Ep. 3 Rams Callsheet: Rams release their first depth chart + Preseason Preview against Cowboys

good afternoon and welcome to episode three of the Rams call sheet my name is bla gack and I will be your host as usual um as always before we get started be sure to give um if you're watching on YouTube be sure to give a like and a and a subscribe really helps the channel out really helps really helps me out as I continue to try to grow this channel a little bit and then as always if you're watching over on playback which is the kind of Main Place where I'm trying to build um a community here if you're over on playback be sure to follow the community and then also um as always I try to get you guys involved in the show as much as possible um please feel free to request to join the stage and let's um get you on and let's talk some Rams football I'd be happy to get you guys on and have some conversation but um so yeah before so on on deck for today uh we have a few things that I did want to go over uh training camp is basically completed the Rams wrapped up training camp towards the uh middle of this past week and now we head into your typical um game practices your typical your typical game weeks Rams play their first preseason game on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys um and then next week will be another game week they'll they where they'll prepare again and then um before you know it we'll be um we'll be right into the regular into the regular season week one against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football so a big big game this week against the Dallas Cowboys first time we'll be able to see these players really inaction in in live game action obviously um Rams have have been doing some um some open practices with the fans they've also done a few a couple joint practices with both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys so they they've done a couple things there and um obviously from the coaches St coaching coaches standpoint um that's where a lot of the evaluation will happen and and where they get to see these players up close and up close but the preseason the preseason games still matter these are these are live games like these are live games um where these players especially those near the bottom of the depth shirt will we'll get to we'll get to um make a name for themselves so the first thing I didn't want to go over was the Rams depth chart they the Rams released a first unoff it's it's an unofficial depth chart um for for some teams these things the these things matter more than most um the Rams don't from from Rams perspective it's a really basic basic dep sh there look not a lot to look into it but there's still a couple things that I did want to go over so let me see if I can um let's see I do a screen share here um allow share screen okay so I you guys should let's see um let's see screen share uh as do allow share screen um share this screen okay now we are going to go right here okay so you guys should have me here this is R's unofficial depth chart uh we start on the offens side the ball again pretty straightforward uh you have Cooper cup Cooper cup Demarcus Robinson and CAA as the top three wide receivers no real surprises there Jordan Whittington um Jordan Whittington tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson as the the the players behind them I did I do want to point out Xavier Smith I think he's had a really good training camp um reports are that he has had um he's performed pretty well so I I I I think he'll he'll really push Tyler Johnson for that sixth wide receiver spot uh going moving on to tight end you also have Kobe Kobe Parkinson as the starter with Davis Allen um as a backup and then you have Hunter long um and and uh n Nia kinich as the backups Miller for I believe was was was cut earlier this week this is a little out this or no no Mike for on R roster Neil Johnson was cut earlier this week um to make room for some offensive line offensive line signings that we will go over here in a second um so again pretty straightforward there uh uh Tyler hicky not listed there simply for the fact that uh he is on the pup list so he's on the physically unable to perform list and will be probably for the first four to six weeks of the season if I could guess left tackle again Prett right forward you have aleric Jackson Joe not booom and then behind behind Noteboom at left tackle you have AJ JJ R Curry Katy Levon Blake and Blake Larson left guard you have Jonah Jackson Logan bruss right there um Logan bruss I think is a player that I will be I will be intrigued to see preseason I don't really have a have high expectations for him um but certainly a player that I'll be interest interested to watch just you know this play Ram draft drafted in the in in the in the third round he spent last year on the practice squad after being cut has had kind of a rough go um since since being drafted so I I'll be interested to see what he does again my expectations aren't high but still interested to see if he's if he's improved at all as Center you have Steve aula who um who is who moved over to Center