Centers could go higher than expected

[Elmgrovegnome]

This article makers a good point and explains why I want the Rams to choose a good center in this draft


https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2020/4/22/21231860/nfl-draft-rumors-centers-rams

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

NFL Draft Rumors: Centers could go higher than expected
37 comments

The Rams may have to move up if they want one of the top ranked interior linemen

By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Apr 22, 2020, 4:54pm CDT

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
I seem to remember there being some thought that Michigan center Cesar Ruiz could be available to the LA Rams in the second round at some point. As we have gotten closer to that draft that seems less and less likely for the draft’s top-rated center, and he may not be the only one. Among those rumored to be valued higher by the league than the media are Ruiz and fellow center Matt Hennessy, according to Jordan Raanan.
On Tuesday, I wrote about Hennessy as a potential draft riser.

One of the reasons I believe centers will go earlier than expected is that the league seems to be catching onto the fact that they’re undervalued quicker than most in the media have. Over the last two years, seven centers have been drafted in the first two rounds compared to eight centers in the previous seven drafts combined. Teams may be catching onto the fact that Super Bowl participants seem to more consistently have great centers than they do have great quarterbacks.
This does not mean that centers are more valuable than quarterbacks, but it could be a signal that we haven’t really given the guy snapping the ball to the QB enough credit yet. I’ve also noticed that “center upgrades” have followed Super Bowl teams:

• 2019 was the first year for Austin Reiter as the Chiefs starting center
• Weston Richburg was signed to upgrade the 49ers center position in 2018
• David Andrews came from nowhere as a UDFA in 2015 to start 57 games for the Patriots over the next four years, making three Super Bowls; there was plenty “off” for New England in 2019, but among those issues was the loss of Andrews before the season
• The Rams signed John Sullivan in 2017, turning around their offense instantly behind him and Andrew Whitworth. Without Sullivan in 2019, center was a disaster and the offense was less potent, to some degree influenced by worse play on the offensive line
• The Eagles had Jason Kelce in 2017
• The Falcons signed Alex Mack in 2016 and Matt Ryan won MVP on the way to the Super Bowl
• The Broncos started playing Matt Paradis at center in 2015, winning the Super Bowl. They beat the Panthers, who had All-Pro Ryan Kalil
• The Seahawks had Max Unger during their 2013 and 2014 Super Bowl seasons, then traded him to the Saints for Jimmy Graham. They haven’t been the same rushing team since and overall are significantly less dangerous
• The 2012 Ravens had potential Hall of Famer Matt Birk
• The 2012 49ers had added former Pro Bowl center Jonathan Goodwin in 2011

Those are just some of the reasons that I think NFL teams are valuing centers more than the average fan or the media and why Ruiz could be a first round lock, while Hennessy may not get out of the top 45 despite being viewed as a day three pick when the offseason started. Lloyd Cushenberry, Tyler Biadasz, and Nick Harris may also have a good day two and that’s something the Rams are going to have to continue monitoring through Friday night.

 

[Corbin]

I might be dumb but is our running scheme going to change some with McVay now that TG is gone?

Obviously not change totally but maybe a mixture like like 60/40 zone etc.

If we use 40+% or more ZBS I’d love Hennessey. I’m kinda in the camp I like my center being a road grader ( for a center) which Sully was when he was with us.

Just random thoughts with McVay having others coming in helping him with the O.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I might be dumb but is our running scheme going to change some with McVay now that TG is gone?

Obviously not change totally but maybe a mixture like like 60/40 zone etc.

If we use 40+% or more ZBS I’d love Hennessey. I’m kinda in the camp I like my center being a road grader ( for a center) which Sully was when he was with us.

Just random thoughts with McVay having others coming in helping him with the O.

I wonder the same thing. I brought up before that Edwards and Evans are not your typical Zone blocking types. Maybe they are leaning to a whole sale switch. Based on what the Bears and Patriots did to the 2018 Rams Oline it seems that if there is any weak link(s) to be exploited on a Zone blocking scheme it isn't too hard to do.

