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The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

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  • #1

    The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

    Lets take a quick look at what we know about the final 53 man roster. For purposes of this post, lets be optimistic and assume that no one gets hurt before the season starts.

    Offense (27)

    bulger, chandler, smoker
    bruce, holt, curtis, looker, mcdonald, furrey
    mamliamula, cleeland, jensen
    goodspeed, harris
    pace, turley, grant williams
    wohlabaugh, eby
    timmerman, mccollom, andy king, larry turner, tercero
    faulk, jackson, gordon

    Note: I am probably over by one offensive lineman, ie it is likely that turner could be on the practice squad


    Defense (25)

    Little, Fisher, Flowers, Hargrove, Tyoka Jackson, Moran
    Pickett, Lewis, Kennedy, Bell (or another veteran if we dont win the claim on bell)
    a williams, archuletta, coady, shivers, lucas/walton/copeland
    fisher, butler, groce, garrett
    thomas, pisa, polley, chillar, two of the following (newsom, jeremy lloyd, nick burley, jason mcWilliams, Justin Smith, spoon, trev faulk)

    Specialists (3)

    Wilkens, Landetta, Massey


    That gets us to 55, meaning I am two guys over. Probably means one of the offensive lineman (ie turner) winds up on the practice squad, and potentially moran doesnt make it or we dont sign another defensive tackle). Positionally, we carried six linebackers last year so i am assuming that we wont carry more this year, but if we do, someone else will have to get cut or put on the practice squad.

    The practice squad this year expands to 8 players. Candidates include Larry Turner, safties and corners that dont make the roster (ie shedrick copeland), nick burley, possibly michael coleman again at wr, the qb we just signed (micahnah sp?), and especially some number of the linebackers that dont make the team since we will need depth there for special teams play.

    To me, at the margain, the key will be the ability to contribute on special teams. I believe that the most viscious battle will be for the backup linebacker spots since there will be no clear cut answers.

    I defy you to find another team in the nfl that has so few spots up for grabs at this point of the year. I take that as a good thing since i think that our young guys will improve given the year of experience. While we have not added a lot via free agency, we have added some key help in the draft and we have retained some solid young guys.

    I look forward to your thoughts and input as always.

    ramming speed to all

    general counsel
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

    I think it would make sense to find someone other than Massey to function as the long snapper. He's taking up a roster spot and that's all he does. I dunno, seems like a waste to me, considering an offensive lineman could probably do it -- maybe Eby or Turner.

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    • #3
      Re: The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

      That is a logical point nick, but from what i have always read, it is virtually impossible for a guy to become a long snapper overnight. This is one of the things that mystifies me. There are dozens of marginal nfl players at the tight end and linemen positions who would enhance their job situations dramatically by practicing to become long snappers. I think this is one of those skills that looks a lot easier than it acutally is and that the margain between having a very good long snapper like massey and a makeshift one can actually cost you games (see what happened to the giants two years ago in the playoffs vs. the niners).

      I guess part of the theme for all of you with sons out there is this- If you cant raise your son to be a left handed relief pitcher or a left handed hitting catcher, a long snapper is probably your best route to the nfl.


      ramming speed to all

      general counsel

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      • #4
        Re: The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

        Very good job putting this together gc!

        I think when the final roster comes out you will probably be very close. I doubt the Rams get Bell off the waiver list, but you never know. One guy I am familiar with, from the U of Idaho Vandals, is Brian Howard. Although, he has a tough road ahead, I will be pulling for him and won't be surprised if he makes the roster.

        As far as Massey goes, I agree with your evaluation gc. The long-snappers are hard to find, especially a good one like Massey. An accomplished long-snapper is a valuable and often under-appreciated special teams player, but well worth a roster position.
        Curly ~ Horns

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        • #5
          Re: The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

          Massey is a master at what he does. Getting rid of him would be a mistake. Wilkins owes a large part of last year's success to Massey. Cam Cleeland was the back-up LS last season and I am assuming that he will be next year as well.

          I will not be surprised if either Moran and/or Eby are cut before the season starts. Before he was injured last season, Tercero was being moved to center and while that switch seems to have fallen by the wayside both he and Turner are options at both guard and center. This makes them valuable options when compared with Eby. I am assuming that Turner will be an option at both positions at the NFL level. We will find out in August, I guess. Moran did nothing last season and he has no upside. If he distinguishes himself against the running game during the preseason then maybe he makes the team. Otherwise, he is taking playing time away from guys who might have some upside (fisher, flowers, hargrove). WHo the hell knows really, if someone else really steps it up at DE then I wouldn't be surprised if Flowers is cut before the season starts. Man, the DE position worries me this year.

