3 players who made 53-man LA Rams roster but don't deserve it

The LA Rams seem to be willing to describe their OTAs, training camp, and even preseason games as open competition for the right to compete with the team, but who is kidding who? By the time preseason games come around, two things are true: Either the team wants to give rookies (and some special circumstance veterans) who may need additional reps the chance to compete and solidify their spot on the roster, or players who haven't a snowballs chance in a furnace of making the team.

That is proven with each passing year. And yet, we continue to believe otherwise.

One thing is certain. The Rams have a plan. While I, nor many others who cover the Rams, have intimate knowledge of the teams tactics for the season, we do have a vested third-party perspective that can be just as relevant and sometimes quite useful. Not every mention of 'that doesn't make sense to me . . . ' is trolling or lack of support of the team. In many ways, it takes far more passion to put oneself out there to ask the tough questions than to simply nod our heads in agreement along with the crowd.

ILB Troy Reeder

Much like a team that signs a veteran quarterback to start the season, knowing that the Round 1 drafted quarterback will eventually replace him, the Rams' defensive strategy seems to center around giving veteran ILB Troy Reeder the early starting role on this defense, but expecting undrafted rookie ILB Omar Speights to overtake him and eventually pry that role from Reeder sooner rather than later.

But that seems inefficient at a minimum.

I understand the concept. But I am less convinced that Troy Reeder, despite his years of NFL experience, has truly earned the right to start for the Rams, let alone wear a green dot to call the defensive plays. And this is not a view that I take lightly. The team had parted ways with Reeder in the past. Ironically, today's version is no more capable or productive than the player who was once released.

I admit to warming up to the idea of rookies Omar Speights and Elias Neal playing behind veterans. But those veterans should be Jake Hummel and Christian Rozeboom to open the season. Five inside linebackers seems a bit thick when you consider that due to injuries, this team does not have a healthy backup offensive tackle. That would seem to take a higher priority that five inside linebackers right now.

RB Ronnie Rivers

Somewhere between OTAs and training camp, the LA Rams coaching staff determined that the team would have three running backs on the roster. As such, the team sat RBs Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers throughout preseason. That left running backs Boston Scott and Zach Evans to shoulder the load through preseason.

Now, neither rusher is on this roster.

Had the team stopped there, three running backs made some sense. That is particularly true because the team is using RB Kyren Williams as the team's primary punt returner. But the team claimed former San Francisco 49ers running back Cody Schrader off waivers, swelling the running back room to four players. With an offense that runs three wide receivers, one tight end, and one running back on more than 90 percent of the offensive plays, that's just overkill.

I like Ronnie Rivers. He is a feisty runner who will give you his all. But he is not particularly effective. He has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in his NFL career, has yet to run for a touchdown, and his longest career run was 10 yards.

Those are the type of numbers that end up on the practice squad, not on the 53-man roster. Might he perform his best NFL season in 2024? Of course. But you could say that about Boston Scott or Zach Evans as well, and neither player is with the Rams any longer.

Four running backs is too many with the team needing to bolster the depth at the offensive line.

TE Hunter Long

The team had prescribed the tight end room to three players before preseason began in 2024 as well. Curiously, unlike the running backs, the team did manage to get some preseason work out of second-year tight end Davis Allen (two of five, 13 yards) and veteran Hunter Long (zero catches out of two targets).

The problem with carrying three tight ends is the fact that eventually, starting TE Tyler Higbee will return to health, and need a roster slot. While the team has two solid tight ends in Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen, Hunter Long's utility in this offense seems overestimated. While acknowledged as a blocking tight end, the guy has yet to catch a single pass for the Rams.

That includes preseason, the regular season, and postseason.

If the team had room to spare, that's one thing. But the team is fighting to find depth on the offensive line, and as stated earlier, this team runs a base 11-personnel offense over 90 percent of the time. That's just one tight end. So why carry three on the active roster, two on the practice squad, and one more on IR/PUP? It's not like the team will run two or three tight end formations on offense. This team is not the Baltimore Ravens.

While I understand keeping talented players, there is also a need to balance roster depth with the team's use of those players and those positions. Of course, the team could lean more heavily into 12-personnel packages this season. But even if that is the case, Do the Rams really get the most use out of three tight ends on this roster? Six wide receivers, all of whom are expected to block as well as a tight end, suggests otherwise.

The team will have more roster moves ahead. As the team readies to sign new players, you can look to one or more of these players to be released to make room as the 2024 NFL season rolls along.

As always, thanks for reading.