WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Head coach Sean McVay addressed the media today after the Rams’ initial 53-man roster was announced. It featured 10 rookies, including five undrafted free agents, while some key preseason contributors were left off the roster. They also decided to keep three running backs on the roster.
On Monday, McVay said the process involved a lot of collaboration with coordinators and position coaches. The film, players' demeanor and their responses to coaching direction were the main contributors to those decisions.
Here's what McVay had to say about some of the toughest decisions from the roster cutdown:
Waiving WR Xavier Smith
Smith was a standout during the preseason, as he accumulated the 10th-most all-purpose yards in the league. He contributed as a receiver, rusher and returner on both kickoffs and punts, showing promise in all areas. Still, the Rams kept six wide receivers, and Smith wasn't one of them.
"I thought he showed well in terms of his decision making, his ability to field punts," McVay said. "You know, Kyren Williams is going to be our punt returner… So that is what made it tough for X [Smith]. He didn't do anything not to win the punt return job, it's just Kyren is a guy that we want to continue to have different ways that he can impact the game."
With the punt returner position filled by Williams, McVay said it was a numbers decision. The six receivers ahead of Smith improved this offseason and Smith was "right on that fringe," McVay said, but it was a difficult decision.
Waiving OL Zach Thomas
Thomas was another player that showed out in the preseason, but didn't earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The third-year guard didn't allow a single pressure on his 57 pass blocks snaps during the preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 81.6 pass blocking grade ranked third on the team.
"It's not what he didn't do, it's what Logan Bruss and Beaux Limmer did do," McVay said.
Limmer, a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, had the top pass block grade (85.9) and also didn't allow a single pressure on 53 pass blocking snaps at the center position. Bruss, meanwhile, is a former third-round pick by the Rams who has been with the team since 2022. He allowed just one pressure on 72 snaps and has a familiarity with the offense.
McVay felt the Rams have abundant depth on the interior line as well as others who can slide in from the outside if need be.
Keeping three running backs
Williams, Corum and Rivers are the three running backs on the Rams' roster. Second-year back Zach Evans was waived Tuesday, while veteran Boston Scott was released on Sunday.
"Those guys really separated themselves," McVay said. I couldn't be more confident in Kyren, I think Blake Corum has come in and done an outstanding job... And then Ronnie Rivers is a guy that's as improved as anybody on this team."
McVay added that they usually carry three running backs on the 48-man game day roster, and "those guys were just a step above everyone else."
