Projecting Rams’ starting offensive line after initial free agency moves

[Riverumbbq]

Evans has an incredible opportunity in front of him. If he takes advantage of it, it means big bucks a year from now.
He’s got the best traits of anyone on the Rams roster to fit that spot.

 

[ottoman89]

Evans has an incredible opportunity in front of him. If he takes advantage of it, it means big bucks a year from now.
He’s got the best traits of anyone on the Rams roster to fit that spot.

He's got bulldozed everytime he's played. So saying he has the best traits of what we have isn't good. Sure, he has the beer pedigree playing at OK but he hasn't been what I thought he'd be.

 

[Kupped]

He's got bulldozed everytime he's played. So saying he has the best traits of what we have isn't good. Sure, he has the beer pedigree playing at OK but he hasn't been what I thought he'd be.

Traits being height, weight, arm length and athleticism.

But does he have enough fight in him? Does he want it? That’s what I wonder about him.

 

[ottoman89]

Traits being height, weight, arm length and athleticism.

But does he have enough fight in him? Does he want it? That’s what I wonder about him.

I agree completely. He's got the physical gifts. It seems to be the fire in him for me that gets him in trouble

 

[BonifayRam]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlunQtbMXs

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Shelton is the main backup at Center. The Rams released Drake Jackson. Is it wise to start him at guard?

Do they draft a G/C that could start? So they hold Shelton in reserve?

If Shelton is the best player they have to replace Corbin, then the depth sucks.

 

[FrantikRam]

I expect Evans to be this years' Brian Allen. The guy everyone wrote off and suddenly wakes up and gets it.

Boom/Edwards/Allen/Evans/Hav
Jackson, Shelton, Ancrhum the main backups

 

[den-the-coach]

I expect Evans to be this years' Brian Allen. The guy everyone wrote off and suddenly wakes up and gets it.

Boom/Edwards/Allen/Evans/Hav
Jackson, Shelton, Ancrhum the main backups

I'd like to think that, but Evans was truly an epic fail at RG last year and I don't expect anything different this coming season. Shelton, Anchrum or a draft choice of someone like Luke Fortner of Kentucky IMO, would be the possibilities. Keep in mind Fortner can play both Guard & Center and IMO is NFL ready plus new OC Liam Coen knows him well.

 

[Kupped]

I hope Evans had some kind of offseason revelation and that he has it in him to be the guy. As mentioned.. he's the best physical profile on the roster right now to take over that RG position.
I won't be very excited if Shelton wins the spot.. I think he can be low-end competent.. and that would be pretty damning if he was able to beat out Anchrum and Evans.
A draft pick would seem to be a real possibility.. and I think the draft profile for that guy would look like a college OT who could swing in. Pass pro is king and, by far, the most important thing for this group of OL. Keep Stafford protected.

 

[BonifayRam]

Shelton is the main backup at Center.

If not, then does anyone believe that OC Jeremiah Kolone is the top backup to Allen?

The Rams released Drake Jackson. Is it wise to start him at guard?

My thoughts here are, that Shelton has much bigger value to this offense as the main game day reserve for the three interior posts, leaving Carberry to go with his best versatile backup SWING OT.

Reference to the mentioning of the Rams' most experienced OL reserve Bobby Evans......this is the only position that he might have a chance of achieving in his 4th season. This permits McVay to activate only two OL'ers on game day & go heavy either with ST whizzes or a problematic post.

Do they draft a G/C that could start? So they hold Shelton in reserve?

I expect that would be the direction Snead heads on day two or day three of the draft.

If Shelton is the best player they have to replace Corbin, then the depth sucks.

It would convey to me the Rams have big problems with depth in the interior OL posts.

 

[MachS]

Shelton is the main backup at Center. The Rams released Drake Jackson. Is it wise to start him at guard?

Do they draft a G/C that could start? So they hold Shelton in reserve?

If Shelton is the best player they have to replace Corbin, then the depth sucks.

I expect Shelton to win the job at RG and I'm fine with that. He filled in well at C last year and should be more than capable of playing G. Hes put good tape out on the inside, and while others want/expect Evans to win the job, at this time I'm less confident. He's looked pretty bad at guard thus far. I was wrong about Allen stepping up and becoming a good player so hopefully Evans develops into one as well. But I need to see it first before I'll believe it. Should be a good camp battle. Who knows maybe Anchrum surprises everyone and wins the job, our coaching staff seemed very high on him last year for a 7th round rookie.

