Importance of Health and Continuity on the O-Line

[BonifayRam]

This writer Ken Arthur avoids "The Elephant In The Room" in any real serious discussions involving the Rams 2023 OL. The writer took the easy dumb-down route in this article. He ignored the Health/ Long term Damage to both starting LT's Noteboom/Jackson. However, it's an interesting read from his perspective. It would be very difficult to project the Rams 2023 OL due to the UNKNOWNS.

Only 1 sure Ol'er who will be playing the same position in 2023 & that's RT Havenstein ($15.5 million). The other 4 OL posts are big unknowns. Safe to say that Shelton ($1.75 million) will start @ OC or RG posts.

The Rams are broke with available Cap Salary in 2023....will they take the big gamble to go with proven often injured high-cost Allen @ OC ($7 mil.)? Can a member give a good reason to go with that plan @ OC? Would it be a much better plan to just go with Shelton (1.75 mil.) as starting center & sign low-cost veteran Skura ($1.75 mil.) & a draft pick ($.75 mil.)?

The easy low-cost starting OG prospects Bruss/ Anchrum/ Brewer & possible return of 2022 reserve UFA veterans Cole Toner, Oday Aboushi & Zac Thomas in addition to a draft pick.

 

[TexasRam]

There is only one way out of this shitshow.

We need to sign some top free agent lineman. Preferably a LT and maybe a center. Let the unproven rest of them battle it out for the guard positions. Bruss, Jackson, Colemen etc.

This strategy also provides solid depth. Noteboom can be the swing tackle/guard which is a critical role he did well in the past.

Agree with Merlin that our overall starters are too mediocre as a group. You need some top Olineman to hold the group together and also to run behind when we need that big shirt yardage 1st down.

It’s no secret why the Phillys and KCs of the world have their offenses at the top.

It’s always about the Oline.

 

[Allen2McVay]

There is only one way out of this shitshow.

We need to sign some top free agent lineman. Preferably a LT and maybe a center. Let the unproven rest of them battle it out for the guard positions. Bruss, Jackson, Colemen etc.

This strategy also provides solid depth. Noteboom can be the swing tackle/guard which is a critical role he did well in the past.

That sounds good but I don't see many high-quality LTs or Centers scheduled to hit free agency.

Orlando Brown is by far the best LT; and, even if K.C. wants to move on, it would likely tag him and look for a trade partner.

Sometimes quality veterans come free for cap-relief but that just goes to the Rams other issue ... Cap Space.

 

[Merlin]

Not sure what Brown will do when some team pays him top dollar. Not sure I'd want to pay him either but I'm also hoping he hits FA strangely enough. Either way what concerns me is the Ravens know what they're doing but he probably won't hit FA.

Feels like the Rams are going to need to add to the interior. There are no good Centers in FA, so it'll probably be an OG. Someone good enough to settle shit down and be able to start without being a distraction at the very least.

So the draft has two requirements (pertaining to OL) I think...

1. Go get a LT if available. If a guy they like is on the board take him. If he is close and you can move up do it, and this includes things like moving into round 1 using next year's first rounder to take a LT even if he might not start right away. And if there is a developmental LT they like take him. So basically we need at a minimum a LT development project.

2. Get a starting C. They are not going to be limited to a smart type who will be able to make the calls year one. The QB experience in the backfield means they can start a guy who needs QB oversight as long as he's good enough outside of that, so some of the more physical but maybe dumber ones should be possible.

If they don't get the LT it's still possible to have a decent line, the kind that is strong up the middle and on the right but where you don't want to drop back 50x a game. But sadly that's a shitty thing for McVay who loves to throw the ball. So I'd imagine the LT is top priority, which means I think the trade up scenario using next years one is possible.

 

[Classic Rams]

Just saw a Jim McMahon interview on youtube. He was saying the most important piece(s) on offense is the line. Doesn't matter all the skill positions when you have the great line. McVay is building skill first, line last. If you look at all the repeat champs, that's what they had.... a very good OL.

