Here's what Ram fans have dealt with this season . OL Health as well known subject here & discussed here forever.
#1-Saffold has been constantly injured since his rookie season in 2010. Rams contracted & purchased Saffold back in this yrs free agency ...an well known often injured & damaged goods OL'er. So Saffold playing injured & in need of surgery is not new information ....that's the point the Rams purchased this injury problem. This is a ongoing negative.
#2-Jake Long who is back on the IR for the second straight season was another purchased UFA.....in 2013 free agency he had an extra long resume of surgeries in his past. Rams purchased Jake knowing that it was a very good bet that the possibility Jake would be injured again was extremely high....did not stop them. This is a negative.
#3-Scott Wells was purchased in the 2012 UFA'cy with full knowledge that he was to go under the knife on his knee. Scott Wells case was a lot different that with Longs & Saffold's...Scott
did not have an injury history period. That changed dramatically when the Rams contracted & purchased him. Yes currently he is battling through another injury this time an elbow but earlier this season Scott was battling for his life due to a dangerous illness. But Scott Wells has been a injury train wreak the last 3 seasons for the Rams. Wells was IR's in 2012 & 2013. This season is his best as far as being on the field playing.
Looks to me this particular veteran UFA signing has not been all that positive either, is this seasons performance due to him undergoing another series of health issues? Whatever it may be its very close to an ongoing negative.
#4-In addition to OG Saffold's signing back with us the only other new veteran addition starter to this Rams OL was when they signed FA Davin Joseph who's past two seasons were plum full of health issues before he was released. Joseph play has been very poor not sure if its health or he is just plain done in the NFL. This is also another ongoing negative.
alm:
So in theses four main top Ram purchased OL additions have not gone well...
understatement! Has there been any positive stuff this season with the OL? When Jake Long went out in the game due to injury & was IR'd what occurred ? Rams had finally utilized a first or second day drafted OL in Greg Robinson, having done this when Jake went out Greg went in!
That's a positive. yes there is some learning ongoing but it still a positive. If OLG Saffold departs the field again what OG will go in? If Barksdale leaves the field what ORT will take his spot? I sure would like to suggest that the Rams in the future please plan to do a repeat of what happened a the OLT post with Greg Robinson
& do not repeat the previous above listed four negatives. PLEASE?