The Rams are heading into their final preseason game of 2019. For the second straight season, the team decided against playing almost all of their starters and key role players. It’s been a fairly uneventful preseason in Los Angeles.
That being said, plenty of players will be fighting for a roster spot Thursday night when the Rams close out their preseason in Houston. The otherwise meaningless game will mean everything to them. Here are a few players that need to produce against the Texans if they want to earn a roster spot.
OL Jamil Demby
Demby is basically a lock to make the initial 53-man roster cut by default. The depth on the Rams offensive line is brutal. As far as players on the roster, there isn’t anybody who deserves a spot over Demby at this point.
Emphasis on “on the roster.” Plenty of players are going to be cut in the coming days on other teams. If a team with depth up-front decides to cut loose a serviceable backup, the Rams may be in play to sign said player.
That’s why Demby needs to show us something tomorrow night. He’s been tough to watch this preseason. The Rams have cut Demby before and they won’t hesitate to do it again. If he has another bad outing, he’ll be the first lineman on the chopping block if somebody better comes around.
WR Nsimba Webster
Webster, along with LB Dakota Allen, has become the fan favorite of this preseason. He’s made a ton of solid plays on offense and showed he can be used as a multipurpose player with his potential role as a kick returner. Combine that with a cool name and you’ve got a preseason darling.
It’s been an uphill climb for Webster to earn a roster spot and that climb is far from over. It still feels like JoJo Natson is the favorite to take the last receiver spot on the depth chart. Webster has been much better on offense, but Natson was solid for the Rams on special teams last season and his experience matters. Webster needs to show the Rams that his potential is just too strong to give up on in exchange for keeping the familiar Natson. He’ll have to leave a lasting impression on the coaching staff tomorrow night.
S Steven Parker
Second-year safety and practice squad veteran Steven Parker still feels like a long shot to make the roster despite a solid preseason so far. The unfortunate truth for Parker is that the Rams are stacked at safety, and safety is not a position that needs to fill-up a ton of roster spots. John Johnson, Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp, and Marqui Christian are all locks to make the roster.
Parker and seventh-round pick Nick Scott are the only real contenders to take another roster spot at safety. Unfortunately for Parker, it seems like Scott is pulling away with it due to his potential special teams impact. Sean McVay has done nothing but praise him. Parker will have to have a great night to potentially steal a spot from Scott. At worst, he can at least prove he deserves a job on the practice squad for another season.
DT Tanzel Smart
Out of all the guys on this list, Smart feels like the one who’s most likely to have already played himself into a roster spot. The third-year defensive tackle has had a nice preseason and his stock has only gone up.
The biggest hurdle facing Smart is how many defensive linemen the Rams end up keeping. You can pencil in five interior linemen as locks to make the team: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Greg Gaines, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and John Franklin-Myers. The only guys left who really have a chance to make the roster are Smart and Morgan Fox.
Both Fox and Smart have played well this preseason and both have been with the team for quite a while. There’s a chance that both guys end up on the roster. But if the Rams choose to only keep six defensive linemen, they have a tough decision here. Smart may have an advantage due to his ability to play nose tackle, which is a weaker spot on the depth chart than defensive end. A bad game here would still put him in jeopardy to make the team. He still has something to prove.
CB Kevin Peterson, Dont’e Deayon, and every other cornerback besides David Long
Of all the things Les Snead has accomplished during his tenure with the Rams, his ability to acquire good cornerbacks may be the most impressive. The Rams have cycled through plenty of names at the position but it’s remained one of the strongest spots on the defense. Just a few years after the departures of Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, cornerback is one of the strongest and deepest units on the Rams.
Unfortunately, this does not bode well for the guys at the end of the depth chart. The Rams have five cornerbacks who are locks to make the team. Plenty of teams don’t carry more than five cornerbacks on their roster. It would be silly for the Rams not to carry a sixth given how well the group has played this summer.
The team will have no shortage of options to choose from. Kevin Peterson has triumphantly returned from a season-ending injury last year. Dont’e Deayon has snuck up as a sleeper to make the team after a string of great games. Dominique Hatfield has had stints on both the practice squad and the active roster in his two years with the Rams. The team liked Darious Williams enough to use a waiver claim on him last season after he was cut by Baltimore.
Out of all the roster decisions the Rams have to make, this might be the toughest. They’ll be choosing from four guys who they have a history with. Every one of them has spent time in the organization, and all but Deayon have been on the active roster at one point or another. Everyone of these guys will have something to prove in this game. Beyond a spot on the main roster, these guys will be competing with each-other for the remaining practice squad openings at cornerback.
