Rams week 1 preview and thoughts on 53 man roster ! 🏈🤘🏽🐏

what's going on everybody it's Ram vanand Drew here with another video guys um so today you know we're going to talk about uh the Rams 53 man roster we're going to talk about the week one matchup with the Detroit Lions I'm also going to cover um all the week one games my predictions for these games what my thoughts are and yeah you know let's just try to take it from here I'm going to try not to make it too long but just try to make it very um you know just just very good so my initial thoughts on on the roster the 53 man roster so quarterbacks I'm not surprised if Rams just kept stenen Bennett um Jimmy grappo obviously is in suspension for two games so um unless Stafford you know God forbid goes down I think we should be good right there I think if he has to come out for a play or two or something you know bad happens for whatever reason I do feel confidence then Ben to be able to step up in his place um he's gotten better from last year he still throws a lot of interceptions he's still not there yet but I like the move by the Rams because I think they're really investing in Stenson I do not think he's a future starting quarterback though but I think he'd be eventually a good backup quarterback to have um because he really doesn't cost anything and then you can develop him and then he can go somewhere else after his cont his rookie contract's up but I do like that they're at least taking their time with with him and you know really trying to help him develop so that's not a surprise there um what is a surprise to me though is the Rams kept the re running backs you know Kiron obviously is the goto Blake horm the rookie and Ronnie Rivers um one of the things that kind of surprised me about that was that Boston Scott and Zack Evans looked really good Zack Evans obviously has not been playing that well the Rams ended up keeping him on the practice squad which is you know which is a good move I mean running back were pretty deep and it's good to have him on the practice squad just in case you know of an injury or something like that he can just step in and then you know fill in as the third back you know of anything uh but one of the surprises to me was that um you know which I'll get into it when with the receiver but for me the initial thought was we were gonna at least keep Boston Scott um because of the fact that he can uh return kicks um and I thought that was a position of need you know we Rams really having invested in special teams as far as the return position goes it's been a long time since we had a legit returner since like Jojo nanson and then Brandon P pullow um so it's just one of those things where I just feel like um that was a shocker to me um especially with Xavier Smith not making their cut in the 53 man roster um that really really was a shock to me um because um and I think he just signed to the practice squad if I'm not mistaken which is good but I just think the Rams really really should have kept one of the two um but we'll get into the return row um as we go on to the 53 man roster obviously the Rams kept six wide receivers uh Cooper cup puka noua Demarcus Robinson 2 two outwell um Jordan Winnington and they take they kept Tyler Johnson over Xavier Smith um which I thought was kind of a u a bad decision now Tyler Johnson can play ball he's fed in for us for a lot of times he can ball out he can honestly start on some team in my opinion I don't think he's a number one or a number two but I think he could definitely be people's number three or four options on a lot of teams um but we kind of already have a lot of receivers kind of like him so I really thought Xavier Smith gives something um which is that Dynamic returner which he had a lot of dynamic returns in the preseason so that really came as a shock to me that the Rams didn't keep him because of that but at the end of the day you know who am I I'm just a fan that uh knows football but I'm not an ex an executive or head coach or you know a front office person at all so um definitely definitely uh you know gotta go with that route but Tyler Johnson's a good receiver to keep but at the same time I just F like Xavier Smith provided a little bit more but Tyler Johnson also could play on special teams but he I'd rather have Xavier Smith as a returner than Tyler Johnson as a gunner um tight ends that's no surprise you know Parkinson Hunter long Davis Allen uh it's not a surprise right there um offensive lineman you know we kept nine uh Joseph noboom joah Jackson Steve AA Kevin dachon Rob heavenstears07 but not a surprise right there defensive line uh we kept six Bobby Brown Kobe Turner Bren fris deshan Johnson Tyler Davis um initially Corin Corey Duran uh made the roster which I was really impressed with Cory Duran I think he brings an element to this defensive line he has a lot of size um and he's a freaking nature in my opinion so uh happy that he at least got signed to the practice squad um definitely but the Rams didn't feel comfortable with their defensive line de fully uh so they ended up signing Neville Gilmore uh previously I think with the Dolphins and the Cowboys so that's a good move right there to add to the defensive line depth uh just because like I said it gives us a veteran presence and then more depth at the defensive line kind of lacked a little bit last year um