Wagoner: Rams trim to 75

[Guard]

http://blog.stlouisrams.com/2012/08/27/ ... ws-to-i-r/


Rams Cuts Include Alexander, Laws to I.R.
Posted by nickwagoner on August 27, 2012 – 8:01 PM

- The Rams trimmed their roster from 90 to 75 on Monday afternoon with no real surprises on the list, though a couple of names did stand out.

- First, the Rams released only 14 players but that’s because one went to injured reserve. That player was DT Trevor Laws.

- The players waived by the Rams: WR Danario Alexander, FB Todd Anderson, TE Brody Eldridge, WR Charles Gilbert, DT John Gill, WR Brandyn Harvey, LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis, T Kevin Hughes, LB Noah Keller, K Garrett Lindholm, T Ryan McKee, RB Calvin Middleton, RB Nick Schwieger and LS Travis Tripucka.

- Laws has a partial tear in his right patellar tendon, a problem that has been chronic for him. He was unable to practice almost all of training camp and he wouldn’t have been ready to start the season. That means some real openings for backup DT spots for youngsters Matt Conrath and Jermelle Cudjo. Also, it could mean the Rams look for more help at the position after final cuts are made.

- On the cuts list, no real surprises though a familiar name was on the list in the form of Alexander.

- It’s been covered here and plenty of other place ad nausea but it’s just been too difficult for Alexander to stay on the field. This camp, he sat out with a hamstring issue then practice a couple of times before going back on the shelf with more hamstring problems. Couple that with the on going knee issues which will always require management and here we are. Alexander is a great kid and a talented player but those talents don’t help a football team on the sideline. Here’s hoping the best for him in the future.

- The rest of the group didn’t get many opportunities in the preseason as others moved ahead of them on the list. Some were late additions such as Gill, Harvey and Gilbert. Best of luck to all of the players let go.

- The final cuts will come Friday when the Rams must go from 75 to 53. Here’s a positional breakdown of what’s left on the roster:

QB (4): Sam Bradford, Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis, Tom Brandstater
RB (4): Steven Jackson, Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson, Chase Reynolds
FB (3): Brit Miller, Ovie Mughelli, Ben Guidugli
WR (9): Danny Amendola, Steve Smith, Brandon Gibson, Austin Pettis, Brian Quick, Chris Givens, Greg Salas, Nick Johnson, Mike Campbell
TE (6): Lance Kendricks, Matthew Mulligan, Mike Hoomanawanui, Mike McNeill, Deangelo Peterson, Cory Harkey
OL (13): Rodger Saffold, Quinn Ojinnaka, Scott Wells, Harvey Dahl, Barry Richardson, Jason Smith, Robert Turner, T. Bob Hebert, Jose Valdez, Bryan Mattison, Rokevious Watkins, Joe Long, Tim Barnes

Total left on offense: 39

DL (13): Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Kendall Langford, Michael Brockers, William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Matt Conrath, Jermelle Cudjo, Darell Scott, Cornell Banks, Jamaar Jarrett, Scott Smith, Vernon Gholston
LB (8): James Laurinaitis, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Rocky McIntosh, Mario Haggan, Josh Hull, Aaron Brown, Justin Cole, Sammy Brown
CB: (7): Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher, Trumaine Johnson, Jerome Murphy, Kendric Burney, Quinton Pointer
S (5): Quintin Mikell, Darian Stewart, Craig Dahl, Rodney McLeod, Matt Daniels

Total on Defense: 33

- And, not there was much mystery anyway but the Rams have settled their specialist positions as well.

K (1): Greg Zuerlein
P (1): Johnny Hekker
LS (1): Jake McQuaide

- That’s all for today. I’ll have more in a story for the front with reaction quotes following coach Jeff Fisher’s news conference. Thanks for reading.

 

[Angry Ram]

Cya, DX. Appreciated the heart, but it was time to stop waiting and do what's best for the team.

 

[-X-]

Put V is RRF on suicide watch now.

 

[bluecoconuts]

With DX gone, the WR group gets a little more clear.

Amendola, Quick, and Givens are locks. Smith is a virtual lock as well, so that leaves Salas, Gibson and Pettis for the last 2 spots (assuming we roll with 6) with Nick Johnson on the Practice Squad.

