Annual Bad Pre-Training Camp Roster Prediction

[Allen2McVay]

Not for me as I really believe it depends upon the actual player, his position and his situation with the key being how easy it would be to replace said player (Admittedly that is easier for some organizations than others).

That's why I said that most solid veterans are also JAG.

For example. Ernest Jones was a solid LB. He was easily replaced by JAG Nate Landman.

IMO, it's far more difficult with QBs and far easier with other positions like WRs. Don't get me wrong, talent is important at WR. But a lesser talented WR who is merely on the same page with a good/great QB can still put up numbers do wonders on offense.

Seems to me that these are two Different Topics.

One is simply player-evaluation-opinions ... which vary. One person may view a player as a Solid Veteran, while someone else may view that same player as a JAG. Just varying opinions that are subject to debate.

The second topic is one of objective classification of the terms Solid Veteran vs. Just-a-Guy.
To describe a player as a Solid Veteran is to state that he is More-than, or Better-than Just-a-Guy.
The terms are simply not synonymous. I just don't see that as debatable.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Seems to me that these are two Different Topics.

One is simply player-evaluation-opinions ... which vary. One person may view a player as a Solid Veteran, while someone else may view that same player as a JAG. Just varying opinions that are subject to debate.

The second topic is one of objective classification of the terms Solid Veteran vs. Just-a-Guy.
To describe a player as a Solid Veteran is to state that he is More-than, or Better-than Just-a-Guy.
The terms are simply not synonymous. I just don't see that as debatable.

If one were speaking in general I would agree with you. But, I'm not sure anyone was doing that until you jumped in. At least I wasn't.

 

[Allen2McVay]

If one were speaking in general I would agree with you. But, I'm not sure anyone was doing that until you jumped in. At least I wasn't.

I was focusing on your comment that ...
'most solid veterans are JAGs ... . Sure some may be more experienced, but they are still JAGs.'

I strongly disagree with that statement.


However, I did jump-in to the exchange late ... so, I will now jump-out ...

 

[El Chapo Jr]

We would all feel better to have better depth at every singe position on the team. But whatever may gives us the warm and fuzzies doesn't mean it's necessary for success.

Or that it may be necessary......

 

[El Chapo Jr]

As stated earlier, each of us are going to have differing opinions on who is solid or not.

You are right. Jefferson had no dawg in him at all. Still he looked solid to me in 2021, though you could sorta tell his knee started giving him trouble.

But, let's say he was always JAG. A JAG had 50 receptions for 802 yards and 6 TDs in 2021. Shouldn't that tell us how easy the position is to fill?

But that's where you get my definition incorrect. A solid vet is someone that has more than a flash in the pan year of being a solid vet. I want someone that consistently gives solid work year to year or has a better/longer body of work than Jefferson. To me, other than that one year you are talking about, Van Jefferson just wasn't it. He honestly to me is a player that was about to cross that JAG barrier but he just couldn't find that inner dog. I think a lot of us believe if he somehow got that dog in him, he would have turned out to be a much better player. Not hating on the dude as I also cheered him frustratingly on.

 

[Fire Ants]

I like that both 53s have UDFAs making it but it’s more likely most if not all will be on the practice squad and only if they show possible starting, sub-package and/or demon special teams potential

That’s how it is, it’s a tough tough roster to crack

Yeah, I think the gang is a bit too high on the FA's.

 

[Memphis Ram]

But that's where you get my definition incorrect. A solid vet is someone that has more than a flash in the pan year of being a solid vet. I want someone that consistently gives solid work year to year or has a better/longer body of work than Jefferson. To me, other than that one year you are talking about, Van Jefferson just wasn't it. He honestly to me is a player that was about to cross that JAG barrier but he just couldn't find that inner dog. I think a lot of us believe if he somehow got that dog in him, he would have turned out to be a much better player. Not hating on the dude as I also cheered him frustratingly on.

So we are even working on a different definition because for me once that rookie season is over I consider a player a veteran. And a WR can be solid after one good season IMO, as he's proven he can do it. Hence a solid veteran WR. But, again situations/circumstances change for these guys. Whether that be injuries, wear and tear, usage, fit, his QB or offense, etc...

IMO, Jefferson's main issue with the Rams is that the team wanted and needed more than a solid WR out of him.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I was focusing on your comment that ...
'most solid veterans are JAGs ... . Sure some may be more experienced, but they are still JAGs.'

I strongly disagree with that statement.


