2017 Los Angeles Rams game-by-game predictions

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/33587/2017-los-angeles-rams-game-by-game-predictions

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams’ featured non-NFC West games in 2017 will be against the AFC South, the only division that didn’t field a team with double-digit wins last year. Their first two games will be at home. Their last game will come against a popular pick to finish with the NFL’s worst record. In between are several winnable games, too. But the Rams, under an entirely new coaching staff, still have a lot to figure out internally.

Here’s an early, game-by-game look at how the 2017 season could shake out.

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m. ET

One thing is pretty clear about the Rams’ 2017 schedule: They’ll face a lot of good quarterbacks. The first will be Andrew Luck. But Luck is coming off shoulder surgery, and Rams quarterback Jared Goff will be facing a shaky secondary. He should get off on the right foot here. Record: 1-0

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, vs. Washington Redskins, 4:25 p.m. ET

Former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay left to become the Rams’ head coach, and soon thereafter, Washington’s top two receivers, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, signed with other teams. Now head coach Jay Gruden has a transitioning offense on his hands. But it’s still better than the one McVay inherited. Record: 1-1

Week 3: Thursday, Sept. 21, at San Francisco 49ers, 8:25 p.m. ET

Last year, the 49ers embarrassed the Rams in a season-opening game on Monday Night Football. The 49ers won two games in 2016, and both came against the Rams, the last one on the strength of an impressive comeback at the Coliseum. The 49ers, now under Kyle Shanahan, will continue to be bad. The Rams should be better against them. Record: 2-1

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET

This will be the Rams’ toughest test all season. Their defense should be pretty good, but new defensive coordinator and former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips will have a hard time trying to contain QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Dez Bryant and TE Jason Witten. On offense, the Rams don’t have anything close to the firepower to keep up. Record: 2-2

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET

Hate on Jeff Fisher all you want, but for some reason, he seemed to have some weird magic touch when it came to beating the Seahawks. It’s unlikely McVay will have that same feel, simply because most coaches don’t. The Seahawks’ defense — perhaps rejuvenated by the return of safety Earl Thomas — will be a big early test for McVay’s developing offense. Record: 2-3

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Jaguars are no strangers to offseason spending. And this offseason was no different, as they splurged on three new defensive players: defensive end Calais Campbell, cornerback A.J. Bouye and safety Barry Church. At home, they’ll make life really difficult on Goff and his offense. Record: 2-4

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22, vs. Arizona Cardinals in London, 1 p.m. ET

The Cardinals have lost as much as the Jaguars gained on defense. Four of their top six defensive snap leaders from 2016 signed elsewhere. Coming off a disappointing 7-8-1 season, Arizona has holes all over its defense — holes Goff can exploit in Twickenham Stadium, where the Rams suffered a heartbreaker to the Giants last year. Record: 3-4

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 5, at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET

Another long flight — though it’s coming off a bye — and another difficult matchup. The Giants feature two dynamite cornerbacks in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. And now, with Brandon Marshall joining Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants have two standout receivers for QB Eli Manning. They should be pretty good. Record: 3-5

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12, vs. Houston Texans, 4:05 p.m. ET

The Texans won the AFC South without J.J. Watt, but they did so with a minus-49 point differential, seventh-worst in the NFL. And though Watt should be healthy again, their quarterback situation has not been resolved. The Rams will be happy to be back home. Record: 4-5

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19, at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

The Vikings — much like the Rams — have had to overhaul their offensive line. For a Rams defense that is led by Aaron Donald and is now overseen by Phillips, who’s very creative in the ways he can pressure the quarterback out of a 3-4 base set, this is usually a good matchup. But not this time. Record: 4-6

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. New Orleans Saints, 4:05 p.m. ET

Rams fans have probably tried really hard to forget about this team. The Saints dealt the Rams perhaps their most crushing blow of 2016, annihilating them 49-21 in New Orleans. But the Saints have had a hard time putting pieces around aging QB Drew Brees in recent years, and the Rams should get some revenge. Record: 5-6

