Los Angeles Rams Depth Chart 2019 Rams Depth Chart

Are the Rams Remaining Running Backs Prepared to Share the Load with Todd Gurley?

Perhaps one of the biggest questions in the entire NFL is whether Todd Gurley can ever get back to his best self. His knee injury suffered late last season clearly hampered him and he became virtually invisible in the super bowl. The revelation that his knee might be arthritic only caused more worry or concern. It didn’t help that the Rams let C.J. Anderson, who carried the Rams at times down the stretch, leave the team in free agency. Instead of bringing him back, they opted to resign Malcom Brown and draft Darrell Henderson in the third round. Regardless of whether Gurley can fully recover, the Rams seem intent on lightening his workload, as they’ve stated that they expect his touches per game to decrease in order to preserve his body for games that matter more down the stretch. For that reason, it’s paramount that Brown and Henderson can adequately assist Gurley. How well those two players perform will be pretty impactful in the Rams’ offense.

Who Will be the Rams’ Starting Tight End?

The Rams seem to have an intriguing situation brewing at the tight end position. For the past couple seasons, the Rams have utilized two tight ends in Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. As it stands, they both share touches and have put up pretty similar production in the past two years. However, that may not appear to be a sustainable plan anymore, for a number of reasons. For one, Higbee’s contract runs out after this season so he may choose to leave for an increased role. Although he’s been a valuable contributor to the Rams the past two years, him and Everett’s co-existence make each other less expendable. There’s also the fact that Everett came on strong down the stretch, and he played very well against the Chiefs and the Saints late in the season. The bottom line is that this year does feel like the season we’ll see which tight end the Rams choose to prioritize and keep for the future, as it’s hard to see them keeping both long term.

Who’s Going to Replace Ndamukong Suh on the Defensive Line?

While Suh may not have been as good for the Rams as people expected him to be, his departure in free agency is still a big blow. Suh was particularly valuable in the playoffs, especially in the NFC championship where he registered 1.5 sacks. The Rams still have Aaron Donald, and that’s the most important thing for the Rams’ defense. Michael Brockers is a solid veteran option who can hold his own weight next to Donald. Still, it wouldn’t help to get some clarity on who they’re planning to replace Suh with. Some possible options include second year players Sebastian Joseph-Day and John Franklin-Meyers, as well as rookie Greg Gaines. All three of these players have potential, but none have really proven anything in the league. The Rams defensive line will always be dangerous with Donald leading the helm, but the play of his supporting cast is also important. Donald will likely command several double or even triple teams, so it’s important to have pass rushers that will be able to consistently win their one on ones flanking him.