outside linebackers obviously um you know no shock there Michael Hoy brron young Jared verse Nick H Brandon Jackson uh inside backers is the position that we got to talk about um obviously Ernest Jones got traded so you know we kept five linebackers which I'm still stunned about that even if we did trade in Ernest Jones or we did just keeping five linebackers to me just kind of made no sense but it could be a special teams thing as well uh Christian Rose boom Jake hmel Troy reer Omar Spitz and Elijah Nia we'll get more into that as the season like I said as this video goes on I'll talk more about my thoughts about this um but definitely there were some PR surprises there defensive backs I mean we kept 11 total this is just including safety and Corner travius white Darius Williams Kobe Durant cam KL cam kitchens John Johnson Quinton Lake Russ East Jaylen M mllo Josh Wallace and Charles Woods um obviously we got some undrafted rookies in there but they all looked really good and obviously the specialist even at Evans um Alex Ward and Joshua Mardi that's not a surprise there now I'm going to talk a little bit about my thoughts on the week one matchup and some of the moves that the Rams have made um one of my things for me um let's just talk about the defense and the starting positions so Ernest Jones trade um in my opinion was not the right move but then again I'm not an executive so I'm not really sure how to you know put it that way but just my thoughts is Ernest Jones was getting better every year he wasn't the guy who was going to knock your teeth out but he was good at reading offenses really good of a tackling machine hell of a Blitzer um but was the caller and defensive signal caller for our defense so to make a change like that right before the season is really kind of concerning makes me think I knowing McVey and sne a lot of Rams Fans expect us to just trade these players and get a hell of a lot in return that's not how it works in today's NFL today's NFL you really don't get much back for players that's just the truth unless it's the bonafide star you just don't get much in return and the Rams have never been afraid to ship star players for absolutely nothing in return as long as you just take on their contract as long as you just sit there and you just do what you like take this guy from us we're going to be like we don't care what you give us so I look at it like a performance thing I just think he wasn't performing I think the Rams are getting some calls because I think they started putting it you know the way coaching the way the NF works is people already uh the people you know so I think he was already on the market and they wanted just to see if there was some interest and there was interest and I think he saw I think mcve saw um especially Chris schula I think he saw the performance of Omar spites or spits I don't know how you say that but Omar uh undrafted free agent middle linebacker uh I think he saw Christian roseboom get better I think he saw Troy reer being solid I think he just saw our linebacking cor and said well we don't really need Ernest Jones um and I think the ram solid as like well what's going to happen he's going to perform for us and we're going to lose him anyways next year the Rams do not value the inside linebacker position the Rams have not valued that position since MC Bay's been here only time that we've ever valued it is when we drafted Ernest Jones and actually signed Bobby Wagner that came as a surprise to me and obviously a year later they just shipped Wagner they just said no we're good the Rams like to play a lot of four five safety deeps they like to play a lot of that hybrid safety Rose you know so I don't think they really value that position much um Christian Rose boom is a really solid guy I like him as a number two linebacker uh Troy reader has been with us and has started with us and has came off the bench and played special teams this guy's done it all with us left and came back the dude's a solid middle linebacker I know he misses tackles from time to time but he is a solid middle linebacker in a veteran presence um I would have liked Omar to learn behind Ernest Jones for a little bit but I do see a potential where Omar just finds his way on the field during the season somehow some way I think eventually he beats out Troy rer um but anyways I just think the Rams have a lot more depth in that position than we've had in years that allowed us to make this move you know um Jake hmel got better in preseason he looked 10 times better than he did in the first preseason last year when he was a rookie so in my opinion I just think this is a move that the Rams thought they had to make because it was a performers thing I just think he wasn't performing and I I just think that they felt like that was just going to be a liability and and they saw that they could get something for him so might as well get something for him now rather than get nothing at all and return you know at the end of the season so I really do believe after hearing a lot of these reports and former Rams players like Andrew wward speak out and everything I really believe it was a performance thing um I just think that people were outplaying him or playing at the same level at least and the Rams just felt like well if you're not outperforming these guys then we don't need you um but again it's a very