Sean McVay names positions Rams are watching closest before final cuts

[Riverumbbq]

By: Cameron DaSilva | 2 hours ago

In less than a week, all 32 teams will have their 53-man rosters set for the regular season. Every team has to trim its roster down from 90 to 53 players by Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Having one of the deepest and most talented squads in the NFL, the Rams will be faced with a lot of tough decisions at several positions.
They have outstanding depth at wide receiver, particularly at the top. They also have several players who will be difficult to cut at cornerback and outside linebacker.

On Sunday, Sean McVay named the positions the Rams are watching the closest as roster cuts loom.
“I think what you’re looking at, mainly, is I think we’re starting to get some clarity on a lot of the skill positions. We’ve talked a lot about the depth that we have at corner, which is going to be a good positive, difficult decision to make toward the latter half of some of those decisions. Then, just finding our depth on both lines – I think guys have started to establish themselves. Then, clearly, the inside linebacker position is something that we’ve got to figure out exactly how it shapes up. In a lot of ways it’s going to be predicated on how we envision those guys contributing for (John Fassel) and for (assistant special teams coach) Matt Daniels. I think it’s really the depth on both fronts, the inside linebacker position and the corner position are the ones that we’re really continuing to look at closely.”

Micah Kiser’s injury complicates things at linebacker because it opens the door for players such as Travin Howard, Dakota Allen and of course, Bryce Hager – the projected starter at inside linebacker.
At cornerback, there are five locks to make the team and then a cluster of players who will be difficult to part ways with. Kevin Peterson, Dont’e Deayon, Darious Williams and Dominique Hatfield are all competing for roster spots behind the three starters and then Troy Hill and David Long Jr.
The offensive and defensive lines are also littered with young talent as the Rams try to find some clarity in the trenches. Among the players to watch on those fronts are Tanzel Smart, Morgan Fox, Jeremiah Kolone, Chandler Brewer and Jamil Demby.
Needless to say, there will be some good players without jobs on Saturday afternoon.

Sean McVay names positions Rams are watching closest before final cuts

The Rams have some difficult calls to make this weekend when final roster cuts happen.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[12intheBox]

Is Troy Hill a lock?

 

[BigRamFan]

Is Troy Hill a lock?

Not in my opinion. I would release both him and Hatfield early on in the cut down process.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Is Troy Hill a lock?

Apparently so, and he got the new contract to go along with it. Personally, I look to trade him. jmo.

 

[FrantikRam]

Is Troy Hill a lock?

Lol, yes.

I don't think people have a good understanding of what good depth actually is. A cheap, young CB who has started and played well in a playoff game? Yep.

The entire defense was a disappointment at times last year, not just Hill. Even though he may not have played well, again, a 4th or 5th CB with starting experience who is cheap and young? That's what good depth is.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Lol, yes.

I don't think people have a good understanding of what good depth actually is. A cheap, young CB who has started and played well in a playoff game? Yep.

The entire defense was a disappointment at times last year, not just Hill. Even though he may not have played well, again, a 4th or 5th CB with starting experience who is cheap and young? That's what good depth is.

Thing is though, and especially on already good teams, is that even more good depth is always chasing your tail. Hill is into his 4'th season and there appears to be some quality depth players stepping on that tail.

 

[Jacobarch]

Lol, yes.

I don't think people have a good understanding of what good depth actually is. A cheap, young CB who has started and played well in a playoff game? Yep.

The entire defense was a disappointment at times last year, not just Hill. Even though he may not have played well, again, a 4th or 5th CB with starting experience who is cheap and young? That's what good depth is.

Who are you? Why are you being so logical? How dare you! Lol

 

[Jacobarch]

Thing is though, and especially on already good teams, is that even more good depth is always chasing your tail. Hill is into his 4'th season and there appears to be some quality depth players stepping on that tail.

How can you say hes the same quality? Not one of these guys besides Hatfield has played a real NFL game. And we've seen what's happened to Hatfield when he plays a real game. The garbage time game against the niners 3 years ago doesn't count either.

