LA Rams practice squad has evolved

The LA Rams 16 man practice squad certainly has evolved this season. But in which direction?

The LA Rams practice squad certainly has been a good source for the Rams developmental players to eventually find their way to the team’s 53-man active roster. And historically, that has been how the Rams organization has viewed the best use of the practice squad for the organization. But 2020 rules have changed the charter of the squad, and that has slowly begun to change the way the LA Rams viewed its usefulness.

In 2019, NFL teams were authorized to sign and carry 10 additional players on a practice squad to enable teams to conduct practices each week with a sufficient number of players who, when combined with the 53-man roster, allowed the team to simulate the plays of their upcoming opponents. But things began to change in 2020. With the ratification of the new NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement, the size of the practice squad was expanded to 12 players in 2020-21 and once more to 14 players beginning in 2022.

Rules and roles

The rules changed in 2020 once more when the NFL and NFLPA were forced to rewrite the rule book to compensate for the risks of the coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly, players and staff were faced with the reality of competing in an NFL season during a national health risk. Protocols and strict measures were taken to ensure any player who tested positive could be quarantined until he no longer tests positive for COVID-19.

Practice squads were increased to 16 players to allow teams to carry additional players on the roster to replace players who test positive.  Initially, teams did not take that ‘in case of emergency’ planning into consideration as teams signed the players to their practice squad roster. Initially, the additional roster spots added became a place to maintain promising prospects who were not fully evaluated in the condensed version of the 2020 training camp.

Original Players

As you can see by the original six players added to the practice squad roster on the offensive side of the ball, the Rams maintained several players who were developmental in nature, and not intended to play a role in case of an emergency COVID-19 outbreak on the team. So what was the strategy on this initial roster?

Offense

QB Bryce Perkins (rookie)
TE Kendall Blanton (veteran)
WR J.J. Koski (rookie)
C Cohl Cabral (rookie)
OL Jeremiah Kolone (veteran)
G Jamil Demby (veteran}

It was quite clear that that the Rams offensive line injuries from 2019 were heavy on the mind in the Rams practice squad. The Rams maintained just two skill players and an emergency quarterback in Bryce Perkins.

Defensive backs

DB Juju Hughes (rookie)
DB Donte Deayon (veteran)
DB Tyrique McGhee (rookie)
S J. R. Reed (rookie)

The Rams practice squad roster of defensive backs was clearly a ‘we love what you can do, but do not have roster room for you’ moves. Defensive back prospects were deep in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the Rams stockpiled two via the draft and picked up three more after the draft.

Original Players – Linebackers

The LA Rams have not had much luck at drafting interior linebackers in recent years. Of course, they’ve targetted the position with their last pick in the seventh round for two consecutive seasons.  They lost linebacker Dakota Allen to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. Then, the Rams lost Clay Johnston to the Carolina Panthers.  Surprisingly, the Rams lost both starters in the off-season and then lost projected starter ILB Travin Howard to injury. The Rams compensated for three linebackers on the 53-man roster by carrying three linebackers on the practice roster.

LB Derrick Moncrief (New-FA)
LB Christian Rozeboom (rookie)
LB Daniel Bituli (rookie)

Defensive linemen

DT Marquise Copeland (rookie)
DE Jonah Williams (rookie)
DT Michael Hoecht (rookie)

And in the end, the original cast of 16 practice squad players who made the cut was simply an expanded roster of players of previous seasons.  This was a developmental roster of 16 players who could find themselves promoted in 2020 to the active roster, or simply be coached up as part of the planning for the 2021 NFL season.  But that would soon change.

Current Players

The LA Rams were as guilty as any other NFL team in terms of not using the practice squad as originally intended. But they learned as quickly as any team. After the NFL experienced the Denver Broncos positive COVID-19 test for one quarterback, which triggered the protocol of trace contact to quarantine all three quarterbacks on the team, the view of the practice squad changed dramatically.

Special Teams

K Austin MacGinnis (new – FA)
LS Colin Holba (new – FA)

Now with a new set of rules, the Rams quickly loaded up their roster with emergency players. Both kicker Austin MacGinnis and long snapper Colin Holba.  Having both on the practice squad assures the Rams can elevate either in case of an unfortunate positive COVID-19 test

Defensive linemen

DT Marquise Copeland (rookie)
DE Jonah Williams (rookie)
DT Michael Hoecht (rookie)
DE Eric Banks (rookie)

After the Rams activated A’Shawn Robinson, the team simply cut Eric Banks from the 53-man roster and signed him to the practice squad.  The Rams have a stockpile of defensive linemen on the active roster at six players and are carrying an additional four on the practice squad. That seems awfully heavy for a 3-4 defense, doesn’t it? We’ll be keeping an eye on the Rams defensive line strategy.

Current Players – Defensive backs

DB Donte Deayon (veteran)
S Jake Gervase (veteran)
Tyrique McGhee (Rookie/Reserve Suspended)

The LA Rams promoted both defensive back Juju Hughes and J.R. Reed to the 53-man roster.  Meanwhile, the Rams wisely re-signed veteran safety Jake Gervase to the practice squad.  The Rams are looking at the risk of losing some key defensive backs to free agency in the offseason. With few defensive backs on the practice squad, it’s very likely that the Rams target defensive backs in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Linebackers

LB Derrick Moncrief (new – FA)
LB Christian Rozeboom (rookie)
OLB Jachai Polite (veteran) (PS- COVID 19 IR)

Despite a defense with just two healthy inside linebackers on a 3-4 defense, the Rams have whittled down the practice squad to just two interior linebackers.  A positive development for the Rams was retaining edge rusher Jachai Polite. Polite showed flashes of promise during his time on the defense.

Offense

QB Bryce Perkins (rookie)
TE Kendall Blanton (veteran)
WR J.J. Koski (rookie)
G Jamil Demby (veteran}

With 13 games remaining in the season, the LA Rams have waived two offensive linemen from the practice squad. That places the burden of the teams blocking upon the active roster this year.  But the Rams face losing starting center Austin Blythe in the 2021 NFL Free Agency market.

The Rams have some developable players on their practice squad. But this is not the typical Rams practice squad roster, as it’s not a typical NFL season.  The Rams are very good at roster strategy, adding players to the practice squad to sign to the active roster later in the season.  The greatest question is whether the 2020 season has disrupted the Rams’ ability to keep talented players flowing through their pipeline.