Projecting Rams' depth chart for Week 1

[Snaz]

Yes......that’s my role in this whole

yes this year will tell a lot about Samson’s career arc.
Does gap integrity apply to Donald?
Because it hasn’t in the past.

I think there was an interview with Donald about him playing the run more with the new DC.
In the past it was a play the run on the way to the QB mentality.

 

[fearsomefour]

I think there was an interview with Donald about him playing the run more with the new DC.
In the past it was a play the run on the way to the QB mentality.

Hard to know what is the better approach....he is so disruptive playing his normal style.

 

[So Ram]

4th round pick so not sure you can classify him as a bust, however, SJD has improved hopefully and I'm sure Gaines is going to get plenty of playing time, but I was not that huge on Gaines as I watched several games and did not come away overly impressed, when he played at the University of Washington.

My guess is Greg Gaines improves a lot in 2020. I think he has thinned out a touch & should be quicker & faster.

The disappointment of 2020 to me is A” Robinson. Really sucks he is in whatever place he is in? No news is good news?

Noteboom is the biggest surprise to me. Did not think he would be healthy,non the less starting.

I like the depth The Rams have on offense. The defense is another issue?

Do like the DB’s.

 

[So Ram]

Thanks, I fixed it.

I see Og Okoronkwo much more of a good 3 point pass rusher specialist than a starting left-wing OLB'er that will see many assignments in coverage. I see Polite as a more complete left side OLB'er with size & range to work good enough in coverage. Both are still part-timers at this time in this defense.

I am not down on Og but from what I have seen from him he is best used on passing down in the Brockers post where he will be a serious disruptor. Og plays bigger than his size in a DL, much like AD a under 280lbs DT.

I see the opposite with OO45.Polite is the bigger edge rusher.I can also see them both rushing the QB on opposite sides? Really don’t have a clue about that for sure.

Hill is the starting CB with Williams the Nickle? Will see Sunday Night though.

Three rookies(4)& Five on offense is a lot of youth.Good for the future,but as of 2020 there is concern about depth.

Robinson missing is a big concern.I like Fox & Gaines.Wonder if Staley has them feeding off each other together?
My guess from last season is they work well rotating with each other at DE/DT slot.

 

[badcop]

Gaines.

Gaines is much better at NT than SJD and this is most glaring when the double teams come. Gaines handles them much better than SJD and doesn't give ground and isn't folded like a tortilla which occurs too frequently with SJD. SJD isn't really isn't an NT IMHO and would better at 3 or 5 tech. Gaines did well in his limited play and pressured the QB a fair amount. I recall him being one of the few chasing Russel Wilson about in the Seattle game. He was also one of the highest graded players from preseason on the entire team and his grades were good regular season too. He is a great run defender.

 

[oldnotdead]

There are some wildcards in the deck as the Rams are going to make roster moves that will affect the depth chart. The biggest will be how they deal with Robinson, Howard, and Lawler. Robinson's contract is currently being carried as active which means in counts against the cap. If his condition is really hypertension or something akin to it, then it's correctable with medication and weight management. But depending upon the severity it could take time to sort out. I find it significant that he's never been in the facility or suited up from all reports that I've seen. So let's assume they decide to part ways with Lawler and Robinson or put A'Shawn on the NFI list for the start of the season. That said, it means he would be lost for about the first 9-10 weeks of the season. Seeing as how he's not going to be in shape to play until December, it probably means they will look to void his contract. I think that clarity on his status will come by Wednesday.

I've listed players not simply by depth rank but by order of rotation so some players are listed multiple times at different positions. Also, this is simply the opening day depth chart. I think Brockers will be the NT and Hollis will play his spot outside.

The Rams have their bye on week 9 which is a perfect spot. I think we could see some roster moves in that week. I think some moves might be Hoecht, Williams and Moncreif being signed to the active roster with Banks, Polite and Fox being released. All three are marginal players and I see them as simply placeholders because the UDFA didn't have a normal TC and offseason with OTAs. IMO the Rams will use the first 9 weeks to give them that coaching and practice. Since they didn't re-sign Smart I think Gaines will play in rotation behind AD which is a better position for him for his style of play. IMO Lewis' status is still up in the air and he could end up on IR. Which is why if he does, I expect Williams to take his place on the active roster. The fact they only carry 3 ILB's on the roster reflects what I've been saying about the position. It's a parttime position and becoming more so with the advent of teams using 3 and 4 WRs in their base sets.

I also see this as Okoronkwo's last season with the Rams. He was a Wade Phillips draft choice I'm sure, but IMO doesn't fit the kind of player Staley prefers. He will have to really kill it this season to stay. Unless Blythe really plays like he never played in 4 years, I see Allen potentially returning to his starting position during the break.

Offense 25

QB: Goff, Wolford
RB: Akers, Henderson, Brockers, Jones, Calais
WR: Woods, Kupp, Jefferson, Reynolds, Webster
TE: Higbee, Everett, Mundt (TE/ FB), Hopkins
LT: Whitworth, Noteboom, Edwards
LG: Noteboom, Corbett, Shelton
C: Blythe, Allen, Shelton
RG: Corbett, Evans, Edwards
RT: Havenstein, Edwards, Evans

Defense: 25

DE: Hollis, Fox, Polite, Banks
NT: Brockers, SJD
DT: Donald, Gaines
JACK: Floyd, Lewis, Okoronkwo
SAM: Ebukam, Hollis
MIKE: Kiser, Reeder
ILB: Young
RCB: Ramsey, Hill, Williams
LCB: Long, Hill, Williams
SCB: Williams, Burgess
SS: Rapp, Fuller
FS: Johnson, Burgess, Scott

ST: 3

LS: McQuaide
K: Sloman
P: Hekker
Returners: Calais, Webster

 

[Merlin]

Gaines.

Gaines is much better at NT than SJD and this is most glaring when the double teams come. Gaines handles them much better than SJD and doesn't give ground and isn't folded like a tortilla which occurs too frequently with SJD. SJD isn't really isn't an NT IMHO and would better at 3 or 5 tech. Gaines did well in his limited play and pressured the QB a fair amount. I recall him being one of the few chasing Russel Wilson about in the Seattle game. He was also one of the highest graded players from preseason on the entire team and his grades were good regular season too. He is a great run defender.

I think SJD is the better NT. But it's not as big a gap as some would say, in fact the main issue with Gaines seems to be playing time. Gaines is hard to move, even when he's teamed, because he can get really low and has good core strength.

Another area SJD has the advantage is his size. He could flex out to 5T for a run stuffing look for example. In fact if we were to stack our best 3 in stuffing the run it might be SJD at 5T, Gaines at NT, and Brock at 3T to give AD a blow. AD of course can blow up run plays, but he can also create run lanes with his lateral movement.

This defense prioritizes stuffing the run more than some others. So IMO we'll probably see Gaines get more looks in a heavy rotation and that should be good for him (more opportunity) and the defense (fresher DL).

 

[Merlin]

Also if I were McVay I wouldn't waste time giving most of the snaps to JRey in game 1 at X. I mention this because I have the feeling that is what they're going to do. I would instead (and I know I'm not alone on this) make Jefferson the starter and give him most of the snaps right out the gate.

And last but not least the OL... Let's try to have a relatively quick hook this season if any of these guys look like ass right away. Depth is there now use it.