The Rams return to Los Angeles with just 4 White starters, but 17 Whites on the roster, an above average amount.
The organization traded a ton of draft picks to move up to take Jared Goff to be their franchise quarterback. Goff has reportedly had a slow start, which has inspired panic among the DWF hordes who play fantasy football, who are now beginning to declare him a bust before he’s even started a regular season game. Goff has excellent size at 6’ 4” and has all the physical and mental traits needed to succeed. It may take a little time, but that’s true of all rookie quarterbacks when they first become starters.
Case Keenum will start until Goff is ready. The third stringer is Sean Mannion, drafted last year out of Oregon State.
When the Rams were the “greatest show on turf” they always had four White starters protecting Curt Warner and opening lanes for Marshall Faulk. As the team declined into a long period of bottom feeding, it turned to a series of highly hyped sumos who kept flopping. They open the 2016 season with Tim Barnes as the starting center and Cody Wichmann at left guard. Wichmann is in his second season out of Fresno State; Barnes is a five-year veteran.
Rob Havenstein, Pace Murphy, and Andrew Donnal are the White o-line backups.
Scrub-level talents Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey are currently listed as the starters at tight end, but it’s only a matter of time before talented rookie Tyler Higbee surpasses them. Higbee has a decent chance of playing a lot in his first season and could be one of the rare rookie TEs to put up quality numbers right from the get-go.
Nelson Spruce, the record setting Colorado receiver, made the roster despite not being drafted and being injured for much of training camp. He’s a major talent who will be a very solid NFL receiver if given the chance. It would be nice down the line to see Higbee and Spruce both become major targets for Goff. As is the case with the offensive line, the Rams have wasted draft picks on several highly touted black wide receivers in recent years, and none has met expectations.
Chase Reynolds is listed as a running back, but has not been allowed to touch the ball a single time during a regular season game as he’s used strictly as a WSTD.
Cody Davis, in his fourth year out of Texas Tech, is the starting free safety. He’ll need to play flawlessly to avoid becoming the scapegoat for any and all defensive shortcomings on the Rams.
Bryce Hager out of Baylor has starter level ability but for now is the second string MLB behind Alec Ogletree, who is a good one.
Matt Longacre, in his second season from Northwest Missouri State, is a third string end.
TE Bryce Williams (out of East Carolina) and DE Morgan Fox (Colorado State-Pueblo) made the practice squad.
Starters:
QB Case Keenum
LG Cody Wichmann
C Tim Barnes
S Cody Davis
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D
The organization traded a ton of draft picks to move up to take Jared Goff to be their franchise quarterback. Goff has reportedly had a slow start, which has inspired panic among the DWF hordes who play fantasy football, who are now beginning to declare him a bust before he’s even started a regular season game. Goff has excellent size at 6’ 4” and has all the physical and mental traits needed to succeed. It may take a little time, but that’s true of all rookie quarterbacks when they first become starters.
Case Keenum will start until Goff is ready. The third stringer is Sean Mannion, drafted last year out of Oregon State.
When the Rams were the “greatest show on turf” they always had four White starters protecting Curt Warner and opening lanes for Marshall Faulk. As the team declined into a long period of bottom feeding, it turned to a series of highly hyped sumos who kept flopping. They open the 2016 season with Tim Barnes as the starting center and Cody Wichmann at left guard. Wichmann is in his second season out of Fresno State; Barnes is a five-year veteran.
Rob Havenstein, Pace Murphy, and Andrew Donnal are the White o-line backups.
Scrub-level talents Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey are currently listed as the starters at tight end, but it’s only a matter of time before talented rookie Tyler Higbee surpasses them. Higbee has a decent chance of playing a lot in his first season and could be one of the rare rookie TEs to put up quality numbers right from the get-go.
Nelson Spruce, the record setting Colorado receiver, made the roster despite not being drafted and being injured for much of training camp. He’s a major talent who will be a very solid NFL receiver if given the chance. It would be nice down the line to see Higbee and Spruce both become major targets for Goff. As is the case with the offensive line, the Rams have wasted draft picks on several highly touted black wide receivers in recent years, and none has met expectations.
Chase Reynolds is listed as a running back, but has not been allowed to touch the ball a single time during a regular season game as he’s used strictly as a WSTD.
Cody Davis, in his fourth year out of Texas Tech, is the starting free safety. He’ll need to play flawlessly to avoid becoming the scapegoat for any and all defensive shortcomings on the Rams.
Bryce Hager out of Baylor has starter level ability but for now is the second string MLB behind Alec Ogletree, who is a good one.
Matt Longacre, in his second season from Northwest Missouri State, is a third string end.
TE Bryce Williams (out of East Carolina) and DE Morgan Fox (Colorado State-Pueblo) made the practice squad.
Starters:
QB Case Keenum
LG Cody Wichmann
C Tim Barnes
S Cody Davis
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D
