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Struggling offensive line will remain as constituted
4:25 PM ET
Its most integral member, left tackle Greg Robinson, leads the NFL with 10 total penalties, a figure that includes those who have been declined. Five of the six offensive linemen who have received significant playing time rank within the bottom 48 percent at their respective positions, according to grading systems used by Pro Football Focus. And behind that group, star running back Todd Gurley is tied for the fewest average yards before first contact.
“We need to be more productive in the run game," Fisher told reporters when asked to assess his offensive line after Wednesday's practice from Thousand Oaks, California. "We need to minimize the penalties."
Case Keenumabsorbing contact 31 times, fewer than 12 other quarterbacks (though a big part of that is Keenum averaging 2.29 seconds before throwing a pass, tied for third-fastest in the NFL). But run blocking has been dreadful, which is disappointing for a Rams team that drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014-15 and has yet to see the group come together.
Rob Havenstein, the second-year right tackle who didn't allow a sack in 13 starts last year, has been their best, ranking 28th among 75 qualified tackles by Pro Football Focus. But second-year right guard Cody Wichmann, who has started six of seven games, is 57th among 79 guards.
Another second-year player, Jamon Brown, who has started once at right guard and has filled in periodically, is 45th. Left guard Rodger Saffold, a seventh-year starter, ranks 41st. Tim Barnes, a fifth-year pro who is in his second year as the starter, is 29th among 35 centers.
Behind them -- though, to be fair, not entirely because of them -- Gurley ranks 38th among 40 qualified running backs in rushing yards per attempt (3.01) and is tied with the Buccaneers' Charles Sims for the fewest average yards before first contact (1.34).
Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson recently blasted the Rams' offensive line, saying: "Sooner or later, somebody’s going to knock into that backfield and hurt [Gurley]."
But no changes are expected.
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...ing-offensive-line-will-remain-as-constituted
4:25 PM ET
- Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer
Its most integral member, left tackle Greg Robinson, leads the NFL with 10 total penalties, a figure that includes those who have been declined. Five of the six offensive linemen who have received significant playing time rank within the bottom 48 percent at their respective positions, according to grading systems used by Pro Football Focus. And behind that group, star running back Todd Gurley is tied for the fewest average yards before first contact.
“We need to be more productive in the run game," Fisher told reporters when asked to assess his offensive line after Wednesday's practice from Thousand Oaks, California. "We need to minimize the penalties."
Case Keenumabsorbing contact 31 times, fewer than 12 other quarterbacks (though a big part of that is Keenum averaging 2.29 seconds before throwing a pass, tied for third-fastest in the NFL). But run blocking has been dreadful, which is disappointing for a Rams team that drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014-15 and has yet to see the group come together.
Rob Havenstein, the second-year right tackle who didn't allow a sack in 13 starts last year, has been their best, ranking 28th among 75 qualified tackles by Pro Football Focus. But second-year right guard Cody Wichmann, who has started six of seven games, is 57th among 79 guards.
Another second-year player, Jamon Brown, who has started once at right guard and has filled in periodically, is 45th. Left guard Rodger Saffold, a seventh-year starter, ranks 41st. Tim Barnes, a fifth-year pro who is in his second year as the starter, is 29th among 35 centers.
Behind them -- though, to be fair, not entirely because of them -- Gurley ranks 38th among 40 qualified running backs in rushing yards per attempt (3.01) and is tied with the Buccaneers' Charles Sims for the fewest average yards before first contact (1.34).
Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson recently blasted the Rams' offensive line, saying: "Sooner or later, somebody’s going to knock into that backfield and hurt [Gurley]."
But no changes are expected.
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...ing-offensive-line-will-remain-as-constituted
