In just one month, LA Rams inactives reveal coaches still fixate on same players

The LA Rams, like every NFL team, has to manage their players. It's never an easy task, but this year, the pattern has grown alarmingly complex due to so many injuries to the Rams roster. So the team has had to resolve shortages to the depth chart by calling up players off the practice squad, and signing new free agents.

But on game day, the Rams can only have 48 players suited up. So what happens to the excess players? They are designated as inactive for the game. Now, after a full month of NFL football, let's review the players who have been designated as inactive on game days.

Inactives list for Rams in Week 1

• OT Rob Havenstein (injury)
• ILB Elias Neal;
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• RB Cody Schrader
• DE Desjuan Johnson

Inactives list for Rams in Week 2

• TE Davis Allen (injury)
• OL Dylan McMahon
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• RB Cody Schrader
• DL Tyler Davis

Inactives list for Rams in Week 3

• TE Davis Allen (injury)
• OL Geron Christian Sr
• WR Cooper Kupp (injury)
• RB Cody Schrader
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• QB Stetson Bennett

Inactives list for Rams in Week 4

• DE Dejuan Johnson
• OL Geron Christian Sr
• WR Cooper Kupp (injury)
• RB Cody Schrader
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• QB Stetson Bennett

Can you detect any patterns? The LA Rams are a team that carries four running backs on the active roster, but only plays one (and perhaps gives him a small rest break with a second RB). The team is carrying up to six tight end on a combination of several rosters, and three on the active roster, only plays one tight end 99 percent of the time. The only exception? Week 3 in which the team won the game.

And as far as outside linebackers? The team has five OLBs on the active roster. But so far, the team has rotated just three outside linebackers. OLB Nick Hamption has played one defensive snap. And OLB Brennan Jackson has been inactive on every game day so far.

The Rams carry five inside linebackers on the roster. But only two, Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom, are getting any defensive snaps. The Rams have simply relegated the remaining three to the bench.

If this defense was showing up, I would be fine with the level of rigidity of rotational flexibility. But this is not a good defense. While two Monday Night Football games remain to be played, the Rams defense is ranked 31st out of 32 teams. This is the worst rushing defense in the NFL. It is the 22nd worst passing defense in the league.

With such disappointing results out of the gate, what is the harm in giving other options a shot at performing? The team is struggling right now. Perhaps a fresh set of competitors would help this team wrap up and tackle, or even stuff the run.

If a player is talented enough to make the team's roster, they ought to be good enough to compete in football games if the team is struggling. Right now, this team is struggling. What might the team be overlooking on their roster? Perhaps it's time to find out?

Thanks for reading.