Normally I list Salas with the locks, but given his playing time who knows what the coaches are thinking. Regardless he Gibson and Pettis are safe until at least week 2. Then Pettis should return from suspension and either he, Salas or Gibson will leave. I believe that Salas ultimately will stick as well as Pettis. Leaving Gibson as the odd man out. But there's always a chance they see Salas as the expendable one after Amendola and Smith.

Either way my 6 are, Amendola, Quick, Givens, Smith, Pettis and Salas. Gibson is cut/traded after Pettis returns.

 

[-X-]

With DX gone, the WR group gets a little more clear.

Amendola, Quick, and Givens are locks. Smith is a virtual lock as well, so that leaves Salas, Gibson and Pettis for the last 2 spots (assuming we roll with 6) with Nick Johnson on the Practice Squad.

Normally I list Salas with the locks, but given his playing time who knows what the coaches are thinking. Regardless he Gibson and Pettis are safe until at least week 2. Then Pettis should return from suspension and either he, Salas or Gibson will leave. I believe that Salas ultimately will stick as well as Pettis. Leaving Gibson as the odd man out. But there's always a chance they see Salas as the expendable one after Amendola and Smith.

Either way my 6 are, Amendola, Quick, Givens, Smith, Pettis and Salas. Gibson is cut/traded after Pettis returns.

If Gibson stays after DX is cut, the PD is going to melt the internet.

 

[bwdenverram]

I really feel for DX. So much talent wasted because of injuries. Can only imagine how good he could of been if only healthy. Best of luck brother, we gotta roll with guys that can stay on the field.

 

[-X-]

Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... 0f31a.html


Danario Alexander’s tenure with the Rams has ended. [hil]He was waived with an injury settlement[/hil] Monday as the team trimmed 15 spots off their roster to reach the 75-man roster limit.

It was always a matter of injuries — not talent — with Alexander. In this case, a hamstring injury had sidelined him for all but a couple practices during training camp and the preseason. The former University of Missouri star had not played in any of the team’s preseason contests this month.

Over the years, Alexander’s left knee had withstood five surgeries, but he still had his moments in two seasons with the Rams, playing in 18 games with seven starts over the 2010 and ’11 seasons.

All told, he had 46 catches for 737 yards with three touchdowns as a Ram, including a 38-yard scoring grab against San Diego in 2010 in his Rams debut.

The Rams also placed veteran defensive tackle Trevor Laws on injured reserve. Laws, a five-year NFL veteran, was signed during offseason via free agency from Philadelphia. He had missed almost all of training camp with a patellar tendon knee issue that had bothered him dating back to his Eagles days.

In addition to Alexander and Laws, these 13 players were released: wide receivers Charles Gilbert and Brandyn Harvey; running backs Calvin Middleton and Nicholas Schweiger; offensive lineman Ryan McKee and Kevin Hughes; linebackers Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Noah Keller; tight end Brody Eldridge; fullback Todd Anderson; kicker Garrett Lindholm; long snapper Travis Tripucka; and defensive lineman John Gill.

 

[Speeps]

With DX gone, the WR group gets a little more clear.

Amendola, Quick, and Givens are locks. Smith is a virtual lock as well, so that leaves Salas, Gibson and Pettis for the last 2 spots (assuming we roll with 6) with Nick Johnson on the Practice Squad.

Normally I list Salas with the locks, but given his playing time who knows what the coaches are thinking. Regardless he Gibson and Pettis are safe until at least week 2. Then Pettis should return from suspension and either he, Salas or Gibson will leave. I believe that Salas ultimately will stick as well as Pettis. Leaving Gibson as the odd man out. But there's always a chance they see Salas as the expendable one after Amendola and Smith.

Either way my 6 are, Amendola, Quick, Givens, Smith, Pettis and Salas. Gibson is cut/traded after Pettis returns.

Amendola, Quick, Givens, Smith, Salas, Gibson, and Pettis will be on the roster for the first 2 weeks. Pettis has to serve a 2 game suspension and will not count against the roster. Salas and Gibson has an opportunity to give the coaches a reason to cut Pettis.