behind him you have Mike Al Mike mallister and Bo limmer I would expect by week one for Bo limmer to surpass Mike mallister they're on the depth chart and for mallister to to find his way on the practice FL but we'll see kind of how that shakes out at Right Guard you you have Kevin doson Zack Thomas is an interesting one uh Thomas with all these entries entries of course other players have gotten opportunities um that they may not have gotten otherwise and Zack Thomas is one of those players it honestly would have surprised me if Zack Thomas ended up on the roster as a ninth or 10th offens offensive lineman obviously when when when you guys hear the name Zach Thomas uh you guys get some bad memories from last season against the Cincinnati Bengals where Thomas played some left tackle um but this is a player that's been in the ram in the Rams building the last probably two or three I think two years or so um um maybe going on Two and a Half uh and he's a player that the Rams kind of see as kind of a tackle guard uh versal versal player and this off season has gotten more opportunities than he may have otherwise and I think that that that may haveen helped him uh Justin dich as an undrafted free agent out of uh USC is behind Zack Thomas at right tackle you have uh Rob havenstein Joe no boom and Warren Mendon and then quarterback obviously you have Stafford Dr a little Bennett and win and then running back I not it's not a huge surprise that the Rams do have Blake km listed ahead of Ron Ronnie Rivers I kind of expected those two to be be flipped just for that initial depth charge just kind of as a as a courtesy typically um list those list the rookies behind veteran players to to start and then as you head into week one they they they end up surpassing them so it it is impressive or Le not maybe not impressive but at least worth noting that blck horm is listed ahead of Ronnie Rivers who is a play of the Rams do like and then just at the running back position um one one thing that I think is worth pointing out is Zack Evans at the very bottom of the depth chart uh this is going to be a very important preseason for Zack Evans I think he's kind of on the outside looking in when it comes to the Rock bubble uh he was drafted last year in the sixth round obviously and SE as a player that was kind of maybe a steal there in the sixth round um you know the r backfield going going into last year was a little um there were some uh question marks you had cam Acres coming off the um coming out coming off of a rough season uh you had k k Kiron Williams who again you know coming off that injury nobody knew what what they what they had there so there's an opportunity maybe for Zack Evans to find his way um maybe not even as a starter but at least like a complimentary piece to Kim acres and he's he even last year when Ken Williams went down Zack Evans really didn't get an opportunity the Rams went out and sign Dell Henderson off the street and Zack Evans really not didn't really get that opportunity I think kind of at that point you knew kind of what the Rams thought of Zack Evans um when he didn't get that opportunity uh when when ky ky was out for four games so I think this is gonna be a big preseason preseason for him to um to show what he's capable of uh he's going to get a lot of carries I'd imagine K William K Williams won't play Blake Corin might play just a little bit um the Rams shman face said early this week that he's not sure how much those um those rookie those rookies will play the rookies play play play last year just because they were going to be um thrown into a uh into a large role right away but that's not that's not really the case this year so I I C or Blake corn might play a a little bit in that first game but I wouldn't expect to see a lot of Blake corm it's going to mostly be probably Ronnie Rivers Boston Scott and Zack Evans so I think Z Zack and I I'd really expect expect Zack Evans to to get um to get a majority of the carries there in the preseason so he's he's gonna have to show that that he can be efficient on efficient car carrying the ball on offense and then uh really if he can show some some some uh value on special teams that's really where he's going to going to make um where he's going to get where he's going to make his mark on the roster and how he's going to find his way out in the final 53 so certainly something something to watch there going on to the defense again not it was pretty straightforward when it comes to the ram St right Bobby Brown Kobe Turner uh and Brandon FIS L on the defensive line LEL meron is is depth um Desmond Johnson there is depth as well Tyler Tyler Davis and Cory Duran um at Edge rusher you obviously have Jared verse and Nick Hampton there's the starters I think it is again worth noting that Jared verse is listed as the St really not a surpris because he was drafted the first round but just with how rookies are typically designated just for example bonck the Broncos first round pick is listed as a third string quarterback in Denver behind um behind Jared sdam and U and Zach Wilson so it just kind of gives you gives you a