Just days before the team’s first preseason game, the Rams have released their first unofficial depth chart. The chart features plenty of expected starters and a few surprises in the guys backing them up.
Let’s break down some of the biggest takeaways from the first depth chart of the season.
Darrell Henderson has work to do
The biggest surprise of the depth chart is how buried Darrell Henderson Jr. is. The explosive third-round pick finds himself as the team’s RB5. Not only is he behind Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown as expected, but he’s yet to overtake John Kelly or even Justin Davis in the running back hierarchy.
This is likely to change before opening day as the team may not want to keep five running backs on the roster. Still, it shows that the Rams will be patient with Henderson’s development. They aren’t throwing him into the backup running back role from Day 1. He’ll have to earn his way past Kelly and Davis, and he has a lot of work to do before usurping Brown as the No. 2 back.
Keep a close eye on how the explosive rookie performs this preseason. It will likely have an impact on the size of his role in Week 1.
Sebastian Joseph-Day holds the starting NT job
One of the only position battles for a starting job on the Rams this preseason is between Sebastian Joseph-Day and rookie Greg Gaines at nose tackle. As of now, Joseph-Day is in control of the starting job.
It wouldn’t come as a shock to see the second-year defensive tackle as a Week 1 starter. While many expected Gaines to take over the job, the Rams don’t exactly have a big investment in either guy. The best player will start. As of today, it looks like Joseph-Day is viewed more favorably by the Rams staff.
Don’t but too much stock in this just yet. The Rams seem like they’re in no rush to hand over big roles to their rookies, as evidenced by Henderson’s place on the depth chart. It’s Joseph-Day’s job to lose and it’s far from a sure thing that he won’t lose it.
Micah Kiser still considered the starter at ILB
One of the most surprising developments out of Rams camp was Bryce Hager’s emergence as a first-team linebacker. The Rams have been alternating Hager and Micah Kiser as the first-team Mike linebacker early on in camp.
It appears Kiser is still viewed as the starting linebacker. Many expected Kiser would be handed the job simply because there was no other logical choice to fill the void left by Mark Barron. But the Rams appear to have some confidence in Hager and are giving him a shot to compete for the job.
Hager is one of the team’s longest-tenured players and is one of just nine roster members to have suited up for the St. Louis Rams. Meanwhile, Kiser played a reserve role on the team for one year. While it feels like Kiser is still the heavy favorite to win the job, he’s going to have to earn it by holding off Hager this preseason. As of now, the job is his to lose.
Rams in no rush with CB David Long Jr.
Like Henderson, third-round rookie David Long Jr. is expected to play a big role for the Rams long-term. It seems like he’s going to have to wait some time before he makes an impact.
Long is currently listed as a fourth-string cornerback on the depth chart. While this doesn’t account for Nickell Robey-Coleman’s slot cornerback role that basically makes him a starter, Long still has some work to do to climb up the depth chart. He’s behind Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill, Darious Williams and Kevin Peterson.
Don’t expect Long to contribute much on defense in 2019. The Rams will likely take a similar approach with Long as they did with Kiser, Joseph Noteboom, and Brian Allen last season. He’s going to learn behind Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib all season. When the two veterans become free agents next spring, Long will have a chance to take over. He’s not going to take over for them this season. He might not even be able to jump Hill on the depth chart this year.
Starting lineup is more or less as expected
The starting lineup is about what everyone has been predicting for the last four months. Outside of nose tackle, there’s not a single surprise in the starting lineup, and there won’t be many changes before opening day barring injury.
Noteboom and Allen have taken over for Roger Saffold and Brian Allen as expected. Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp are full-go as starters. Michael Brockers is locked in as a defensive end instead of a nose tackle. Kiser is holding onto the second ILB job for now. Everything is in order.
The only real takeaway from the starters that we haven’t mentioned is Tyler Higbee remains the starting tight end over Gerald Everett. Don’t expect this to change before the season starts. While Everett may increase his snap count this year, the Rams remain committed to using Higbee and Everett as a one-two-punch combination. Both guys provide value at the position, and Everett could use a bit more progression as a player before taking over the role full-time. Expect to see plenty of both of them in 2019.
