In revealing the absolutely worst kept secret in 2024, LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay7 admitted that the team will start veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. While some fans will automatically disregard any less than 100 percent starters competing in Week 18 as a throw-away game, there is a lot to be gleaned about the Rams roster in this scenario.
Much like the way the Rams roster is limited as to who competes in preseason, the team will send out players to compete in Week 18 not from the preservation of starters for the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, but also to pit developmental and depth players into live football action to determine who adds value to the team in 2025. Conversely, who does not.
Per Spotrac.com, the Rams roster holds 17 players whose contracts expire at the end of this season. So it falls to reason that the team will want to get as much information about these players on record as possible. Not only does that aid the team in determining which players deserve extensions, but for those who do not re-sign, the added game experience and video footage can be the difference between a contract offer from their next NFL teams and no offers at all.
But that is merely the business side of football.
For Rams fans, it's an opportunity to expect the unexpected. And it's a chance to cheer for the players who received so many positive training camp and preseason reports, but who simply failed to crack the starting lineup. So, with that in mind, let's pivot to Week 18 to highlight what fans can expect in Week 18:
(3) - The Rams offense gets a new look with possible future starters
You already know that the Rams will substitute as many offensive starters with backups as humanly possible. While that may not equate to 11 brand new faces on offense, it does open the door of possibilities wide to the likelihood of new strategies and plays. While that may not excite fans, perhaps it should.
In a week episode of the Up & Adams video podcast, host Kay Adams and guest Fox Sports NFL reporter Carmen Vitali discuss the recent Week 17 game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. Vitali shares the observation that Lions' HC Dan Campbell played his starting against the 49ers, a game with no strategic advantage, out of the perspective to put offensive plays on tape that were designed to add complexity to future opponents.
Check it out for yourself:
.@FOXSports NFL Reporter Carmen Vitali on the INTENTIONALITY of Dan Campbell playing his starters vs. the 49ers 🧠😏
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 2, 2025
"There are plays that they will call that have NOTHING to do with the team they're playing and EVERYTHING to do with the team they are going to play."@CarmieV… pic.twitter.com/946fBigHHU
That is an amazing observation, and one that is almost certain to add some intriguing angles for Week 18 for the Rams offense. Could it be that that the Rams offense will put plays on tape to add confusion to their future opponents in the 2025 NFL Playoffs? And if plays generate better than expected results in Week 18, can the Rams package those plays for future use?
The LA Rams rested starters in Week 18 last season, and the junior varsity squad defeated the San Francisco 49ers. That nearly propelled the Rams to victory on the road against the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs.
Hopefully, the same type of performance by the Rams can add positive momentum for the team in the upcoming playoffs.
(2) - Seldom-seen defenders will make the highlight reel
It's hard to imagine that a very young defense has an abundance of players who simply did not see much playing time in 2024. But that is the reality of rostering such a young and talented defense under the auspices of new DC Chris Shula. The Rams have made it a point to feature young players throughtout the 2024 NFL season. Now, there is a huge question over who will play in Week 18, who will sit out, and most of all, will it make a difference in their preparedness for the postseason?
There are many players on the defensive side of the football who have not seen much in the way of playing time this season. And then there is the in-season additions to the team as well. Finally, which of the team's practice squad players will be elevated to compete in Week 18? The Rams can activate two practice squad players to play in Week 18. The thing is, the team has many players who could be named to play in Week 18.
So let's break down some of the players who could see playing time in Week 18 on defense:
CB Emmanuel Forbes
It's rare that a Round 1 rookie is released from the team that drafted him in his second season, but that is what former Washington Commanders Emmanuel Forbes faces as he fights to improve his NFL reputation in the LA Rams secondary. So far, Forbes has not seen any action on defense, although he did play in two snaps for special teams. In his rookie season, Forbes allowed just 60.7 percent of passes thrown his way to find their target.
A former teammate of Rams DB Kamren Curl, Forbes arrival has stabilized the Rams secondary in terms of depth. Along with FA veteran Ahkello Witherspoon, Forbes joined the team after the season had started. In many ways, he replaces the loss of veteran DB Tre'Davious White. But Rams fans have yet to see Forbes in action. Since the team has taken the option of sitting starters, this is a great opportunity to place Forbes to the test against very good NFL wide receivers
CB Cobie Durant
It may seem absurd to list defensive back Cobie Durant as a hoped-for starter in Week 18. But let's look at the facts. The Rams have been content to start both Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon since Week 15, and the defense has been outstanding over that three-game period. So Durant has not seen any action since Week 14, nearly one month ago.
