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As Rams start roster cuts, QB Davis hanging by a thread
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_335c9879-20b1-5173-a4d8-b0eff085f4f3.html
From a player’s standpoint, this is the worst week of the calendar year in the NFL. League-wide, more than 1,100 players will lose their jobs, and each team’s roster will shrink by one-third in reaching the 53-man regular-season limit.
For many of those released, they will be finished with professional football. The Rams started their process Monday, releasing 11 players and placing cornerback E.J. Gaines on injured reserve.
With the exception of Imoan Claiborne, which was a mild surprise, there was nothing unexpected in the Rams’ initial round of cuts. In fact, you could make the case that the most surprising development Monday is that quarterback Austin Davis is still around.
The handwriting seemingly has been on the wall for some time for Davis after the Rams traded for Nick Foles and Case Keenum and used a third-round draft pick to select Sean Mannion.
Starting with the OTAs in June, Davis’ practice reps were limited, and he has played only three series in the preseason — one in each game. Those series started at the Rams’ 8, 18, and 20, hardly ideal field position.
“I’ve just got to stay ready, take as many mental reps as you can,” Davis said Monday. “And when you do get in, play your best and hopefully what you’ve already put on film is good enough. We’ll see.”
All told, Foles has gotten 10 series of play this preseason, Keenum seven, and Mannion six. Davis has thrown only five passes this preseason compared to 34 for Keenum, 33 for Mannion and 23 for starter Foles.
Davis started eight games last season, winning three. He had back-to-back games of 300 yards-plus passing, albeit in losses to Dallas and Philadelphia. But based on his lack of playing time in the preseason, he has to be sweating these cutdown days as much as any since signing with the Rams as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Mississippi in 2012.
“There’s not a lot that I can do,” Davis said. “Without getting the opportunity to really go out and play, you just kind of roll with the punches and see what happens.
“Kellen Clemens, that’s the one thing he told me my rookie year – control what you can control. I’ve tried to keep that approach from day one. I think it’s served me well. And I think it’s gonna serve me well in this situation.”
There were rumors early in the offseason that the Rams might be shopping Davis, looking for a potential trade. If the team were attempting to do so at this point, one would think he’d be showcased more in the preseason.
He started last year’s preseason finale in Miami, coming less than a week after Sam Bradford’s season-ending knee injury in Cleveland.
The Rams could simply be keeping Davis around this week to help get them through Thursday’s preseason finale against Kansas City, especially since there’s a chance that Foles won’t play at all.
So an ideal situation for Davis against the Chiefs might be a nice long touchdown drive, complete with a couple of third-down conversions. Just to remind the Rams, but more likely the rest of the NFL, what he can do.
“How about start the game, finish the game, and win,” Davis said, smiling. “That’d be a great scenario.”
True, but probably not going to happen.
“You fight and claw for every inch in this league,” Davis said. “It’s been a blessing to be here. Hopefully I can still be here and play as long as they’ll have me.”
Besides Claiborne, the Rams’ roster cuts Monday were wide receivers Damian Williams and Tyler Slavin; offensive linemen Steven Baker, Travis Bond and David Wang; safety Jay Hughes; punter/kicker Michael Palardy; and long snapper Tyler Ott.
In addition, tight end Brad Smelly and linebacker Korey Toomer were waived/injured.
Among the group only Toomer and Williams appeared in any games for the Rams last year. Williams played in two games but had no catches. Toomer appeared in seven games and had five special teams tackles. A high ankle sprain probably ended Toomer’s chances of making the 2015 roster.
Those moves leave the Rams with 77 players; two more must be released before 3 p.m. Tuesday, which is the deadline for reaching the 75-man roster limit.
The deadline for reaching the regular-season roster limit of 53 is 5 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s a difficult day,” Fisher said. “We just appreciate all the young guys’ efforts. They came in here, and they got opportunities and they got better. They should feel good about what they did. They helped us become a better football team. Cutdown day’s a tough day.”
Especially for Claiborne, who had three tackles, a pass breakup and an interception (against Oakland) in 49 plays on defense this preseason. Although he didn’t have ideal speed, Claiborne showed good coverage instincts and ball skills on the practice field. Following Gaines’ season-ending injury, it looked like he had a chance to make the roster as the team’s fifth cornerback.
“He played good, he made plays,” Fisher said. “He’s a potential practice squad candidate, but just because of the other positions and numbers, it just didn’t work out for us. We’ve got depth there.
“The other two young guys are doing good. You, know, those are our decisions. We have to stand by our decisions.”
Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner, and Marcus Roberson are clearly ensconced as the team’s top four corners. Remaining on the roster behind them are Brandon McGee, Trovon Reed and Montell Garner.
