Havenstein out vs. Miami / Avila & Jackson in 21 day window

[Memento]

Havenstein is the last St. Louis Ram that is still on our team, and one of the few remaining in the league, now that AD has retired.

I love the guy's stability, consistency, and ability to get leverage for such a tall man...but he is getting much older, and he has had nagging injuries that have kept him off the field occasionally.

I'm not saying get rid of Havenstein at all. I'm saying we need to start thinking about succession plans on the bookends, particularly if A-Jax leaves in free agency. Warren McClendon played well in Havenstein's stead during the Seattle game. He's not a left tackle, he proved that against the Lions, but as a right tackle, he could be more than just serviceable; he could be an answer.

Which leaves left tackle to figure out. I believe in the Avila/Limmer combo at left guard and center. Dotson's rock-solid, but I worry about injuries; he's been playing hurt all year, and he's got a similar contract to Jonah Jackson, which makes it easy to get out of, just in case. We have guys like Leveston, Dedich, McMahon, and Bruss as potential backups and J-Jax as a potential trade chip; teams will go for offensive linemen on relatively cheap contracts.

But if A-Jax leaves in free agency - or even if we franchise tag him - we need to think of a plan for eventually getting a left tackle. I don't like the options available in free agency for left tackles, A-Jax aside, so I think someone is going to pay him a ridiculous amount of cash.

 

[dieterbrock]

Noteboom. 5th highest paid guy on our roster. They invested in him and he’s expected to step up in moments like this.

Invested? They drastically cut his pay.
He’d need to be a significant upgrade considering what it costs bonus wise for him to play

 

[Loyal]

Havenstein is the last St. Louis Ram that is still on our team, and one of the few remaining in the league, now that AD has retired.

I love the guy's stability, consistency, and ability to get leverage for such a tall man...but he is getting much older, and he has had nagging injuries that have kept him off the field occasionally.

I'm not saying get rid of Havenstein at all. I'm saying we need to start thinking about succession plans on the bookends, particularly if A-Jax leaves in free agency. Warren McClendon played well in Havenstein's stead during the Seattle game. He's not a left tackle, he proved that against the Lions, but as a right tackle, he could be more than just serviceable; he could be an answer.

Which leaves left tackle to figure out. I believe in the Avila/Limmer combo at left guard and center. Dotson's rock-solid, but I worry about injuries; he's been playing hurt all year, and he's got a similar contract to Jonah Jackson, which makes it easy to get out of, just in case. We have guys like Leveston, Dedich, McMahon, and Bruss as potential backups and J-Jax as a potential trade chip; teams will go for offensive linemen on relatively cheap contracts.

But if A-Jax leaves in free agency - or even if we franchise tag him - we need to think of a plan for eventually getting a left tackle. I don't like the options available in free agency for left tackles, A-Jax aside, so I think someone is going to pay him a ridiculous amount of cash.

OND, is that you?

 

[Memento]

OND, is that you?

Is OND a girl?

Seriously, though, I don't want to replace Havenstein; I'm just trying to talk up the O-line.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

Avila played some Right Tackle in College.... I'm wondering if that's an option now. Limmers has played too well to sit IMO.

 

[Ellard80]

Im guessing it will be as follows monday.

RT - Noteboom
RG - K.DOT
C - Avilla
LG - Jonah Jackson
LT - Alaric

 

[gogoat1]

Tell him to get in the gym and off the hospital bed

You have the gall to to try and tell a 10 year NFL starting right tackle to "get in the gym" is one of the dumbest things I have heard in awhile.
You could not mow your lawn in a 1/10 the pain he goes through in every NFL start.
And there has been a LOT of them.

 

[Kupped]

Havenstein is the last St. Louis Ram that is still on our team, and one of the few remaining in the league, now that AD has retired.

I love the guy's stability, consistency, and ability to get leverage for such a tall man...but he is getting much older, and he has had nagging injuries that have kept him off the field occasionally.

I'm not saying get rid of Havenstein at all. I'm saying we need to start thinking about succession plans on the bookends, particularly if A-Jax leaves in free agency. Warren McClendon played well in Havenstein's stead during the Seattle game. He's not a left tackle, he proved that against the Lions, but as a right tackle, he could be more than just serviceable; he could be an answer.

Which leaves left tackle to figure out. I believe in the Avila/Limmer combo at left guard and center. Dotson's rock-solid, but I worry about injuries; he's been playing hurt all year, and he's got a similar contract to Jonah Jackson, which makes it easy to get out of, just in case. We have guys like Leveston, Dedich, McMahon, and Bruss as potential backups and J-Jax as a potential trade chip; teams will go for offensive linemen on relatively cheap contracts.

But if A-Jax leaves in free agency - or even if we franchise tag him - we need to think of a plan for eventually getting a left tackle. I don't like the options available in free agency for left tackles, A-Jax aside, so I think someone is going to pay him a ridiculous amount of cash.

It would be stupid to let Ajax leave... and this isn't a stupid franchise.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Im guessing it will be as follows monday.

