By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

The Rams announced their final 12 cuts Saturday, a day before the deadline and have established their roster for the season opener on Sept. 11 at San Francisco.

The cuts follow the team’s final preseason game, a 27-23 win against the Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday night. The list of cuts contained only a couple of mild surprises for a team that seems focused on building depth defensively and on special teams.

The list of cuts includes: offensive linemen Darnell Alford, Toby Cecil and Larry Turner, defensive tackles Jeremy Calahan and John Parrella, receivers Dominique Thompson and Jeremy Carter, quarterback Jeff Smoker, running back Dusty McGrorty, safety Michael Stone and fullback Joey Goodspeed.

Goodspeed and Turner are probably the only players that came as mild surprises of the group, but it appears they were pinched out by the numbers game that often eliminates many players from a roster.

Goodspeed engaged in a preseason battle with rookie Madison Hedgecock. It was unclear who was leading that battle until the past week when Hedgecock made an impressive touchdown catch and continued to prove himself as a dominant special teams player.

Turner, on the other hand, came as slightly more of a surprise as the Rams decided to keep just nine offensive linemen (not including unsigned third-round pick Richie Incognito).

Turner’s absence means Tom Nutten will probably handle the back-up center duties with Blaine Saipaia also capable.

 Carter and Thompson’s release leaves the Rams with five receivers although Mike Furrey, who made the team at safety, could play receiver in a pinch.

The current breakdown of the roster is as follows: three quarterbacks, four running backs, four tight ends/fullbacks, five wide receivers, nine offensive linemen, three specialists, eight defensive linemen, seven linebackers and 10 defensive backs.