Brian Allen Is The Starting Center Of Debate

Brian Allen Is The Starting Center Of Debate - LAFB Network

Austin Corbett was supposed to be the starting center for the Rams but now Brian Allen has the job and fans are puzzled.

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Brian Allen Is The Starting Center Of Debate​

It seems like yesterday that many a piece was written (including on this amazing site) about how Austin Corbett is the best center for the job despite him technically being a starting guard. The Rams didn’t feel compelled to draft a center despite losing last year’s starter Austin Blythe, who took less money to not start for the Chiefs. Corbett got all the first-team reps during OTA’s all spring but now Sean McVay has decided to make Brian Allen the starter.

The fanbase became apoplectic, to say the least, especially since everyone already talked themselves into Corbett in lieu of drafting Quinn Meinerz or Creed Humphrey, who is now the starter for the Chiefs (more on them later).

Brian Allen hasn’t played since 2019 and is entering his fourth year in the league, and has yet to start a full season. So why did the Rams decide to do risk their championship dreams on a fourth-year project?

In working backward on Brian Allen, why didn’t the Rams simply draft Creed Humphrey with either of their early-round picks? They opted for Tutu Atwell and Ernest Jones instead, and while most Rams couch pundits claim those picks were brilliant, most did NOT feel that way at the moment. Rams twitter had a meltdown akin to if they found out they were being charged a Bear Patrol Tax. Yes, Creed Humphrey is already capable of starting on just about every team in the league so Jones and Atwell, while great picks, will have a Creed shadow over them; but not enough to do illegal boxing matches in Mexico. Why didn’t they draft Meinerz? Well, word out of Broncos camp is that he’s more of a project than he seemed in April so that makes some sense. Alright, so if they didn’t see a starting center they liked why not go after a vet?

The most logical veteran candidate was The Secret World of Alex Mack. Mack is 36 and entering the stage in his career (though older) that John Sullivan was in, where he wants to play for a contender. The Rams let him go to the Niners and they didn’t really pursue any other vets. So why not? Obviously, they knew they had to be careful with their money to the extent that they’d have to wait for their wedding to shop at the 99 Cent Store. They also were a little wary about having a 36-year-old, even one as good as Mack, protect Stafford.

That also makes sense, but what doesn’t is why they didn’t resign Austin Blythe? Especially since he again took less money to play for the Chiefs because they’re his favorite team (essentially living Paul Rudd’s dream)? It seems odd, but perhaps Sean McVay and new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry didn’t feel like he was the best option, which if true, makes their previous two decisions even more baffling.

Les Snead and the Rams’ scouting team have been so savvy in drafting beyond the first-round that choosing Tutu and Jones over Humphrey feel like they’re in irrational confidence mode. They announced they were shifting Austin Corbett to center signaling that Brian Allen wasn’t long for the team and would be kept around for depth. What happened?

It seems that Bobby Evans has had a bumpy camp and Corbett’s services were better served at guard. The Rams have drafted several Swiss Army-style linemen to have flexible with their depth but they don’t still don’t have anyone that can specifically play center outside of Allen.

Brian Allen, in a vacuum, isn’t inherently BAD. Where fan acrimony comes in is how much of an unknown he really is. He was drafted in 2018 but served as a backup. In 2019, he became the new starter after John Sullivan left. He made it through nine games before an MCL injury ended his season. Last year, he tested positive for Covid, and along with Blythe’s emergence, kept him on the sidelines. His sample size is extremely small but in his nine starts, he was serviceable and didn’t allow a sack, but again, a small sample size.

The Rams are primed to make a Super Bowl run, but if Brian Allen can’t stay healthy or he hasn’t progressed, that could doom them or at least force them to shuffle their line and at a certain point, it becomes a house of cards. In theory, the Rams could still pluck someone after cuts or do what they did with Corbett and trade for a salvage project but right now it doesn’t look like Andy McCullum is walking through that door (although if he did he’d bring donuts).

With fans and amateur blog boys, any weakness in the Rams’ armor will be dissected like Boliver Trask cutting into a dead mutant. The center position is a glaring question mark and honestly has been since Sully left in 2019. Brian Allen could wind up being the answer, at least for this year, and then they can begin developing their franchise of the future next season while shelling out for a vet. Or Allen is the answer long term and they can set their sights elsewhere. Until week one, and perhaps all year, every penalty, block, snap, etc. will be scrutinized until he either acquits himself as a solid starter or gets yanked off the stage.

 

[Loyal]

"In working backward on Brian Allen, why didn’t the Rams simply draft Creed Humphrey with either of their early-round picks? They opted for Tutu Atwell and Ernest Jones instead, and while most Rams couch pundits claim those picks were brilliant, most did NOT feel that way at the moment."

ROD-BOT, are you freakin' kidding me? I think the Draft Oline early, contingent, resigned ourselves to reality, reserving the right to complain our asses off later if the Snead Center experiment didn't work. I was hyperventilating when it was the Rams turn to pick in the 2nd round and Creed Humphreys and Quinn Meinerz were available...

