Projecting Rams’ offensive line

[Allen2McVay]

Taylor Lewan just got released in Tennessee. Would he be better than an unreliable Noteboom?

Noteboom has actually been more durable than Lewan over the past four seasons. That's kind of scary.

 

[BonifayRam]

No center reserve.Get real.

You mean a backup
Center starting at RG. We saw that with Austin Blythe as well for more season than we wanted. The 2 commons are Austin Blythe & Coleman Shelton we’re both as good as or better than Brian Allen.

You ALWAYS want to think Brian Allen is a guard or can play Guard. Even if you’re right it would be the same thing if a Guard got hurt & Brian Allen had to play Guard & a backup Center came in.
—Sorry about that,but what PISSES ME OFF is not drafting that Bigger Center that can play Guard.
I will always go down & say I wanted Lance Dickerson. He was that guy,even if he never plays Center(Kelce). He is an All Pro trope Guard who just Mauls defenders.
Creed Humpries is still that Bugger Center type,but don’t know how he would look at Guard or you would ever want to move him from Center. Coleman Shelton proved he can play Center & Yes Guard,but IMO just to finish up a game & have him as the backup C/G the next week if not the starting Center.I like big guards & I wouldn’t lie.

Question? what happens when you yank your starting OG out of the OL lineup to start at the center because you did not have one? Is this a good thing to do? No its a Negative.

What happens to the overall OL continuity when your backup (reserve) OC Shelton is the starting RG.....Allen was injured early now you have 2 OL'ers on the field starting with your offense that was not the planned starters @ their current posts. Negative!

Going into the NFL 2023 season with only 8 OL'ers on the roster is just piss poor planning! A positive or Negative?

I have never thought that the under 6-2 305 lbs Allen could be an effective starting OG in the NFL but I have mentioned the fact {numerous times}that Allen's NCAA resume does contain many starts @ OG.....just because I decided to input that information into this forum & post it does not mean I advocated for Allen to play OG at the NFL level. The fact is the Rams need centers, not OG's.

Do you think the 2022 plan would have been better served if the Rams would have gone into the season with a bonified reserve center that was not their starting RG?

Going into the 2022 season without a bonified reserve center was & turned out to be a disaster! right or wrong?

McVay/Carberry should have known that having a knowledgeable Ram scheme RG remaining in that post meanwhile the rest of the OL was involved in a full season of musical chairs in the Ram OL in 2022 would have helped the OL performance tremendously. ...Instead>

Rams went through Bruss/ Shelton/ Anchrum/ Evans/ Brewer/ Aboushi & Jackson playing the RG post in 2022! That is as far from OL continuity as it can get for an NFL team.

Yes Brilliant Planning by McVay would be to enter every new season from this moment on planning that their starting RG is the OL coach reserve center.

 

[den-the-coach]

Noteboom has actually been more durable than Lewan over the past four seasons. That's kind of scary.

That's why Lewan is a hard no and need to look at the draft or a more viable option in free agency.

 

[So Ram]

Taylor Lewan has expressed interest in the Rams. Should LA sign him?

Taylor Lewan said last month that hypothetically, he’d be interested in the Rams. Now that he’s a free agent, are the two a match?

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[PARAM]

Please be direct in your response to me since I have taken time out of what time I have left to have a good discussion with you.

Question? what happens when you yank your starting OG out of the OL lineup to start at the center because you did not have one? Is this a good thing to do? No its a Negative.

What happens to the overall OL continuity when your backup (reserve) OC Shelton is the starting RG.....Allen was injured early now you have 2 OL'ers on the field starting with your offense that was not the planned starters @ their current posts. Negative!

Going into the NFL 2023 season with only 8 OL'ers on the roster is just piss poor planning! A positive or Negative?

I have never thought that the under 6-2 305 lbs Allen could be an effective starting OG in the NFL but I have mentioned the fact {numerous times}that Allen's NCAA resume does contain many starts @ OG.....just because I decided to input that information into this forum & post it does not mean I advocated for Allen to play OG at the NFL level. Never did! The fact is the Rams need centers, not OG's.

Do you think the 2022 plan would have been better served if the Rams would have gone into the season with a bonified reserve center that was not their starting RG?