 

[Kupped]

If not, then does anyone believe that OC Jeremiah Kolone is the top backup to Allen?

My thoughts here are, that Shelton has much bigger value to this offense as the main game day reserve for the three interior posts, leaving Carberry to go with his best versatile backup OT. Reference to the mentioning of the Rams' most experienced OL reserve Bobby Evans......this is the only position that he might have a chance of achieving in his 4th season. This permits McVay to activate only two OL'ers on game day & go heavy either with ST whizzes or a problematic post.

I expect that would be the direction Snead heads on day two or day three of the draft.


It would convey to me the Rams have big problems with depth in the interior OL posts.

You put your best 5 on the field. Period.

Blythe was Allen's backup.. and shifted over. Of course you would carry a Center on PS and have someone active as an emergency Center.

 

[FrantikRam]

I'd like to think that, but Evans was truly an epic fail at RG last year and I don't expect anything different this coming season. Shelton, Anchrum or a draft choice of someone like Luke Fortner of Kentucky IMO, would be the possibilities. Keep in mind Fortner can play both Guard & Center and IMO is NFL ready plus new OC Liam Coen knows him well.

One year ago today............

"I'd like to think that, but Allen was an even bigger epic fail at C a few years ago and I don't expect anything different this coming season..."

Actually.....Allen was so much worse off, this wasn't even a conversation.

 

[Kupped]

I expect Shelton to win the job at RG and I'm fine with that. He filled in well at C last year and should be more than capable of playing G. Hes put good tape out on the inside, and while others want/expect Evans to win the job, at this time I'm less confident. He's looked pretty bad at guard thus far. I was wrong about Allen stepping up and becoming a good player so hopefully Evans develops into one as well. But I need to see it first before I'll believe it. Should be a good camp battle. Who knows maybe Anchrum surprises everyone and wins the job, our coaching staff seemed very high on him last year for a 7th round rookie.

I'm not very excited about Shelton.. but I'm not scared seeing him on the field, either.
He's listed at 299.. definitely on the light side.. but Blythe wasn't huge.. neither was Corbett. His arms ain't long.. but they're longer than Blythe.. his athletic testing stuff isn't impressive.. but is in the range of Blythe.

Like I said.. I think he's got an okay floor.. just limited. My big concern is putting someone like that next to Allen, again.. because having two undersized guys who aren't too powerful next to each other seems to be a bad recipe.

 

[Kupped]

One year ago today............

"I'd like to think that, but Allen was an even bigger epic fail at C a few years ago and I don't expect anything different this coming season..."

Actually.....Allen was so much worse off, this wasn't even a conversation.

Well.. Evans was worse last year than Allen was in 19. I'll point to their PFF score as an objective outside perspective...

People put all of the 19 line's issues on Allen.. ignoring that he had two guards next two him that were pretty easily overpowered on the interior.

Which is why I worry about putting Shelton at guard.

Evan's looked better at tackle in 19 than he looked at guard last year.. wasn't what you'd call "good" either time.
I hope he figures it out.. his physical traits are more impressive than Allen or Shelton.. that's for sure.

 

[BC Ramfan]

If not, then does anyone believe that OC Jeremiah Kolone is the top backup to Allen?

My thoughts here are, that Shelton has much bigger value to this offense as the main game day reserve for the three interior posts, leaving Carberry to go with his best versatile backup SWING OT.

Reference to the mentioning of the Rams' most experienced OL reserve Bobby Evans......this is the only position that he might have a chance of achieving in his 4th season. This permits McVay to activate only two OL'ers on game day & go heavy either with ST whizzes or a problematic post.

I expect that would be the direction Snead heads on day two or day three of the draft.


It would convey to me the Rams have big problems with depth in the interior OL posts.

My guess is Anchrum is the hope, with Shelton 6th man. Brewer is too tall (6-6) and Bobby Evans is not developing (lacks fire/dedication?). Probably a draft pick prospect.

Impressed by Big Rob. Smart and speaks well. I think you want intelligence at OL.

BC

 

[Kupped]

My guess is Anchrum is the hope, with Shelton 6th man. Brewer is too tall (6-6) and Bobby Evans is not developing (lacks fire/dedication?). Probably a draft pick prospect.

Impressed by Big Rob. Smart and speaks well. I think you want intelligence at OL.

BC

And it's also important to remember we really don't know anything right now.

This time last year, the Rams seemed dead set on Corbett being their center.. things change.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Shelton is the main backup at Center. The Rams released Drake Jackson. Is it wise to start him at guard?

