Breaking Down the Roster: 19 Spots Up for Grabs?

[AvengerRam]

Here's how I break down the roster right now.

Shoe-Ins: Players Who Will Definitely Be On The Final Roster (34 Total)
Sam Bradford
A.J. Feely
Steven Jackson
Danny Amendola
Mike Sims-Walker
Austin Pettis
Greg Salas
Lance Kendricks
Michael Hoomanwanui
Rodger Saffold
Jacob Bell
Jason Brown
Harvey Dahl
Jason Smith
Renardo Foster
Chris Long
James Hall
Robert Quinn
Fred Robbins
Justin Bannan
Dan Muir
George Selvie
James Laurinaitis
Zac Diles
Dave Vabora
Ron Bartell
Brad Fletcher
Jerome Murphy
Quintin Mikell
Jermale Hines
Darian Stewart
Chris Massey
Donnie Jones
Josh Brown

That leaves 19 open spots.

Several will likely be filled by players in the next category:

Probables: Players Who Will Likely Make The Final Roster (6)
Donnie Avery
Danario Alexander
Hank Fraley
Na'il Diggs
Craig Dahl
Chris Chamberlain

If all of these players make the team, that leaves 13 spots. In all likelihood, two will be filled by players not currently signed. One is the "back-up/utility OL" position, which will probably go to Adam Goldberg. The other is the back-up RB position, which will go to... ??? (Ronnie Brown, Jerious Norwood, someone else?).

That leaves 11 spots.

Several of those are battles between specific players, they are:

Its Me or You: Position Battles

#3 QB: Thaddeus Lewis vs. Taylor Potts
#3 RB: Keith Tolston vs. Kenneth Darby
#3 TE: Fendi Onobun vs. Billy Bajema
#4 DT: Darrell Scott vs. Jermele Cudjo
#4 CB: Al Harris v. Justin King

Once these battles are determined, that leaves only 6 final spots.

Who will they go to?

Well, assuming no additional players are signed (other than Goldberg and a RB), I'd say the following players are the 10 most likely candidates (in alphabetical order):

Ah You, C.J.
Baker, Mikail*
Butler, James
Gibson, Brandon
Hull, Josh*
Johnson, Marquis*
Kehl, Brian
Nelson, Jonathan*
Sims, Eugene
Williams, Jabara*

*Practice Squad Candidates

That's how I see it.

[TekeRam]

Don't forget that Hines could be put on the practice squad as well, maybe unlikely, but possible. And depending on his injury status, Clayton could come back. I really wish we'd pick him up and put him on the PUP list, if only to get him in house and under our med staff. Otherwise, a really good first look.

[AvengerRam]

Don't forget that Hines could be put on the practice squad as well, maybe unlikely, but possible. And depending on his injury status, Clayton could come back. I really wish we'd pick him up and put him on the PUP list, if only to get him in house and under our med staff. Otherwise, a really good first look.

I think Hines will make it due to his (1) ability to play WLB situationally, and (2) special teams abilities.

While I did not list Clayton, I do think he could still be in the mix if he gets healthy.

[rampower]

Gilyard? Sat at home?

[AvengerRam]

Gilyard? Sat at home?

I don't think he has much of a chance of sticking.

[txramsfan]

Norwood in STL as we speak. Look for him to sign as the backup RB

[Azul e Oro]

There's a few I'd quibble with in each category. I don't see Feely as a shoe-in. The WCO mentor label is gone. Only TC & pre-season time will tell if he can be a McD QB. Sizeable price tag for lots of mediocre experience. Ditto for Jo$$$$h Brown.

I'd guess one of those short termer FAs is likely to get nixed as well; M S-W( kick the tires while keeping Clayton in mind), Bannan, & Muir. And it would be a good thing, too,imo.I'd rather have the 3rd yr light turn on for Scott as Robbins' heir apparent penetrating DT, have Avery fulfill his potential, or get the Clayton/Sam fire relit.

And those homegrown young 'uns like Stewart, Hines, and Murphy are far from locks,imo. I'd put Murphy in that H2H with Al Harris before I'd match King there. The Rams signed King before the lockout. Surely that indicates some love.