very bold move right before the season because you have to give a new guy the Green Dot um so just looking at our defense you know um Quinn lake has taken over that row now Quinn and Lake since we drafted him has been an amazing piece he's developed every single year and got in a row every single year and just continues to get better and he looks really good man he looks really good I heard all these reports from practice been saying he's been causing fumbles pass breakups and interceptions like he's an allaround safety um I was actually hoping cam curl took on that roow to be honest but I just think having quinon Lake you know he's he's definitely trusted by the coaches I heard he's very smart and that he acts like a coach on the field so that's why they gave him the Green Dot him and Kobe Turner um but it's like I just really feel like you know that's a great move and I expect the Big Year from Quinn Lake as the third safety for us um you know just being all over in the Box you know covering blitzing everything but either way I do expect the more aggressive Rams defense I'm excited for this team um and then looking at the offensive positions one of the things that's kind of interesting is since mcy took over as head coach he's always been with consistency so it's a little concerning to me about sta Villa getting moved back to guard um and joah Jackson moving to center now both those guys can play guard and Center at a high level so it's not really like a cause of concern for me but what is a cause of concern for me is that the center was also like a quarterback on the field so the fact that Stafford had all offseason with stevea V at Center and then now he's getting joah Jackson I don't know if they just feel like Steve ailla might not be ready to do the communications and allow environment um like Cho's goingon to be Sunday night so I just think it's a case where McVey just felt like all right well we got to have the best five on the field and and and I just think that that's I just think that that's going to be the best position position but now St vill has to get back to his roots at guard so it's one of those things where it's like Jo Jackson's been a little hurt now he's got to learn new position supposedly he's played center before but I just think he's an all proo guard instead of an all proo Center and Steve ail is actually an all pro Center in my opinion because when we drafted him he actually plays center in college um so it's like you know this one of these things where it's just like you can't go wrong with either or but I just think a lot of these moves will like signal call is a cause of concern for me going into week one now obviously the offensive line has been inre Joe Jackson's been been back healthy but him moving to a new position Rob heavenin has been out ARL Jackson was injured now he's healthy but he can't play for two games because of the suspension uh so the offensive line is if everything goes good and Rob heavenin continues to practice like excuse me like he's practiced today I think he's on track to start and that's going to be huge for us because in a lot of environment very crazy and aggressive lines defense I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Rob hemin handling the right side instead of Lauren mclenon um which he's you know filled in for us from time to time but I just feel more comfortable Rob heavenin and Joseph noboom has started for us before in the past and he's been great uh he just couldn't stay consistent but I think you know I think he has a chance to reclaim his position back if he plays well these two games because the Rams did draft him high and I think they do value him because kept them around even when he had down years so um I feel really comfortable with the offensive line right now it looks like we're going to get no boom Steven Ville at guard Jo Jackson at Center um we're gonna have um you know Kevin dachon at at Right Guard and Rob heavenin that's pretty good for the Rams with pukan n coming back been practicing I think he's gonna be a full goal and he's you know according to McBay he sees no reason why he shouldn't be able to play at a f goal um so looking into week one now guys now we're here it's finally here man this is we're finally freaking here so one of the things that I kind of expect in this game is a hostile environment again a lot of lions fans are trying to say oh well we're gonna give him his his welcome Stafford's welcome you know back in week one we're going to give him his welome uh we're going to give him his flowers it's like no screw you guys you guys [ __ ] try to kill this dude that game and I get it you know he's a guy that left you guys and want a Super Bowl and just you know you love him but you hate them at the same time now you know what I mean so I just think this is a Revenge game a lot of these young guys a lot of these guys who were here last year are even talking about it like and they were so pissed they were so focused they they didn't like the way it felt when it came to losing that game so I just feel like it's one of those things where um you know I'm looking forward to this I think McVey is making a lot of moves right now I think he's just like he's just not there yet I think he's just like he wants the best possible Rams their Sunday night you know he wants the best possible team put together Sunday