BonifayRam
Legend
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2013
- Messages
- 13,435
- Name
- Vernon
How Record OL Injuries Doomed Rams Title Defense
How Record OL Injuries Doomed Rams Title Defense
The Rams (OL) and Broncos (WR) set all-time records for AGL by position group, helping doom their 2022 seasons.
www.footballoutsiders.com
Offensive Line
There were far more offensive line injuries than usual in 2022. In fact, there were more offensive line AGL leaguewide in 2022 than in any other season we've measured. In 2021, no team had more than 40 AGL at offensive line. Last year, five different teams had at least 40 AGL for this position group. We have to start with the Los Angeles Rams, who destroyed the previous record for offensive line AGL by one team in a given season.Most Offensive Line AGL in a Season, 2001-2022 | |||
Year | Team | AGL | Main OL Injuries |
2022 | LAR | 71.0 | L.Bruss, J.Noteboom, B.Allen, D.Edwards |
2020 | PHI | 57.1 | B.Brooks, A.Dillard, J.Peters, L.Johnson |
2016 | MIN | 56.8 | M.Kalil, M.Harris, A.Smith, J.Long |
2022 | NYJ | 54.7 | M.Becton, G.Fant, A.Vera-Tucker, M.Mitchell |
2014 | SD | 52.2 | J.Clary, N.Hardwick, R.Ohrnberger, D.Legursky |
2014 | ATL | 52.2 | S.Baker, J.Hawley, L.Holmes, P.Konz |
The offensive line collapse was a huge part of the overall collapse of the Rams in 2022. The Rams were already trying to get over the retirement of left tackle Andrew Whitworth, the anchor of their Super Bowl championship line from the year before. His replacement, Joe Noteboom (11.3), missed half the year with a torn Achilles.
Noteboom's replacement, Alaric Jackson (9.0), missed the second half of the season due to blood clot problems. But the left tackle issue was nothing compared to the complications at center and right guard. In the preseason, there was a camp battle at right guard between Logan Bruss (12.0) and Coleman Shelton (4.0)—until Bruss tore his ACL.
That made Shelton the Week 1 starter. Then center Brian Allen (11.1) had a knee injury in Week 1. Shelton slid over to center, which would have made Bruss the new starter at right guard, except Bruss was hurt. So instead, we go to RG3, Tremayne Anchrum (11.0). That didn't last long, because Anchrum broke his fibula in Week 3.
Meanwhile, Shelton, now playing center, hurt his ankle and missed four games. So even when Allen came back, Bruss would have been playing, and if not Bruss, Anchrum would have been playing, so they both count for those weeks in AGL. And then Allen went out again, missing two games with a thumb injury and three with a calf injury. Eventually, the Rams ended up with Chandler Brewer (2.0) playing right guard, except he hurt his knee too. We haven't even mentioned left guard David Edwards (10.0), who missed much of the season with concussion issues. It was a colossal mess.