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          • #6
            Massey Rocks

            Don't you dare even think about getting rid of Massey. Having a long snapper that is reliable is huge. Just ask the Giants. Remember the playoff game against the whiners in 2002? The long snapper blew it.

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            • #7
              Re: The Final 53 Man Roster-Very Few spots available

              Great work GC, not sure if we'll carry 3 TE's and 2FB's, that would save one spot possibly.

              I'd agree with all those that posted that a good LS is essential. I think a good kick off is also important, anyone know what the average starting field position for the Rams opposition was last year?
              :helmet:
              GO CLAYMORES : DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

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              • Guest's Avatar
                Updated projected 53 man roster
                by Guest
                Updated 53 man roster to reflect the recent moves (praying of course for no injuries in camp that effect this)

                Offense (26)

                bulger, chandler, smoker
                faulk, jackson, gordon
                goodspeed, harris
                mamliamula, cleeland, jensen
                bruce, holt, curtis, looker, mcdonald, furrey
                pace, turley, williams
                timmerman, mccollum, king, tercero
                wohlambaugh, eby or turner (the other makes the practice squad)

                Defense (24)

                pickett, lewis, kennedy, holsey/brian howard
                little, fisher, jackson, hargrove, flowers/moran
                thomas, pisa, polley, chillar, two of the following (newsom, spoon, lloyd, trev faulk, justin smith, mcwilliams)
                fisher, butler, groce, garrett
                a williams, archuleta, coady, shivers, lucas

                specialists (3)

                wilkens, massey, nicassio/landetta



                Other guys with a shot, but more likely candidates for the practice squad (unless someone gets hurt)

                nick burley, sheddrick copeland, nijrell eason, brian sump (kick returner)

                Other practice squad candidates- the 4th qb, coleman (wr), anyone else??????

                If Moran gets beat out, he probably gets waived. If brian howard gets beat out, he probably winds up on the practice squad, along with two linebackers and at least one guy from the secondary.

                Any updated thoughts from anyone?

                ramming speed to all

                general counsel
                -06-21-2004, 08:50 PM
              • Guest's Avatar
                Rams roster into training camp
                by Guest
                During the ceremony my daughter and I held tonight at exactly 5pm central, as the players were checking in for camp, i did my best public address anouncer imitation for her and recited the entire 53 man roster from memory as she cheered for each guy. I believe that barring injury, the offense is basically set unless sump beats out furrey for a receiver spot in order to serve as the return guy.

                bubble spots- backup linebackers (special teams key). we will carry six, two spots available for tony newsom, spoon, lloyd, justin smith, trev faulk, mwilliams.
                Defensive end- Will moran make the team? I predict no.
                Defensive Tackle _ Will brian howard make the team. I predict practice squad.
                Punter- Will Landetta get beat out? Could go either way.

                Here is what it looks like

                bulger, chandler, smoker
                faulk, jackson, gordon
                goodspeed, harris
                bruce, holt, looker, curtis, macdonald, furrey (sump)
                mamliamula, cleeland, jensen
                pace, turley, williams
                wolabaugh, turner
                timmerman, mccollum, king, tercero

                Wilkens, Landetta/Nicasso, Massey

                Little, fisher, tyoka jackson, hargrove, flowers (moran)
                pickett, lewis, kennedy, holsey (brian howard)
                thomas, pisa, polley, chillar, two of the following (spoon, lloyd, newson, burley, justin smith, trev faulk, mcwilliams)
                fisher, butler, garrett, groce
                aeneas williams, archuleta, coady, shivers, lucas


                Biggest variable, outside of the backup linebacker spots is injuries. Hopefully, we will make it through camp and the preseason with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises here and there.

                ramming speed to all, as always, i would love your analysis of the roster,

                sign the big man

                general counsel
                -07-27-2004, 08:03 PM
              • RamDez
                Inside Slant
                by RamDez
                Things are different for Dane Looker as training camp approaches.

                Once hailed as "Little Ricky" because of his style of play is similar to former Rams receiver Ricky Proehl, Looker accepts the compliments, but wants to be his own man.