 

[Corbin]

I wonder the same thing. I brought up before that Edwards and Evans are not your typical Zone blocking types. Maybe they are leaning to a whole sale switch. Based on what the Bears and Patriots did to the 2018 Rams Oline it seems that if there is any weak link(s) to be exploited on a Zone blocking scheme it isn't too hard to do.

I really feel that we draft a legit center this draft and by that pick we will get a feel for what they want to do.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I really feel that we draft a legit center this draft and by that pick we will get a feel for what they want to do.

I hope you are right. Considering the two biggest weaknesses last season I'd say it has to be Center and ILB. Now we have to add RB and future OLT.

 

[yrba1]

Centers being drafted higher than expected would make me optimistic in landing a top-tier receiver. I'm still cautiously optimistic in landing Biadasz with our 3rd rounder or later though. I don't mind Blythe but he's limited and Allen is a big question mark moving forward.

 

[Corbin]

Centers being drafted higher than expected would make me optimistic in landing a top-tier receiver. I'm still cautiously optimistic in landing Biadasz with our 3rd rounder or later though. I don't mind Blythe but he's limited and Allen is a big question mark moving forward.

That’s part of the reasons I like Biadasz. We can more than likely get him top left over talent and snag him in the third.

No question in his run blocking, he’ll be like Blythe in the passing game to start out with.

 

[Merlin]

I might be dumb but is our running scheme going to change some with McVay now that TG is gone?

Obviously not change totally but maybe a mixture like like 60/40 zone etc.

If we use 40+% or more ZBS I’d love Hennessey. I’m kinda in the camp I like my center being a road grader ( for a center) which Sully was when he was with us.

Just random thoughts with McVay having others coming in helping him with the O.

We do run interior zone and btw that is the best way to punish a team for running that 6-1 and wide anti-OZS bullshit we've seen. Rams were too dependent on outside zone and it cost us a championship in 2018 as well as caused us all kinds of probs last season. But if you can seam a defense well in the middle you can make a team look fucking stupid for stacking the edges because once you're past the DL you're into the secondary with probably one guy (safety) to beat.

Also a guy like Hennessey is a great fit for an inside zone game. Name of the game for a Center there is intelligence and an ability to adjust quickly to fakes on the A gaps, guys moving or being other than where expected, etc. Making the right combo, getting off it quickly enough to make the second level, going backside when nobody is in front of you, it's all about quickly and accurately executing the rules. The Rams have been sloppy and stupid with the rules when they do run a lot of stuff, which has been related to subpar players and mixing in so many different guys too I am sure.

What you want to avoid is linemen who get turnstiled (which tbh is bad in any run scheme lol). But penetration obviously will kill an inside game. The other thing that will hurt you is the linemen who are stupid/slow and can't get a hat on a hat quickly particularly if your responsibility is to get on the MIKE. Well if you're slow to the MIKE you're done and a good one will blow up the play.

Funny thing in all this is the Rams identified guys who have things they want. They took Allen because of his ability to second level, he's actually quite good on the move in the run game but his weakness elsewhere hurt him. I don't think Hennessey will have those probs.

And lastly irt percentages I think what is important is proficiency. Do you run inside zone enough to where guys aren't thinking. Given that, just use it when teams look like they're anticipating on the edges. And if you're good at it when you see a team lined up in that 6-1 horseshit you should be excited to get a nice easy gainer up the middle.

 

[Ram Ts]

Ah Merlin...Now you got me intrigued and wanting Hennessy. It can’t come soon enough

 

[bubbaramfan]

no worries. There will definately be a center better than Allen or Blythe left by pick 52.

 

[Corbin]

We do run interior zone and btw that is the best way to punish a team for running that 6-1 and wide anti-OZS bullshit we've seen. Rams were too dependent on outside zone and it cost us a championship in 2018 as well as caused us all kinds of probs last season. But if you can seam a defense well in the middle you can make a team look fucking stupid for stacking the edges because once you're past the DL you're into the secondary with probably one guy (safety) to beat.

Also a guy like Hennessey is a great fit for an inside zone game. Name of the game for a Center there is intelligence and an ability to adjust quickly to fakes on the A gaps, guys moving or being other than where expected, etc. Making the right combo, getting off it quickly enough to make the second level, going backside when nobody is in front of you, it's all about quickly and accurately executing the rules. The Rams have been sloppy and stupid with the rules when they do run a lot of stuff, which has been related to subpar players and mixing in so many different guys too I am sure.

