Bobby Evans The Enigma

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den-the-coach

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When the Los Angeles Rams selected Tackle Bobby Evans from Oklahoma there was tempered enthusiasm. Evans had just blocked for two straight Heisman Trophy winning Quarterbacks in Kyler Murray & Baker Mayfield. Evans played both RT and then switch to LT his senior season and handled himself quite well with the adjustment. Many felt that Evans would be the eventual replacement for Rob Havenstein at RT and in fact, Evans handled himself quite well as a rookie in 2019 starting 7 games at RT for the injured Havenstein and many wrote Big Rob (not Bobby) off in 2020 figuring the Rams would trade Havenstein then just keep Evans at RT.

Many Mock Drafts by some of our draftniks had Havenstein gone, but the Rams kept Big Rob in 2020 and when LG David Edwards went down the Rams turned to Evans at LG and the results were checkered at best. Evans really struggled in pass protection and it was never more evident against the Green Bay Packers in post season as most of the pressure against Goff came from the LG spot, which made many of us appreciate David Edwards because although Edwards is not a road grader, he is very solid in pass protection.

Then in 2021 with the acquisition of high profile QB Matthew Stafford and not drafting an offensive linemen in the draft the Rams grand plan to reboot the Offensive Line was to move Austin Corbett to Center & Bobby Evans to RG. Made sence because some felt that Evans was better suited for the right side then left and would also improve the run game because that was Evans greatest asset as he's a better run blocker then pass blocker. In OTA's & beginning of training camp blocking nobody the Rams kept with that line Corbett trying to make to adjustment to Center & Evans at Right Guard.

Now the scrimmage the Rams had against the Dallas Cowboys was instrumental in so many ways. The Rams feel the scrimmages are better to get their top players ready for the season and sit the starters during preseason and it's hard to argue with McVay's philosophy there because the Rams continue to have good results. However, against Dallas, there was some major issues with pass protection as Evans was a turnstile at RG plus there were a few errant snaps from Corbett, but mostly, so much pressure was coming from RG, that the Rams pivoted quickly and decided to put Brian Allen back at Center thus moving Corbett back to his natural position.

All of the sudden the bigger, stronger Allen looked like an angel sent from Heaven. The line was better with Bobby Evans far away from the starting unit. The Rams actually played Evans a ton in preseason, hoping that additional live reps would improve him, however, his preseason was as disappointing as the scrimmage and it seemed that Evans was now overtaken by the likes of not only Coleman Shelton at Guard, but an UDRFA in Alaric Jackson from Iowa as a tackle. During the Super Bowl run this was evident and even more so against the Minnesota Vikings with Whitworth & Noteboom out because of COVID the Rams started David Edwards at LT & Coleman Shelton at LG with Evans on the bench, however, when Brian Allen went down with injury & the Rams had to reshuffle the deck instead of moving Evans to LG, they put in Alaric (AJ) Jackson at LT, Edwards back to LG & Shelton to Center. Now Evans was lucky to even be active as it appeared he was option number three or maybe even four with a healthy Tremayne Anchrum.

At this point as the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams move forward with the departure of RG Austin Corbett to free agency, some have thought that Bobby Evans would be in play again at RG, however, before the draft the Rams signed Coleman Shelton to a two year deal and penciled him at RG and then with their first pick in the draft, 3rd round 104, they could not have former great RB Steven Jackson run up to the podium fast enough to draft Wisconsin Guard Logan Bruss with Head Coach Sean McVay immediately stating that Bruss has a legitimate shot to start at RG come September, wondering if Evans is now even in the Ram plans.

Some will communicate that Bobby Evans could be this years Brian Allen, but I have my doubts because Evans seems from my perspective to lack the desire to improve as his pass protection has regressed & his run blocking also seems not be as strong as it was in his rookie campaign. Some also like to communicate that Evans is more of a Tackle then Guard, but again, he played plenty of RT in preseason last year and struggled against 2nd & 3rd teamers. The Rams in the 7th round drafted Michigan State's AJ Arcuri who played RT & LT at Michigan State and if Arcuri's showcases any ability, could send Bobby Evans out in a trade or being released and ending his tenure when last year at this time, Evans was the starting RG and it's hard to figure why some grow and some don't, but to this point Bobby Evans could be the one draft choice that did not live up to any expectations considering the round he was selected.