night and he was making moves in a lot of different areas and stuff like that you know even adding Scott Frost to the coaching staff from Nebraska that was huge man you know the he's adding he's adding these coaches that are going to help him develop he's GNA help all three areas on the field you know special teams defense and offense you know and he's basically McVey is just trying to put together the best team because I think he really knows like this is a stat men game we come out week one Sunday Night Football on the RO to seriously go ahead and beat the Lions who were one win away from the Super Bowl that automatically right there sets it sets the tone for the season now do I think if we lose this game that it's going to show all the Rams or not who we thought they were like they're not going to be good no because there is a lot of missing there is a lot of missing pieces that have barely came to together so it might take some time now here's the thing McVey has always started off his his opening games I think he's like seven and one we only lost the bills he's only lost one week one opener so he will have this team ready I think this team will be ready I think Stafford's focused I think Cooper cup is like back to his full healthiness and that's going to add another Dynamic to his offense uh pukaa you know right there you you can't just double puka no more you can't just focus on puka because cup is back you know with the with Jordan in the lineup and just with this healthy receiving core the depth of this offense I think we're going to be more explosive I think we're going to be more physical with Blake km and that running game to go along with you know to just go along with that physical offensive line that we have you know even with ARL Jackson Out Jose no boom and ARL Jackson are not that different so I think we're just going to be a more phys physical team and then I think defensively last year you could throw the ball on us because Rahe Morris loved to play a lot of zone defense he love to sit there and just kind of you know just sit back and kind of do that thing I think defensively our our run defense is going to be a lot better we're going to be more physical just seeing Jared ver and Braden Frisk out there playing together we're more explosive on defense and our corners and our secondaries got a lot more deeper a lot more physical so I just think there going to be a lot more physical team I didn't see the Lions improve though man I'm not trying to be bias or Homer it's just the truth I didn't think the Lions made enough offseason moves this offseason that really indicates that they got better at the same time my history of being a football fan a die hard football fan not just a Rams fan okay it's very hard for teams that have never won before to consist to learn to consistently go back and back you know what I mean it's like when the Rams first started winning again when we came back to LA I that was one of my biggest concerns was like damn all right now they know about us now the league knows about us like can we come back the next year and actually prove a point and actually you know get the [ __ ] done and but we actually improved like we made a [ __ ] ton of moves to go to the Super Bowl and the next year we did go to the Super Bowl we just lost but it's like it's very hard to stay consistent in this league it's very hard to sit there and you can think oh we're good we're good because you know this is that no it's about can you come out and do it all over again you know that's just the truth can you really beat a team that you barely beat by one point Who's going to come back hungry and who's coming back better can you beat them again like can you do it again it's very hard to do it again so I just really feel like we have a really good shot at this game I wouldn't be surprised if we lose though um and I think if we lose I don't think we lose bad um but I don't think we lose as tight if we lose we're not going to lose as tight as one point I think we lose by maybe a touchdown you know whatever but honestly feel in my heart that we're gonna win this game honestly feeling my heart we're gonna prove a point in this game and I think Stafford is gonna just come out he's the type he doesn't like to talk but Stafford's a competitor man Stafford's a killer and I can just tell man you know there's no way this guy doesn't wants to lose twice to Detroit knowing that he's the one that left and now they're just like oh Jared golf jarro golf jarro golf I guarantee you Stafford wants to put just wants to rip their [ __ ] heart out and just be like you you sent me home but now I'm ripping your heart out week one you know what I mean so I really believe in my heart that we're going to win this game it's going to be a very physical game I really think it's going to be a really really physical game to the point where I don't think we start off super explosive like as far as like the game's not going to be a 30 to Something game but I do think we probably win this game game 28 uh to 21 I I think I think we win this game 28 to 21 um I think Stafford in uh shows out in this game and I think uh the defense shows out in this game and I think we get after golf I think the game plan we need to do for sure is we need to just play physical on defense I'm talking about we need to stop the run and jarro go is all about