sense of how the NFL typically typically list their lists their rookies so you Byron young and Jared verson behind them Nick Hampton and Michael Hoy so that's that's a good sign if if you're Nick Hampton um coming and coming into the offseason maybe he seen as a player that needed to Pro himself a little bit and so he's listed as a backup which is a good sign and then you have brenon Jackson ker Thomas Zack Zack van valkenberg Brenan Jackson and ocean Mathis um as the other as the other Edge rushers I think just something to note here is oan M mthis listed at the very bottom there among the edge rushers and this is a play of the Rams drafted again they draft in last year uh later on day three I believe in the sixth round um he did get some some playing time last year I believe he played in played in five games in and and there were some flashes it's a player that really um when the r drafted him he had all he has the tools has the physical makeup of an edge rusher uh I believe he was he played at TCU transferred over to Nebraska and kind of kind of had a down year at Nebraska which is why he went the sixth round and um I I did think there were some flashes for him in those five games that he played but Nick Hampton kind of got those opportunities later in the year and oan Manis kind of fell out fell out of favor for whatever reason here he is at the bottom of the depth bottom of the depth chart at Edge rusher which I think tells you exactly what you need what exactly what you need to know and how the Rams and how the Rams view him he's going he's going to have a um an uphill battle when it comes to when it comes to making this roster so I I i' really he'll be a player that I'm interested to watch to see if he can make an impact and maybe find his way on the roster as as a as a six as a six Edge rusher um in terms of the inside linebackers really it's it's pretty clear when you when you look at it um when you talk about the inside Lineback position and how and how and how thin the Rams are at that spot but it's really noticeable here um when you're looking at it on paper you have Ernest Jones and then behind Ernest Jones you have Jake hmel who was an undrafted free agent couple years ago Christian Rose boom who has been kind of inconsistent and up and down especially in coverage and then you have Troy reader who is at this point his career is probably more of a special team special teams player not really somebody that you want on the field on a consistent basis and then you have somebody that I'm really going to be pay pay paying attention to here in the preseason and that's olun fasi um who's a player that the Rams he got some praise this past week from from Chris schula he uh was on the practice squad a little bit last year got elevated a couple times to play on special team so I would expect him to maybe maybe uh VI for spot there on the final 53 he may start on the practice squad but at some point within the season it wouldn't be surprising to see him get get get elevated but again you look at this this inside line linebacker spot and you know you have Ernest Jones who is a really good player who probably um could be could could earn an extension by the end of the year but behind hand you again it's just it wouldn't be surprising as the Rams don't value the inside linebacker position very much on on on defense and that's just kind of uh it's it's just obvious with how they've how they've dealt with position outside of uh Bobby Wagner in years past and um that's just evidence evident with the dep with the dep that they have at at at that position and then moving on to the secondary of uh obviously Darius Williams and Trey white Kobe Durant Jerry Jacobs who the ram signed is kind of depth after they uh Jus William Jus William down with the hamstring injury and they lost lost Daran Kendrick for the season so Jerry Jacobs is there and you have have have Trey Tomlinson and then at safety you have Cam curl and John Johnson of the stars but at niichel you have Quenton Lake and I think that is really notable uh that that Quinton lake is listed there as as the nickel which kind of means that he'll probably play the Star role in the Rams defense he's a player that um the this past week Chris really noted how versatile a player that he is you can really line him up anywhere you can line him up deep line him up in the slot and so it looks like he's goingon to be that big Niel or that St player in the Rams defense and kind of early on the early on in the offseason it was thought that maybe you know Russ Russ yeast was initially getting those snaps and um and it was thought that maybe Russ e could be be in position for that for that star rooll along with Daren Kendrick who was going snaps in that spot but uh it looks like Quinton Lake may maybe if maybe maybe has settled in there a little bit which is which is overall good news for Grand defense I would genely I expect Quinton Lake to be a major major part of this defense be a key contributor and um he should be in for for a pretty good year and then moving on here to the specialist you have have Ethan Evans at punter Joshua cardi