 

[Malibu]

Not in my opinion. I would release both him and Hatfield early on in the cut down process.

Absolutely agree, unfortunately we have too many great depth players at CB and WR and we will easily lose several to other teams. I am keeping Peterson, Williams and Deoyan.

 

[Riverumbbq]

How can you say hes the same quality? Not one of these guys besides Hatfield has played a real NFL game. And we've seen what's happened to Hatfield when he plays a real game. The garbage time game against the niners 3 years ago doesn't count either.

Isn't that how it is with everyone, there's always going to be someone chasing that same dream, some will eventually overtake you, others fall by the wayside. Young guys often enough catch their elders, and sometimes a tie may go to the guy who doesn't cost the team as much financially. Wade Phillips will have the final say following hours of film. Lets just hope the best man wins.

 

[Merlin]

What I dislike about Hill is his lack of consistency. He's like a streaky hitter tbh, one game he looks like he's got things figured out the next he forgets the basics and can't even get his head around. I didn't like the Rams signing him, and dislike it even more now that this CB group has shown so much growth. There isn't a lot of separation between some of these guys and Hill, but there is separation in what they're being paid. Not that the Rams are cheap or anything, but yeah it is a business.

All that aside I have accepted he's going to make the roster, barring trade. There's just some players that the Rams like more than the fan base... Guys like Hill, Christian, Smart, etc. And I am sure they are mostly correct too, even though I disagree with them, because they see much more of these guys and know them at a deeper level.

 

[12intheBox]

I would think Hill gets traded before he gets cut, I just wouldnt put him on the iron clad list. More to the point, to the extent the Rams could save cap money by choosing one of the lesser provens (and I don't know if they could or not) - it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Just because they paid Hill doesn't nessesarily mean he's a lock. Tavon Austin and Alec Olgletree come to mind. They got paid and then were soon gone.

 

[BC Ramfan]

I would think Hill gets traded before he gets cut, I just wouldnt put him on the iron clad list. More to the point, to the extent the Rams could save cap money by choosing one of the lesser provens (and I don't know if they could or not) - it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

The thing I keep coming back to is keeping young talent for the future. Both DBs and WRs.

Even if they're a hair weaker and less experienced/reliable this year, then you will have good young talent to coach up and be cheap future starters (hopefully) when Talib/Peters/NRC/Weddle/Reynolds move on for age/money reasons.

The Rams look to be contenders for years to come. I would be inclined to make these decisions on long-run terms, not just for this year. Hoping the braintrust feels the same.

BC

 

[Jacobarch]

Isn't that how it is with everyone, there's always going to be someone chasing that same dream, some will eventually overtake you, others fall by the wayside. Young guys often enough catch their elders, and sometimes a tie may go to the guy who doesn't cost the team as much financially. Wade Phillips will have the final say following hours of film. Lets just hope the best man wins.

Well, yes and no. It's not how it goes with everyone. I would say most players get a chance because of injury or of where they were drafted. All of our backups besides Long and Rapp were late round picks or UDFA's. They're only going to get a chance if someone gets injured or if they see something that really stands out. I haven't seen much with our backups. Yeah, they have looked decent and sometimes good but those are also against 2nd and 3rd stringers. I don't see any men among children when I watch our backup DB's, no one dominate which should tell you a lot. I'm in no way saying some of these guys wont become good to great players but as of right now I don't see anyone better than Hill as backups. I wouldn't fret much about it anyway, Peterson will probably make the 53 and Williams and Dysaun (sp) will probably make the PS.

 

[oldnotdead]

Troy Hill is a lock only because of his contract. He's not cheap BTW. He carries a cap of $1.7M but a dead cap of over $2M. His play is marginal and by midseason, I think he will drop down the depth chart.

