There was a lot of excitement about undrafted rookie linebacker Omar Speights in the preseason after he shined in the first two exhibition games for the Los Angeles Rams. Even before the third preseason game, Speights had earned a spot on the 53-man roster, with Les Snead calling him someone who would be active on game days.
Snead was accurate in saying that because Speights has been up all four weeks, but he hasn’t played a single defensive snap yet. The same goes for Jacob Hummel, who also stood out in a positive way during the preseason.
Meanwhile, Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom, have struggled badly in the middle of the Rams’ defense. Of the 55 linebackers in the NFL who have played at least 159 snaps this season, Reeder ranks 38th and Rozeboom is 47th in total defensive grade, per Pro Football Focus.
They’ve taken poor angles to ball carriers, have a hard time getting off blocks and Rozeboom has allowed 17 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown on only 18 targets. It doesn’t sound like the Rams are planning to make a change at linebacker anytime soon, though.
Sean McVay was asked Wednesday how the team develops young players like them and what it’ll take for them to get an opportunity on game days, responding by saying they do get reps in practice but it hasn’t gotten to the point where they’ve earned snaps on Sundays.
“Those guys do get reps in these settings,” he said. “The preseason is somewhat similar, but very different than the regular season in terms of the things that we’re asking, the types of schemes that are being seen by the opposing offenses. You continue to give those guys opportunities throughout the course of these practices. If it got to a point where we felt like that was the best option for us, then those guys would be out there.”
The Rams have one more game before their Week 6 bye, a matchup with the Packers this Sunday. Green Bay ranks second in the NFL in rushing, so this will be yet another test for the Rams’ linebackers.
Perhaps if Reeder and Rozeboom struggle again, McVay and Chris Shula might consider making a change during the bye. But based on the coach’s comments, it doesn’t sound like that’s in the cards right now.