Going into the 2022 season without a bonified reserve center was & turned out to be a disaster! Am I right or am I wrong? What is your short answer?

McVay/Carberry should have known that having a knowledgeable Ram scheme RG remaining in that post meanwhile the rest of the OL was involved in a full season of musical chairs in the Ram OL in 2022 would have helped the OL performance tremendously. ...Instead>

Rams went through Bruss/ Shelton/ Anchrum/ Evans/ Brewer/ Aboushi & Jackson playing the RG post in 2022! That is as far from OL continuity as it can get for an NFL team.

Yes Brilliant Planning by McVay would be to enter every new season from this moment on planning that their starting RG is the OL coach reserve center.

I think the injuries happened so early and so often, it's impossible to say this plan was bad and that plan would have been better. Isn't moving a starting G to C or a G to T or T to G done often in the NFL? Especially if the team has a philosophy to cross train like the Rams? There's nothing wrong with your starting guard being your backup C or your starting G being your backup right tackle. It's about "getting the best 5 on the field". Did the Rams have a G as their backup center because he didn't win the C spot? Or did they have 2 good C's and their other guards didn't beat out one for G? I understand the "two guys who weren't starters at their positions playing" but it's not like Shelton wasn't already a C. I think the key here is the Rams like versatile O lineman.....like AJ Jackson being both a guard and tackle, Edwards being both a G and T or Shelton being a C and G. One problem I had with the 2022 OL is why was Evans still on the squad? The other was no amount of long term planning could have saved the OL with number of injuries that occured in the first 6 weeks. No plan.....unless the plan was to carry a dozen O lineman.

 

[BonifayRam]

That's why Lewan is a hard no and need to look at the draft or a more viable option in free agency.

McVay's 9 signed contracted 2023 OL'ers is stocked full of many damaged, rehabbing & long resumes of injuries or coming off the IR OL'ers:

Highly Probable Starters
Noteboom- 4 IR events
Allen- 4 IR events
Anchrum-2 IR event
Jackson-1 IR event
Bruss-1 IR event

Healthy OL'ers
RT Havenstein-Starter
RT Arcuri-dressed for 7 gms
LT/LG- Williams dressed for 5 gms.
RT Pircher -Rookie

I have no issues with the Snead/McVay looking at former veteran healthy OL'ers who are now UFA's. I know they are journeyman types but they remained on the field of play, like Nsekhe, Aboushi & Skura. These 3 added to continuity to the OL in the last half of the 2022 season even though they are not considered starters in the NFL.

I certainly believe the Rams need to reframe away from any new OL'ers who have had several IR events along with missing games due to injuries.

 

[So Ram]

Please be direct in your response to me since I have taken time out of what time I have left to have a good discussion with you.

Question? what happens when you yank your starting OG out of the OL lineup to start at the center because you did not have one? Is this a good thing to do? No its a Negative.

What happens to the overall OL continuity when your backup (reserve) OC Shelton is the starting RG.....Allen was injured early now you have 2 OL'ers on the field starting with your offense that was not the planned starters @ their current posts. Negative!

Going into the NFL 2023 season with only 8 OL'ers on the roster is just piss poor planning! A positive or Negative?

I have never thought that the under 6-2 305 lbs Allen could be an effective starting OG in the NFL but I have mentioned the fact {numerous times}that Allen's NCAA resume does contain many starts @ OG.....just because I decided to input that information into this forum & post it does not mean I advocated for Allen to play OG at the NFL level. Never did! The fact is the Rams need centers, not OG's.

Do you think the 2022 plan would have been better served if the Rams would have gone into the season with a bonified reserve center that was not their starting RG?

Going into the 2022 season without a bonified reserve center was & turned out to be a disaster! Am I right or am I wrong? What is your short answer?

McVay/Carberry should have known that having a knowledgeable Ram scheme RG remaining in that post meanwhile the rest of the OL was involved in a full season of musical chairs in the Ram OL in 2022 would have helped the OL performance tremendously. ...Instead>

Rams went through Bruss/ Shelton/ Anchrum/ Evans/ Brewer/ Aboushi & Jackson playing the RG post in 2022! That is as far from OL continuity as it can get for an NFL team.