Deayon is 5'9" and I think they need to get away from tiny CB's because they can only play slot CB. I'm making the prediction that if they release Gervase he will be picked up and converted to CB He's faster and more athletic than most secondary players with his height. It would be a major mistake to let him walk. Give him a year to transition to CB and they will have a lockdown man coverage CB to bookend David Long next year. He also can earn his keep on ST's which he has been playing well.

Roby-Coleman is overrated and mistake-prone. Troy Hill lacks the speed and especially the burst and agility to play boundary CB. Troy Hill is strictly a zone CB, and his lack of athleticism is exposed in man coverage. Talib is showing his age. Peters is a zone CB not a lockdown boundary CB and it's why he's always playing the Z and Y receivers (of course you noticed that right?) They went out and drafted David Long to replace Talib. They need a bookend for Long next year.

Kevin Peterson has been playing out of position. I carry him on my 53 list as a boundary CB because that is how he is being used. But watching him play and looking at his combine testing it's clear he's a slot CB. He's got exceptional agility, good quickness, but only average long speed. That is the definition of a slot CB. He should be starting there instead of Roby-Coleman.

If it were my decision to make the 3 starting CB's next year would be:
Boundary:

David Long - press man coverage is his forte. He's got average length at 5'11", 30" arms, but excellent speed at 4.45 and outstanding agility. This is the kind of guy you want on a team's X WR.

Jake Gervase - is currently playing out of position IMO. He's the whole package as a boundary CB. He has good speed at 4.4 to 4.5, good length at 6'1" with 30" arms but most of all good agility to mirror.

Kevin Peterson would be my slot CB. I've outlined why above.

 

[Rams43]

Let’s look at this CB cutdown process logically and by a process of elimination.

Rams will probably keep just 6.

Talib
Peters
NRC
Long

These are all locks, right?

I see Kevin Peterson as #5, at worst. No brainer, don’t you think?

So, we’re down to only one available opening and 4 candidates challenging for it. Question becomes whether Troy Hill is actually better than the other 3 guys. He has more experience, but how about his consistency, level of play, ceiling for the future if we lose Talib or Peters next year? Maybe both?

Darious Williams IMO, is the better CB right now. The better playmaker and the CB with the higher ceiling for the future. Williams won’t last 15 minutes on the waiver wire, so practice squad with the Rams is a pipe dream.

Contract be damned, I keep Williams and get whatever I can for Troy Hill in trade for either player (my preference) or future pick. Assuming he could fetch either.

 

[oldnotdead]

When Talib went out they were playing zone in the secondary. When the went to man coverage with Peters and Hill they were burned repeatedly.

 

[Jacobarch]

When Talib went out they were playing zone in the secondary. When the went to man coverage with Peters and Hill they were burned repeatedly.

Make no mistake both Peters and Hill were burned last year. But Peters was the worst CB in the league until week 10. Hill Was rated right in the middle of the pack. Not bad for a backup. He's serviceable.

 

[oldnotdead]

Peters and Hill rated serviceable as you note, but Wade was forced to play strictly zone after Peters went rogue. Also, Wade was restricted to zone because he had only one real safety in Johnson.

If you have a player that can't or won't play the scheme you want to play, how serviceable is that? Troy Hill was extended prematurely IMO. They should have tendered him at a cheaper rate until they had a chance to look at their other options.

Go back if you can and watch how poorly Hill covered in when playing man. A WR who runs good routes will leave him in the dust on a crisp break with a burst. On paper, Troy Hill should be playing far better than he is in man coverage. He's got the testing speed and agility, but he's one of those guys that doesn't play up to his test scores. That is to say, both Littleton and Rapp play much faster and better than they tested. My concern with Hill is that as a 4th year player he is probably all he will be.

We can only hope Troy earns his contract because with Talib's injury history he's probably going to play again. This team needs better than serviceable #2's. When you look at his contract the team is telling him to step up this year or he's gone. The Rams structured it to be able to walk away from him next year with a minimal dead cap if he continues to play as a marginal CB.