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I like Rams

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I dont think anyone thought Evans played good enough to replace Rob. He actually played pretty bad until he got help from our TE's and hit a soft part of our schedule towards the end of that 2019 season.
 

den-the-coach

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I dont think anyone thought Evans played good enough to replace Rob. He actually played pretty bad until he got help from our TE's and hit a soft part of our schedule towards the end of that 2019 season.
Good Point, IDK, but some had Havenstein traded and now Big Rob is taking over the leadership of that group with the departure of Whitworth. Be interesting to see if the Rams plan on extending Havenstein, who is in the last year of his deal.
 

Merlin

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On the Rams draft vid episode two at the end McVay was adamant about finding a starter at that round 3 pick. I think that says it all. Rams depth guys are just depth. None of them were diamonds in the rough.

After this season they're going to need to replace Edwards too. It's either sign him (which I think is unlikely) or replace him in the draft. So hopefully they do what they just did with Bruss again this time next year.
 

den-the-coach

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After this season they're going to need to replace Edwards too. It's either sign him (which I think is unlikely) or replace him in the draft. So hopefully they do what they just did with Bruss again this time next year.
IDK, they might have to make a choice to sign Edwards or Havenstein & Edwards is younger so I could see them extending him. If the do keep Edwards, he could be a candidate to move to RT, however, I agree, the draft would most likely produce another option for them too.
 

Merlin

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IDK, they might have to make a choice to sign Edwards or Havenstein & Edwards is younger so I could see them extending him. If the do keep Edwards, he could be a candidate to move to RT, however, I agree, the draft would most likely produce another option for them too.
Fair point re: moving Edwards to RT. It would be a option.

I just think Edwards performance last season was underwhelming. He started really well the previous year and I figured he'd take big steps forward but he didn't. So for that to happen (him moving to RT and getting paid) he would need to make that move to a higher level of play this year. And even then there's a big difference between LG and RT mechanically so we'll see.

My assumption with RT is that Jackson takes that job. That assumes Boom plays well at LT and that Jackson keeps developing so long way to go but yeah seems to me like another OL draft pick is in the near future.
 

Merlin

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Oh and btw Den I think that is the longest post you have ever made. Are you locked in your house with your wife visiting family or something?
 

Jacobarch

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Hav has had one off year and I think it was due to injury. He's also going to age and probably not as well as whit did. It will be interesting to see how the Rams confront this
 

den-the-coach

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Oh and btw Den I think that is the longest post you have ever made. Are you locked in your house with your wife visiting family or something?
Absolutely right...Wife is visiting her mother and after working out this morning I'm enjoying my fine Columbian Beverage and felt like pontificating. :ROFLMAO:
 

Riverumbbq

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Be interesting to see if the Rams plan on extending Havenstein, who is in the last year of his deal.

If the new kid on the block at RT, 7'th rounder A.J. Arcuri, shows anywhere near the heart of last years UDFA OT, Alaric Jackson, this could be like back to back late inning home runs for the Rams.

I would have thought if the Rams wanted to extend Havenstein it would have already occurred as a CAP saving vehicle for this season, although it could also be that the Rams CAP for 2023, even with the potential rise in TV revenue, is a bit overextended as the CAP hits for Stafford, Allen Robinson, Bobby Wagner & Noteboom will start to take their full financial tole.
For me, the real enigma at RT is Max Pircher, is he the real deal or is he a phantom of sorts. Regardless, with or without Havenstein next year, there will be several competitors available to try to fill his position.
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Riverumbbq

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Fair point re: moving Edwards to RT. It would be a option.

Something I've been banging on about for a season and a half ... unfortunately, his status as a free agent next year likely reduces his future affordability.
jmo.
 

TheTackle

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All of the problems in his scouting report that saw him drop down draft boards remain!

“—Plays with stiff hips and struggles with speed rushers. Alabama's Christian Miller worked him with outside quickness and body lean.