Yes Brilliant Planning by McVay would be to enter every new season from this moment on planning that their starting RG is the OL coach reserve center.

Well - we are where we are.Nothing we can do about it now. I’m was never your Careberry guy.
A new start is good & how things will be patched together,or built up should be very interesting.

 

[oldnotdead]

I was talking to a former OL coach at both the high school and Div 1 college level. In his opinion the massive OL injuries were because the players have very poor technique. This would account for Carberry being fired. He said that poor technique is the most frequent cause of injuries. I would tend to agree.

They have enough talent in house with the core of their OL personnel to put together a good OL if they are coached properly and McVay designs his plays to play to their strengths, not their weaknesses.

As I pointed out in previous posts Zach Thomas has the speed and athleticism to be a pulling OG. His build is prototypical OG in the NFL at 6'5", 300 lbs, 34" arms, and an excellent 4.96 40yd time.

Here's one evaluation:

• Gets everything out of his adequate size and frame with good length. Added bulk to his frame and flashes functional strength to get a good push in the run game.
• Dips shoulder and moves his feet to get outside leverage when needed. Strong and low coming out of his stance, effective in short-yardage situations.
• Good natural athleticism, knee bend and fluid lateral movement to mirror college defensive ends.
• Plays with appropriate wide base and intelligence, instincts and agility to seal the edge. Aggressive extending with power to punch and looks comfortable in space.
• Anchors against larger defenders in the middle; resets hands to maintain distance. Athletic enough to help on nose tackle then pick up twist or late blitzer. Mirrors quick interior rushers. Looks to help the center when uncovered.

The only real knock on him was his needing to improve on his functional strength, something that is common to all college OL coming to the NFL. He's exactly what you want at RG to pull on power blocked run plays.

Shelton is a very good center when given a chance to simply play that position. He's got very good field vision and movement skills. IMO he's the follow on center to Allen which is why he was extended.

If Noteboom is healthy enough to start at LT then he will. In that case, Jackson would make a very good LG. He played well at RG and would be a huge upgrade to Edwards. I see Jackson taking over for Havenstein next year. The Rams are locked into Havenstein for cap reasons for one more year.

Brewer is also the forgotten man on the OL. He looks better at OG than OT but can provide better depth than Skura who sucked. They need to re-sign Nsekhe as their swing OT. Bruss can be their swing OG for a year as he gets coached up. But I can see him in the mix in TC at one of the OG spots.

What I'm saying is that people don't need to panic. We need to see how well the guys they have perform under a new OL coach.

 

[den-the-coach]

What I'm saying is that people don't need to panic. We need to see how well the guys they have perform under a new OL coach.

I agree to not panic, but I do believe besides adding a new OL Coach in Ryan Wendell, the Rams also need to look at others via the draft and free agency to change the result. IMO, you have to change some of the parts along with the combination of Wendell & Zak Kromer with hope that the OL will improve.

Again I understand about injuries, but there are certain players the Rams have on the OL, that have a history of missing games and for the result to change the cast has to change too IMHO.

 

[BonifayRam]

Rams in ‘A Really Good Place’ to Draft OL Help Says, Analyst
BY CONNOR ZIMMERLEE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED LA RAMS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND MORE UPDATED FEBRUARY 24, 2023

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/nfl/article272597994.html

Despite limited draft capital, the Rams could be in prime position to add to the offensive line come April. The Los Angeles Rams have plenty of areas of need ahead of next season but perhaps none more than important than addressing their offensive line.

A bad offensive line can tank the entire offense, which the Rams learned this season. Due to a mixture of injuries and poor performance, the Rams offensive line was a far cry from its performance in their Super Bowl run.

However, that could all change via the draft. Even though the Rams have limited draft capital, draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he believes they're in a favorable spot with their first pick in draft - No. 36 overall. "Where they're positioned, if you're looking for offensive linemen, I think it's a really, really good place to be," Jeremiah said.

It was clear to see the Rams declined on offense in 2022 - from 27.1 points per game on 372 yards of offense per game, and a Super Bowl victory to 22.6 points per game on 280.5 yards of total offense.

