Rams report, 8/28

Schedule: players got Sunday off and return to practice Monday morning. They'll play their final preseason game Thursday night in Jacksonville; local kickoff time is 6:30. Will they suffer from the Governor's Cup Letdown? RamView from Friday's 14-10 win: Link

Steve Spagnuolo does say the starters will still get some work Thursday night. Possibly a quarter.

* The Rams have to reduce their roster count to 80 by Tuesday. Steve Spagnuolo has said some cuts could be announced today. I'll do my best to stay on top of them, but do be warned I have fantasy football drafts the next two nights. The Jamaal Charles or Ray Rice question is more important to me right now than the Tim Atchison or Jeremy McGee question.

* The injury list after Friday night's game:
Day-to-day: Brandon Gibson (toe), James Laurinaitis (chest), Ben Leber (back), Drew Miller (ankle), Keith Toston (thigh). Explains Toston's absence Friday night.

These injuries are all being reported as minor, but seeing Laurinaitis and the pectoreal injury right back on the list for the second time this preseason is unsettling.

Old day-to-day injuries: Mikail Baker (knee); Jermelle Cudjo (back); Fred Robbins (back).

Long-term list:
- Dionte Dinkins, high ankle sprain, 2-4 weeks.
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee, calf strain, at least another week.
- Jerome Murphy, broken ankle, out for season.
- Marquis Johnson, knee/shoulder issues, currently on PUP.

Returned to action Friday night: Danario Alexander, Daniel Muir.

* The Rams are reportedly looking to make a trade with the Eggles for nickel back Joselio Hanson. The idea surprises me in that Hanson's 5'9" and would be the Rams' shortest defensive back. Actually, he'd be the shortest man on the roster, not that team rosters don't exaggerate players' height and weight. Scouts Inc. rates Hanson right on the line between average starter and good backup. Strong and athletic, but short. Has enough speed and agility to play well as an extra defender in the slot, but lacks the burst or coverage skills to defend on an island. Also a good special teams player.

The Eggles definitely have a surplus at corner, so trading Hanson makes sense for them. I would hate to deal any draft pick for a 5'9" corner, but the Rams could deal player-for-player to relieve one of their positional logjams. So maybe Donnie Avery or Na'il Diggs has a flight east in their future.

It's odd that these two teams are talking trade when they play against each other in two weeks, isn't it?

* The Rams should go ahead and lose to the Jagwires Thursday night. Invent the 1-2-8 defense, have Adam Goldberg kick FGs, sign Jeff George, bring back Scott Linehan on a one-game head coaching contract, do whatever it takes. But lose. According to the Post-Dispatch, the last five NFL teams that had undefeated preseasons went on to have a combined regular season record of 27-53. That includes the 2008 Lions. The 0-16 2008 Lions. So let's just lose.

Looking on the bright side, if you throw out the Lions (and who wouldn't?) a 4-0 preseason would appear to "guarantee" the Rams at least a 7-9 record. Could be enough to win the division...