LA Rams already fixed 2 of 5 items on 2022 punch list

Punch List: Item V – Better preparation for backups

The LA Rams’ drop in talent level from starter to backup at offensive skill positions can be very concerning. While I’m not suggesting that the team needs to have Pro Bowler backups, the Rams could certainly benefit from signing inexpensive veterans to augment their roster in 2022.  And for much of the 2021 NFL season, that was the primary method of restocking the roster.

The good news is that is how the LA Rams landed KR/PR Brandon Powell. The bad news is, unless the player was making an impact on special teams, they were forced to fast-track their learning curve to have any chance of rotating in for offensive or defensive snaps. If you doubt that learning a new team’s playbook is a handicap, just look at how veterans like OLB Von Miller or WR Odell Beckham Jr. needed several weeks to begin contributing to the team.

And they were getting all their reputations with the starters.

Rams Roster: Returning players have game experience

The silver lining to this storm cloud is that so many players got exposure to playing time for the Rams in 2021, that the 2022 Rams roster should be in much better shape, from both depth and preparedness, than 2021 ever was.

The LA Rams running back room will welcome six running backs to the 2022 Training Camp. Of that group, only Javian Hawkins has not seen NFL playing time. Of five tight ends returning for the Rams 2022 Training Camp, only Kyle Markway has not gotten any playing time with the team.

For the LA Rams starters in 2021, the offense was force-feeding starters exposure to newly-arrived veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. On defense, the starters were force-feeding repetitions to learn the new defensive scheme of DC Raheem Morris. Both Stafford and Morris will be back for 2022.

While that fact is huge for the Rams for many reasons, one significant benefit worth mentioning is that it will allow the Rams to spread the reps to backup players far more generously at training camp this year. Even the little things like having offensive line coach Kevin Carberry returning mean that the offensive line configuration and familiarity are already a given.

The LA Rams backups are starting from a much better vantage point than that of one-year ago. By midway through training camp, we should know just how much more prepared the players are from a roster-depth perspective.