St. Louis Rams: 5 Darkhorse Candidates to Make the 53-Man Roster
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
After sticking with just five linebackers for the early part of 2014, it looks like the Rams will probably keep at least six this season after adding free agent Akeem Ayers from the New England Patriots this offseason. That will push Jo-Lonn Dunbar into a utility backup role at all three positions. Along with backup safety Mark Barron, who was the Rams’ de facto strongside linebacker over the second half of 2014, Dunbar will probably get any action from scrimmage that isn’t given to the starting trio of Ayers, James Laurinaitis, and Alec Ogletree.
Thus, the final two or three spots can be used for strong special-teamers like Daren Bates and possibly McFadden, a late-blooming 29-year-old who spent five games on the Rams’ active roster last year and collected four special teams tackles before oddly being released and sent back to the practice squad. He’s battling with guys like Korey Toomer, who has not been as good as McFadden on special teams and has missed much of camp with an injury, and seventh-rounder Bryce Hager, who had a rather abysmal performance in his debut last week at Oakland. McFadden will have to continue performing well, and even then the odds may not be totally in his favor because of his advanced age, but at this point he looks like he has a pretty good chance of cracking the initial 53.
Next: Emory Blake, WR