RT - Noteboom
RG - K.DOT
C - Avilla
LG - Jonah Jackson
LT - Alaric

I'm going with Avila at RT, Jonah at LG (if healthy) and Limmer at Center.

 

[Ellard80]

Actually will prob be Jackson at center now that i think about what they were doing earlier this year.

 

[PARAM]

Are we sure this guy is the future at ???? or that guy is the future at ???? ?
I think we're solid with Avila, JJ and Dotson in the middle, Alaric and Havenstein on the ends.

But......
Is JJ too injury prone?
Is A Jax a premier LT?
Is Havenstein getting too long in the tooth?
Has Avila started his descent into the injury prone catagory?
One thing I'm sure of is we can't be sure of much.

Havenstein is set to miss his 6th game in the last 5 years.
JJ has missed 15 games the last 3 years.
Avila has played 19 games and has now missed 7.

I don't know at what point a guy is considered injury prone. Noteboom for sure (39 games the last 6 years). JJ is close, if not, there. And let's face it....our OL problems (injuries) is the biggest thing that has held this team back, albeit just twice in the McVay era. If we don't get healthy and win, this year could be the third time in 8 years. That has got to be frustrating for the coach. He's got the scheme. He's got the weapons (though Cooper is nearing that IP catagory). But isn't that the NFL in nutshell? You can do everything right but if you can't stay healthy........

We're due for about a 13 week run of good health!!!

 

[Kupped]

Are we sure this guy is the future at ???? or that guy is the future at ???? ?
I think we're solid with Avila, JJ and Dotson in the middle, Alaric and Havenstein on the ends.

But......
Is JJ too injury prone?
Is A Jax a premier LT?
Is Havenstein getting too long in the tooth?
Has Avila started his descent into the injury prone catagory?
One thing I'm sure of is we can't be sure of much.

Havenstein is set to miss his 6th game in the last 5 years.
JJ has missed 15 games the last 3 years.
Avila has played 19 games and has now missed 7.

I don't know at what point a guy is considered injury prone. Noteboom for sure (39 games the last 6 years). JJ is close, if not, there. And let's face it....our OL problems (injuries) is the biggest thing that has held this team back, albeit just twice in the McVay era. If we don't get healthy and win, this year could be the third time in 8 years. That has got to be frustrating for the coach. He's got the scheme. He's got the weapons (though Cooper is nearing that IP catagory). But isn't that the NFL in nutshell? You can do everything right but if you can't stay healthy........

We're due for about a 13 week run of good health!!!

Ajax is not a "premier" LT.. he is a better-than-average LT and those aren't that easy to find.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1855377330727686512?s=46&t=gEUcKN5ugzpn7hhJJvpNKw

 

[So Ram]

View: https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1855377330727686512?s=46&t=gEUcKN5ugzpn7hhJJvpNKw

Really breaking news.Mcvay has basically stated that.J.Jackson was actually cleared before Avila,but on Thursday we all could see how hard Steve was attacking a drill in front of coaches.Was almost doing the splits his legs were so wide for a O’Lineman,which was a good sign.
I’m just curious who starts on Sunday & if any O’Lineman get out on the practice squad(cut) ? Picked up ?

 

[So Ram]

Ajax is not a "premier" LT.. he is a better-than-average LT and those aren't that easy to find.

But why not sign him to a multi-year deal ? How much more will he make this next season? What will The Rams do at LT ? Is McCleddon the real deal at RT ? At what point & for how much do you replace your bookends ?

 

[Tumak61]

My guess.
Jackson LT
Avila LG
Limmer C
Dotson RG
Noteboom RT

I think J Jackson backs up the center/ guard spots and maybe spells Dotson a bit.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Gotta start the line u planned on in the first place, AJack LT, Avila LG, JJack C, Dotson RG and McClendon RT.
Noteboom stays first one off the bench and backup LT.

 

[OldSchool]

Gotta start the line u planned on in the first place, AJack LT, Avila LG, JJack C, Dotson RG and McClendon RT.
Noteboom stays first one off the bench and backup LT.

Boom at RT and you got it IMO.

 

[fanotodd]

But if A-Jax leaves in free agency - or even if we franchise tag him - we need to think of a plan for eventually getting a left tackle. I don't like the options available in free agency for left tackles, A-Jax aside, so I think someone is going to pay him a ridiculous amount of cash.

You are right on the $$! (See what I did there?)
There should be no doubt at this point that AJ is a legitimate starting LT. We can argue where he ranks out of 32 teams, but he will clearly start for someone next year. I agree, the other options don’t look so good right now.
…that means he’s gonna get paid. Whether it will be by the Rams or not is going to be the big offseason question.

 

[Kupped]

But why not sign him to a multi-year deal ? How much more will he make this next season? What will The Rams do at LT ? Is McCleddon the real deal at RT ? At what point & for how much do you replace your bookends ?

I would absolutely sign Ajax.
I would also probably be drafting a tackle high in the next couple of years.