"With the 57th Pick in the 2nd Round, the Los Angeles Rams select......Tutu Atwell?"

Sure, we all want Tutu to work out, but the dude is 150 some odd pounds and has been dinged up in practice and preseason and hasn't played in a game, meanwhile Creed is going to start for the Kansas City Chiefs at Center, while our former starting Center from last year, is his back-up.

You gotta be fuc*ing kidding me!

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

@Loyal for the next decade.

.

 

[den-the-coach]

I realize that last season McVay realized his offense needed a WR with exceptional speed to go over the top of defenses and along with Jackson, felt Atwell was a great option, but again, IMO, I would have taken Humphrey and looked for another WR later.

That being posted, I'm confident in Allen, he's stronger plus was very durable at Michigan State. Shelton has looked okay as the backup, Rams could still add someone on cutdown day, but if Allen is able to play a whole season, I'm confident he'll be a significant upgrade over Austin Blythe.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Didn't know I was apoplectic. Should I see a doctor?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I realize that last season McVay realized his offense needed a WR with exceptional speed to go over the top of defenses and along with Jackson, felt Atwell was a great option, but again, IMO, I would have taken Humphrey and looked for another WR later.

That being posted, I'm confident in Allen, he's stronger plus was very durable at Michigan State. Shelton has looked okay as the backup, Rams could still add someone on cutdown day, but if Allen is able to play a whole season, I'm confident he'll be a significant upgrade over Austin Blythe.

When I heard Atwell’s name called I was crushed, even though I had a feeling that he’d be the pick. McVay has some Martz in him with his love for play makers. This feels like another need pick to get speed on the team. Trung Canidate all over again.

 

[Ramstien]

Either he's really good at hiding who he is or he made a series of really stupid decisions.

When I heard Atwell’s name called I was crushed, even though I had a feeling that he’d be the pick. McVay has some Martz in him with his love for play makers. This feels like another need pick to get speed on the team. Trung Canidate all over again.

When this pick was made, it reminded me of the Tavon Austin wasted pick.

 

[AvengerRam]

When this pick was made, it reminded me of the Tavon Austin wasted pick.

I think there's a big difference between the 8th pick in the draft and the 57th.

Here's hoping Brian Allen makes us all look silly for doubting him!

 

[Allen2McVay]

Sure, we all want Tutu to work out, but the dude is 150 some odd pounds and has been dinged up in practice and preseason and hasn't played in a game, meanwhile Creed is going to start for the Kansas City Chiefs at Center, ...

I'm not disagreeing with the point. I also wanted OL help.

However, I am trying to understand the comment above.

Outside of Perkins and the second-unit-OL, Atwell has played more the past two weeks than anyone.

EDIT: I get it. He's been dinged but has yet to play a regular season game.

 

[snackdaddy]

Just like with the RB situation we will have to wait and see how that works out. Corbett was drafted as a center by the Browns. So that position isn't new to him. If Allen can just be serviceable they are better with him and center and Corbett at guard. If Allen goes down or plays horribly again they can move Corbett to center. Once again, I'm trying to justify their decisions. I don't like to be that "I told you so" guy. So I'm taking their side for now.

 

[Memento]

When this pick was made, it reminded me of the Tavon Austin wasted pick.

Huh? My quote was about Richard Sherman's arrest.

 

[…..]

This is football. Everyone is dinged
up all the time, so its no big deal.

Its not like he’s been injured. We’re just assuming he will be I guess?

Anyway, I like the article, it put things in more perspective for me because I was on vacation during the draft.

The issue isnt about Atwell. Its about the Rams decision to not draft to what we all thought was the most glaring need on the team. And it has been a glaring need for a couple seasons, so expectations were kinda high.

Im still perplexed by the pick. But at some point I need to move on and root for Atwell and Allen. Lets all just send good vibrations while having faith.

 

[Merlin]

The issue isnt about Atwell. Its about the Rams decision to not draft to what we all thought was the most glaring need on the team. And it has been a glaring need for a couple seasons, so expectations were kinda high.

Yeah I get this. And it feels like shit to nuke all the OL pre-draft then see the team not address it and instead trot Noteboom out there in front of Edwards in the season opener. I mean sometimes I think it would be healthy for coaches to read fan boards. We might be nuts about shit in general but we're often in tune with reality because we aren't as tied to the players emotionally as the coaches who mentor them and try to bring out their talent.

But anyway all we can do right now with Allen is hope. So I'm hoping.

Re: Atwell gotta say after this game I feel pretty good about him. For a couple reasons. First his speed plays. He separates really well. Second he was determined to show he belonged out there the other night. Coming back into a meaningless game late after he had shown and gotten a ton of work to that point tells me it matters to him. He could have easily opted to sit out the remainder or acted like he was in too much pain but he went right back out there. This isn't some guy who is more concerned with a paycheck and getting cool hair extensions, at least from my point of view he is gonna be a gamer. I just hope he doesn't get killed out there lol.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Merlin, at TC I asked both De'Marco Farr and Jordan Rodrique if they read any of the fan forums, both say yes. Farr also said players like to know what their fans think and are saying about them. Niether would say if coaches visit, but they gave me the "wink, wink, nod".

