Is Jake Long’s Health the Key to the Rams Success?

[RamBill]

Does the NFL have a culture problem? Former Arizona Cardinal and 101 ESPN NFL Analyst Micheal Young joins The Fast Lane in studio to discuss it. How fast will Greg Robinson take to adjust to NFL football? Jake Long’s health will go a long way in determining how this season will go for the Rams.

Listen to Rams Jake Long Discussion

 

[JackDRams]

This makes me think about a janitor. A janitor has a shitload of keys. I see Jake Long, as being "A Key" but not "The key". We have a handful of "keys" that we need to play major roles and success depends on it.

 

[theramsruleUK]

I think his health will play a major part on how our season shapes up to be honest

 

[den-the-coach]

Best depth the Rams have had in a very long time on the offensive line. If Jake Long has issues than it will be Rodger Saffold that moves to LT and then Davin Joseph will be the RG. Now the only issue with this scenario is that when Saffold plays tackle he becomes more exposed and history showcases less durable.

It would be difficult it Jake Long and Saffold were out, but IMO any offensive line would have struggles facing injuries of that magnitude. Hopefully Jake Long is ready come September Morn and for the most the offensive line can stay in tact for the most part during the season.

 

[fearsomefour]

To me the question is finding another viable T.
Best case Long is back and healthy allowing the best laid plans at the G spots to play out. If Long is not ready the Rams have to start compromising. I would not move Robinson to LT. To me this would be akin to throwing a rookie QB in before he is ready. Made the commitment to start him at LG....stick with it regardless of what else happens. Plan B would probably have Saffold moving back to LT....another idea I don't like.
Long is a key in that he can cause serious dominos to fall along the Rams line. A best case scenario part 2 would have the Rams finding viable depth at LT so they don't have to move either G or Barksdale. The depth guy doesn't have to be a world beater but a solid stop gap guy who can do the job even if he needs some help.
Maybe a post cuts pick up?

 

[JackDRams]

To me the question is finding another viable T.
Best case Long is back and healthy allowing the best laid plans at the G spots to play out. If Long is not ready the Rams have to start compromising. I would not move Robinson to LT. To me this would be akin to throwing a rookie QB in before he is ready. Made the commitment to start him at LG....stick with it regardless of what else happens. Plan B would probably have Saffold moving back to LT....another idea I don't like.
Long is a key in that he can cause serious dominos to fall along the Rams line. A best case scenario part 2 would have the Rams finding viable depth at LT so they don't have to move either G or Barksdale. The depth guy doesn't have to be a world beater but a solid stop gap guy who can do the job even if he needs some help.
Maybe a post cuts pick up?

I'm not a fan of signing some guy to play LT after cuts. Why? Because if he wasn't even good enough to make a team, how can we trust him to play the most important position on the line? I understand where you come from in terms of not wanting our guards to slide over. But we have solid guard depth and a number of guys who can play LT if need be. I know it isn't ideal, but what are the odds of any team cutting a good LT, and us even having the cap space to grab them? Our hands are tied when it comes to the cap. It would be a luxury we cant afford IMO.

 

[BonifayRam]

To me the question is finding another viable T.
Best case Long is back and healthy allowing the best laid plans at the G spots to play out. If Long is not ready the Rams have to start compromising. I would not move Robinson to LT. To me this would be akin to throwing a rookie QB in before he is ready. Made the commitment to start him at LG....stick with it regardless of what else happens. Plan B would probably have Saffold moving back to LT....another idea I don't like.
Long is a key in that he can cause serious dominos to fall along the Rams line. A best case scenario part 2 would have the Rams finding viable depth at LT so they don't have to move either G or Barksdale. The depth guy doesn't have to be a world beater but a solid stop gap guy who can do the job even if he needs some help.
Maybe a post cuts pick up?

Said it before & still think Boudreau main concern currently in TC & pre season is finding a viable swing OT from the OL RESERVE cadre ! Boudreau has the interior OL starting posts well backed up matter of fact I would say the best in many decades! The well common thought by most members here, that a 2014 version of Rodger Saffold being an instant fix for the Not 100% Jake Long @ starting @ OLT ....well I not in that large cadre not close. I still have serious questions on Saffold penciled in back up ORG Davin Joseph who's playing health & ability was questioned by the entire NFL this off season. However on the good side Barnes-Jones & Person should fit in @ ORG very nice if Joseph is way past his prime.

I desire greatly that Sam's OL remain the same and OL'ers can finally remain in their designed starting posts. Saffold must remain @ ORG to be a force in the OL otherwise the OL is dramatically weakened.

