LA Rams: Player evaluations will be tougher for Sean McVay

The evaluation process just got tougher for Sean McVay as he builds the 2020 LA Rams roster

The LA Rams will be back on the field preparing for the 2020 NFL Season very soon. To make that happen, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on certain items to make conditions safer for the players to meet acceptable pandemic protocols. By now you are fully aware that there will not be a preseason schedule this season.

Most Rams fans will agree that preseason games are tough to watch without the star players. However, they are very important to the undrafted rookies and their opportunity to make the team. LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and his coaching staff will have to change their approach to player evaluations.

Preseason games are more than exhibitions for fans

Preseason games allow players to showcase their skills in game situations. How many players excelled in practice but disappeared in games? How will McVay determine which players are gamers and which are not?

Drills and scrimmages will reveal those players with great athleticism. Remember, the coaches keep a tight grip on those to prevent unnecessary injuries. Most of all, will the players be ready for contact once the regular season begins September 13?  As a result of so many uncertainties, you can expect the depth chart to remain fluid as the season progresses. Let’s think about the starting running back position. Is rookie running back Cam Akers the designated starter this year because of his potential?

Roster potential no longer means on-field production

All six running backs are on the Rams roster for a reason. Les Snead and McVay believe each one has the potential to do good things for the Rams offense. Veteran running back Malcolm Brown has the most pro experience so, does he get the starting job? He certainly started 2019 well enough.

Initially, the Rams will have a 90 player roster as training camp begins. According to Cody Benjamin of cbssports.com, teams will reduce their roster to 80 by August 16. Expect those ten players with the least amount of practice reps to be cut first. In fact, the Rams cuts are already underway, with the team releasing four players today. That leaves six more players to be cut.

This upcoming season will be tougher to prepare for than in recent memory. The Rams coaching staff will have to make some very tough decisions. They may roll the dice and take a gamble on an undrafted player or two in hopes of making the correct decision. Let’s see how it plays out.