Final 2016 LA Rams 53-Man Roster, Practice Squad Projection

Training camp’s done. The preseason is over. A week from Monday, the Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football to open the 2016 regular season.

Here’s my last stab at the 53-man roster and a practice squad projection with the cut deadline approaching at 4pm ET tomorrow (here’s Monday’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: N/A

No longer on roster: Dylan Thompson

Change from last projection: N/A

After last night, it’s fair to say that Sean Mannion’s potential as a victim of the 53-man cuts has decreased drastically. He is, after all, the backup QB.

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

No Aaron Green for me. He’s definitely got a shot though.

WR

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

2016 projection: 6

In: Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Bradley Marquez, Pharoh Cooper, Brian Quick, Nelson Spruce

Out: Mike Thomas, Duke Williams, Paul McRoberts, Austin Hill

No longer on roster: Marquez North, David Richards

Change from last projection: N/A

Much more comfortable with this group, though obviously Brian Quick is a potential cut. And I’m not as sold on Spruce making it as most are. I think there’s a good chance he doesn’t make the 53 and the Rams hope he clears on the practice squad.

TE/FB

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

2016 projection: 3

In: Lance Kendricks, Cory Harkey, Tyler Higbee

Out: Temarrick Hemingway, Justice Cunningham

No longer on roster: Zach Laskey, Benson Browne, Jake Stoneburner

Change from last projection: N/A

Pulling for T-way. I think if he hits the practice squad and doesn’t get plucked, he could be in line for a big second year in 2017.

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, Pace Murphy

No longer on roster: Brian Folkerts, Jordan Swindle

Change from last projection: N/A

Can Kush clip someone from the 2015 10? Does Darrell Williams survive a pretty ugly preseason? Is Isaiah Battle real?

DL

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

2016 projection: 9

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

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

No longer on roster: Quinton Coples, Zach Colvin

Change from last projection: Coples N/A

Quinton Coples was a big deal only because it opens up a spot. I’m guessing it gets used elsewhere despite the love for Seau.

LB

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

2016 projection: 5

In: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Brandon Chubb

Out: Josh Forrest, Cory Littleton, Nic Grigsby

No longer on roster: Darreon Herring

Change from last projection: Chubb in

Added Chubb just guessing off of special teams snaps.

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

Change from last projection: N/A

That the 75-man cuts didn’t touch this group tells me the staff needed more eval time. Fair to at least assume some of that was for the practice squad decisions. But also fair to think it’s for the 53-man too.

S

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

2016 projection: 5

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

Out: Rohan Gaines, Jordan Kovacs, Brian Reynolds

No longer on roster: Jordan Lomax, Michael Caputo

Change from last projection: N/A

No change for me here. The big question is among the special team options. Could Gaines slip in?

ST

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

2016 projection: 3

In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide

Out: N/A

No longer on roster: Taylor Bertolet, Jeff Overbaugh

Change from last projection: N/A

This was always going to happen.

As a random aside...why haven’t Zuerlein and Hekker featured on Hard Knocks?

Bubble Watch

Close calls: RB Aaron Green, WR Mike Thomas, WR Duke Williams, WR Paul McRoberts, TE Temarrick Hemingway, OT Isaiah Battle, OL Eric Kush, DE Ian Seau, DE Morgan Fox, LB Josh Forrest, LB Cory Littleton, LB Nic Grigsby, S Rohan Gaines

Added a couple of names from last time. This the bubble that will make up the practice squad. Those are 13 names. The practice squad allows for 10.

Here’s my squad projection:

Practice Squad

RB Aaron Green, WR Mike Thomas, WR Duke Williams, WR Paul McRoberts, TE Temarrick Hemingway, DE Ian Seau, DE Morgan Fox, LB Josh Forrest, LB Nic Grigsby, S Rohan Gaines

So that’s Isaiah Battle, Eric Kush and Cory Littleton on the outs.

We’ll know soon...