However, I did jump-in to the exchange late ... so, I will now jump-out ...
View attachment 75679

Not me when it comes to the WR topic that was and is being discussed.

IMO, WR may be the most plentiful position talentwise in the entire NFL (Doesn't hurt that it's one of, if not the most drafted positions annually)

This makes even solid veterans (anyone's definition) very replaceable to me. Especially, when the main keys for success include the player being a scheme fit and being on the same page with a good/great QB.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

So we are even working on a different definition because for me once that rookie season is over I consider a player a veteran. And a WR can be solid after one good season IMO, as he's proven he can do it. But, again situations/circumstances change for these guys. Whether that be injuries, wear and tear, usage, fit, his QB or offense, etc...

IMO, Jefferson's main issue with the Rams is that the team wanted and needed more than a solid WR out of

I wouldn't call a 2nd year player a vet at all. They are still young as hell at that point and got plenty to learn. Its possible for one to be but its usually not the case. I'm more of the mindset that they are a vet when they got the NFL life down as far as on and off the field to the point where younger players can come to them for help.

 

[Rams43]

I'll do my own:

QB - Matthew Stafford, Ty Simpson (2)

RB - Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter (KR), Dean Connors (PR) (4)

WR - Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, C.J. Daniels, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, Tru Edwards (6)

TE - Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Max Klare, Davis Allen (5)

OL - Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon, Justin Dedich, Keegan Trost, David Quessenberry (8)

DL - Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton, Tim Keenan III (6)

EDGE - Byron Young, Jared Verse, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Wesley Bailey, Eddie Walls III (6)

ILB - Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard (4)

CB - Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes, Josh Wallace, Al'Zillion Hamilton (5)

SAF - Quentin Lake, Kamren Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough (4)

ST - Harrison Mevis, Ethan Evans, Joe Cardona (3)

Feel free to fire away.

EDIT: Memphis is right. Accidentally made a 55-man roster. Dropping Valcarcel and Presley, giving Connors the PR job. Sorry, y'all.

I like your list the best, Memento.

I, too, think Daniels will become WR3 when all the dust settles.

ILB Stuard is probably onboard for ST duties, imo.

I might quibble with your order of TE’s. I think Higbee is clinging onto the roster because Rams just like him so much but the future of the TE corps is in the youngsters, imo.

 

[PhillyRam]

I could see Higbee retiring during camp if one of these UDFAs steps up and is too hard to cut. Or if he has any more injuries.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I could see Higbee retiring during camp if one of these UDFAs steps up and is too hard to cut. Or if he has any more injuries.

I think he'll stick around. Higs may be old, but he's got that OG vet swagger. His experience will be great for that room.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I think he'll stick around. Higs may be old, but he's got that OG vet swagger. His experience will be great for that room.

The swagger and experience are nice; and, I agree ... if healthy ... Higbee probably sticks.

However, this Dan Villari guy is really interesting.
He got the largest bonus of the undrafted free agents signed by the Rams. Only four of them got any bonus-$, and Villari's $45,000 was more than the other three UDFAs got combined.

Villari would be the 6th TE unless one of the top five (Parkinson, Ferguson, Higbee, Allen and Klare) does not make the final 53-man-roster. Five Tight Ends is a lot ... Six is an awful lot.

Maybe the Rams are hoping to keep Villari (should he show well) on the Practice Squad but in order to get him on the PS, Villari would have to be released, pass through waivers (thinking about Willie Lampkin); and even if that works-out, he would have agree to sign with the Rams PS (players' choice); and the bonus-$ becomes Dead-$ because he was released.

 

[PhillyRam]

The swagger and experience are nice; and, I agree ... if healthy ... Higbee probably sticks.

However, this Dan Villari guy is really interesting.
He got the largest bonus of the undrafted free agents signed by the Rams. Only four of them got any bonus-$, and Villari's $45,000 was more than the other three UDFAs got combined.

Villari would be the 6th TE unless one of the top five (Parkinson, Ferguson, Higbee, Allen and Klare) does not make the final 53-man-roster. Five Tight Ends is a lot ... Six is an awful lot.

Maybe the Rams are hoping to keep Villari (should he show well) on the Practice Squad but in order to get him on the PS, Villari would have to be released, pass through waivers (thinking about Willie Lampkin); and even if that works-out, he would have agree to sign with the Rams PS (players' choice); and the bonus-$ becomes Dead-$ because he was released.

Yeah, Villar or Rohan Jones could still knock Higs off the roster.

In fact I still see Jones as a big WR. He could bump someone out of that room.


