If Long is not ready early, it would be nice to have some veteran depth on the roster. Especially veteran depth that knows the offense and is capable of playing a couple positions.
Yes a big yes Memphis .....Simple fact we just plain do not have any veteran depth period. Since his arrival, Fisher has not made any
major investments in the OL through the Draft until Thursday night when he did move on one. The drafting of OL
Greg Robinson was towards the future @ OLT and the present now @ OLG.
Fisher in 2012 & 2013 has had veteran reserves here. Now all he has in 2014 is OC/OG
Tim Barnes. 26 yr old UDFA has 3 TC's & preseasons under his belt but only 4 starts. It does need to be said he has suited up and played in 31 Ram games. Barnes has played the three internal OL posts but he is no OT. So that's all the veteran depth.
Fisher's next most experienced (that word should not be used) OL'er is OG
Brandon Washington whom I would expect to try to fill the Shelley Smith role
has never started but did get to start in place of OLG Chris Williams for 2 Quarters in game #17. BW was drafted by the Eagles in the 6th rd. in 2012 but was snagged but Boudreau in the late last roster cuts & bounce back from the PS and MR many times. In 2013 preseason BW played three positions ORT/OLG & ORG. BW's best position by far is OLG. BW did play OLT for Miami Canes. BW is only
6-2/320 after missing several meals!
Harvey Dahl could be considered much later. Not the best thing for us but he knows Boudreau well.
If his worn down body could fully heal & then get back in playing shape up for one more NFL season
as a reserve OL'er he just might return @ the right price. Like CoachO said earlier in this discussion were just going off what the Rams have on the roster now.
I would guess that the Org. will once again be hovering around WWC's line looking to hook up a veteran who can swing both sides left & right & play both inside & out!
That's not a easy find. Sure would have been nice to have drafted a OT in previous Ram drafts but it was not done time now to pay the piper for that past missed opportunity. But hey we did draft 5 WR's instead. The outside OL'er is the main thing with this OL. Harvey just does not fill this major present concern. Harvey does
not swing both sides but he could do ORT/ORG back up.
If Long does suffer a set back, or there is a failure to return to previous form there is always starting ORG Rodger Saffold. I am sure would prefer Rookie Greg Robinson starts inside @ OLG for this first season. This is where a vet like Harvey Dahl comes in, Harvey could move back into his former home @ ORG & Saffold could attempt to hold up his old stomping grounds again @ OLT. Neither is preferred but as we know the Rams OL always gets the injury virus over and over again. That's why the Rams went with 10 & 11 OL's all last season & I would fully expect the master roster to reflect the same this season.