What you want to avoid is linemen who get turnstiled (which tbh is bad in any run scheme lol). But penetration obviously will kill an inside game. The other thing that will hurt you is the linemen who are stupid/slow and can't get a hat on a hat quickly particularly if your responsibility is to get on the MIKE. Well if you're slow to the MIKE you're done and a good one will blow up the play.

Funny thing in all this is the Rams identified guys who have things they want. They took Allen because of his ability to second level, he's actually quite good on the move in the run game but his weakness elsewhere hurt him. I don't think Hennessey will have those probs.

And lastly irt percentages I think what is important is proficiency. Do you run inside zone enough to where guys aren't thinking. Given that, just use it when teams look like they're anticipating on the edges. And if you're good at it when you see a team lined up in that 6-1 horseshit you should be excited to get a nice easy gainer up the middle.

Hell of a post my dear chap!

View: https://media.giphy.com/media/WPJDGY9K5AVa0/giphy.gif


You got me excited asf for tomorrow! lol

I obviously think no flaming chance in hell Ruiz will be there in the 2nd and if he is I see the Cowturds trading up in top 5 to get him.

Who do you think realistically will be there? I'm debated on which one of our 2nd or 3rd rounders we use but fairly certain we move down a bit and pick up either Hennessey, Biadasz, or Cushenberry?

 

[Merlin]

Hell of a post my dear chap!

View: https://media.giphy.com/media/WPJDGY9K5AVa0/giphy.gif


You got me excited asf for tomorrow! lol

I obviously think no flaming chance in hell Ruiz will be there in the 2nd and if he is I see the Cowturds trading up in top 5 to get him.

Who do you think realistically will be there? I'm debated on which one of our 2nd or 3rd rounders we use but fairly certain we move down a bit and pick up either Hennessey, Biadasz, or Cushenberry?

I don't know who is realistic to be there wish I did lol. Could see teams decide they like any of them and take them earlier than we think.

Like has been tweeted and whatnot there's a lot of expectation for teams to have some big differences in their boards due to the covid impact too so we should be in for a crazy ride. I figure there will be a ton of trades yeah early day 2. Then the Rams sit there and try not to lose their minds as players they don't think should be there are still there lol.

I think tomorrow night will be a lot of fun. Gonna make some home made pizzas, get stoned and hope the Rams kill it.

 

[Corbin]

I don't know who is realistic to be there wish I did lol. Could see teams decide they like any of them and take them earlier than we think.

Like has been tweeted and whatnot there's a lot of expectation for teams to have some big differences in their boards due to the covid impact too so we should be in for a crazy ride. I figure there will be a ton of trades yeah early day 2. Then the Rams sit there and try not to lose their minds as players they don't think should be there are still there lol.

I think tomorrow night will be a lot of fun. Gonna make some home made pizzas, get stoned and hope the Rams kill it.

IDK if you play Spades?
If you do you know if your the first to lay down a certain suit everybody else lays them down. IDC if we draft a Center a bit early if need be I'd rather be ahead of the curve and set the run on them. I'm excited even though we don't have a pick today!

 

[DR RAM]

That’s part of the reasons I like Biadasz. We can more than likely get him top left over talent and snag him in the third.

No question in his run blocking, he’ll be like Blythe in the passing game to start out with.

He’s my guy also, at Center. Best fit for us, he could play in any scheme, though.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I wonder the same thing. I brought up before that Edwards and Evans are not your typical Zone blocking types. Maybe they are leaning to a whole sale switch. Based on what the Bears and Patriots did to the 2018 Rams Oline it seems that if there is any weak link(s) to be exploited on a Zone blocking scheme it isn't too hard to do.

Don't we run a hybrid Zone Power/man scheme?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Don't we run a hybrid Zone Power/man scheme?

that's what they ran last year. But drafting Evans and Edwards makes me wonder if they are moving in another ditection. Neither seems to be good for the zone scheme but Drew d's especially looked a bit stiff for that scheme. I guess we will find out if they draft a different type of Center and/or guard. They interviewed Hunt and he is all power imo.