Joe Curley

joe.curley@vcstar.com, 805-437-0276

An offseason of transition on the coaching staff has meant, to a lesser extent, an offseason of transition on the roster for the Los Angeles Rams.

The team has already turned over about 20 percent of the potential 52-man roster in the first few months under Sean McVay, as the team begins to take on the mark of its new coach. Already, 11 free agents have taken the place of 11 departed contributors under previous coach Jeff Fisher. The Rams also have eight picks in the draft later this month.

Organized team activities over the next 10 weeks should clear up how the team expects to fill potential holes, like the ones opened by it waving goodbye to veterans like center Tim Barnes, strong safety T.J. McDonald and tight end Lance Kendricks.

The Rams addressed two of those spots last week by signing veteran center John Sullivan and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.

Sullivan, an eight-year veteran, played three games for McVay in Washington last year after missing the entire 2015 season because of a back injury.

“Being around him in Washington, you almost felt like you were talking to a coach,” McVay said. “You talk about your quarterback wanting to be an extension of the coaching staff, the center position is very similar where he’s got to have a big-picture ownership of what we’re trying to get done, what we’re trying to accomplish up front.

“And John is certainly someone that’s shown he is capable of handling that.”

MOVING PARTS

Robey-Coleman, who had two interceptions, including a pick-six in Buffalo’s 30-19 win at the Coliseum on Oct. 9, gives the Rams a pair of solid slot cornerbacks.

McVay was asked whether that means the Rams may try Lamarcus Joyner, who started last season in the slot in the Rams base nickel alignment, at safety.

“Anytime that you add depth like a Nickell does add, where he’s played a lot of football, it gives you some versatility to move a special player like Lamarcus around potentially,” McVay said. “You want to find as many ways to get him on the field as possible.

“Whether that’s him at nickel, which I think he’s one of the elite players at that spot in this league, or the safety, I think you see an instinctual player that has a great feel for the game.

“And I think our coaching staff has done a nice job targeting him as a player that we have to make sure that he’s on the grass, he’s competing.”

Another potential starter could be on the move on the offensive line. Rob Havenstein, who started 28 games over the past two season at right tackle, could move inside to right guard as the Rams attempt to move Greg Robinson to right tackle.

“I think when he was coming out, you looked at Rob as a potential guy to be able to move inside and do some of those things,” McVay said. “I think he and Greg working in coordination, in unison, will be able to help both of those guys.”

McVay mentioned a potential starting offensive line — left to right — of left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Rodger Saffold, Sullivan, Havenstein and Robinson, with Jamon Brown in reserve.

“I think we’ve got some good depth up front,” McVay said. “I’m excited to see how these guys process that information and then translate it to the grass once we get the OTAs started in Phase 3.”

MOVING ON

The Rams officially waived receiver Stedman Bailey on Monday.

The 2013 third-round draft pick missed the entire 2016 season after being shot in Miami in Nov. 2015. He had 59 catches for 843 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons with the Rams.

The team also retained defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks, defensive end Matt Longacre and defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat. Westbrooks was a restricted free agent and the latter two were exclusive-rights free agents.