Is preseason schedule 1/2 empty or 1/2 full for LA Rams?

Why this is a bad thing for the LA Rams?

The LA Rams are orienting 33 new players to the roster this season.  Of that number, 31 have never played an NFL season, NFL game, or even one NFL snap.  And until now, none have even officially stepped foot onto an NFL football field.  For the LA Rams, a team that relies heavily upon young inexpensive talent to round out the payroll from the highly compensated veterans, this will create one more significant hurdle for the team.

Undrafted players need opportunities.

Can’t turn this ship around on a dime

The Rams are looking to turn the ship around in several key areas.  While the majority of both the offense and defense are returning players, the team hoped to create enough competition to allow even rookies signed after the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft to compete for roster spots and even playing time. The only way that happens is for those players to seize each and every opportunity to impress the coaching staff. And the majority of those opportunities occur in preseason games.

More from Rams News

• Look for 49ers players to follow DeMeco Ryans to Texans
• Broncos mimic LA Rams, go All-In pairing Payton with Russell
• Championship Sunday shows me Rams need secondary help
• Can the LA Rams count on 17 games from QB Matthew Stafford?
• NFL salary cap skyrockets, but will it help LA Rams this offseason?

Yes, players will have opportunities in practices and training camp. But those opportunities are limited. The goal of practices and training camp is not just to assess and evaluate talent, but rather to create a unit that is both familiar and comfortable on the field together.  Starters practice together, backups practice together.  Without the preseason games to feature how players handle a game-time environment, the stratification of NFL practices creates a barrier to undervalued players to make a positive impression upon the coaching staff.

While some of the Rams will depend heavily upon rookies, most of the team will likely be a reset of last year’s players. The only parts of the team truly wide open for rookies right now will likely be contributing on special teams. While special team contributors can lead to snaps for either the offense or defense, the likelihood is remote. Unless a player heard his name called on day two, they will be fighting for a practice squad role.