A couple potential names to monitor according to Jeremiah should the Rams go offensive line with their pick are North Dakota State's Cody Mauch and Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz. As the Rams look to get back to Super Bowl contender status, improving in the trenches is a must.

Having a first-round pick would be ideal, but having the No. 36 pick gives the Rams a chance to add to one of their biggest areas of need.

Read more at: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/nfl/article272597994.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Riverumbbq]

PFF predicts Rams to sign G Isaac Seumalo in free agency

PFF predicts that the Rams will sign veteran guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency this offseason.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Memento]

Taylor Lewan has expressed interest in the Rams. Should LA sign him?

Taylor Lewan said last month that hypothetically, he’d be interested in the Rams. Now that he’s a free agent, are the two a match?

theramswire.usatoday.com

The guy threatened to rape a girl in college when his roommate - a kicker (yeah, @Selassie I is right in that some kickers aren't people) - already raped her. Why? Because she wanted to come forward. His own Michigan teammates reported it to the coach.

I don't want his fucking evil ass anywhere near the Rams for that reason alone.

 

[So Ram]

The guy threatened to rape a girl in college when his roommate - a kicker (yeah, @Selassie I is right in that some kickers aren't people) - already raped her. Why? Because she wanted to come forward. His own Michigan teammates reported it to the coach.

I don't want his fucking evil ass anywhere near the Rams for that reason alone.

Well at this point in his career,I’d agree.Reflecting back I know there was an issue in college,but maybe heard a different report?

Not looking not the draft,waiting to see who The Rams sign

 

[Memento]

Well at this point in his career,I’d agree.Reflecting back I know there was an issue in college,but maybe heard a different report?

Not looking not the draft,waiting to see who The Rams sign

At any point in his career. Threatening to rape someone - especially a girl who had already been assaulted by his roommate, and especially to keep her quiet - is as low as one can get.

And I'll post a link to the report:

http://www.washtenawwatchdogs.com/u...igan-football-player-brendan-gibbons-for-rape

 

[So Ram]

At any point in his career. Threatening to rape someone - especially a girl who had already been assaulted by his roommate, and especially to keep her quiet - is as low as one can get.

And I'll post a link to the report:

http://www.washtenawwatchdogs.com/u...igan-football-player-brendan-gibbons-for-rape

I’d say it is more than Lewan who I’d blame.Why Gibson did get into trouble was the problem & what he did imo.
I wouldn’t(didn’t )have thought of him as undraftable & thought he had value as a NFL player.so commend the woman’s toughness & always want her rights to be protected.

 

[dang]

At any point in his career. Threatening to rape someone - especially a girl who had already been assaulted by his roommate, and especially to keep her quiet - is as low as one can get.

And I'll post a link to the report:

http://www.washtenawwatchdogs.com/u...igan-football-player-brendan-gibbons-for-rape

This is the first I’ve heard of this but my initial reaction was “if true (and it sure appears it was) what a pathetic scumbag to have to force yourself on a young woman pleading no,no,no in order to have sex”. Its pretty easy to have an active sex life in college without having to resort to forcible sexual assault. And as brazen as this reported incident was - how many other women do you think suffered through a similar situation from this dickwad.

 

[So Ram]

This is the first I’ve heard of this but my initial reaction was “if true (and it sure appears it was) what a pathetic scumbag to have to force yourself on a young woman pleading no,no,no in order to have sex”. Its pretty easy to have an active sex life in college without having to resort to forcible sexual assault. And as brazen as this reported incident was - how many other women do you think suffered through a similar situation from this dickwad.

