5 LA Rams playing for their jobs at training camp

DB Robert Rochell

There are plenty of reasons to hope for Robert Rochell to have an excellent training camp. After all, he stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 195-pounds. Compared to other defensive backs on the Rams roster, he stands out purely on the basis of his size alone. But 2023 will be his third NFL season, a year in which the game either slows down for him or proves to be too complex and demanding.

Right now, we truly do not know which way the pendulum will swing.

On the downslope, Robert Rochell has regressed. His rookie season was one of promise and potential, a season in which he saw action on 234 defensive snaps and just 39 special team snaps. In 2022, that reversed, and he played just 26 defensive snaps to 325 special teams snaps. Despite injuries to starters in the Rams secondary, Rochell could not crack the lineup, relegated to only the most modest appearances.

Reasons to believe in Rochell

But there are reasons to be optimistic this year. The LA Rams have rehired former DB coach Aubrey Pleasant, whose intensity and aggressive nature had helped the Rams forge a superior secondary during his tenure in the past. Doubling down on coaching expertise for the secondary, the Rams also hired former Washington Huskies DC and DB coach Jimmy Lake as the assistant head coach. In terms of coaching that aligns with a player's strengths, Robert Rochell has a superhighway in front of him.

But what about the player? Well, he certainly starts from a very athletic foundation. In fact, his athleticism is one of the reason why the Rams selected him in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Can Rochell finally play up to his potential? You have to think that it's now or never, as the Rams coaches have already names both Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant with glowing reports. The Rams drafted cornerback Tre Tomlinson, which practically ensures that he will land a roster spot. Finally, the Rams signed NFL veteran Ahkello Witherspoon, who just happens to be 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, just like Rochell.

Iron sharpens iron . Right now, the Rams roster competition is red hot at cornerback. Can Robert Rochell fend off competition? If not, he will likely lose his spot on the Rams roster.