come thereafter:

  1. LB Brandon Chubb (55.42%)
  2. LB Josh Forrest (45.78%)
  3. LB Cory Littleton (37.35%)
  4. CB Troy Hill (33.73%)
  5. TE Justice Cunningham (32.53%)
  6. DB Rohan Gaines (31.33%)

Something tells me we’ll be pointing directly at this sextet on Saturday when the 53-man cuts roll in.