 

[So Ram]

Not sure what Brown will do when some team pays him top dollar. Not sure I'd want to pay him either but I'm also hoping he hits FA strangely enough. Either way what concerns me is the Ravens know what they're doing but he probably won't hit FA.

Feels like the Rams are going to need to add to the interior. There are no good Centers in FA, so it'll probably be an OG. Someone good enough to settle shit down and be able to start without being a distraction at the very least.

So the draft has two requirements (pertaining to OL) I think...

1. Go get a LT if available. If a guy they like is on the board take him. If he is close and you can move up do it, and this includes things like moving into round 1 using next year's first rounder to take a LT even if he might not start right away. And if there is a developmental LT they like take him. So basically we need at a minimum a LT development project.

2. Get a starting C. They are not going to be limited to a smart type who will be able to make the calls year one. The QB experience in the backfield means they can start a guy who needs QB oversight as long as he's good enough outside of that, so some of the more physical but maybe dumber ones should be possible.

If they don't get the LT it's still possible to have a decent line, the kind that is strong up the middle and on the right but where you don't want to drop back 50x a game. But sadly that's a shitty thing for McVay who loves to throw the ball. So I'd imagine the LT is top priority, which means I think the trade up scenario using next years one is possible.

You really Freaking trust that?

I’ll just leave it at that :-(

 

[fanotodd]

I don’t see the Rams getting a new starting LT without paring down their current contracts or giving up premium draft capital to move up—even that is risky. Someone in house has to make the leap.

The point of attack should be a Center. I can’t see the top 2 Centers going in the first 30 picks. That would be unusual. Bringing in a Center instantly creates depth in the interior while possibly establishing an anchor for the OL over the next several seasons.

I really don’t think the depth of the Rams OL is the problem. It’s the starters. The depth guys are not supposed to be ALL starting together and certainly not for any length of time. The injury catastrophe of having LT, LG, and Center all on IR means we need more reliable starters, not more depth.

Guys like Nsehke, Brewer, and Skura aren’t necessarily bad players, but having them all on the field at once?

 

[So Ram]

This writer Ken Arthur avoids "The Elephant In The Room" in any real serious discussions involving the Rams 2023 OL. The writer took the easy dumb-down route in this article. He ignored the Health/ Long term Damage to both starting LT's Noteboom/Jackson. However, it's an interesting read from his perspective. It would be very difficult to project the Rams 2023 OL due to the UNKNOWNS.

Only 1 sure Ol'er who will be playing the same position in 2023 & that's RT Havenstein ($15.5 million). The other 4 OL posts are big unknowns. Safe to say that Shelton ($1.75 million) will start @ OC or RG posts.

The Rams are broke with available Cap Salary in 2023....will they take the big gamble to go with proven often injured high-cost Allen @ OC ($7 mil.)? Can a member give a good reason to go with that plan @ OC? Would it be a much better plan to just go with Shelton (1.75 mil.) as starting center & sign low-cost veteran Skura ($1.75 mil.) & a draft pick ($.75 mil.)?

The easy low-cost starting OG prospects Bruss/ Anchrum/ Brewer & possible return of 2022 reserve UFA veterans Cole Toner, Oday Aboushi & Zac Thomas in addition to a draft pick.

I’ll stick to my view from the past & wait to keep evaluating. Losing Brian Allen stunk because Shelton was starting at RG.If Shelton The Rams start Shelton at RG next season there Cit-creek

 

[Allen2McVay]

This writer Ken Arthur avoids "The Elephant In The Room" in any real serious discussions involving the Rams 2023 OL. The writer took the easy dumb-down route in this article.

I think that line applies to most any article written by Kenneth Arthur (or any article from the TurfShowTimes). Never been a fan.

 

[Merlin]

You really Freaking trust that?

I’ll just leave it at that :-(

Let's hear your plan.

