Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay's trust in Ronnie Rivers could lead to a difficult decision when it comes to the rest of the running back room and the final 53-man roster.
The Los Angeles Rams, like the rest of the NFL, are getting ready for the final week of the preseason, meaning it's almost time for the final cuts to get the roster from 90 players to 53 players.
With that said, there will be several tough cuts across the entire roster, but the running back position could be especially difficult after a recent comment from head coach Sean McVay in Tuesday's media availability.
"Trust is a big word. I trust Ronnie Rivers. I trust that he knows what he's doing. I trust his instincts. I trust his ability to be able to be effective in pass protection, get the ball where it's supposed to go in our different run schemes, and be a functional extension of the pass game. Whether he's on a scat release or whether he's a checkdown, he's got a good feel in the screen game," McVay said.
"You know, Ronnie Rivers is a guy that, you know, you're very appreciative of, and, you know, we got two great running backs in Kyren and Blake that, you know, are going to be building on what they've done. But if, for whatever reason, you know, they need to be supplemented, you know, Ronnie Rivers is the guy that I trust,” McVay added.
As many who follow the Rams know, when McVay says something about one of his players, he truly means it, and the fact that he said he trusts running back Ronnie Rivers is a pretty big deal for Rivers and for the running back depth.
The most important part of what McVay said was that after Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Rivers is the guy that he trusts. On that note, McVay talked about Rivers' ability to pass-protect, find the proper lanes in the run game, and be a threat out of the backfield as a receiver, which are all key elements of having success in this offense.
Based on McVay's confidence and trust in Rivers, it seems pretty clear that he will be the RB3 for the Rams, which could create a problem for fellow running backs Jarquez Hunter, Jordan Waters, and Dean Connors to make the final 53-man roster.
Even before McVay's comments on Rivers, it seemed very likely that Rivers was trending toward being the RB3 because he did not play either of the first two preseason games while Hunter, Waters, and Connors did.
While that may not seem like a big deal at first, it actually is because McVay does not typically play any players who will have key roles in the regular season. So, with that understanding, it does seem like Rivers is very close to being a lock for the final 53-man roster, while Hunter, Waters, and Connors are more of a question.
In terms of performance, Hunter, Waters, and Connors have been solid, but none of them have been able to completely take over a game.
For Hunter, this preseason, he has tallied 21 attempts for 103 yards, one touchdown, and has averaged 4.9 yards per attempt. In the pass game, Hunter has been targeted once and has no receptions.
Now, looking at Waters in the preseason, he has recorded 15 carries for 91 yards and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry. When it comes to the passing game, Waters has been targeted twice and has totaled one catch for a total of four yards.
Connors has been alright on the ground, as he has 8 carries for 27 yards and is averaging 3.4 yards per carry. The biggest impact Connors has made has been in the receiving game, where he has five targets, which have led to four receptions for 29 yards and two touchdowns.
It is important to note that all of Connor's receiving production came in the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, while one target came against the New Orleans Saints in the second preseason game.
When analyzing the production so far this preseason for Hunter, Waters, and Connors, it does not appear that any of them have done enough to jump Rivers for the RB3 spot, but it also seems like Hunter, Waters, and Connors could very well miss out on making the roster in any capacity.
So, as Hunter, Waters, and Connors prepare for the final preseason game, it will be interesting to see if any of them can have a breakout performance to potentially make a case to make the roster for a special teams kind of role; otherwise, the Rams may very well only carry three running backs into the regular season.
