Joe Curley & co. on new depth chart & different changes

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/34659/kayvon-webster-locks-down-starting-cb-job-for-rams

The Rams … play their first preseason contest against the Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Leading up to that game, the Rams released an unofficial depth chart.

Here’s a position-by-position look …

Quarterback: Jared Goff is the starter, Sean Mannion is the backup and Dan Orlovsky is third string, as expected. The question is whether the Rams will ultimately keep Orlovsky on the 53-man roster. They might, given the youth of their top two quarterbacks.

Running back: It’s Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Lance Dunbar, Aaron Green and Justin Davis, respectively. Dunbar’s knee injury, which has basically kept him out of practice since signing with the Rams, has opened the door for Brown to be Gurley’s backup.

Wide receiver: In a three-receiver set, the Rams listed Tavon Austin, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, just like they did before training camp. Problem is, Austin is now dealing with a hamstring injury that has made the Rams very slot heavy. Mike Thomas, activated off the physically unable to perform list on Monday, was listed second in one of the receiver groups, but he is suspended for the first four regular-season games. Josh Reynolds, another vertical threat, was listed fourth in another, but he’s dealing with an injured quad.

Tight end: Tyler Higbee is the starter and Gerald Everett is his backup, though they might see a lot of time on the field together. Third is Temarrick Hemingway and fourth is veteran Cory Harkey. That doesn’t seem to bode well for Harkey’s chances of making the team, but McVay recently said he sees Harkey as both a tight end and a fullback. The only fullback currently listed on the Rams’ depth chart is rookie Sam Rogers.

Offensive line: McVay recently began experimenting with the right side of his offensive line, but Rob Havenstein is listed as the right guard and Jamon Brown is the starting right tackle here. Andrew Whitworth (left tackle), Rodger Saffold (left guard) and John Sullivan (center) are solidified. Pace Murphy and Darrell Williams are listed as the backup tackles. Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal are the backup guards, though Donnal has been dealing with a knee injury. Austin Blythe is listed as the backup center.

Defensive line: Dominique Easley tore his ACL and is out for the year, while Aaron Donald continues to hold out (a close look at his situation can be found here). Michael Brockers is the last man standing. He is flanked by Ethan Westbrooks and Louis Trinca-Pasat on this depth chart. Once Donald reports, it’ll probably be the more experienced Westbrooks who stays. But several others will get snaps, Trinca-Pasat included. Morgan Fox, Mike Purcell and Tanzel Smart are listed as backups.

Outside linebacker: Connor Barwin and Robert Quinn are the starters, as expected. Matt Longacre and Cassanova McKinzy are their backups. Samson Ebukam, a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Washington, is expected to play a significant role, but he has been among several nursing a soft-tissue injury.

Inside linebacker: No surprise with the starters here, either, with Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron. One mild surprise is that Josh Forrest is listed third string. Forrest was impressing as a rookie before a knee injury prematurely ended his season.

Cornerback: Johnson and Webster are the starters, while Gaines and Nickell Robey-Coleman, a standout slot corner who has impressed during training camp, are the backups. The Rams did a nice job over the offseason of replenishing some depth here. Mike Jordan and Troy Hill, suspended the first two games, are third string.

Safety: Maurice Alexander is the strong safety and Lamarcus Joyner is the free safety. That much has been established. But it’ll be interesting to see how much the Rams also use Joyner as a slot corner. John Johnson, a promising third-round pick out of Boston College, is currently third string, which is somewhat surprising. Isaiah Johnson and Cody Davis are listed as backups.

Specialists: The Rams are solid on special teams, with punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Greg Zuerlein and long snapper Jake McQuaide. Austin is currently listed as the only punt returner, but Kupp and Pharoh Cooper are under consideration there, too. Cooper is listed as the kick returner, and it seems safe to say he’ll play that role when the regular season begins.