Do they draft a G/C that could start? So they hold Shelton in reserve?

If Shelton is the best player they have to replace Corbin, then the depth sucks.

I've been a minority voice on this subject for awhile, but when it comes to so-called 'need' draft picks, I place our current IOL unit in worse condition than at CB or Edge. Now, all 3 units could use an upgrade, no doubt, but with all the capital we've expended at QB and WR, you might expect a bit of balance in the running game to help extend Stafford's career, as well as just plain making our offense more effective overall.
Both Edwards & Havenstein are entering the final year of their contracts, and imo, Edwards has never had an opportunity to play at what may be his best position, RT. I'm also of the opinion that Edwards was our weakest link on the OL at LG, other than the fact that now we no longer have an obvious RG to start. Edwards was the starting RT at Wisconsin, he came out of college being projected at RT as he was more proficient at run blocking than in pass pro, just like a predecessor at Wisconsin, Rob Havenstein. Injuries to our 2019 OL forced the rookie Edwards to start his first year in the NFL at RG, it also precipitated our trade for Corbett who initially started at LG, ... these two reversed positions in 2020, likely because of all the penalties Edwards compiled at RG.
Alaric Jackson is our most qualified back-up LT, starting the position at Iowa, and showing during his brief playing time for the Rams at the position that his play went perhaps unexpectedly well. The Rams had tried just about everybody for the back-up RT role last season during the pre-season, and only the short statured Tremayne Anchrum really stood out.
Anchrum was the only offensive lineman drafted in 2020, and that as a 7'th rounder, the Rams, surprisingly, didn't draft an offensive lineman in 2021 at all. Anchrum is built like an IOLineman, and he showed a degree of success at OG during his rookie season, and that, unfortunately, didn't really carry thru to last season where he appeared to look better at RT during the pre-season. While Coleman Shelton took a step up last season, the Bobby Evans nose-dive continued. It's quite difficult for me to understand where Chandler Brewer stands in the eyes of McVay/Carberry as he's been moved around so often between OT and OG that he's hardly had time to nail any one position down. There weren't many opportunities to observe the presumed RT Max Pircher either. Jeremiah Kolone is a jag imo, and OT Adrian Ealy I have no opinion of.
Starting Shelton seems like a dangerous idea, especially at RG. If Allen or any other interior OLineman gets injured, where does that put us next season ? We were pretty fortunate along the OL with injuries last year, although I'd rather not gamble our potential Super Bowl repeating team finding themselves paralyzed by a lack of interior depth in 2022.
Rams RB's averaged 4 yards per carry last season, barely adequate unless you have a great passing game like the Rams. Unfortunately, our post season play-off games fell off to well under 3 ypc as we looked pathetic in the rush game. The Rams also face several more high efficiency, quality opposing teams next year as we contend for the play-offs again, ... if we can't do much, much better than 3 ypc during 2022, we are indeed in trouble. jmo.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

If not, then does anyone believe that OC Jeremiah Kolone is the top backup to Allen?

My thoughts here are, that Shelton has much bigger value to this offense as the main game day reserve for the three interior posts, leaving Carberry to go with his best versatile backup SWING OT.

Reference to the mentioning of the Rams' most experienced OL reserve Bobby Evans......this is the only position that he might have a chance of achieving in his 4th season. This permits McVay to activate only two OL'ers on game day & go heavy either with ST whizzes or a problematic post.

I expect that would be the direction Snead heads on day two or day three of the draft.


It would convey to me the Rams have big problems with depth in the interior OL posts.

I often wonder if the comp pick formula comes into play in the Rams thinking. It’s Evans final year of his contract. It would be great if he played well enough to net them a comp pick b signing elsewhere next March. So do they try to give Evans every possible chance to earn the RG spot, say over a guy like Anchrum.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I often wonder if the comp pick formula comes into play in the Rams thinking. It’s Evans final year of his contract. It would be great if he played well enough to net them a comp pick b signing elsewhere next March. So do they try to give Evans every possible chance to earn the RG spot, say over a guy like Anchrum.

That's a good question and we'll probably learn more based on if or how high the Rams draft an interior offensive lineman. Each year Evans has been here he has received the most pre-season opportunities to win a back-up role somewhere, and I suspect he'll get that shot again. McVay doesn't usually use his starting OL during the pre-season, so while Evans will get his chance at RG, it's still likely to become a free for all at several positions along that line.
jmo.