at kicker who who attracted at Stanford and then really what's notable here is you have Tut two Atwell listed as the punt returner and the kick returner and you know coming coming into the offseason I think a lot of people thought that that might be Boston Scott's role and Boston Scott may still do that I think if you know especially on kick return where you typically have two returners um Boston Scott will have a role there but this is a this is a spot where two2 atw could potentially Thrive R said earlier earlier this week's um Seth Walder out of not s waterer Jeremy Fowler from ESPN came out with a report saying Rams Rams aren't looking to trade tutu out well they have a plan for him and they're excited for him to take to um to take advantage of his opportunities and it seems like that opportunity may come at at at at the at the kick return spot and uh it's going to be really interesting simply because of the new roles that kick return where it set up more like a run play and we have seen tut2 at will have success maybe not on a consistent basis simply because he hasn't been using that in that spot a lot we have seen him have success kind of on sweeps and and used in in that fashion went back to last year against the Cincinnati Bengals where he had that that long run that went for 20 plus yards that really should have gone for a touchdown but but but got called back so we've seen two two two Atwell um thrive in in in that type of role so I I do I I am excited excited excited to see what what what he can do in this spot and kind of what the Rams can draw what the Rams can do to draw it for him seemed like uh in those early days of Camp Tut tut2 Atwell spoke to the media seemed really excited about this role he seemed confident that you know now these new rules the kick the the kicking team can't can't run towards the returner until he has the ball and so atw kind of thought that he might have a little little bit of an advantage if if the returner if the kicking team can't can't move until until he starts moving forward so um good news there uh we we'll see what at can do there and I'm really ex excited to see him in that spot and that kind of just kind of brings us into the next game which is r first preseason game that's coming up this Sunday they play the Dallas Cowboys at uh 4:30 p.m. e Eastern 1:30 p.m. uh Pacific time and again just kind of who needs to stand out here I think you really look at um going up to going up to quarterback here let me let me bring myself back here um don't allow let me see if I can [Music] um all right um there we go okay so now that we're back uh to to the uh to our regular screen here to to our to our regular regularly scheduled programming um we're going to talk about the ram first preseason game here against the Dallas Cowboys and kind of who needs to stand out I think the first player that you look at is you have to look at set and Bennett sets and Bennett at quarterback I mean this is a player that the Rams obviously drafted last year in the fourth round he played in the preseason had that really good first first outing where he kind of let the led the Rams back um and and kind and and looked looked pretty well he was he was operating the offense efficiently and effectively but you know in those next two games um he kind of he was staring down receivers late late with his late late with his throws on those and and that led to it led to him I guess um it led to him first of all he L he led the league in turnover where he plays at quarterback last year in the preseason he turned the ball over I believe I believe he threw three interceptions and then you get to that kind of week before um that that kind of bye between week three of the preseason and week one of the regular season and we learn that sson Bennett is going to take a leave of absence and won't be with the team for the season and so this is someone that has taken a year off of football we haven't seen him since last last year in the preseason and I think this is just a big year for a big preseason for him just kind of for him to show what for him to show what he's capable of um again uh draft him the fourth round this a player of the Rams would would have liked to be able to maybe be a long-term backup or kind maybe be a bridge quarterback after Matthew Stafford retires but um again we the Rams just I guess from from the Rams kind of know what know what they might have but from a fan perspective or from a viewer perspective you really don't know what what we have in set Bennett and he's been really up and down in at in in training camp and he should get a lot of opportunity here in the preseason um sh was asked whether or not Jimmy garolo would play and he said he'd kind of leave it up leave it up to Jimmy but uh for the most part he he he he wouldn't like he doesn't want to play play Jimmy grappolo in the preseason so that really leaves SS and Bennett and and drus wi as the two quarterbacks and if that's the case set and benett could get at least two quarters if not three quarters worth of play with Dr Win kind of coming in coming in at the end and then again I kind of