Predict the 53

[Fatbot]

I don't have any of last year's preseason games anymore so I'm going off of memory - but I remember him showing as a blocker.

In my mind, there was as much seperation as blockers between he and Bayer as there was in their receiving skills.

Maybe one of them will show up this year having closed the gap a bit.

Agreed, a year ago isn't very relevant now! But for a blast from the past see:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNDG5uqB4Zs


At 1:39 is my memory... Greg Robinson unfairly gets the blame because the whole OL is foreshadowing the year to come, allowing horrible interior penetration any time they try to reach block. But Kendricks is so bad he just disappears, just horrid. Bayer/Cunningham were similar. Don't know if it was blocking schemes or personnel but really hope this year is different and the Rams have a noticeable TE blocking presence on the line.

 

[DCH]

QB: Nick Foles, Sean Mannion
LT: Greg Robinson, Andrew Donnal
LG: Cody Wichmann, Jamon Brown
C: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes
RG: Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds
RT: Rob Havenstein,
RB: Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Isaiah Pead, Chase Reynolds
WR: Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Emory Blake, Bud Sasser
TE: Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, Corey Harkey, Justice Cunningham
(25)

DE: Chris Long, Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims
DT: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Nick Fairley, Ethan Westbrooks, Louis Trinca-Pasat
OLB: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Bryce Hager
MLB: James Laurinaitis, Daren Bates
CB: Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, EJ Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson
SS: TJ McDonald, Mark Barron, Mo Alexander
FS: Rodney McLeod, Christian Bryant
(25)

P: Johnny Hekker
K: Greg Zuerlein
LS: Jake McQuaide
(3)

 

[shovelpass]

QB: Nick Foles, Sean Mannion
LT: Greg Robinson, Andrew Donnal
LG: Cody Wichmann, Jamon Brown
C: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes
RG: Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds
RT: Rob Havenstein,
RB: Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Isaiah Pead, Chase Reynolds
WR: Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Emory Blake, Bud Sasser
TE: Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, Corey Harkey, Justice Cunningham
(25)

DE: Chris Long, Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims
DT: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Nick Fairley, Ethan Westbrooks, Louis Trinca-Pasat
OLB: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Bryce Hager
MLB: James Laurinaitis, Daren Bates
CB: Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, EJ Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson
SS: TJ McDonald, Mark Barron, Mo Alexander
FS: Rodney McLeod, Christian Bryant
(25)

P: Johnny Hekker
K: Greg Zuerlein
LS: Jake McQuaide
(3)

No Benny Cunningham?

 

[DCH]

No Benny Cunningham?

Nope. I expect Pead's return and willingness/ability to cover kicks and punts to make Cunningham a trade/cut casualty. I like Bam-Bam, but the RB depth chart is effing stacked, and I don't think he's been on ST (I may be wrong though).

 

[DCH]

FWIW, the only other "name" guys I left off my 53 were Givens and Brandon McGee.

 

[shovelpass]

Nope. I expect Pead's return and willingness/ability to cover kicks and punts to make Cunningham a trade/cut casualty. I like Bam-Bam, but the RB depth chart is effing stacked, and I don't think he's been on ST (I may be wrong though).

Benny is a good kick returner, but Pead was returning kicks in preaseason and who knows about his potential. If Pead works out, I'm all for it, but I think that I would rather have a guy that has proven his playing ability in a shorter amount of time.

FWIW, the only other "name" guys I left off my 53 were Givens and Brandon McGee.

Both of those guys are gone. Givens has basically disappeared and the one time that I've seen McGee play was against Chicago, which he played poorly.

 

[DCH]

Benny is a good kick returner, but Pead was returning kicks in preaseason and who knows about his potential. If Pead works out, I'm all for it, but I think that I would rather have a guy that has proven his playing ability in a shorter amount of time.

I don't think Benny brings a lot to the table that Pead doesn't offer, and Pead also plays on the coverage teams. I'd also not mind seeing TA get the chance to return kicks, and our continued shift towards a run-first offense may well open up opportunities for him to succeed on ST.

Both of those guys are gone. Givens has basically disappeared and the one time that I've seen McGee play was against Chicago, which he played poorly.