Our opinions and views don't go unnoticed here.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I realize that last season McVay realized his offense needed a WR with exceptional speed to go over the top of defenses and along with Jackson, felt Atwell was a great option, but again, IMO, I would have taken Humphrey and looked for another WR later.

That being posted, I'm confident in Allen, he's stronger plus was very durable at Michigan State. Shelton has looked okay as the backup, Rams could still add someone on cutdown day, but if Allen is able to play a whole season, I'm confident he'll be a significant upgrade over Austin Blythe.

Solid analysis.
Especially on the Creed Humphrey pick over Atwell.

I don't really think they're looking at Shelton as the backup this year, however.

I think if Allen gets dinged, we will slide Corbett over and bring in Noteboom at Right Guard, or possibly Anchrum if they want to preserve Noteboom as a backup tackle.

 

[Psycho_X]

because we aren't as tied to the players emotionally

Are you new here?? j/k, sort of. lol

 

[Soul Surfer]

Merlin, at TC I asked both De'Marco Farr and Jordan Rodrique if they read any of the fan forums, both say yes. Farr also said players like to know what their fans think and are saying about them. Niether would say if coaches visit, but they gave me the "wink, wink, nod".

Our opinions and views don't go unnoticed here.

Writers will also farm these forums to make sure they're writing relevant stories that the fans are interested in and also for story ideas.
Very common.

 

[Merlin]

Are you new here?? j/k, sort of. lol

Yeah I know lol. But as bad as some posters get with all that imagine being a coach. You're building friendships, and have a ton of buy-in for guys to succeed. Way more than we do.

Some of those guys on that roster are there because a coach jumped on the table in the draft for him. I think that's the reason why you see crazy decisions by the coaches at times. They know way more than we do but that closeness to the players can skew perception IMO.

 

[Tano]

Merlin, at TC I asked both De'Marco Farr and Jordan Rodrique if they read any of the fan forums, both say yes. Farr also said players like to know what their fans think and are saying about them. Niether would say if coaches visit, but they gave me the "wink, wink, nod".

Our opinions and views don't go unnoticed here.

And I really need to be incognito if I ever run into Blythe ... Tano? Who's Tano?

 

[oldnotdead]

If anyone had listened to McVay pre-draft, it was a HC talking like his roster was 90% built in his mind and that included the OL. This draft was about next year and the year after and drafting to fill holes by drafting for traits. When you draft like that it's basically drafting BAA for projected need. McVay has missed a Cooks like threat in his scheme so speed was paramount hence Tutu.

McVay and Snead knew they probably wouldn't be able to compete for D. Williams because of all the FA they needed to sign on the OL first and $15-$16 M / yr would probably make that impossible. So they decided to upgrade the position, i.e. improve on the shortcomings of D. Williams. They saw how Ramsey transformed the secondary so IMO it was their intent to bring in and develop a clone.
Ramsey is 6'1" and runs a 4.41 which is why McVay was insistent to grab Rochell when they could who is actually taller and faster at 6'2" running a 4.38.

They allowed Everett to walk because he didn't appear he was going to develop to expectations which was to have a dominant TE receiving threat. One of the reasons the TE position has been "overlooked" in McVay's offense is because of the lack of positional speed. Higbee is your classic possession type TE who is more quick than fast. So they drafted Harris at 6'5" 211lbs running a 4.38, with very good hands to make contested catches.

B. Brown and Jones were drafted for next year's projected needs. Jones looks like an able replacement for Kiser and Brown has flashed the promise of an eventual replacement for Robinson and SJD. Again Snead drafting for need but selecting by traits.

What I'm saying is that just by what McVay said before the draft, gave you an indication of how they would draft. People seem to forget that McVay drafted Allen to be their center of the future. He didn't play badly as a first-year starter and actually played better than average in those first 9 games in 2019. It wasn't his play that took him out it was injury. Then it was Kromer who benched him to play his boy, Blythe. Allen's response was to continue to improve his game. McVay tried to bench him again, with Corbett but IMO Austin's inexperience at the position was clearly evident. It came to a head in the Raider practices. One missed call would not have gotten Corbett moved back. It was a culmination of things combined with Evan's struggles giving McVay the face-saving out, but it was also the correct move which is to play your best people.

But Snead and McVay have covered the Ram's OT needs of next year with Alaric Jackson and Tremayne Anchrum. One of them will be the RT going forward and the other the important swing which IMO will be Anchrum. Both Snead and McVay knew they had enough talent on the OL for it to be a top unit this year if they stay healthy.

I'm not overly concerned with the run blocking as that is something that must be executed in game conditions not so much in practice. I expect a somewhat ragged beginning for the run blocking but for it to improve each week. Stafford will have time to throw if the plays continue to be designed in a layered fashion. I think we will see more throws to the RBs this year as that will slow the pass rush down. A pass to a fast RB completed against a blitzing front will go for big yardage.

I think the OL will build upon the positives of last year and should be much improved.