 

[snackdaddy]

Were they just unlucky? Or do we have a bunch of injury prone guys? Allen and Noteboom are almost guaranteed to lose time next season. I'd prefer Jackson at LT anyway. But I have no idea if he will suffer the same fate after playing only two games. No way of knowing if we have another injury prone guy.

But we do know Allen and Noteboom are. They should be the first guys off the bench and hope the starter doesn't suffer a season ending injury. Because we know they won't last. I'd prefer a starting lineup with Jackson/Edwards/Shelton/Brewer/Havenstein. Not a great line but if they play together long enough to they should be serviceable.

 

[den-the-coach]

Center...John Michael Schmitz early & Left Guard Nick Broeker later and lets roll from there.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Man @den-the-coach! I thought that was a So Ram post when I first saw it.

Another Cheap-shot. I really am Willie McGinest today.

 

[den-the-coach]

Man @den-the-coach! I thought that was a So Ram post when I first saw it.

Another Cheap-shot. I really am Willie McGinest today.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I should explain.

You know how website photos have a coding of many different letters? I believe it's called a jpeg.

When the J.M Schmitz post first came-up, there was a jpeg of garbled / random letters that was about 100 lines long.

So I took a cheap-shot at So Ram. Now your post is simple the photos of Schmitz.

 

[den-the-coach]

I should explain.

You know how website photos have a coding of many different letters? I believe it's called a jpeg.

When the J.M Schmitz post first came-up, there was a jpeg of garbled / random letters that was about 100 lines long.

So I took a cheap-shot at So Ram. Now your post is simple the photos of Schmitz.

I know what happened that's why I deleted that post and there is no evidence of that every happening. The Dickens you say.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I believe the Rams have ten OL under contract for 2023; and that does not include veterans Edwards, Skura, Aboushi and Nsekhe.

Really think just one quality addition, plus a return to average-to-good health along the O-Line, could have a major impact.

On the negative side, don't see many quality OL scheduled to hit free agency (Jack Conklin and Elgton Jenkins just signed extensions); and it's not easy to find a solid day-one-starter in the 30s or 60s in the Draft.

 

[Allen2McVay]

... there is no evidence of that every happening.

No evidence that WHAT ever happened?

 

[den-the-coach]

No evidence that WHAT ever happened?

That whoever played Left Guard this year for the Los Angeles Rams, could not block.

 

[BonifayRam]

Were they just unlucky? Or do we have a bunch of injury prone guys? Allen and Noteboom are almost guaranteed to lose time next season. I'd prefer Jackson at LT anyway. But I have no idea if he will suffer the same fate after playing only two games. No way of knowing if we have another injury prone guy.

But we do know Allen and Noteboom are. They should be the first guys off the bench and hope the starter doesn't suffer a season ending injury. Because we know they won't last. I'd prefer a starting lineup with Jackson/Edwards/Shelton/Brewer/Havenstein. Not a great line but if they play together long enough to they should be serviceable.

The Noteboom 3-year, $40 million Problem
It's a huge issue as I see it. Rams pushed JN's Cap hit way into the future as they have done with so many recent contracts. JN's cap hit this season was ONLY 3.5 mil. as Spotrac has it. JN mandates $15.5 mil in 2023 & $17 mil in 2024 with $16.5 million of Dead Cap involved after this season.

It was a big gamble to reinvest in JN in March of this year however like snackdaddy said he is just plain unlucky. Far too unlucky to plan to have him as this team starting LT. This 5th yr pro has been on the IR 5 times since 2019. How can any good GM/HC plan to go with JN as their starter from this point on with a worn-down aging pocket passer fresh off an IR event with another spine contusion?

I don't understand members who insert Noteboom into the 2023 starting lineup. It resolves nothing!

I am wishing hard that Alaric Jackson heals from his knee injury & gets his serious blood clot issue resolved to get the medical clearance to play.