                That was tough for a while, as he struggled to make an NFL roster. He was an undrafted free agent in the Rams' 2000 training camp, and was opening some eyes when he was surprisingly traded to the Patriots on Aug. 7 that year.

                He made New England's roster, but ended the season on injured reserve and was then released on July 31 because of a hamstring injury. Looker was right back with the Rams for three weeks, but he wasn't healthy enough to make an impact. Out of football for the rest of the year, he re-signed with the Rams in February and excelled in NFL Europe, but the numbers game caught up to him again.

                Released on Sept. 2, he spent most of the season on the practice squad until being added to the active roster for the final three games of the season.

                Last year turned out to be his coming-out party. Making the roster also resulted in him being the holder for kicker Jeff Wilkins. Wilkins wanted him all along after the departure of, you guessed it, Proehl, but there was no guarantee Looker would make the roster.

                He helped Wilkins tie a league record with 39 field goals and offensively was third on the team with 47 receptions for 495 yards and three touchdowns. More important, 27 of his catches, including 18 on third down, were first-down plays.

                Despite his success, Looker takes nothing for granted.

                "We've got some good receivers on this team, so I'm going to have to improve on what I did last year and play better," he said. "Nothing's a guarantee."

                Coach Mike Martz loves his work ethic and competitiveness.

                "Dane was terrific last year, and looking at him out here, he just picked up where he left off," Martz said during the offseason.

                NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES

                —The Rams report to training camp in Macomb, Ill., on July 27 with the first practice scheduled for the next day. They will be in camp until Aug. 20, three days before a Monday night game in Kansas City.

                The Chicago Bears, coached by former Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, will visit Rams camp for three days from Aug. 5-7. There will be one practice the first day, two the second and then a scrimmage on Aug. 7.

                Said coach Mike Martz, "Having a scrimmage there at the stadium on Saturday morning makes it exciting for everybody. It gives us a chance to look at a lot of our young players under competitive situations, and the same for the Bears. The most important aspect of it is after seven or eight days (of camp), you get a chance to look at your players in a different environment against other...
                -07-19-2004, 12:08 PM
              • ZigZagRam
                53-Man Roster
                by ZigZagRam
                Here's my take on the 53-man roster. I can't remember if we IR'd Kennedy or not but here it goes.

                QB: Bulger, Chandler, Smoker
                RB: Faulk, Jackson, Gordon, Harris
                FB: Goodspeed, Massey
                WR: Holt, Bruce, McDonald, Looker, Curtis, Furrey
                TE: Manumaleuna, Cleeland, Brake
                OT: Pace, Williams, Tercero
                OG: Timmerman, Tercero, Dishman, King
                C: McCullom, Turner
                DE: Little, Fisher, Jackson, Hargrove, Flowers
                DT: Pickett, Lewis, Howard
                LB: Tinoisamoa, Thomas, Chillar, Polley, Newson, Faulk
                SS: Archuleta, Coady
                FS: Williams, Lucas, Shivers
                CB: Butler, Garrett, Groce, Anderson, Fisher
                K: Wilkins
                P: Landeta

                Notable Cuts: Greg Randall, Erik Jensen, Sean Moran, Brandon Spoon, Tom Knight

                Your thoughts?
                -08-31-2004, 09:40 AM
              • Guest's Avatar
                Final Cuts are Finally In!!!!!
                by Guest
                This was just posted on the post dispatch website. One of our more technologically savy brothers can post the link.

                11 final cuts (keep in mind, pace does not count as a roster spot until he signs the tender), plus erik jensen and tom knight put on the IR. I think that they are stashing jensen, they said his knee injury last week was minor. Apparantly, neither kennedy nor fisher were put on IR.

                Also, we signed zach bronson as a backup safety, formerly of the niners.

                Cut- Holsey, nigel eason, dwight anderson, spoon, noll, jones, mcgorty, justin lucas, sean moran, alridge

                Who made the team that was "on the bubble"- coady, brian howard, trev faulk (over spoon for the last linebacker spot), mike brake as the #3 tight end.

                Biggest surprise was that holsey didnt make it, even though he was lousy in preseason. At defensive tackle, we have brian howard and tyoka behind the starters. Lord help us if either of the two main guys get hurt.

                Practice squad to be determined.

                ramming speed to all

                general counsel

                I will post in a separate post the final 53 man roster, for now, exclusive of pace.
                -09-05-2004, 02:06 PM
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