I must preface this post with major Kudos to such a knowledgeable and major leader in such a poster as Riverumbbq. I'm just sitting back wondering why it's such a bad idea to have one of our non-starting OL cross trained by our new OL coach Kromer who is well sought after for McVay's staff and due to his track record of turning players careers around and adding value to a team by drawing an extra ability from players with good backgrounds.
With that very deep draft the RAMS had with 4 OL in it as a desperate effort to address an area in the draft that fish only thought of handling in FA. We drafted 4 guys with very long records of playing time without injury. This of course does'nt address GRob's drafting. I'm just thinking the size of Havenstein,Brown,Donnal & Wichman and the talent not brought forth by our past OL coach . A coach we all thought too highly of obviously. Havenstein as a rookieallowed no sacks and Brown got off to a very nice start to see things go south from there with injuries not sustained in their previous college careers. Nothing major except we must see if Havenstein was not abused and forced to play last season and we can get back the same player we started with except we are aware he lacks bend and a few other traits that maybe coach Kromer can help him with in the Pro game.
Here is the question : Why can't we be MUCH better off with Wichman or Donnal or Brown starting as the starting Center for the Los Angeles RAMS ? The one not starting as chosen by Kromer who can do it the best and not as an afterthought due to not being a starting OG or OT. I think we have the BEEF and the horses of course if GRob pulls his head out of his very dark place he sits on.
. We can all get over the too tall for center with LSU's center being ridiculously tall in Pocic. I'd prefer Elflein starting for us as our starting center from Ohio State. I think he could be the only center in the draft to be able to truly get the job done given 4 pre-season games. I seriously doubt we can be able to draft him or think we will over BPA and CB/WR's NEEDED. What other plans there are besides another phone call with the Bills seems even more desperate. I personally think we have the guy already on the team. Except not Rhaney period. Get Kromers pick at center in the 4th round at earliest. We have some true talent already here that is not UDFA level. Shalom
Thanks for the kind words.
Wichmann has the right size for Kromer/McVay to appreciate, perhaps an off-season of strength training, snapping and learning the calls will be enough, it was reported that Fisher had him apparently doing some practice work at the position last season. As a starter, with a near rookie QB and RG who will also be learning a new job, ... and be learning an entirely new system, it may be a lot to expect. Raw is probably the best way to describe it. Being cross trained is great, you never know about injuries, and Rams fans know quite well how fast an OL can be decimated.
When I mentioned a potential for trade, I wasn't really referring to Groy, that ship has sailed imo, there remains 30 other teams to discuss ways to improve. When I think of what might have been, I keep coming back to our 2013 trade up for Austin which cost us our 2'nd and 1'st, a year where several of us were hoping to trade down, also a year where Travis Frederick went to Dallas late in the 1'st and was severely criticized for it.
With needs at WR, TE, NT, DE, OLB & CB, it's difficult to see where the Rams will project a drafted Center, will it be strictly BPA in the 2'nd, will Elflein or Pocic fall or still be available once we get into the 3'rd, do Kromer/McVay really like someone they see in the 4'th & beyond ? Can they be expected to start, or are they also on the raw side ?
While I wish to cross-train as many offensive linemen as possible, my favorite current scenario is finding that quality older vet to start for a season while a drafted player can learn NFL speed, develop some chemistry with the QB & learn the playbook. Should it work out that way, I have no clue. jmo.