timing he does a lot of bootlegs he does a lot of quick throws jarro go is one of these guys that needs to be in a rhythm he's not St Mahomes and all these other quarterbacks that can kind of not be in the Rhythm and still find a way jerro go is a rhythm quarterback if he gets three straight completions and he's feeling it well he's going to [ __ ] you guys up on defense he's that's just the quarterback he is so I just think that the Rams are gonna this Chris schula defense is very stingy very in-your-face type defense and I just think that the Rams are going to be riding jro gon's face and I think the Rams are going to try to bring the pressure and I think we need to bring the pressure and I think we need to really just make go feel like man it's going to be this type of game you know so um I think the key to this is just really get after Golf and I think you get after him I think he's gonna he's going to give you a ball or two he's really good at taking care of the ball but history shows when you continue to hit him and hit him and hit him he'll give you a ball so um I think the key to this game is going to be uh go after jarro G on defense and be stingy in the red zone and we need to get a turnover or two to win this game offensively I honestly think to slow down this aggressive lons defense I think we need to run the ball I think we need to run the ball don't get too pass heavy run the ball and pick your shots with Stafford and I think that's the ultimate game plan for me as much as MCV wants to unleash Stafford and just throw 400 yards and three four touchdowns and everything like that I get it you want him to have his revenge game but don't fall into that trap be physical run the ball with all three running backs and do your play action do your boo legs and get these guys off their feet and I think the key to this offense is just run the ball and Red Zone efficiency I think if we go in the Red Zone we have to score more than we do field goal so um that's that's my outlook for this game I think it's going to be a really physical emotional game again I really do believe that and the environment is going to be crazy Sunday Night Football but I just think that it's going to be the ultimate test for us it really is going to be the ultimate test for us because if we can win this game I think we have a really good shot of winning week two against the cardal I don't want to get ahead but you start off 2-0 going into your home opener you just started 2- 0 on the road that's huge to start the season so um let's see how it goes um but I do expect fireworks now um here's my thoughts and predictions for all these games right now so we're opening up the season Thursday Night Football Ravens versus Chiefs now I'm torn between this game I grew up loving the Ravens man I grew up a Rams fan but my Rams are always so bad when I grew up they were I grew up in the St Louis days we're so bad so growing up I love Ray Lewis and Ed Reed uh so I always went for the Ravens because they're in the AFC and you know they're my AFC team I don't have no Ravens gear or any of that stuff I'm not the type of guy but uh when the Rams weren't in it I always went for the Ravens for some reason so torn between this game I love Lamar Jackson um I don't hate the Chiefs I know a lot of people hate the Chiefs I actually love the Chiefs man they continuously break the Niners fans Hearts so I love them for that um and this game right here is going to be a really great opener um on the road hosal environment and KY uh Kansas City really did upgrade the receiving core really upgraded they added some pieces on defense uh I just think this KC team is a lot better than the Super Bowl team so I don't know I expect fireworks in this game man I expect fireworks in this game uh the Ravens got a lot better on the offense you know especially with the addition of Derrik Henry um I expect them to run the ball in this game I just feel like you have to run the ball on this team because of the fact that Mahomes is on the other side of the field so I think you really have to run the ball to control the time of possession um and I just think you got to be efficient but I've yet to see Lamar Jackson really beat Mahomes uh so my heart wants to say Ravens but I just feel like deep down the side I just don't see the Super Bowl champs losing on Thursday Night Football and the home opener you know with the banner being revealed and everything like that so definitely definitely definitely I definitely do see the Chiefs winning this game but I do think it's going to be a close one um but then again like I said I'm torn um but I think Chiefs win uh I don't have a score prediction for that but I think Chiefs win the game uh Packers and Eagles they're going to what Brazil I think uh either way it's technically an eagles home game Packers on the road Eagles on the road basically but they're the home team that's going to be a really great game on Friday night that's just going to be an incredible atmosphere um and I'm excited for that team I'm excited for that game man I think the Packers are much more approved team um I think the Eagles are just literally in the Super Bowl bubble in my opinion they're in my Super Bowl bubble uh so I just I find it very hard to see the Eagles lose this game uh I think the Packers put up a a fight for sure but I definitely got to see a little