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3, at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET

The last time the Rams played in Arizona, they stunned the Cardinals and improved to 3-1 to start 2016. It was the apex of their season; perhaps the apex of Fisher’s tenure. The Cardinals probably won’t let that happen again. Record: 5-7

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET

This will be the most highly anticipated game of the season. Goff, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, goes up against Carson Wentz, the 2016 No. 2 overall pick. Wentz entered the NFL with more experienced coaching than Goff, and now he has something Goff still lacks: a true No. 1 receiver in Alshon Jeffery. But maybe I just have a gut feeling about this one. Record: 6-7

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET

It’s the Seahawks, at home, late in the season, when they’ll probably be fighting for playoff positioning. But in Washington, McVay was a master at adjusting to exploit opponents’ weaknesses, and he’ll pick up a few things from the Week 5 meeting between these teams. Record: 7-7

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET

The Titans are coming off only their second winning season in eight years, and franchise QB Marcus Mariota was very good down the stretch. They’re on the rise, and they should be a playoff contender in 2017. No early Christmas present for the Rams. Record: 7-8

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET

One shot, at home on New Year’s Eve, against the lowly 49ers, to capture their first non-losing season since 2006? The Rams get it done. Record: 8-8

Andrew Whitworth brings protective services to Rams

Andrew Whitworth

Gary Klein

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-ota-whitworth-20170602-story.html

During the last eight of his 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Andrew Whitworth played left tackle and protected a couple of very good quarterbacks.

With Whitworth minding their blind side, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton each led the Bengals to the playoffs.

So it was no surprise in March when the Rams and new coach Sean McVay pursued the three-time Pro Bowl selection, and guaranteed him a handsome sum, to protect quarterback Jared Goff, the top pick in the 2016 draft.

Whitworth already sees traits that Goff shares with his previous high-profile teammates, especially the more “laid back” Palmer.

“It’s just getting him to let it out and be confident and be assertive and run the show,” Whitworth said of Goff, adding, “We all go as far as the quarterback goes and it’s our job to make his job easier.”

The Rams signed the 6-foot-7, 333-pound Whitworth to keep Goff upright, provide team leadership and set an example for members of the Rams’ embattled offensive line.

Last season, the same group fell apart after performing adequately in 2015.

Running back Todd Gurley, the 2015 offensive rookie of the year, could not escape the backfield without getting hit. Goff was under siege throughout nearly all of his seven starts.

McVay, hired in January, tabbed Aaron Kromer as offensive line coach and huddled with general manager Les Snead. Among their top priorities was finding a left tackle that could set the tone on the field and in the locker room.

They gave Whitworth, 35, a three-year, $36-million contract, with $15 million guaranteed, to replace struggling Greg Robinson and anchor the line.

“Obviously,” Goff said at the start of offseason workouts in April, “Whitworth is going to be great for me.”

McVay too.

“He’s been a great sounding board for me,” McVay said last week. “Just watching the way he communicates with his teammates. How receptive he is to coach Kromer’s techniques. … His presence has definitely been felt on our offense.”

Whitworth joined a position group that includes: Robinson, the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft; seven-year veteran Rodger Saffold; third-year pros Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown; and other young players. The Rams signed veteran center John Sullivan a month after acquiring Whitworth.

Rams mailbag: Trumaine Johnson’s situation, Greg Robinson’s future and Jared Goff’s progress
Leadership, Whitworth said, is “more about you just kind of being who you are” rather than telling someone what to do.

“The bottom line is the best way to lead is to play well,” he said a few weeks ago, after the first day of organized team activity workouts.

Whitworth said last week that he was by nature “an encourager” and that he was providing positive reinforcement for his linemates and other players.

The message: “Hey, let’s take these steps toward this direction and let’s let this be our new standard.”

