LA Rams ignore defensive needs with their latest Week 3 roster moves

The LA Rams secondary is hurting right now, literally. DB Derion Kendrick was injured in training camp and is out for the season. DB Darious Williams suffered a hamstring injury in training camp, and has subsequently been place on Injured Reserve. He cannot return to the active roster until Week 5. DB John Johnson III has suffered a shoulder injury, and has also been placed on Injured Reserve. Unfortunately, due to his late assignment to IR, he will not return to the active roster until Week 8.

That's significant for having played just two games.

But don't look for any reinforcements from elevating players from the practice squad. The Rams are falling into a suspicious pattern of elevating players who will not only not make an impact on the game, but are unlikely to see any playing time. What do I mean? The LA Rams had elevated TE Nikola Kalinic in Week 2 to face the Arizona Cardinals.

He did not see a single offensive snap in that game.

And yet, the team has veteran DB Ahkello Witherspoon waiting patiently on the team's practice squad.

Nikola Kalinic did not play in Week 2. He won't play in Week 3.

So why not elevate him for Week 3 too? And while we are at it, let's elevate WR Xavier Smith for the contest too. While I will not deny the fact that the Rams' offensive arsenal is a bit depleted, it only makes sense to elevate players who stand a chance of competing. TE Nikola Kalinic is unlikely to take an offensive snap. WR Xavier Smith is almost certainly not going to be targeted in Week 3.

This pattern of mismatching personnel resources to the offensive gameplan for games is not only a predictable pattern for the team, it is abhorrently inefficient. The team should try to ensure adequate depth, yes. But if the team stands on a commitment to play just one tight end and one running back, the team truly needs no more than two tight ends and two running backs suited up on game day.

Hey, there is a simply solution. Play 12 personnel and 21 personnel packages. If the team feels the need to carry three tight ends and three running backs, then play two tight ends or two running backs sometimes.

Otherwise, it's time that the roster reflects the positional needs of the defense too.

As always, thanks for reading