Rams PFF Grades vs Chargers ...

[BonifayRam]

With Noteboom's injury one that could potentially make him miss time early in the season and Jackson having issues with blood clots, I'd bring Nsekhe back just in case those two have setbacks.

How could any Ram fan argue with this UFA signing priority?

It's my belief that starting veteran LT Ty Nsekhe is one of the better Ram stories from this awful 2022 season. He appears to be a great insurance policy.

Noteboom's first-time as the starting LT event (6 starts where he turned in rough poor performances) has to be a top concern for this Org.

The only time that Noteboom played well as an LT starter was the 3 gms he started in the 2021 playoffs.... that's it. This was a time when the team was at full power with the whole Ram roster firing on all cylinders...... Then he got hurt & placed on IR again. The 2023 season will have to UN-muddy the future of this LT post.

 

[Merlin]

Ty Nsekhe is now rated 36th among all tackles at PFF. Havenstein #27.

With 2 tackles per team… around #32 would be league average for 64 starting tackles.

The issue is the left side of course. As a winning team you want a guy who is top 15 at a minimum. That ensures you have better than average blindside protection for your QB.

Can Boom do that if he can stay healthy? Maybe. I am not sure. Which is very concerning. Can Jackson if he can stay healthy? Maybe. Same deal. Even if we keep Nsekhe what we have is a bunch of middle of the road types, each of whom may be able to alleviate our problems for a year.

We have a LT quality problem, basically. So in terms of how to fix that you generally aren't going to find a top LT on the market. Which means we need to draft a LT of the future type. Big dancing bear type with good feet and a clean injury history ffs. Project is fine, though if one slides to us round 2 I'd hop on that shit el quicko.

 

[PARAM]

We have a LT quality problem, basically. So in terms of how to fix that you generally aren't going to find a top LT on the market. Which means we need to draft a LT of the future type. Big dancing bear type with good feet and a clean injury history ffs.

Noteboom had 40 consecutive starts his sophmore (RT), junior and senior seasons (LT) at TCU, so even with a clean injury history, nothing is guaranteed. Remarkable how similar he and Saffold's careers were in the beginning. Saffold started 41 consecutive games then came to NFL and after an injury clear rookie season, was injured 4 of the next 5 years, missing 31 starts. He was injured both at LT and G. Then everything changed. What?

 

[Allen2McVay]

I agree, but I dunno who would shake free even if we could afford them...

Those are the big questions for our fellow posters who want significant OL-upgrades.

Who and How?

 

[den-the-coach]

Those are the big questions for our fellow posters who want significant OL-upgrades.

Who and How?

The Draft!

Round 2: Pick 39​

OT Blake Freeland out of Brigham Young University jumped off the page at me. Just imagine the LA Rams getting a true rookie offensive tackle who stands 6-foot-8, weighs 308 pounds, and is a former state champion in both the shot put and javelin. It’s the best of all worlds, isn’t it? The key to being an outstanding blindside offensive tackle in the NFL is an offensive lineman who possesses great size, power, reach, handwork, and footwork. Freeland has all the makings of a rookie offensive tackle who the Rams can and should draft, line up as their starting left tackle, and let him grow through the preseason into the position.


The Rams have a chance with Freeland to get someone who possesses all of those uncoachable attributes that make a huge difference when everything falls into place. And wouldn’t it be fun to take a chance at getting rock-solid offensive line play at the left tackle position again?

Round 3: Pick 69​

When the LA Rams choose an EDGE rusher named Bralen Trice out of the University of Washington, the Rams are choosing a 6-foot-4, 269 pounds powerhouse who is a bit raw, but whose ceiling is among the highest from a very deep and talented draft class. But the LA Rams do not get just an EDGE rusher, but also an emergency punter, a role he played throughout his high school career.

Round 5: Pick 169 (Projected Comp Pick)​

If you are still concerned about the state of the LA Rams’ interior offensive line, you should be pleased with the next simulated selection, offensive guard Nick Broeker. While some may view Broecker as a raw prospect, he is exactly where the LA Rams hoped he would be. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds, he is projected to slide to an interior offensive lineman role in the NFL, much like the Rams 2022 drafted offensive lineman Logan Bruss.

Round 5: Pick 173 (Projected Comp Pick)....Best Available Center​

Ricky Stromberg (Arkansas) or Dylan McMahon (NC State)...Love Stromberg physicality, however, McMahon is more in line of what the Rams look for as an OL and he can play Guard too.

 

[Allen2McVay]

The Draft!

Round 2: Pick 39​

OT Blake Freeland out of Brigham Young University

Round 3: Pick 69​

When the LA Rams choose an EDGE rusher named Bralen Trice out of the University of Washington,

So you're already looking at potential Rams' draft selections?!? That's crazy! Get a life!

Wait a second ... Me Too!!! It's Super-Duper-Early ... BUT ...

Peter Skoronski (OT / Northwestern), Paris Johnson (OT / OH St.) Anton Harrison (OT / OK) and Broderick Jones (OT / GA) all figure to be gone before the Rams pick. Dawand Jones (OH St.) and O’Cyrus Torrence (FL) may also be off-the-board but both are huge; and the Rams tend to shy-away from the really big guys.