Teammates are listening.

“What he’s brought to me is how to be a pro,” Brown said.

Brown, a third-round pick from Louisville in the 2015 draft, played guard during his first two NFL seasons. Last week, coaches moved him to right tackle, where he took first-team reps in place of Robinson.

Whitworth has shared his experience and knowledge with all linemen, Brown said.

“He’s really an open book,” Brown said. “He has a personality that he’s here for the unit and team to get better in whatever ways that are needed.

“So the energy that he gives off makes it easier for me and, I’m sure, the other guys to kind of go up and ask different questions. He gives you good feedback, and that allows you to be more confident and gives you the ability to really dive in and use him as a tool.”

Whitworth played at Louisiana State and was selected in the second round draft of the 2006 draft. He has played in 168 regular-season NFL games. Asked how long it took him to become comfortable as a pro, he said it was an ongoing process.

“I don’t think I’m comfortable now,” Whitworth said. “As I say, ‘Every tackle’s nightmare is third and long.’ … I get just as nervous and just as freaked out about games now as I did when I walked in the league.

“I think you just learn that, over time, what happens in the situation, what happens under pressure is what you’ve practiced and what you’ve repped.”

The Rams will conduct their final four OTA workouts this week. A mandatory minicamp June 13-15 will follow.

Whitworth knows that the Rams’ success will be tied to Goff’s play — and the performance of the offensive line.

A young quarterback such as Goff must not only find his way but also develop the ability to inspire his protectors, Whitworth said.

“I think sometimes they only think about skill — what can they get out of receivers, what can they get out of this and that,” Whitworth said. “And the reality is, man, the better that line plays, the more time they have, the more opportunities they have to do special things.”

Nothing against @JaredGoff16. I'm rooting for him and my @RamsNFL big time. Just a big believer in @seanmannion4. We're lucky to have both https://t.co/o2slsCmO3h

— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) July 23, 2017

Los Angeles Rams training camp: Three questions facing the team

Jordan Schultz
Shutdown Corner

https://sports.yahoo.com/los-angeles-rams-training-camp-three-questions-facing-team-162659935.html

The NFL season is inching closer. Through July, Shutdown Corner will examine three big questions for each NFL team as it heads to training camp.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

1. Can Todd Gurley get back to being Todd Gurley?

There is no way around it: Todd Gurley was atrocious last season. After busting out for over 1,100 yards and 10 scores in just 13 games as a rookie, the talented running back saw his production plummet last year. Averaging a measly 3.2 yards per carry (tied for second-worst in the NFL) and failing to consistently break tackles, he failed to record a single 100-yard game. Gurley — who earned offensive rookie of the year honors in 2015 — is too good to endure another season that bad, but expecting him to be elite again may be a tall order. The Rams are still dealing with the pitfalls of Jared Goff’s learning curve. Then again, a revamped offensive line — led by prized left tackle acquisition Andrew Whitworth — could make life easier for the 22-year-old.

2. Will Sean McVay give Jared Goff a boost?

At 30 years old, McVay became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. A big reason he was hired was to help Goff develop. Known as an offensive guru, he helped Kirk Cousins achieve early success in Washington. McVay was calling plays then, showcasing his aggressive nature. Goff — the top pick in the 2016 draft — displayed zero comprehension of the L.A. offense last year and his stunted development became the laughingstock of pro football. He never found comfort under center, nor was he able to make proper reads. Ultimately, McVay’s success rate will come down to whether or not he can create an offense that Goff is capable of a) understanding and b) running. And right now at least, that seems easier said than done for a four-win football team.

3. What is the deal with Aaron Donald’s contract?

Perhaps the best defense player in pro football, Donald remans two years away from hitting the free-agency market. With a base salary of less than $9 million for those two years, Donald wants a restructured deal. The first-team All-Pro defensive tackle is just 26 years old and in prime position to enjoy his best season yet. With support from teammates — Michael Brockers says to “pay the man” — the Rams front office has a lot to think about. On one hand, they want to show they are willing to take care of their guys. On the other, it’s not common for a team to offer an extension with two years remaining on a player’s rookie deal. Donald — who plays both the pass and run very well — is a special talent, and this is not a situation the Rams want to play around with.