View: https://youtu.be/Q8eVl6Kk7sw?si=D7tkR_xmfSyIBj5G

View: https://youtu.be/EiY1K6S-aww?si=PkR_WUAOwqxM9EzE

 

[RamDino]

Being an undrafted FA Dan Villari probably won't get poached from the practice squad. I believe the Rams are planning on him for next year when Higs, Parkinson and Allen leave. A year in the Rams system will help him a lot. The Willie Lampkin thing still haunts me however.

All these tight ends makes me think 13 personnel is here to stay. And why not? These tight ends create mismatched in both the run and pass game. Advantage: Rams.

 

[PhillyRam]

Being an undrafted FA Dan Villari probably won't get poached from the practice squad. I believe the Rams are planning on him for next year when Higs, Parkinson and Allen leave. A year in the Rams system will help him a lot. The Willie Lampkin thing still haunts me however.

All these tight ends makes me think 13 personnel is here to stay. And why not? These tight ends create mismatched in both the run and pass game. Advantage: Rams.

The fact that they had to give him a $45K signing bonus leads me to believe multiple teams were after him. In a copy cat league, teams are going with multiple TEs and I would think he can compete to be the 3rd TE on less talented rosters. So I think he would get poached if he shows well in preseason.

 

[Merlin]

As stated earlier, each of us are going to have differing opinions on who is solid or not.

You are right. Jefferson had no dawg in him at all. Still he looked solid to me in 2021, though you could sorta tell his knee started giving him trouble.

But, let's say he was always JAG. A JAG had 50 receptions for 802 yards and 6 TDs in 2021. Shouldn't that tell us how easy the position is to fill?

800+ yards for a third wideout is significant. That is probably the best performance we've had under McVay for that type of role. But I agree with the idea that Jefferson is a JAG. And I think that season represented the window where McVay did everything he could to elevate him in this offense. The Rams tried hard to make him.

By the time the playoffs arrived, they fortunately added OBJ. And this offense with that legit third pass game threat was unbelievable.

Anyway looking at this offense now our top two pass game threats are Nacua and Adams. I don't think any of the wideout depth chart options are significant, or even as good as Jefferson was. Jefferson had legit speed and decent frame and hands, excellent route running, he just lacked that mental or competitive edge. None of these dudes can compete with his tool set.

Way I see it the hope for the emergence of a third pass game threat comes down to Ferg or Klare. Which means the slot job will be open for competition among the big boys. I didn't expect them to approach things that way, as early this offseason I figured Nacua putting up one of the best slot performances ever meant he was going to transition over full time for 2026. Which in turn meant they would address outside the hash. But they went the other way, and I think the best explanation is probably that they want to keep the wear and tear low on Nacua to increase his odds of being healthy for the playoffs.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

The swagger and experience are nice; and, I agree ... if healthy ... Higbee probably sticks.

However, this Dan Villari guy is really interesting.
He got the largest bonus of the undrafted free agents signed by the Rams. Only four of them got any bonus-$, and Villari's $45,000 was more than the other three UDFAs got combined.

Villari would be the 6th TE unless one of the top five (Parkinson, Ferguson, Higbee, Allen and Klare) does not make the final 53-man-roster. Five Tight Ends is a lot ... Six is an awful lot.

Maybe the Rams are hoping to keep Villari (should he show well) on the Practice Squad but in order to get him on the PS, Villari would have to be released, pass through waivers (thinking about Willie Lampkin); and even if that works-out, he would have agree to sign with the Rams PS (players' choice); and the bonus-$ becomes Dead-$ because he was released.

I get this sneaky feeling Parkinson is gonna be the one on the way out if there is another TE that shows well. Just a suspicion and also because the Rams save I believe around 7 mil if they do.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I get this sneaky feeling Parkinson is gonna be the one on the way out if there is another TE that shows well. Just a suspicion and also because the Rams save I believe around 7 mil if they do.

Why, he was one of our top offensive playmakers with great blocking inline, an excellent outlet receiver and an 8 touchdown weapon in the red zone.

 

[RamDino]

The fact that they had to give him a $45K signing bonus leads me to believe multiple teams were after him. In a copy cat league, teams are going with multiple TEs and I would think he can compete to be the 3rd TE on less talented rosters. So I think he would get poached if he shows well in preseason.

IF he shows well in practice maybe MaVay shouldn't play him in preseason games so he doesn't get poached a la Lampkin. Or... and I hate to say this... if he looks good in preseason go ahead and cut Higbee or Parkinson or Allen.