Rams 1st unofficial depth chart holds unexpected surprises worth discussing

Edge Rushers

Starters: Jared Verse, Byron Young

Backups: Michael Hoecht, Nick Hampton

Next in line: Brennan Jackson, Zach VanValkenburg, Ochaun Mathis, Keir Thomas

I did not expect second-year outside linebacker Nick Hampton to hold off rookie OLB Brennan Jackson, particularly with glowing reports frequently surfacing out of Rams training camp about Jackson's energy, physicality, and ability to make plays. But while this early edition of the Rams depth chart does inspire renewed how for Nick Hampton to make the roster, it sinks the hopes of Keir Thomas, Ochaun Mathis, and Zach VanValkenburg.

The two starters right now are and will remain OLB Jared Verse and Byron Young. Unless they are injured, they will get the lion's share of defensive snaps, and that is in spite of the fact that the team pledged to do a better job of not overworking the starting edge rushers this season.

I remain unconvinced.

But I can see the team using the amazing versatility of OLB/DL Michael Hoecht is a wide assortment of positions, both in two-point and three point stances. But I would not look for the team to make the same mistake as 2023, allowing offenses to dictate Hoecht in coverage. Even if offenses attempt to isolate Hoecht in coverage with motion and formation, I suspect that new DC Chris Shula will have a solid response that could quickly discourage the practice.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Starters: Ernest Jones IV, Christian Rozeboom

Backups: Troy Reeder, Jacob Hummel

Next in line: Omar Speights, Elias Neal, Olakunle Fatukasi

Call me unimpressed with the team's initial depth chart at the interior linebacker position. While I love the fact that veteran ILB Ernest Jones IV is back and leading this defense as only he can, the team truly needed to do better than reset the same players in the same depth roles and hope for a better result from the position group overall.

If you, like me, hoped for one of the team's undrafted rookies in either Omar Speights or Elias Neal, this first iteration is a bit disappointing. If insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting differing results, then the Rams have truly gone mad over the ILB plans for 2024. I know that Ernest Jones will dominate in this defense with a huge volume of tackles.

But who will be his best partner? The team believes that Christian Rozeboom is best suited as his partner, and they may be right. Rozeboom was clearly the most productive second option at ILB in 2023. The team continues to believe in Troy Reeder and Jacob Hummel, but neither sems to pass the sniff test or put up good optics when they are in the game. Reeder seems to be out of position to make plays, while Hummel just appears, ineffective.

Hopefully a depth player can get hot in the preseason.