Rams’ lineup filled with newcomers, position changes

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/34221/rams-starting-lineup-filled-with-newcomers-position-changes

The Los Angeles Rams could have as many as 10 new starters when the NFL season opens. Here’s a starting-lineup projection.

Offense

Quarterback (Jared Goff): Goff was in an awkward spot at this time last year, coming off being drafted first overall but unsure if he would be given a chance to begin the season as the starting quarterback. Now, there isn’t much doubt. We’ll see how much it helps.

Running back (Todd Gurley): This is one of the most fascinating storylines of 2017. Gurley was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015, then he had one of the worst seasons statistically for a running back in 2016, his 885 rushing yards the fewest ever for a player with at least 275 carries. Now what?

Wide receiver (Tavon Austin): Austin signed a four-year, $42 million extension weeks before the start of the 2016 season, but he still has a lot to prove. The Rams have picked up a combination of seven wideouts and tight ends during the past two NFL drafts, and another receiver was obtained on a long-term deal through free agency. They hope Austin can establish himself as more of a deep threat.

Wide receiver (Robert Woods): First-year head coach Sean McVay quickly identified Woods as a perfect fit for his system, so the Rams signed him to a five-year, $34 million contract on the first day of free agency. Woods is a sure-handed, precise route runner. He didn’t haul in more than 65 catches in any of his four seasons at Buffalo, but he seems destined to top that in L.A.

Wide receiver (Cooper Kupp): The Rams picked Kupp up in the third round, and he already seems primed to begin the season as their go-to slot receiver. Kupp has excellent hands and excellent field awareness. He was the FCS Offensive Player of the Year during his last two seasons at Eastern Washington, where he amassed 6,464 receiving yards during his career. The guy can put up numbers.

Tight end (Tyler Higbee): Higbee, listed at 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds, didn’t factor much into the passing game last season. But veteran Lance Kendricks departed via free agency, and now Higbee will compete with Gerald Everett, the 44th overall pick. Higbee still seems like the early favorite to start at this position. His strength and athleticism are major weapons.

Left tackle (Andrew Whitworth): The Rams’ biggest splurge was on left tackle, where they allocated $15 million in guaranteed dollars for Whitworth to replace failed No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson. Whitworth is 35, but he still is considered one of the NFL’s best pass-blockers. He should be a major upgrade.

Left guard (Rodger Saffold): Saffold is the longest-tenured Rams player, and after playing several different positions last season, he seems solidified as the starting left guard.

Center (John Sullivan): Sullivan was considered one of the game’s better centers while with the Minnesota Vikings, starting 93 of 96 games from 2009-14. But he spent the 2015 season recovering from back issues, then he was a backup on McVay’s Washington Redskins in 2016. He now replaces Tim Barnes.

Right guard (Rob Havenstein): A second-round pick in 2015, Havenstein had a solid rookie season but struggled while playing through injuries in 2016. Now he is moving from right tackle to right guard. He’s big for the position, at 6-foot-8 and 328 pounds, but the Rams think he has the smarts to make the transition.

Right tackle (Jamon Brown): Brown was used mostly as a guard in his first two seasons in the NFL. But he was a tackle at Louisville and was getting all the first-team reps at right tackle during the Ram’ offseason program. He enters training camp as the starter.

Defense

Defensive end (Aaron Donald): Donald is the game’s best interior pass-rusher, a three-time Pro Bowler who was first-team All-Pro during each of the past two seasons. Now the Rams are hoping to sign him to an extension, two years before he is scheduled to hit the free-agent market. Don’t worry about the designation. The Rams are moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4, but Donald still will operate as a 3-technique.

