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- May 16, 2019
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- 5,388
Let me say this first, that I love Whitworth and think his future should be as a coach. He's already coaching up the OL with his workouts, and his mentoring. But that said, I noted before he got hurt last year that his age was beginning to show. He simply seemed less fluid in his play allowing penetration he didn't in previous years. His smooth quick slide wasn't there consistently.
Then he had his ACL/MCL injury and he seemingly miraculously returned from what should have been a season-ending injury. But what concerns me is how he played post-injury last year. It was clear to me that not all was right with Whitworth so just some casual digging I came across this from Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports:
"He allowed 10 pressures and eight hurries in 61 pass-blocking snaps last postseason, the 16.4% pressure percentage allowed significantly higher than the 1.8% pressure percentage allowed in the regular season (326 pass-blocking snaps, six pressures allowed). "
Yes, Andrew has had a full offseason to continue to heal. But I know firsthand how after a certain age we simply do not respond to injuries long-term like we did when we were younger. My concern is that Whitworth despite looking like his old self, may not in fact be that same "old self". Should we expect a new norm from Whitworth going forward? I think it's a very real possibility and with the Rams being so analytic-centric as an organization, I'm sure if Kerr could see it so does the Ram FO. I think they are going to monitor it closely and if Andrew in fact doesn't return to his pre-injury form that Noteboom will be the starter next year. Also, as I've noted in previous posts, Noteboom is in a contract year, and the Rams need to start him or lose him.
Whitworth signed a 3-year extension last year but I said when he did it was a 2 year deal in its structure. That is to say, that the contract is written in anticipation of this year being his final year, to coincide with Noteboom's contract status. I hope that when that time comes the Rams keep Whitworth in the organization as an OL coaching assistant.
Then he had his ACL/MCL injury and he seemingly miraculously returned from what should have been a season-ending injury. But what concerns me is how he played post-injury last year. It was clear to me that not all was right with Whitworth so just some casual digging I came across this from Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports:
"He allowed 10 pressures and eight hurries in 61 pass-blocking snaps last postseason, the 16.4% pressure percentage allowed significantly higher than the 1.8% pressure percentage allowed in the regular season (326 pass-blocking snaps, six pressures allowed). "
Yes, Andrew has had a full offseason to continue to heal. But I know firsthand how after a certain age we simply do not respond to injuries long-term like we did when we were younger. My concern is that Whitworth despite looking like his old self, may not in fact be that same "old self". Should we expect a new norm from Whitworth going forward? I think it's a very real possibility and with the Rams being so analytic-centric as an organization, I'm sure if Kerr could see it so does the Ram FO. I think they are going to monitor it closely and if Andrew in fact doesn't return to his pre-injury form that Noteboom will be the starter next year. Also, as I've noted in previous posts, Noteboom is in a contract year, and the Rams need to start him or lose him.
Whitworth signed a 3-year extension last year but I said when he did it was a 2 year deal in its structure. That is to say, that the contract is written in anticipation of this year being his final year, to coincide with Noteboom's contract status. I hope that when that time comes the Rams keep Whitworth in the organization as an OL coaching assistant.