 

[Wonderboy]

If Gibson stays after DX is cut, the PD is going to melt the internet.

Alright, I guess that means I have to change my signature. The question is, who is going to earn their way on to my signature? To be fair, DX earned it more in Columbia torching the Big 12 than he did in St. Louis limping around on the sidelines. I definitely pulled for him, but sadly this is the right move for the Rams. Now, let's see who makes it onto my signature line in the coming weeks. Good luck to DX and GO RAMS!

 

[Ram_Fan]

I still don't understand why Salas isn't getting the reps that Pettis is getting. It's mind boggling :boing:

I really hope Salas makes the cut, because I honestly think he has more upside than Pettis and Gibson.

 

[DR RAM]

I can make about 18 fairly easy cuts, but the last few are pretty tough. I feel for the guys whose dreams may be over. I feel for the coaches and GM who have to make these cuts. It is not easy for anyone.

 

[had]

Kind of a bummer about Hoffman-Ellis. I never heard anything about him from camp (haven't been following it) -- did anyone hear anything about him? I'm guessing he's slow.

Oh well. Thought he might connect well with Laurinaitis.

Actually, this bums me out royally. Might be the heat, too, though. It's always depressing when it's hot and the seasons are starting to change. Always reminds me of gradeschool. New corduroys. Ugh.

 

[DR RAM]

- The final cuts will come Friday when the Rams must go from 75 to 53. Here’s a positional breakdown of what’s left on the roster:

QB (3): Sam Bradford, Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis, Tom Brandstater
RB (3): Steven Jackson, Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson, Chase Reynolds
FB (1): Brit Miller, Ovie Mughelli, Ben Guidugli
WR (6): Danny Amendola, Steve Smith, Brandon Gibson, Austin Pettis, Brian Quick, Chris Givens, Greg Salas, Nick Johnson, Mike Campbell Not counting Pettis.
TE (4): Lance Kendricks, Matthew Mulligan, Mike Hoomanawanui, Mike McNeill, Deangelo Peterson, Cory Harkey
OL (9): Rodger Saffold, Quinn Ojinnaka, Scott Wells, Harvey Dahl, Barry Richardson, Jason Smith, Robert Turner, T. Bob Hebert, Jose Valdez, Bryan Mattison, Rokevious Watkins, Joe Long, Tim Barnes

Total on offense: 26

DL (9): Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Kendall Langford, Michael Brockers, William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Matt Conrath, Jermelle Cudjo, Darell Scott, Cornell Banks, Jamaar Jarrett, Scott Smith, Vernon Gholston
LB (6): James Laurinaitis, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Rocky McIntosh, Mario Haggan, Josh Hull, Aaron Brown, Justin Cole, Sammy Brown
CB: (5): Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher, Trumaine Johnson, Jerome Murphy, Kendric Burney, Quinton Pointer
S (4): Quintin Mikell, Darian Stewart, Craig Dahl, Rodney McLeod, Matt Daniels

Total on Defense: 24

- And, not there was much mystery anyway but the Rams have settled their specialist positions as well.

K (1): Greg Zuerlein
P (1): Johnny Hekker
LS (1): Jake McQuaide

OK, I think I made it.
Players in blue to the PS.
Players in red are cut.
Players in orange are on the bubble.

 

[Lesson]

You think Smith will be cut?

 

[DR RAM]

You think Smith will be cut?

These are my cuts, but I think it's a possibility.

 

[Selassie I]

I hope you're right about T-Bob getting cut Doc.

Having Booby Hebert's son on the Rams has been making me feel very unclean.

 

[DR RAM]

I hope you're right about T-Bob getting cut Doc.

Having Booby Hebert's son on the Rams has been making me feel very unclean.

Just saying T-Bob sounds dirty.

 

[Ram Quixote]

Did you mean for WR Mike Campbell to make the 53?

 

[DR RAM]

Did you mean for WR Mike Campbell to make the 53?

No, I didn't.

 

[PhxRam]

Did you mean for WR Mike Campbell to make the 53?

No, I didn't.

Good call on smith.. I really thought he would have been the starter.