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By: Cameron DaSilva | 44 minutes ago
Thursday night was the last opportunity for players to stand out and make a final push for the 53-man roster. Quite a few helped themselves with strong performances, while there weren’t any especially bad showings against the Texans.
The Rams have some difficult decisions to make in terms of final cuts, and the game against Houston didn’t do anything to make those calls easier. Here are our winners and losers from the 22-10 win.
Winners
QB John Wolford
There’s something about Wolford that makes him an interesting player. He has a compact delivery, good mobility and a strong arm, displaying great accuracy to all levels of the field. If not for two drops, his numbers would look even better.
As it is, he threw two touchdown passes, both of which were highlight-reel plays by the young quarterback.
Wolford showed this preseason that he deserves another shot in the NFL and should be signed to the Rams’ practice squad if/when he’s waived.
RB Justin Davis
Davis certainly made a strong final impression against the Texans, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on only 16 carries. He ran with power along the goal line and was shifty finding holes behind his blockers.
His biggest run was a 28-yarder, and while he did drop a pass over the middle, it was his best performance of the preseason.
WR KhaDarel Hodge
Hodge probably won’t make the team, but he showed once again he deserves to be on an NFL roster – or at the very least, on the practice squad. He caught five passes on five targets for 76 yards, consistently winning against one-on-one coverage.
Cutting Hodge is going to be tough, but when the Rams do, they have to hope no one claims him off waivers so they can sneak him onto the practice squad.
OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo has risen faster than just about every player on the roster this preseason. He had two more sacks and two tackles for loss on Thursday night, forcing a fumble on his first sack. He’s in no danger of being cut despite it seeming that way just a few short weeks ago.
Okoronkwo still has plenty of room to grow, but he’s explosive off the line, has a refined pass-rush repertoire for a second-year player and even though he’s undersized, he doesn’t get swallowed by blocks in the running game.
DL Boogie Roberts
Roberts flashed a few times on Thursday night, including a sack late in the fourth quarter. He really showed up as a run defender, which is important for a player at his position. He won’t most likely won’t be on the Week 1 roster, but given the Rams’ lack of depth on the defensive line, he could be a practice squad call-up at some point if the Rams sign him to the 10-man group.
LB Dakota Allen
Allen was all over the field against Houston, showing why he deserves to make the regular-season roster. He plays with outstanding physicality, always bringing the hammer on his tackles. He goes full speed from whistle to whistle, which is something Sean McVay loves to see.
Allen finished with five tackles in the game and filled holes nicely against the run. That’s something the Rams need from their strongside linebacker, which will likely be Bryce Hager to begin the year. Allen could eventually become a starter, though.
LB Ketner Kupp
Kupp led the Rams with nine tackles and also had an interception called back due to a penalty, but that doesn’t take away from his performance in this one. Kupp is a candidate for the practice squad, especially after putting together a nice showing in the final preseason game.
Losers
Brandon Allen
Allen’s numbers weren’t bad (12-for-17, 120 yards), but he did have two interceptions on poorly thrown balls. His first was a terrible attempt at a check down, overthrowing Austin Proehl over the middle as it was tipped into the hands of the defender.
Allen doesn’t have a chance to make the 53-man roster, and at this point, he probably won’t be signed to the practice squad, either.
CB David Long Jr.
It wasn’t a terribly bad night for Long, but he was in coverage on two third-down completions, both of which went for first downs. Both plays came with him covering the slot, which is certainly not his forte.
He did look good in coverage a few other times, but those two plays stood out because of the situation.
Winners and losers from Rams' 22-10 victory in preseason finale
A lot of players stood out for the right reasons on Thursday night.
theramswire.usatoday.com
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65143204/1164737604.jpg.0.jpg "Los Angeles Rams v Houston Texans")
