Youth movement: Rams have only 18 players over 25, 1 over 30

Youth movement: Rams have only 18 players over 25, one over 30
By Steve Dilbeck

[www.espn.com]

IRVINE, Calif. -- Ah, youth. So fleeting, so exciting, so very unpredictable.

The Rams were one of the league’s youngest team’s last season and went 7-9.

They had the worst passing game in the NFL and are now expected to turn the offense over to 21-year-old quarterback Jared Goff. Their star player is 22-year-old running back Todd Gurley. Their defensive standout is a comparative old man, 25-year-old tackle Aaron Donald.

Los Angeles' William Hayes
At 31, defensive end William Hayes qualifies as a grizzled veteran on the Rams.
Indeed, on their roster they have exactly one player over 30. Starting defensive end William Hayes is a team aberration, sliding in at age 31.

In ESPN’s annual age rankings for every NFL team released this week, the Rams came in as the league’s fifth youngest team. That’s actually an uptick from last year when this massive team was in full bloom and they were at No. 3.

But on their 89-man roster this season, they have only 18 players over the age of 25. Half of those, however, are expected to start. That still leaves plenty of young starters, who for the most part, will be backed up by even younger players.

So it may not be peach fuzz all around, but youth clearly still abides as the Rams try to win over their new Los Angeles fan base.

All that youth began to show promise last season. The Rams won three of their last four games, losing the season finale to the 49ers in San Francisco in overtime. Which is where they open the regular season next month.

If youth is to be served, and the Rams are going to make that next step as a developing team, they need it to be now.