WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke with local media after Tuesday's practice to discuss his reaction to the team's initial 53-man roster, including the decision to waive rookie fifth-round draft pick and inside linebacker Pooh Paul Jr., Xavier Smith's growth as a receiver and multi-phase special teams role, and the decision to carry 10 offensive linemen.
More on those Top Takeaways below.
Waiving Pooh Paul Jr. "not an easy decision"
McVay began by saying he "really respects" the former Ole Miss standout as a man and that the decision wasn't easy. McVay also indicated special teams played a factor in the inside linebackers who they ultimately kept on the initial 53.
"What we are tasked to do is be able to evaluate what we think, when we went with four inside linebackers, what do we think are the four best inside linebackers?" McVay explained. "And that's not exclusive to playing inside linebacker. Part of that is playing special teams. And Shaun Dolac's a guy that's going to be able to play on all four phases, Troy Reeder is gonna play on all four phases. And so when you look at Landman and Omar Speights as your starting inside linebackers when you're in your two backer defenses, those third and four spots are heavily dictated and determined by where do you create value, not exclusive to the inside linebacker position. And it's not anything to take away from Pooh, because I got respect, love (for him) and wish him nothing but the best, but those two guys made themselves really important, and that's why they'll have a jersey on game day."
Xavier Smith shows value with experience, ability to contribute on special teams in multiple ways
The team's incumbent punt returner beat out wide receiver Britain Covey for the job. McVay said Smith "certainly has earned the position that he's in" and is "going to be a big-time factor for our football team" given his growth as a receiver and the variety of ways he can contribute on special teams.
"He earned the right as a punt returner, as a gunner, continued to earn confidence as a receiver, where he can play a bunch of different spots," McVay said. "And I think he's gotten stronger. Physically he just looks like he is in a better place. And then I think mentally, he has a real good understanding what's going on. He's earned that confidence, and so feel really good about Xavier Smith."
Clear separation for the 10 offensive linemen who made the initial 53
There was lots of experience amongst the 10 offensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster, and "there was a pretty good separation that those guys all deserved spots."
Between Alaric Jackson, veteran Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon Jr. and summer free agent signees D.J. Humphries and David Quessenberry, "felt like that's five really good NFL offensive linemen that are playing the tackle position," McVay said.
"And then have five guys on the inside, when you're talking about Steve (Avila), Coleman (Shelton), K-Dot (Kevin Dotson) as your starting inside three," McVay said. "And then two young players that as rookies, accumulated did a bunch of experience, Beaux Limmer playing basically the whole year at center, and then Justin Dedich coming in and playing a handful of snaps at the guard position, felt like those guys earned it, and felt like there was a pretty good separation that those guys all deserve spots."