—Gets caught reaching and is met with rip or chop moves because he telegraph“

I will add two more:

He overextends because his feet are as slow as molasses

He strikes me as one of the few players on the squad who struggles from the neck up

 

PARAM

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Noteboom, Edwards, Allen, Bruss and Havenstein backed up by
A.Jackson, Anchrum, Shelton & ?????????

Arcuri?
Brewer?
Kolone?
Ealy?
Evans?
Pircher?
Snyder?
 

Allen2McVay

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So what you guys are saying about Evans is that he is "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma".

Could not help myself. It's not often I get to use a Winston Churchill quote in a football reference.
 

Riverumbbq

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Noteboom, Edwards, Allen, Bruss and Havenstein backed up by
A.Jackson, Anchrum, Shelton & ?????????

Arcuri?
Brewer?
Kolone?
Ealy?
Evans?
Pircher?
Snyder?

A good question which may not reveal itself until the pre-season games conclude.
Being that McVay doesn't play his OL starters during the pre-season games, at least not yet, the competition should be fierce at every position, with the exception of Center.
Since we have no official starter at RG any longer, whoever wins the camp battle may very well be held out of the pre-season games, and that should be rather telling. If Bruss wins it in camp, we may not get a good look at him until the regular season opens.
jmo.
 

So Ram

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Good Point, IDK, but some had Havenstein traded and now Big Rob is taking over the leadership of that group with the departure of Whitworth. Be interesting to see if the Rams plan on extending Havenstein, who is in the last year of his deal.

In 2019 I thought it was best to keep Bobby Evans as the starting RT.The point it was an easy schedule is one thing.Still if you were to ask Les Snead what he thought at the time or to look back. He would tell you The Rams should have beat SF to make the playoffs.That was with that young group of O’Line.
The past is the past & now with this young group of O’Line The Rams have it would be best IMO to move on from Bobby Evans if a player under more contract control are more ascending would make Bobby Evans very easy to let go(cut) like Shelton or AJ Jackson.
Now with Bruss possibility of being a 4 year starter & Shelton being a solid swing C/G.Anchrum has an extra (2) seasons is still only 23 years of age.
There still is a long ways to go & sometimes a player going into a contract year are basically playing for there(career) life’s.Usually that is when you’ll see the biggest progressions in a players game.That alert light better go off.
 

den-the-coach

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Noteboom, Edwards, Allen, Bruss and Havenstein backed up by
A.Jackson, Anchrum, Shelton & ?????????

Arcuri?
Brewer?
Kolone?
Ealy?
Evans?
Pircher?
Snyder?
IMO, it's between, Evans, Arcuri & Brewer. Brewer struggled last year too, so we'll have to see how he handles things, but again, I do believe if Arcuri can showcase the ability to hold up well and offer some push in the run game, he could be 9th OL kept as the Rams begin the season.
 

1maGoh

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I think the difference between him and Allen is this: Allen was a starter, got injured, got covid, didn't really recover from the injury on time, and by the time he could play it was 2021 already. By all reports, Allen looked good in camp last year.

None of that is true for Evans. He got a starting job only because the real starter was injured. He didn't lose it because of injury, he lost it because he wasn't as good. He was healthy but not good last year. Camp reports from last year said he wasn't good.

Now if camp reports this year say that Evans improved, I'll give him a chance. It's possible he'll improve. It's just super unlikely.
 

So Ram

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A good question which may not reveal itself until the pre-season games conclude.
Being that McVay doesn't play his OL starters during the pre-season games, at least not yet, the competition should be fierce at every position, with the exception of Center.
Since we have no official starter at RG any longer, whoever wins the camp battle may very well be held out of the pre-season games, and that should be rather telling. If Bruss wins it in camp, we may not get a good look at him until the regular season opens.
jmo.

Well I seriously doubt that ? Bruss is going to have to get some NFL experience. Shelton who just signed a 3 year deal has proven himself.He will not play in the preseason.

Noteboom,Edwards,Allen & Havenstien will all sit out preseason game as well a Shelton.There is nothing this guys need to prove.

I’m just curious is MAX doesn’t play center at all ? I wonder why I’m the only one thinking he will get some experience there ? Kolone will get some looks,but the 3rd center spot
is for the taking.There is a rookie from SJS ?