Agreed. Givens is the guy most likely to be able to take the top off a defense, which MIGHT work well with the new ground offense, depending on whether Cignetti wants to use him as such. But he's such a one-trick pony... and McGee has been outplayed by Roberson, who deserves a spot on the depth chart based on (somewhat limited) action in 2014.

 

[Rams43]

QB: Nick Foles, Sean Mannion
LT: Greg Robinson, Andrew Donnal
LG: Cody Wichmann, Jamon Brown
C: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes
RG: Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds
RT: Rob Havenstein,
RB: Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Isaiah Pead, Chase Reynolds
WR: Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Emory Blake, Bud Sasser
TE: Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, Corey Harkey, Justice Cunningham
(25)

DE: Chris Long, Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims
DT: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Nick Fairley, Ethan Westbrooks, Louis Trinca-Pasat
OLB: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Bryce Hager
MLB: James Laurinaitis, Daren Bates
CB: Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, EJ Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson
SS: TJ McDonald, Mark Barron, Mo Alexander
FS: Rodney McLeod, Christian Bryant
(25)

P: Johnny Hekker
K: Greg Zuerlein
LS: Jake McQuaide
(3)

That's a pretty solid projection, Dewey.

I see just a few things differently.

Add a 3rd QB. Keenum?
Delete a WR to make room for the QB. Glad to see you dropped Givens, btw.
Keep Cunningham and show Pead (and his salary) the door.
I hope C Bryant makes it at S. Something about him really resonates with me. Was he a FS in college?

 

[Memphis Ram]

Quarterbacks (2)
Nick Foles, Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
Tre Mason, Bennie Cunningham, Trey Watts, Shane Reynolds
(Todd Gurley - PUP List)

Tight Ends (4)
Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, Corey Harkey, Justice Cunningham

Wide Receivers (5)
Brian Quick, Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Steadman Bailey, Bud Sasser

Offensive Linemen (10)
Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Cody Wichmann, Garrett Reynolds, Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney, Joe Barksdale or Justin Blalock


Defensive Linemen (9)
Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Chris Long, Williams Hayes, Nick Fairley, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Eugene Sims, Martin Ifedi

Linebackers (6)
Alex Ogletree, James Laurinaitis, Akeem Ayers, Darren Bates, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch

Defensive Backs (9)
Janoris Jenkins, E.J. Gaines, T.J. McDonald, Rodney McLeod, Mark Barron, LeMarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, Mo Alexander, Imoan Claiborne

Specialists (3)
Johnny Hekker, Punter
Greg Zuerlein, Kicker
Jake McQuaide, Long Snapper

 

[Rams43]

Nope. I expect Pead's return and willingness/ability to cover kicks and punts to make Cunningham a trade/cut casualty. I like Bam-Bam, but the RB depth chart is effing stacked, and I don't think he's been on ST (I may be wrong though).

Strongly disagree, Dewey.

Pead is a total loss without insurance. A genuine diamond backed 2nd round bust.

Check this out... http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14888/isaiah-pead

Benny Cunningham, on the other hand... http://www.nfl.com/player/bennycunningham/2541544/careerstats

Note Benny's KR yardage, as well.

I think Benny is worth more than 10 Peads. And to think one is a 2nd rounder and the other is a UDFA. Then there's the cap hit differential...

 

[Memphis Ram]

Bennie Cunnigham's base salary $585,000
Isaiah Pead's base salary $940,650

I believe that Pead could be a great 3rd down back, but methinks he's gone.

 

[12intheBox]

Quarterbacks (2)
Nick Foles, Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
Tre Mason, Bennie Cunningham, Trey Watts, Shane Reynolds
(Todd Gurley - PUP List)

Tight Ends (4)
Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, Corey Harkey, Justice Cunningham

Wide Receivers (5)
Brian Quick, Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Steadman Bailey, Bud Sasser

Offensive Linemen (10)
Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Cody Wichmann, Garrett Reynolds, Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney, Joe Barksdale or Justin Blalock


Defensive Linemen (9)
Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Chris Long, Williams Hayes, Nick Fairley, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Eugene Sims, Martin Ifedi

Linebackers (6)
Alex Ogletree, James Laurinaitis, Akeem Ayers, Darren Bates, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch

Defensive Backs (9)
Janoris Jenkins, E.J. Gaines, T.J. McDonald, Rodney McLeod, Mark Barron, LeMarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, Mo Alexander, Imoan Claiborne

Specialists (3)
Johnny Hekker, Punter
Greg Zuerlein, Kicker
Jake McQuaide, Long Snapper

The big name cuts being

Tru
Dunbar
Westbrooks
Barnes
Givens

One thing I have noticed trying to predict the 53 is how hard it is to carry 3 QBs.