 

[RAM's-NWST]

I predict that Jake Long will be ready by the start of the season, but limited during training camp and eased in during pre-season. Even ff that plays out, the Rams will still be in better shape going into game one than last year with a run and play action pass strategy. IMO, pass protection won't be as strong as run blocking for our O-Line... so let's play to our strengths.

 

[Barrison]

If Jake Long goes down for the season again, our line will see a chain reaction of bad luck, imo.

 

[BigRamFan]

To me the question is finding another viable T.
Best case Long is back and healthy allowing the best laid plans at the G spots to play out. If Long is not ready the Rams have to start compromising. I would not move Robinson to LT. To me this would be akin to throwing a rookie QB in before he is ready. Made the commitment to start him at LG....stick with it regardless of what else happens. Plan B would probably have Saffold moving back to LT....another idea I don't like.
Long is a key in that he can cause serious dominos to fall along the Rams line. A best case scenario part 2 would have the Rams finding viable depth at LT so they don't have to move either G or Barksdale. The depth guy doesn't have to be a world beater but a solid stop gap guy who can do the job even if he needs some help.
Maybe a post cuts pick up?

I think this is exactly why Travis Bond is in camp.

 

[fearsomefour]

Said it before & still think Boudreau main concern currently in TC & pre season is finding a viable swing OT from the OL RESERVE cadre ! Boudreau has the interior OL starting posts well backed up matter of fact I would say the best in many decades! The well common thought by most members here, that a 2014 version of Rodger Saffold being an instant fix for the Not 100% Jake Long @ starting @ OLT ....well I not in that large cadre not close. I still have serious questions on Saffold penciled in back up ORG Davin Joseph who's playing health & ability was questioned by the entire NFL this off season. However on the good side Barnes-Jones & Person should fit in @ ORG very nice if Joseph is way past his prime.

I desire greatly that Sam's OL remain the same and OL'ers can finally remain in their designed starting posts. Saffold must remain @ ORG to be a force in the OL otherwise the OL is dramatically weakened.

I agree. This is why, if the injury bug bites Long, I don't want either G moved to T....it's a great way to weaken more than one spot.
Same as I would not want Barksdale moving inside of there were a rash of injuries on the interior.
I agree the odds of developing a guy are as good if not better than finding someone post cuts. Pearson have the best shot?

 

[fearsomefour]

I'm not a fan of signing some guy to play LT after cuts. Why? Because if he wasn't even good enough to make a team, how can we trust him to play the most important position on the line? I understand where you come from in terms of not wanting our guards to slide over. But we have solid guard depth and a number of guys who can play LT if need be. I know it isn't ideal, but what are the odds of any team cutting a good LT, and us even having the cap space to grab them? Our hands are tied when it comes to the cap. It would be a luxury we cant afford IMO.

True enough.
Of the Rams can develop a viable third T option from the young guys they have that is preferable.
The routine of moving guys around has to stop of they are going to develop a serious line in my opinion.

 

[fearsomefour]

I think this is exactly why Travis Bond is in camp.

Could be.
Don't know anything about him.
Bond, Pearson and the other kid, there will be some competition.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Long's health, Saffold's health, Wells' health, Robinson's development...
This offense will not be successful or any better unless we finally get some continuity on the OLine.

 

[SierraRam]

Long's health, Saffold's health, Wells' health, Robinson's development...
This offense will not be successful or any better unless we finally get some continuity on the OLine.

Agree 100% - Go back and look at the OLs' "Games Started" in our Super Bowl seasons. Continuity is everthing

 

[RhodyRams]

This makes me think about a janitor. A janitor has a shitload of keys. I see Jake Long, as being "A Key" but not "The key". We have a handful of "keys" that we need to play major roles and success depends on it.

Great analogy!!!

I agree in that JLong isn't THE key to success, but he is an essential part of the o line needed to protect SB

 

[BonifayRam]

Long's health, Saffold's health, Wells' health, Robinson's development...
This offense will not be successful or any better unless we finally get some continuity on the OLine.

Trying to find some real positive stuff here with the real bona fide concerns you mentioned on the OL so early we have seen that Davin Joseph has secured the right OG post for himself next to Barksdale....very early reports thus far have him looking like a veteran cornerstone for this 2014 OL. This early report helps a whole bunch on the pressure placed on Greg Robinson.

 

[Alan]

IMO we would be in big, big trouble without him at LT for at least the first half of the season. As I listen to reports concerning what Saffold looks like this year, I agree with that poster's (CoachO?) doubts about Saffold being able to take over the LT duties in an emergency. So who then? GR isn't ready yet and our other options are all dangerous to Sam's health.

Our best option IMO would probably involve Barksdale moving to LT and GR taking his place at RT. Barksdale has proven he's incapable of playing LT at anything close to the level needed. At least with Joseph looking like he's got his old mojo back the G position won't suffer unduly.