That much of a hiatus is bound to show up in the form of rust. And that rust can be knocked off by seeing playing time against the Seattle Seahawks. After all, that is why you work so hard to have that opportunity in Week 18 to fold some inactive players into live action without fearing bad consequences. And for Durant, the Seahawks give a tremendous test in coverage and physicality.
Durant is in his third NFL season, and is on the cusp of earning a starting role for the team as an outside cornerback. A great game in Week 18 can help his cause significantly. If he plays, that is.
DE Desjuan Johnson
When the LA Rams selected Mr. Irrelevant, DE Desjuan Johnson, with the final pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, In just 102 defensive snaps in 2023, Johnson added 2.0 quarterback sacks, two tackles for a loss, nine tackles, and three quarterback pressures. The hope was that he could parlay that respectable rookie showing into a larger role in 2024. Unfortunately, that has not happened.
The opposite has happened, as he has seen fewer games and defensive snaps in 2024. Still, I equate his smaller role in 2024 as more about stiffer competition than actual regression by the player. And nothing reverses a shrinking role on defense than having an unexpectedly positive contribution in an NFL game. Thus, Week 18 could mean a great deal to Johnson's role with the team.
Like many NFL roles, it's tough to really 'get into,' a game with limited snaps. There is a rhythm, an unspoken cadence to the game that oftentimes requires a player to get a minimum of 15 or more snaps just to get into the flow of the game. Johnson has only seen 15+ defensive snaps in one game in 2024. Hopefully, he can see extended action in Week 18.
Rookie ILB Elias Neal
While getting rookie inside linebacker Elias Neal into the game for Week 18 will require the team to elevate him from the practice squad, I'd love to see him see some action. Much like rookie ILB Omar Speights, Neal showed a great deal of physicality and production in preseason. Unfortunately, he came out of the short end of the depth chart, sitting out the entire 2024 NFL season on the practice squad.
Is he the answer for the future inside linebacker for this defense? I truly cannot say. But nobody knows until he has the chance to play in an NFL game. So why not give him the opportunity in Week 18? He certainly looked the part in preseason. While I understand completely that a regular season NFL game is far more complex and vigorous, no player can improve on the bench. Give him a shot to show up and impress the coaches.
Rookie OLB Brennan Jackson
Rookie outside linebacker Brennan Jackson has seen just 20 defensive snaps all season. The only outside linebacker with fewer defensive snaps than that is second-year OLB Nick Hampton, who enters Week 18 with just 10 defensive snaps. Unlike my expectations for the team to employ a four-man edge rusher rotation, the team has opted for a three-man rotation that is limited to OLBs Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Michael Hoecht.
While that may work throughout the course of the season, it does nothing to generate data to be used to evaluate players who are not given meaning opportunities to play and get NFL experience to fuel their development. So far, there is not a lot of coal burning for Jackson to add energy for his growth.
Week 18 is a great opportunity to change that. Give him the start, allow him to compete the entire game, and see how he shows up in various down and distance settings. Jackson is a very physical player, someone who gets stronger the longer the game plays on. In just 20 snaps, he has three tackles. Let's see how he can create pressures if given a lion's share of snaps in a game.
(1) - Let's see what rookie RB Blake Corum brings to the Rams offense
As long as we are talking about the team affording snaps to lesser-used players, let's talk about rookie running back Blake Corum. So far this season, Corum has seen action on 107 offensive snaps. Of those opportunities, he has rushed 56 times for 197 yards (a 3.5 YPC average) and caught six of seven passes for 46 yards. So in 107 offensive snaps, he has been the guy to get the football in 63 plays, or a usage of 59 percent.
That is a pretty healthy clip. And likely not the level of usage in the offense if he were to see more offensive snaps. Is it that the Rams are simply so high on Corum that the coaching staff wants to give him optimal opportunities when he is on the football field? Or do the Rams focus on Corum with the football as he learns how to fit in the offense when he is not handling the football?
However you see it, the Rams would do well to see what Blake Corum can do with the football in a game in which he gets a steady diet of it.
The most touches that Blake Corum has handled the football in any given game is eight times, and that has happened three times this season. For a runner who gets stronger as the game goes on, and has proven that when playing for the National Champion Michigan Wolverines, the Rams have hesitated to set up anything more than light work for their rookie rusher.
If the Rams do feed Corum a steady diet of offensive snaps in Week 18, we will finally have an opportunity to see how he performs as the featured running back. Will he be able to pick up blitzes? Will he stay fresh for the entire game? Will he have the power to gain big gains late in the game.
Whether or not he can deliver in Week 18, rookie running back Blake Corum deserves a shot to prove what he can do.
