The two most contentious positions on the L.A. Rams roster heading into final cuts on Sunday are at running back and offensive line, which is why at this point Ronnie Rivers and Austin Blaske are two of the most controversial decisions that Sean McVay could end up making next weekend. In a survey of Rams fans asking for their final 53-man rosters, the top-four players who have failed to make the cut so far are two running backs and two offensive lineman.
Rivers and Dean Connors are on 47-percent and 39-percent
of rosters thus far, while Blaske and A.J. Arcuri are both on 34-percent. Will one or all four end up making McVay’s final roster?
If you want to help change the results, you still have time to submit your own Rams 53-man roster before we make a final consensus edition.
McVay indicating Rivers is on the roster
Through 2 preseason games, Rivers is getting the “protected player” treatment that McVay always gives to guys he thinks are important to the regular season roster. He hasn’t played at all.
If Rivers makes the roster, the reason for it should be obvious:
He’s the team’s kick returner.
Now if Rivers does not make the cut, it must be because numbers didn’t work in his favor after the team liked what they saw from Jarquez Hunter, Connors, or even Jordan Waters. Even in the case, for McVay to give Hunter so much preseason playing time, including in the fourth quarter, would be completely opposite of his typical treatment of NFL regular season players.
He just hasn’t done that in the past, like at all.
But Hunter is on 79-percent of rosters right now and it’s not surprising.
Hunter was a fourth-round pick last year, so he’s not a camp body. He also disappeared and wasn’t heard from for his entire rookie season. Not that surprising given the team’s respect for Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, we get it. But Hunter hasn’t returned kicks. Rivers has. This could be the difference.
Meanwhile, Dean Connors would be a major surprise relative to his presumed value a month ago. He was undrafted, he could probably clear waivers, and he’s not a threat to steal anyone’s job on offense. Connors played just six snaps against New Orleans.
A.J. Arcuri still playing preseason
Despite playing in his fifth NFL season, the former seventh-round pick is still a preseason and practice squad type on the Rams. He played 51 snaps against the Saints on Saturday.
Blaske played the entire game.
David Quessenberry, who is maybe a bland player in the eyes of most (but not a bland last name, to be fair) is still on 76-percent of your rosters. The widely held expectation is that Quessenberry will be on the roster over Blaske and Arcuri, and sure enough he is sitting out the preseason.
Will Arcuri or Blaske get enough support to reach the consensus roster?