Several of the following could be available when the Rams pick:
Andrew Vorhees (OL / 6’6” / 325 / USC)
Blake Freeland (OT / 6’8” / 305 / BYU) … your man from above
John Michael Schmitz (OL/C / 6’4” / 320 / MN) … big run-blocking Center … will be 24
Cody Mauch (OT / 6’6” / 303 / No. Dakota St.) … converted-TE
Matthew Bergeron (OL / 6’5” / 322 / Syracuse)

I believe Bralen Trice announced in early-December he would return to Washington for 2023. Maybe he has since changed his mind. Have you read anything recently?

 

[PARAM]

The Draft!

Round 2: Pick 39​

OT Blake Freeland out of Brigham Young University jumped off the page at me. Just imagine the LA Rams getting a true rookie offensive tackle who stands 6-foot-8, weighs 308 pounds, and is a former state champion in both the shot put and javelin. It’s the best of all worlds, isn’t it? The key to being an outstanding blindside offensive tackle in the NFL is an offensive lineman who possesses great size, power, reach, handwork, and footwork. Freeland has all the makings of a rookie offensive tackle who the Rams can and should draft, line up as their starting left tackle, and let him grow through the preseason into the position.


The Rams have a chance with Freeland to get someone who possesses all of those uncoachable attributes that make a huge difference when everything falls into place. And wouldn’t it be fun to take a chance at getting rock-solid offensive line play at the left tackle position again?

Round 3: Pick 69​

When the LA Rams choose an EDGE rusher named Bralen Trice out of the University of Washington, the Rams are choosing a 6-foot-4, 269 pounds powerhouse who is a bit raw, but whose ceiling is among the highest from a very deep and talented draft class. But the LA Rams do not get just an EDGE rusher, but also an emergency punter, a role he played throughout his high school career.

Round 5: Pick 169 (Projected Comp Pick)​

If you are still concerned about the state of the LA Rams’ interior offensive line, you should be pleased with the next simulated selection, offensive guard Nick Broeker. While some may view Broecker as a raw prospect, he is exactly where the LA Rams hoped he would be. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds, he is projected to slide to an interior offensive lineman role in the NFL, much like the Rams 2022 drafted offensive lineman Logan Bruss.

Round 5: Pick 173 (Projected Comp Pick)....Best Available Center​

Ricky Stromberg (Arkansas) or Dylan McMahon (NC State)...Love Stromberg physicality, however, McMahon is more in line of what the Rams look for as an OL and he can play Guard too.

That definitely looks like a solid "win in the trenches" draft. Doesn't seem like the McVay/Snead approach though. I could see them draft a T OR OG OR C in the first 3 pucks. But no RB? No TE? I think the only thing that would prevent them from taking a couple of skill players in the first 5 picks is if they only had 7th round picks AND all those skill guys were off the board!!

I hope they get a G-C (with their 2nd or 3rd pick), an Edge (with their 1st or 2nd pick) , a TE and a RB (with any of the first 3 picks). I seriously hope they trade down in the 2nd to pick up a 4th. And also they luck out with a 5th round comp pick.

 

[Allen2McVay]

That definitely looks like a solid "win in the trenches" draft. Doesn't seem like the McVay/Snead approach though. I could see them draft a T OR OG OR C in the first 3 pucks. But no RB? No TE? I think the only thing that would prevent them from taking a couple of skill players in the first 5 picks is if they only had 7th round picks AND all those skill guys were off the board!!

I hope they get a G-C (with their 2nd or 3rd pick), an Edge (with their 1st or 2nd pick) , a TE and a RB (with any of the first 3 picks). I seriously hope they trade down in the 2nd to pick up a 4th. And also they luck out with a 5th round comp pick.

You're going to need multiple trade-downs, and/or higher-comp picks for that to play out because, right now, the Rams have two picks between #s 35-72; and nothing until the #170s.

 

[Merlin]

Noteboom had 40 consecutive starts his sophmore (RT), junior and senior seasons (LT) at TCU, so even with a clean injury history, nothing is guaranteed. Remarkable how similar he and Saffold's careers were in the beginning. Saffold started 41 consecutive games then came to NFL and after an injury clear rookie season, was injured 4 of the next 5 years, missing 31 starts. He was injured both at LT and G. Then everything changed. What?

Yes. And I still would not touch any OT with an injury history.

 

[PARAM]

You're going to need multiple trade-downs, and/or higher-comp picks for that to play out because, right now, the Rams have two picks between #s 35-72; and nothing until the #170s.

Not at all. If they trade down 9-10 spots in the 2nd, it could yield a 4th round pick around the upper part of the round. The hard part is finding the correct partner. They have 4 comp picks coming. 1 of those could be a 5th rounder. Not at all difficult or needing a collection of moves to get there.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Not at all. If they trade down 9-10 spots in the 2nd, it could yield a 4th round pick around the upper part of the round. The hard part is finding the correct partner. They have 4 comp picks coming. 1 of those could be a 5th rounder. Not at all difficult or needing a collection of moves to get there.

I want the Rams to succeed, so I hope you're right.

 

[PARAM]

I want the Rams to succeed, so I hope you're right.

As do I.

I'm right on the trading to get a 4th. We'll see if it actually happens but that's typical Les Snead.

Trade down (about 10 slots) in the 2nd for a 4th gives him....#47, #69, #110-115?.

And with a 5th comp (if it's not a third 6th rd comp), five 6th round picks (including 2 comps) and two 7ths (including a comp), it allows him to move up a couple of slots in the 2nd or 3rd or 4th by packaging it with one of those 6ths.

He's probably devising a plan as we type!

 

[Allen2McVay]

As do I.

I'm right on the trading to get a 4th.

Getting a little cocky there.