bit more from Jordan love I'm not just gonna hop on Jordan love train like everybody else I think I need to see one more year of him I think if he can put together another year then I could say Okay Jordan love is legit um but I just think the Eagles have too much Firepower on offense and their defense improved a lot too I just think Eagles have the more Talent on this team and I think the more Talent ends up winning week one um so I think they're could be an upset I kind of don't um but like I said it's two East Coast teams so they're both on the same time zone so I just really don't see that really affecting them too much um so definitely definitely I think the Eagles take that one uh Panthers versus Saints that one I'm a little I'm a little kind of like damn man this one's kind of tough um you know Panthers I feel like they improved a little bit but um I gota see more from Young at quarterback um I I just know he was in a terrible situation last year but I just I think the Saints are talented offensively I I just I've never been a Derek Carr fan man I just think he's extremely overrated not underrated uh he's really overrated um they got some receivers you know what I mean they got some weapons they got a running game I think they're the more talented team but for some reason man I just feel like there's there's just going to be an upset right there it's a division rival man it's a division rival when it comes to division Rivals don't matter how better you are anybody can lose to their division rival on any Any Given Sunday so I I just really feel like with the additions of desan Johnson at receiver with th and you know I think they drafted another receiver and they they drafted a running back um I I don't know I just feel like I just feel like young might come out week two and and get that Victory I I really feel like that's that's going to happen so um I'm actually going to go with the Panthers on that that case and like I said week one's always the hardest to predict because everybody kind of looks a little bit improved and everybody's kind of you know so you don't really know it's usually by like week three or four you can kind of like predict these games a lot more better um Vikings at Giants uh I'm going to go with the Vikings I think they're the better team but with scares the crap out of me man is uh I just I'm not I'm just not a fan of s Sam Darnell man I'm not a fan of him I I just think he's uh he's a he's want to be Ryan Fitzpatrick to me to be honest I just I don't see the I just don't see the hype I don't see the talent there I just I I just don't see it man I just I just don't see it I've I've always been really good at reading quarterbacks since I was a kid you know and just kind of like predicting if these these guys are going to be legit or not and when he came out of college I just I just didn't see it man USC is always good at producing good quarterbacks but they're just not good at producing in the NFL level obviously KH hopefully changes that but um I just I don't know I think he's got weapons though and I think he can shock you for a game or two um and the Giants defense just is not it's just not a good defense in my opinion I think they um added some young weapons on offense I know they're at home but I just think the Vikings are a better team and I just think Sam Darnell's not going to be asked to do so much craziness and I think Daniel Jones is just a turnover machine and I just think that Vikings win this game so um but I definitely just don't I don't know man I just don't really see the Vikings doing much um yeah just I'm not a Sam Darnell fan so uh Patriots Bangals I don't even need to talk about this game the Patriots are so sorry I [ __ ] hate the Patriots uh you know they took two Super Bowls away from me uh were not really for me but for my team so um I love that they're just the sorriness of the NFL now because they dominated and bullied everybody for so many years so I don't need to talk about this game the Bengals are going to win they're at home Joe Burrow's healthy um Jamar Chase is healthy you know they added some upgrades to our offensive line um I just don't see them losing this game if they lose this game then bangal fans you better go hang yourself because you guys should not [ __ ] lose this game uh Steelers Falcons is very interesting I'm very interesting I'm definitely going to watch this game my mom's a Steelers fan so I'm definitely going to watch this game and tune in uh you know Steelers I think improved a lot uh adding Russell Wilson I've always been a Russell Wilson fan I think he's a great quarterback he's not a great quarterback no more um I think he tries to do a little too much when he's not that guy anymore to do that stuff you know so for me it's just one of those things where Steelers have an incredible defense and Mike Tomlin for some freaking reason can just find a way man they the Steelers could look trashy and ugly as half but still win eight games a year I just don't [ __ ] get it um they did improve offensively though and I just definitely see them uh making some noise if Justin fields or Russell Wilson can you know at least be more of an upgrade than Kenny picky so I definitely see the Steelers playing the old school Grady football that they always do falcons really improved though man I think they got a lot of weapons Drake London and Kyle