McGee, a fifth-round draft pick in 2013, has missed all but one day of training camp with a foot injury and looks like a candidate for a waived/injured designation. Garner is an undrafted rookie from South Alabama; Reed, a rookie from Auburn, wasn’t signed until Aug. 4, or several days into camp.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_335c9879-20b1-5173-a4d8-b0eff085f4f3.html
From a player’s standpoint, this is the worst week of the calendar year in the NFL. League-wide, more than 1,100 players will lose their jobs, and each team’s roster will shrink by one-third in reaching the 53-man regular-season limit.
For many of those released, they will be finished with professional football. The Rams started their process Monday, releasing 11 players and placing cornerback E.J. Gaines on injured reserve.
With the exception of Imoan Claiborne, which was a mild surprise, there was nothing unexpected in the Rams’ initial round of cuts. In fact, you could make the case that the most surprising development Monday is that quarterback Austin Davis is still around.
The handwriting seemingly has been on the wall for some time for Davis after the Rams traded for Nick Foles and Case Keenum and used a third-round draft pick to select Sean Mannion.
Starting with the OTAs in June, Davis’ practice reps were limited, and he has played only three series in the preseason — one in each game. Those series started at the Rams’ 8, 18, and 20, hardly ideal field position.
“I’ve just got to stay ready, take as many mental reps as you can,” Davis said Monday. “And when you do get in, play your best and hopefully what you’ve already put on film is good enough. We’ll see.”
All told, Foles has gotten 10 series of play this preseason, Keenum seven, and Mannion six. Davis has thrown only five passes this preseason compared to 34 for Keenum, 33 for Mannion and 23 for starter Foles.
Davis started eight games last season, winning three. He had back-to-back games of 300 yards-plus passing, albeit in losses to Dallas and Philadelphia. But based on his lack of playing time in the preseason, he has to be sweating these cutdown days as much as any since signing with the Rams as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Mississippi in 2012.
“There’s not a lot that I can do,” Davis said. “Without getting the opportunity to really go out and play, you just kind of roll with the punches and see what happens.
“Kellen Clemens, that’s the one thing he told me my rookie year – control what you can control. I’ve tried to keep that approach from day one. I think it’s served me well. And I think it’s gonna serve me well in this situation.”
There were rumors early in the offseason that the Rams might be shopping Davis, looking for a potential trade. If the team were attempting to do so at this point, one would think he’d be showcased more in the preseason.
He started last year’s preseason finale in Miami, coming less than a week after Sam Bradford’s season-ending knee injury in Cleveland.
The Rams could simply be keeping Davis around this week to help get them through Thursday’s preseason finale against Kansas City, especially since there’s a chance that Foles won’t play at all.
So an ideal situation for Davis against the Chiefs might be a nice long touchdown drive, complete with a couple of third-down conversions. Just to remind the Rams, but more likely the rest of the NFL, what he can do.
“How about start the game, finish the game, and win,” Davis said, smiling. “That’d be a great scenario.”
True, but probably not going to happen.
“You fight and claw for every inch in this league,” Davis said. “It’s been a blessing to be here. Hopefully I can still be here and play as long as they’ll have me.”
Besides Claiborne, the Rams’ roster cuts Monday were wide receivers Damian Williams and Tyler Slavin; offensive linemen Steven Baker, Travis Bond and David Wang; safety Jay Hughes; punter/kicker Michael Palardy; and long snapper Tyler Ott.
In addition, tight end Brad Smelly and linebacker Korey Toomer were waived/injured.
Among the group only Toomer and Williams appeared in any games for the Rams last year. Williams played in two games but had no catches. Toomer appeared in seven games and had five special teams tackles. A high ankle sprain probably ended Toomer’s chances of making the 2015 roster.
Those moves leave the Rams with 77 players; two more must be released before 3 p.m. Tuesday, which is the deadline for reaching the 75-man roster limit.
The deadline for reaching the regular-season roster limit of 53 is 5 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s a difficult day,” Fisher said. “We just appreciate all the young guys’ efforts. They came in here, and they got opportunities and they got better. They should feel good about what they did. They helped us become a better football team. Cutdown day’s a tough day.”
Especially for Claiborne, who had three tackles, a pass breakup and an interception (against Oakland) in 49 plays on defense this preseason. Although he didn’t have ideal speed, Claiborne showed good coverage instincts and ball skills on the practice field. Following Gaines’ season-ending injury, it looked like he had a chance to make the roster as the team’s fifth cornerback.
“He played good, he made plays,” Fisher said. “He’s a potential practice squad candidate, but just because of the other positions and numbers, it just didn’t work out for us. We’ve got depth there.
“The other two young guys are doing good. You, know, those are our decisions. We have to stand by our decisions.”
Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner, and Marcus Roberson are clearly ensconced as the team’s top four corners. Remaining on the roster behind them are Brandon McGee, Trovon Reed and Montell Garner.
McGee, a fifth-round draft pick in 2013, has missed all but one day of training camp with a foot injury and looks like a candidate for a waived/injured designation. Garner is an undrafted rookie from South Alabama; Reed, a rookie from Auburn, wasn’t signed until Aug. 4, or several days into camp.