 

[DCH]

Strongly disagree, Dewey.

Pead is a total loss without insurance. A genuine diamond backed 2nd round bust.

Check this out... http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14888/isaiah-pead

Benny Cunningham, on the other hand... http://www.nfl.com/player/bennycunningham/2541544/careerstats

Note Benny's KR yardage, as well.

I think Benny is worth more than 10 Peads. And to think one is a 2nd rounder and the other is a UDFA. Then there's the cap hit differential...

I think Pead's performance on special teams coverage makes him worth keeping. That's such an important part of the game. And I usually ignore cap hit unless it's preventing us from signing someone we want... which I don't think is the case with Pead's extra $360k or so.

I would have agreed with you about Pead before he grew a pair of balls and started doing whatever it took to get playing time in 2013. I love how his attitude changed, and I love how he performed when given opportunities to earn playing time rather than being handed it.

 

[Rams43]

I think Pead's performance on special teams coverage makes him worth keeping. That's such an important part of the game. And I usually ignore cap hit unless it's preventing us from signing someone we want... which I don't think is the case with Pead's extra $360k or so.

I would have agreed with you about Pead before he grew a pair of balls and started doing whatever it took to get playing time in 2013. I love how his attitude changed, and I love how he performed when given opportunities to earn playing time rather than being handed it.

Exactly what have been Pead's ST contributions, Dewey? Nothing stands out in my mind, anyway.

Benny was top 6 in KR returns last year, I believe. Not to mention the breathers he gave Mason. Also, I recall him catching a few critical 3rd down passes and one pass from Hekker on a fake punt for a key first down.

Pead has scarcely sniffed the field on O. I'll take Benny all day long over Pead. Hell, it's not even close for me.

 

[DCH]

Exactly what have been Pead's ST contributions, Dewey? Nothing stands out in my mind, anyway.

Benny was top 6 in KR returns last year, I believe. Not to mention the breathers he gave Mason. Also, I recall him catching a few critical 3rd down passes and one pass from Hekker on a fake punt for a key first down.

Pead has scarcely sniffed the field on O. I'll take Benny all day long over Pead. Hell, it's not even close for me.

Last year nothing, obviously, as he was out all year with the knee injury, but in 2013, Pead was a fairly big contributor on the coverage teams, which is something you always need (it's kept Chase Reynolds and Daren Bates on the team for years).

And regarding Bam-Bam's kick returns, they're nice for increasing the average starting position, but did he break one? Has he ever?

I think Pead has better natural talent than Cunningham and plays coverage, which I may overvalue. Don't get me wrong, I hear your arguments on the matter, I just place my value elsewhere. I'll take untapped potential with good ST coverage over a 3rd-down back who is consistently OK out of the backfield and won't hurt you in the KR game.

...

On a side note, ain't it great that the biggest complaint/argument about a proposed 53-man roster is now whether a guy who's been consistently OK in the past will make the team, rather than "how many of our UDFAs will actually play"?

 

[Memphis Ram]

The big name cuts being

Tru
Dunbar
Westbrooks
Barnes
Givens

One thing I have noticed trying to predict the 53 is how hard it is to carry 3 QBs.

Ooops. I thought Tru was listed. There goes Claiborne.

 

[Memento]

Ooops. I thought Tru was listed. There goes Claiborne.

Maybe not. You still only have fifty-two guys on the roster right now because I don't think that PUP counts as an active roster spot.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Maybe not. You still only have fifty-two guys on the roster right now because I don't think that PUP counts as an active roster spot.

Welcome back Claiborne...lol.

 

[RAMpage28]

If Pead is on this roster, I'm going to go insane.