Defensive end (Dominique Easley): Did Bill Belichick and the mighty Patriots actually make — a mistake? Easley is proving that to be the case. He was New England’s 29th overall pick in 2014 but was let go after two seasons, cast aside due to reported character issues. Easley was very good as a backup for the Rams in 2016, and now, with William Hayes gone, he’s in line to start.

Nose tackle (Michael Brockers): Brockers, the 14th overall pick in 2012, didn’t record any sacks last season. But he still ranked 26th among 126 qualified interior linemen by Pro Football Focus. He gets overshadowed because of Donald, but Brockers is a menace, as well.

Outside linebacker (Robert Quinn): Quinn racked up 40 sacks and made the Pro Bowl twice from 2012 to 2014. But he has been limited to just 15 starts during the past two seasons, and now he is changing positions, going from a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme to an outside linebacker in a 3-4. Still, Quinn will spend most of his time rushing the quarterback.

Outside linebacker (Connor Barwin): The Rams are hoping a reunion leads to a rejuvenation here. Barwin, 30, broke out under longtime defensive coordinator Wade Phillips while with the Houston Texans in 2011, the start of a five-year run in which he started all 80 games and registered 41 sacks. Barwin struggled while in a 4-3 scheme with the Eagles last season, but he’s in a system — and with a coordinator — that suits him well.

Inside linebacker (Alec Ogletree): Ogletree registered a career-high 98 solo tackles while playing in all 16 games in his first season as a middle linebacker and captain in 2016. He will be a free agent at the end of this season, but the Rams are hoping to sign him to an extension.

Inside linebacker (Mark Barron): Barron thrived under former Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who used him as a hybrid safety and linebacker. Barron will serve strictly as an inside linebacker for Phillips, who has a reputation for getting very creative with that position.

Cornerback (Trumaine Johnson): For the second straight year, Johnson will be the Rams’ primary cornerback and will play under the franchise tag. Johnson had 13 interceptions from 2013 to 2015 but only one in 2016. He’s still looking to prove he can be an elite corner.

Cornerback (Kayvon Webster): Webster was buried on a star-studded depth chart in Denver that included Chris Harris and Aqib Talib. He was restricted to special teams. But now he has a chance to start for the Rams, under a coordinator, Phillips, with whom he has a history. Webster will have to beat out E.J. Gaines.

Strong safety (Maurice Alexander): Alexander served as the starting free safety last season, but he is moving to strong safety, a spot the Rams believe he is better suited for, after the departure of T.J. McDonald. Alexander had two interceptions and 50 tackles in 14 games in 2016.

Free safety (Lamarcus Joyner): Joyner shined as a slot corner over the past two seasons, but he will move to free safety, a position he handled well for Florida State. Joyner still might serve as a slot corner in substitution packages. The Rams simply want him on the field all the time. He is 5-foot-8 but as tough as they come.

Special teams

Kicker (Greg Zuerlein): Zuerlein improved his field goal percentage from 66.7 to 86.4 in 2016, then he earned a three-year extension. The 29-year-old has one of the NFL’s strongest legs.

Punter (Johnny Hekker): Hekker is to punters as Donald is to interior linemen: the best, hands down. Hekker has been first-team All-Pro three times, including each of the past two seasons. And he can occasionally beat teams with his arm, as well.

Long-snapper (Jake McQuaide): McQuaide is entering his seventh season with the Rams and coming off his first Pro Bowl. He will be a free agent at season’s end.

Rams’ 53-man roster projection altered by suspensions
The Los Angeles Rams open training camp July 29 on the campus of UC Irvine in Southern California. Here’s a 53-man roster projection.

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/34219/rams-53-man-roster-changed-by-suspensions

QUARTERBACKS (2): Jared Goff, Sean Mannion

The Rams opted all along to stay young at quarterback because they need to see what they have in Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, and Mannion, a third-round pick in 2015. Goff will enter as the starter, and Mannion will serve as his backup. New head coach Sean McVay appeared to crack the door open for competition during the offseason program, saying, “We’re trying to win football games, and whoever we feel like gives us the best chance is who’s going to play behind center.” But nothing has changed. Goff is the starter.

