Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

[AvengerRam_old]

I recently posted my list of the final players to make the team. While I was playing the odds in that thread, in this one I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that there is one veteran who could be a surpise cut when the final 53 is announced:

Randy McMichael

Here are my thoughts on this:

1. McMichael has not done anything noteworthy during preseason;
2. Billy Bajema has been a pleasant surprise as a receiver;
3. McMichael is highly paid relative to his recent production.

I think it comes down to whether the Rams decide to keep 2 or 3 TEs on the active roster. If they only keep two, it could be Bajema and Fells. If they keep 3, I doubt they'd cut McMichael in favor of Klopfenstein, but they could find a #3 guy on the FA wire.

[diehard99]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Actually, AV, I was hoping there might be considering our record last year. Only two changes in our Def. front seven, oh plus the addition of Thomas. Are we really going to start Draft? I was hoping for an upgrade at SLB. I realize you can't change everything in one year.

[MauiRam]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Actually, AV, I was hoping there might be considering our record last year. Only two changes in our Def. front seven, oh plus the addition of Thomas. Are we really going to start Draft? I was hoping for an upgrade at SLB. I realize you can't change everything in one year.

I believe Av was referring to roster spots, not who the starters will be. Whether Draft starts or not, he has great value in that he can legitimately play all three linebacker spots

[TheBritishRam]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

It's an interesting thought and certainly an argument to be made that McMichael could be cut. But isn't he the last year of his contract? I doubt that with the money saved from cutting McMichael that the rams could find a significant upgrade at any position after all the teams make their cuts. The biggest shock that I think is remotely likely (if you can call it a shock) would be Quinton Culberson, if they decide to carry 6 LBs with the back-ups being Vobora, Grant and Chamberlain.

[rams#1]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

i don't know if we would cut him just like that. if anything it would probably be a trade.

[Azul e Oro]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Randy McMichael

Here are my thoughts on this:

1. McMichael has not done anything noteworthy during preseason;
2. Billy Bajema has been a pleasant surprise as a receiver;
3. McMichael is highly paid relative to his recent production.

I think it comes down to whether the Rams decide to keep 2 or 3 TEs on the active roster. If they only keep two, it could be Bajema and Fells. If they keep 3, I doubt they'd cut McMichael in favor of Klopfenstein, but they could find a #3 guy on the FA wire.

Nah, not buyin' that one,AV.

1. By that criterion, we should consider Jackson as on "the bubble". RM has made a couple of nice catches with the first string in at least two of the preseason games.He is the most versatile of of the bunch,imo. Whether we are to develop a power run personality or more WCO-inflected offense, that has to be a valuable thing. He's been bubble-wrapped,imo, not ineffective.If he stays healthy, I see a Cooley or Carlson type season for Randy.

2. Has Bajema made a catch or got progressively more playing time as receiving option with the first string which might hint that Spags agrees with you? I haven't seen it. Seeing the guy rumbling over scrubs in the 2nd half has been fun but it's not the same thing.

3. You could pretty much slot any name that has been on a Ram starter jersey over the last two seasons in that sentence.

I'd say Burton or Stanley was closer to the edge than Randy Mac. I doubt Burton will get the chop,either, since he's a Devaney guy and we are so thin at WR. Stanley will make the team as returner, if anything, and I hope he seldom sees the field as a WR. If he does,it will probably mean that Avery is hurt again.

[RamsInfiniti]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

I can't buy McMichael getting cut - tough, fiery, emotional player who fits the mold of this team ...

I fully expect him to be one of the leading receivers on this team if healthy ...

[TekeRam]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Randy mac has the experience, hands, and blocking skills to be a good leader for this team and safety blanket for Marc as we continue to progress into the new offense. He might be older, but he's still got a good number of productive years left. Sorry Av, but I just can't see McMichael getting the boot this year. Next year, anything's up in the air though.

[jquarando]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Id go out and say my suprise cut will be Kenneth Darby. He looked like a lock to be the number 2 back then all of a sudden he cant do anything.

[NJ Ramsfan1]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Nah, not buyin' that one,AV.

1. By that criterion, we should consider Jackson as on "the bubble". RM has made a couple of nice catches with the first string in at least two of the preseason games.He is the most versatile of of the bunch,imo. Whether we are to develop a power run personality or more WCO-inflected offense, that has to be a valuable thing. He's been bubble-wrapped,imo, not ineffective.If he stays healthy, I see a Cooley or Carlson type season for Randy.

2. Has Bajema made a catch or got progressively more playing time as receiving option with the first string which might hint that Spags agrees with you? I haven't seen it. Seeing the guy rumbling over scrubs in the 2nd half has been fun but it's not the same thing.

3. You could pretty much slot any name that has been on a Ram starter jersey over the last two seasons in that sentence.

I'd say Burton or Stanley was closer to the edge than Randy Mac. I doubt Burton will get the chop,either, since he's a Devaney guy and we are so thin at WR. Stanley will make the team as returner, if anything, and I hope he seldom sees the field as a WR. If he does,it will probably mean that Avery is hurt again.

Burton close to the edge? What?? He is a 2nd year player who was a high round draft pick. Why would the Rams cut him? Am I missing something? Did we trade for Larry Fitzgerald? Waaaayyyyy too early to give up on a guy like that.

I'm with you, Azul, on the McMichael situation. No way we cut a guy who when healthy is a viable offensive option and a productive player. He has not been stellar as a Ram, but much of that is due to injury and a sinking ship around him. Joe Klopfenstein, who I regard as an underachieving waste, should keep his playbook handy.

[CanadianRam!]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

When I was reading that, I thought the 3 criteria described Marc Bulger pretty well...although we obviously wont cut him.

[Azul e Oro]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

Burton close to the edge? What?? He is a 2nd year player who was a high round draft pick. Why would the Rams cut him? Am I missing something? Did we trade for Larry Fitzgerald? Waaaayyyyy too early to give up on a guy like that.

No, you're not missing anything except perhaps that I was using Burton as an example of why cutting a guy who hasn't shown much in preseason is a dubious proposition.

I don't want to put words into AV's mouth; pretty much a SRO situation in there anyway..,sez Azul,hypocritically..lol.., but I think our gold-jerseyed #49 might have been teasing us a bit with this one. I think he might be saying that preseason stats in isolation are not the best guide as to who will make the team.

[AvengerRam_old]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

You have to provide some context here.

If a player has been injured (Bulger, Carriker, Avery) or just not given a lot of reps (Jackson) during the preseason then, of course, there wouldn't be much production.

McMichael has been healthy and has had the opportunity to play. As a result, I'd expect a bit more production.

I'm not saying I expect McMichael to be cut necessarily. If he was cut, though, I'd understand and argue that it is somewhat consistent with other "removal of the old guard" moves that have been made this year.

[BarronWade]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

not 100% sure but wasnt McMichael a captain for one of the games. And isnt he the one that is being targeted the most. ?

[Fettmaster]

Re: Any potential surprises in Rams' final cuts?

AV you have good points regarding his production recently, but I think its safe to say he makes the team on the basis that if he is cut, the only skill position players we have on offense with more than 2+ years of consistant starting experience are Jax and Bulger.

Right now, the O needs his experience and pass catching ability. However if Bajema and/or Fells do great things this season and Randy Mac doesn't perform for whatever reason, he's gone.