touched on it earlier but going on going moving on to the defensive side of the ball you have you have to look at I think Osan Mathis and um again this is a this player he has all the tools to to to to to play on the edge he he has the physical makeup up he has that explosiveness but um and and he and he played I think in five games last year um in in the early in the early part of the regular season is kind of fallen out of favor ever since we've seen players like Kier Thomas in the past make an impact here in the preseason Zach Zack and falkenberg is someone that kind of has earned a spot um on the roster kind of on that bubble and and and kind of right between the practice squad and the practice squad and that 50 and that uh official and that official roster that 53 man roster so I I I really am looking forward to maybe oan Mathis making some impact plays getting to the quarterback disrupting things and maybe like I said like I said earlier earning his spot as that six Edge rusher or at least um or uh you know somebody the RS can maybe Sash on the practice squad and and and bring up later in the year if if if if necessary and mean I think he got to look at special teams I mean this is the first time that we'll see the the these new kickoff rules in in action um I don't know if we'll see a lot of crazy things it's probably probably going to look pretty vanilla but still I I think there's going to be some things that some things that we're going to be able to take away here and um again this is really Outside The Joint practices this is the only real game action that the Rams will be able to to get a feel for what this play is gonna is is going to be like on Sundays um and then outside just the return game I think you have in that coverage unit I think you have to look at the kicker position too um you have Joshua cardi who R draft his rookie he has been for the most part pretty consistent I think Jordan Jordan rodri from the athletic reported earlier this week that he went seven for seven over two days made made some kicks from 48 plus and and 50 and 50 plus and then a couple days later Eric Williams from Fox Sports reported that he went two for five in the joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys so I think it's just kind of kind of going to be I don't want to say it work in progress but I think it's just kind of important to remember that when Rams when the Rams had Greg zerline in his his rookie season I think he only made 74.2% of his field goals in in in that rookie year and and he turned out really really really nicely um so I think you're kind of get gonna get some you're obviously it's a rookie kicker you're going to get some up and down moments but still I I am excited to see Joshua cardi in action and see what he can do but just to kind of reiterate you know I think with a rookie kicker you are going to get those up and down moments it is maybe gonna be inconsistent at times but it's going to be important not to bring out the Torches and the pitch and the pitch Forks um unless un unless it's really bad this is somebody the Rams and the fan base and and and viewers need to give um they need to give give Joshua Joshua cardi a chance because it's it's not going to be perfect right away like it's he's not getting Mr automatic like like like Matt gay was um when when when when he was brought in so um really looking forward to see what Joshua cardi can do uh here here against the Dallas Cowboys um again I I it is it is only going to be the preseason um the Rams probably won't show a lot uh but I think just some individual performances I think there are there are going to be some things that we that that we're going to be able to take away and then just kind of going on to some things um from from earlier from this week some some some some some quick roster transactions uh the the r brought in they've they've obviously been dealing with injuries you have Rob hav with the anle injury lar Jackson this time I believe he's he's he's back he's back though um but he obviously excuse me you won't see Jackson in the preseason obviously the Rams won't be playing their starters which shouldn't be shouldn't be a surprise this is how sha L has handled the preseason in the past and that isn't going to change anytime soon um see and then you have Jonah Jackson out um dealing deal with some injuries so the Rams brought in some depth earlier this week they brought in Matt casy from Dartmouth who was actually brought in as an undrafted free agent back in 2019 um he he was cut played played some in the UFL this past year and in the UFL past year I believe he played for bur Birmingham um who who made who made it to that to the to to the championship game Matt casy was the top rated offensive tackle according to Pro Pro Football Focus and again it's obviously the UFL the competition level is different but still I think you have some upside there this is a this is a player that again will have some some familiarity with not just the offense has changed has changed a lot since cas's brought in back in 2019 but he'll at least have some familiar familiarity with the Rams