Lewan just wanted to have her keep quiet? That is a bully — This world has come to that.He said that & was told he would get in trouble if he kept threatening her. —IMO that was to protect team? I know it was wrong & I don’t know what he said about it to NFL teams?
— Gibson not being punished through the law when the evidence(semen) was there should have been at least arrested & been on trial.
—The DA or police officers
Just telling Lewan not to threaten is enough to put him there as a witness to tell about what he knew happened is the way law works?
At least from my standpoint of anything I know or think about it.Which is only doing my duty (jury) as a juror.Arresting Lewan maybe for threatening & using him to speak as bargaining.
—That said I thought Lewan was a steal in the draft.Shit I wanted The Rams to trade back.
—Matthews was the other tackle,I would have taken probably before him for that reason. He would have been there as well.
—Adding I didn’t like the Jared Goff trade & Tennesse took Henry with 1 of those 4 high draft picks. Just adding to my thoughts over the years.
My track record is on here.If not posted on the Stl.Today for years.
—Saw Jersey shores. Jay Cutler was a QB I thought The Rams should have drafted. I thought resigning players like Gurley.Goff,Bulger were bad because they didn’t play through there contract years.I believe in relationships & contract years.
—I don’t like the policy of trying to get a (so called) sweetheart deal by over paying a player before he has totally proved himself.
My examples are SJ39 & AD99 having to holdout.They were players that needed to get payed.SJ39 with Jay Z was crap.AD99 Is what it is.I also know why The Rams did what they did,but using the franchise as a tool needs to be a thing for protection.
—BTW - Cutler had diabetes & think at times took insulin.? I like to believe in players who fall,but have that HOF type talent.Examples are Randy Moss & DT from (Sapp)Miami.Maybe even the dude with the Bong mask(OT)?Which at the time wouldn’t have because The Rams didn’t have the pick & how stupid?There is a difference of reports vs. doing a Michael Phelps.
Franchising Tru Johnson PISSED me off.Les (Fisher) never reloaded for Rabbit & Tru.Point of trading up for Tavon & J.Joyner was upsetting because of size.
—I’m a Dickerson & Taylor Fan. The Rams had a chance at Players I thought fell & hit the STRIKE ZONE of moving up for BOTH VALUE & NEED!!
Johnathan Taylor is the other.The reason was because of Les Sneads thing of 1 BALL!! Plus Cam Akers was a Jr. RB who was only 20? Van Jefferson was a good pick,but know the T.Lewis got cut outs a thorn in it. Taylor & Cam have both been hurt.Cam Akers upside as a RB now Might be better as there careers move on.
D. Cooks was the guy I wanted instead of Everett.Rams traded back the pick,but add him with Gurley 2017? Yes Kupp was still there & Kittles could have been drafted instead of Reynolds or Ebukham. JJ was a free pick(steal).

 

[BonifayRam]

The fact is the Rams do not need Lewan nor can they afford to pay him his big $$$$$ to play LT.

All Snead/McVay need to do is:

#1-Sign UFA veteran Ty Nsekhe on a 2 yr contract.

#2- Advise 3rd yr OL'er Alaric Jackson he is a starter in the OL either @ LT or LG from this point on. Alaric will be needing a new contract & he must demonstrate the ability to keep his weight/ blood/ strength upgraded.

#3- At some point, Noteboom will conclude rehabbing & will be available for reserve action after the bye.

Between (Nsekhe/ Jackson/ Noteboom) & 2nd yr OL'er Zac Thomas the Rams left side OL will be solid. All Snead needs to do is concentrate on two OL positions (Center & RG).

 

[Mackeyser]

BRUSS is gonna wow people in camp and anchor the RG spot for a DECADE. Book it. Redshirt year is over. Time for big man to step up!

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I think the injuries happened so early and so often, it's impossible to say this plan was bad and that plan would have been better. Isn't moving a starting G to C or a G to T or T to G done often in the NFL? Especially if the team has a philosophy to cross train like the Rams? There's nothing wrong with your starting guard being your backup C or your starting G being your backup right tackle. It's about "getting the best 5 on the field". Did the Rams have a G as their backup center because he didn't win the C spot? Or did they have 2 good C's and their other guards didn't beat out one for G? I understand the "two guys who weren't starters at their positions playing" but it's not like Shelton wasn't already a C. I think the key here is the Rams like versatile O lineman.....like AJ Jackson being both a guard and tackle, Edwards being both a G and T or Shelton being a C and G. One problem I had with the 2022 OL is why was Evans still on the squad? The other was no amount of long term planning could have saved the OL with number of injuries that occured in the first 6 weeks. No plan.....unless the plan was to carry a dozen O lineman.

Could accumulating fewer known injury-prone linemen be part of a plan? Also it seems like when the injury bug hits, it invites more injuries in kind of a domino effect—players playing outside themselves, trying to do too much, etc.