Let's talk about Rams roster, and how the team fumbled the plan so far

(5) - Inside linebackers were left out of the strategy

I was deeply disappointed when the Rams football team decided to trade starting veteran inside linebacker Ernest Jones for a bag of chips and a six-pack of soda just before the start of the season. That point was driven home even more when the Tennessee Titans flipped Jones to the NFC West Division rival Seattle Seahawks The Titans got a Round 4 pick plus a starting inside linebacker from the Seahawks, embarrassing the Rams front office and talent evaluation even further.

But the fumble started with what happened next. The Rams roster, now depleted from any drafted inside linebackers, was left scrambling for a tandem of linebackers to handle the 2024 NFL season. The solution was to start two similarly styled linebackers, Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom, in what appears to be a decision anchored in NFL experience alone.

The results of that decision seemed to contribute to the team's 1-4 start. When the team replaced an injured Troy Reeder with undrafted rookie Omar Speights, the Rams managed to compete better. But at 5-6, fans are perfectly within their rights to conclude that its a bit too much too little too late.

The Rams had an opportunity to either sign a veteran inside linebacker who could eventually be coached up, or execute a low level trade to pry a backup inside linebacker from another team. When the roster needed an offensive guard or center, the team did not hesitate to act. The team traded for IOL Austin Corbett, IOL Kevin Dotson, and signed IOL Coleman Shelton

The front office failed to act. I love the upside of undrafted rookie ILB Omar Speights. But the defense, to perform at the level fans expect, needed an accomplished veteran, and he never signed with the team.