overall building um they also signed Alec Lindstrom who I thought was a good signing um he signed as drafted free agent back back uh I think it was last year or two years ago with the with the Dallas Cowboys a player that I really liked in the draft um out of Boston College and again played in the UFL last year and I believe he was the fifth rated um guard Center uh and and gives them some gives Rams some interior depth and then the Rams bring in Conor McDermot uh from the who play played for the New England Patriots last year but he has more more um more experience with Matt the floor or not Matt the floor Mike the floor during their time with the New York Jets and then after Jets mcder Went to went to the New England Patriots who obviously the Rams with Ryan Wendell will have we have some connection that connection there on type of player that Conor mcder is and so there there is a familiar familiarity there similar to Jerry Jacobs with his connection to Obby Pleasant this just this just gives L some uh a depth piece that that they at least have some some familiarity with and they and they know they know in in in in some sense um what what they're getting and um I think there is just kind of something to note here and that's just like that you know it's it's it it can be I I don't want to say scary but um I think just alarming a little bit maybe this raises a red red flag that br's brought in three depth offensive linemen this week and uh I think it could mean I think when you look at the general umbrella of things it's it's kind of multiple things are all true at the same time and that's you know RS Rams probably aren't telling the full story and and the seriousness of some of their inj injuries and how long term those could be especially when you're dealing with ankle injuries like aeric Jackson like like Rob havenstein who's was dealing with some lower body stuff um with with with his ankle and then you have and then Jo Jackson obviously as well obviously with his shoulder uh and BR Bruce scapula so there's a lot going on and I think the Rams aren't the Rams are pretty pretty close to vast when it comes to injuries anyway so it's very likely aren't telling the full story here um but at the same time it's it's very Poss you know maybe they they are concerned with someone with with some of their depth that they have in in the building as well and I know mcf has been a little um I don't want to say displeased but just not not very happy with um with some of the injury on the offensive line against and Joint practice with with the Chargers specifically but uh he just kind of see he did say that they made some improvements um in the joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys but still uh Katie lson uh sh M mentioned was there with a little bit of an injury Warren McLendon as well so they really needed to bring so while R might be a little bit concerned with some of their depth and and kind of trajectory there I I do think they were just concerned as well from an injury standpoint as well and uh going into preseason it's really about having bodies and uh this is the only time that you're really allow that you are allowed to have 90 players on the roster obviously obviously teams are cut down to 53 by the time week one comes around so really really theast Le signings could also be just bodies for the preseason and hey let's protect our dep a little bit let's bring in these three players that a we can maybe maybe uh gr groom a little bit and develop a little bit to maybe maybe earn a spot on the practice squad but but also uh just give us some some healthy bodies that that can that can take these preseason snaps and and get us get us to week one in a relatively um in a in a relatively healthy um healthy status so with that said um I again I I don't necessarily if I expect casy to make the final waser they they'll certainly they'll certainly have an opportunity here in the preseason they'll be able to put out especially for Matt casy and Alstrom who who are coming in from the UFL they'll have chance to put out they have a chance here to put out some NFL tape to maybe get opportunities elsewhere but also maybe maybe ear a spot spot on the practice squad where if the Rams need them later later on later on in the year they can be brought up Etc but guys that's going to do it for me for today for episode three of the Rams call sheet again I'm your host BL gack staff writer over at Cur show times a few things just to go over again before I'm wrap up the show be sure to hit that like button hit that subscribe really helps me out as I as I continue to grow this Channel and then again Ram play the Dallas cows at 4:30 pm. Eastern Time 1:30 p.m C uh Pacific time on Sunday and I will be I am planning to go live throughout through out the preseason game I'll be right here come hang out uh come join the stage and and and and and chat let's um let's watch let's watch the G together and have a good time um so again uh I'm blank gack I'm your host of the Rams call sheet over here on play playback you can find me here on playback and over on YouTube um and we'll see you next time