RUNNING BACKS (3): Malcolm Brown, Lance Dunbar, Todd Gurley

The Rams signed Dunbar during the offseason, and he might end up taking some targets away from Gurley. Dunbar could serve in a role similar to Chris Thompson, who specialized in catching passes out of the backfield for McVay’s offense in Washington. On the ground, though, it’ll be all Gurley all the time. Depth-wise, Aaron Green was a tough cut at this position.

FULLBACKS (2): Cory Harkey, Sam Rogers

Yes, McVay does see a role for fullbacks in his offense. He used a sixth-round pick on Rogers — a solid blocker who also produced as a runner and a receiver for Virginia Tech — because he finds his skill set appealing. Harkey has by far the most experience, but is he versatile enough to lock down a role under the new coach? Zach Laskey is another option.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Tavon Austin, Pharoh Cooper, Cooper Kupp, Bradley Marquez, Josh Reynolds, Nelson Spruce, Robert Woods

I had Mike Thomas in here initially, but then he was handed a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Austin and Woods are the two main receivers. Beyond that, there are a lot of different ways McVay can go, which is just the way he likes it.

TIGHT ENDS (3): Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway

The Rams are very young at tight end, with all three of these guys coming in the past two drafts. They’re all big, athletic players who can be factors in the passing game, and it will come down to either Everett or Higbee as to who will be the primary target at this position. It could be both.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Austin Blythe, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Rob Havenstein, Pace Murphy, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Cody Wichmann, Andrew Whitworth

Right tackle is still somewhat open, but Brown is the favorite to lock down the starting spot. Blythe, claimed off waivers in May, seems on track to be the backup center, with Donnal and Wichmann looking like primary backups at tackle and guard, respectively. With the last spot, I chose Murphy over Darrell Williams.

DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, Dominique Easley, Matt Longacre, Mike Purcell, Tanzel Smart, Ethan Westbrooks

The Rams have carried no fewer than eight defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster the past three years, but the switch to a 3-4 look requires fewer of them. I have Westbrooks, Purcell, Longacre and Smart, a sixth-round pick this year, as the backups to Donald, Brockers and Easley. Morgan Fox is also vying for a spot, among others.

LINEBACKERS (7): Mark Barron, Connor Barwin, Samson Ebukam, Josh Forrest, Bryce Hager, Alec Ogletree, Robert Quinn

The Rams didn’t have much need for linebackers under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who deployed only two of them most of the time. But Wade Phillips requires more depth. Beyond Barron, Barwin, Ogletree and Quinn, it’s pretty wide open. Nicholas Grigsby, Carlos Thompson, Ejuan Price and Cory Littleton are also in play, but I went elsewhere. Keep your eyes on Forrest, who saw his rookie season cut short because of a torn ACL, and Ebukam, an under-the-radar fourth-round pick.

CORNERBACKS (5): E.J. Gaines, Trumaine Johnson, Mike Jordan, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Kayvon Webster

Phillips said during the offseason program that the secondary is “stronger than what people think.” We’ll see. Gaines and Webster are vying for a starting spot at cornerback opposite Johnson. Robey-Coleman can be a major weapon in the slot. Troy Hill could’ve competed for a backup spot but is suspended for the first two games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

SAFETIES (5): Maurice Alexander, Blake Countess, Cody Davis, John Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner

It’ll be Alexander and Joyner as starters, but Joyner could resume his role as a slot corner in substitution packages. That would open it up for Davis or Johnson, a third-round pick this year, to receive snaps at free safety. I had Countess beating the likes of Isaiah Johnson and Marqui Christian, but it might be a toss-up.

SPECIALISTS (3): Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide, Greg Zuerlein