Fraley? I thought he was done in all but name like Sett, Ryan,Darby et al? I know The Rams need a back-up center but didn't he come to The Rams with an injury & then get hurt again?

Dahl's situation is a mystery now that they've re-upped Butler & signed Mikell.

I think Ah You's status , while not a shoe-in, is not nearly as close to the bubble as that.Productive versatility and 4 sacks have to count for something.

[AvengerRam]

Norwood in STL as we speak. Look for him to sign as the backup RB

If he signs, he would be added to the first list, leaving only 18 open spots for the rest to battle over. It also seems like another RB might be signed (R.Brown, C.Williams, J.Harrison) before long, which would bring that number to 17, and likely eliminate Tolston and Darby from consideration.

[Rambos]

it's funny I thought Gibson, would be the first WR cut, after a few days of camp I hear he's looking like a keeper.

[tomahawk247]

Do you think Craig Dahl, a potential starter at FS, is only probably going to make the roster?

Also, i thought Kenneth Darby hadn't been resigned?

[AvengerRam]

Do you think Craig Dahl, a potential starter at FS, is only probably going to make the roster?

Also, i thought Kenneth Darby hadn't been resigned?

I think that if Stewart passes Dahl on the depth chart, and Hines looks ready to contribute, Dahl could be in a bit of jeopardy. However, his inclusion on the "probable" list means I doubt all that will happen and he should make the roster.

Darby is currently a FA, but if the Rams wanted to bring him in to compete, I doubt they'd have much competition for his services. Now that we've signed Norwood (and may be looking at C.Williams), its a moot point.

[AvengerRam]

With the signings from the last three days, I'm going to predict the following 53 man roster:

Rookie
Free Agent

QB (3): Bradford, Feely, Lewis
RB (3): Jackson, Williams, Norwood
WR (6): Sims-Walker, Amendola, Avery, Pettis, Salas, Alexander
TE/FB (4): Kendricks, Hoomanawanui, Bajema, Onobun
OL (8): Saffold, Smith, Dahl, Bell, Brown, Goldberg, Fraley, Foster

DE (5): Long, Hall, Quinn, Selvie, Sims
DT (5): Robbins, Bannan, Muir, Scott, Cudjo
LB (7): Laurinaitis, Diles, Diggs, Poppinga, Vobora, Chamberlain, Kehl
DB (9): Bartell, Fletcher, Murphy, Harris, Mikell, Dahl, Hines, Stewart, Nelson

K/P (2): Brown, Jones
LS (1): Massey

In case you're wondering, I would not be surprised to see the Rams move Brandon Gibson and get a late draft pick in return.

And, for the practice squad:

Washington, Hull, Johnson, Potts, Williams, Stumon, Curry, Browning

[sosa39rams]

Im sure we will be able to get something for Gibson, maybe even Gilyard. Even though I disliked his performance as the next guy, I cant stand seeing us toss a 4th round pick away like that after 1 year.

[Ramendola16]

With the signings from the last three days, I'm going to predict the following 53 man roster:

Rookie
Free Agent

QB (3): Bradford, Feely, Lewis
RB (3): Jackson, Williams, Norwood
WR (6): Sims-Walker, Amendola, Avery, Pettis, Salas, Alexander
TE/FB (4): Kendricks, Hoomanawanui, Bajema, Onobun
OL (8): Saffold, Smith, Dahl, Bell, Brown, Goldberg, Fraley, Foster

DE (5): Long, Hall, Quinn, Selvie, Sims
DT (5): Robbins, Bannan, Muir, Scott, Cudjo
LB (7): Laurinaitis, Diles, Diggs, Poppinga, Vobora, Chamberlain, Kehl
DB (9): Bartell, Fletcher, Murphy, Harris, King, Mikell, Dahl, Hines, Stewart, Nelson, Butler

K/P (2): Brown, Jones
LS (1): Massey

In case you're wondering, I would not be surprised to see the Rams move Brandon Gibson and get a late draft pick in return.

And, for the practice squad:

Washington, Hull, Johnson, Potts, Williams, Stumon, Curry, Browning

No C.J. Ah You? I was of the opinion that he performed well and brought a versatile skill set?

[laram0]

How many (who are they) of the players listed were drafted by Linehan?