Aaron Kromer feels good about the Rams' rookie offensive linemen ...

[Riverumbbq]

By: Andrew Ortenberg | 2 hours ago

When the dust settled after the NFL Draft and Les Snead was finally done wheeling and dealing, the Los Angeles Rams had made 11 picks. Three of them were offensive linemen, and while it’s tough to judge linemen without pads on during offseason work, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is encouraged by their progress so far.

First was tackle Joseph Noteboom at 89th overall in the third round. Then came center Brian Allen in the fourth, 111th overall. Next came small-school standout tackle Jamil Demby out of Maine in the sixth (192nd overall). Although the Rams return all five starters from last year’s line, the current group might not stick together much longer. All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth is 36, while Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown and Rodger Saffold are all heading into the last year of their contracts. It makes sense that the Rams wanted to address both tackle and interior line in the draft, and the trio could turn out to be the future protectors of Jared Goff.

Now that the Rams have gotten their initial look at this freshman class through rookie minicamp, OTAs, and regular minicamp, Kromer had some initial thoughts on the three new players and their transition to the NFL during a recent interview with the Rams’ website. Kromer said the trio has done “a great job of learning, understanding why things are happening, and trying to master those techniques.”

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Kromer was signed away from the Bills by coach Sean McVay, who added him as part of his initial Rams staff. After offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur left for the Titans, Kromer was promoted to run game coordinator this past January. Kromer was widely credited with helping the Rams offensive line go from one of the worst in the league to one of the best in just one year. He certainly knows the position well, having coached lines in the NFL since 2001, and likely had some sway in the Rams’ war room on draft day.

Kromer hammered home that the rookies are strictly focused on learning and not actually doing at this point, saying “everything we do is schematics, technique” before the pads come on later this summer. He added that it’s hard to accurately evaluate linemen “until after training camp, during training camp, and during the preseason games when everything really starts happening fast.”

Until then, it’ll be hard to tell what the Rams have in their three new draft picks. But Kromer seemed genuinely excited and bullish about the group’s future during his recent media availability. In an ideal world, none of them will see much playing time this year, but all three could potentially be key contributors down the line.


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/f6d9...917d6b6/ss_aaron-kromer-feels-good-about.html

 

[bubbaramfan]

And I expect Rams to draft 2or 3 more in the next draft. Football smart OLiners with lots of starts at college and one or two with some wrestling experience.

 

[Karate61]

It kinda sucks, after all these years of a weak O-Line, that 4 out of 5 of the current guys may not be here after next season.

One thing that caught my eye last season was Havenstein and Brown constantly delivering crushing blocks on runs to the right.

I do like our O-Line draft, but will miss the current line of it blows up after 2018.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I ..... will miss the current line if it blows up after 2018.

Yeah.
There is nothing more fluid from season to season than the offensive line.
From year to year it's not uncommon to lose two or three players on the offensive line.
The only thing you can do is develop from within.
Every year you have to draft a player from anywhere from the 1st to the 4th round minimum.
You often have to draft that player a year or two before you even need him meaning you may only get two or three years out of that player actually starting.

The best thing you can do is have a good coach who understands the fluidity and is an expert at developing raw college players into being able to plug them in on an established O line.

The one thing you do not do, (WARNING another Fisher criticism alert);
Shitcan the entire o-line like he did when he first arrived and then try to rebuild it with four new players.

 

[Memento]

I'm a fan of Noteboom and (especially) Demby, and Allen is growing on me. I feel like all three could be starters down the road. And I'm still holding out hope of re-signing Brown and Havenstein, while letting Saffold go.

 

[Karate61]

I'm a fan of Noteboom and (especially) Demby, and Allen is growing on me. I feel like all three could be starters down the road. And I'm still holding out hope of re-signing Brown and Havenstein, while letting Saffold go.

I really don't want to lose any of those three guys. But, I get it.

My favorite line was in the early '80s. Rich Saul, Dennis Harrah, Kent Hill, Jackie Slater, and Doug France. All Maulers!

 

[dang]

I'm a fan of Noteboom and (especially) Demby, and Allen is growing on me. I feel like all three could be starters down the road. And I'm still holding out hope of re-signing Brown and Havenstein, while letting Saffold go.

I like what I hear about all 3 rookies but I doubt any will be able to contribute until mid-season. As a result I believe 1 of them will be relegated to the practice squad in order to carry the starting 5 and 4 most versatile backups (including 2 rookies) on the 53 man roster.

 

[Memento]

I like what I hear about all 3 rookies but I doubt any will be able to contribute until mid-season. As a result I believe 1 of them will be relegated to the practice squad in order to carry the starting 5 and 4 most versatile backups (including 2 rookies) on the 53 man roster.

I believe that we'd lose the player we would send to the practice squad. Noteboom is the swing tackle that we need, Allen and Blythe can play center and guard, while Demby can play both guard spots and right tackle in a pinch.

Just my honest opinion, of course.

 

[OldSchool]

I'm a fan of Noteboom and (especially) Demby, and Allen is growing on me. I feel like all three could be starters down the road. And I'm still holding out hope of re-signing Brown and Havenstein, while letting Saffold go.

I also love this draft, this could be one of those drafts that we look back on 5 years down the road and praise because it gave the Rams a good solid line for years to come.

 

[dang]

I believe that we'd lose the player we would send to the practice squad. Noteboom is the swing tackle that we need, Allen and Blythe can play center and guard, while Demby can play both guard spots and right tackle in a pinch.

Just my honest opinion, of course.

I just don't see how we can hold 3 (of probably 9) OL spots on the 53 man roster for rookies. My guess 2 of Blythe, Lucas, Eldrenkamp, Pickup from another team's cut would provide early necessary depth.

 

[OldSchool]

I just don't see how we can hold 3 (of probably 9) OL spots on the 53 man roster for rookies. My guess 2 of Blythe, Lucas, Eldrenkamp, Pickup from another team's cut would provide early necessary depth.

So we just wasted draft picks and gonna cut them or you think people would let them slide to our waiver wire? And we're going to pick up random vets in year 2 of McVay and Kromer instead of guys they hand selected and coached?

 

[Prime Time]

My guess 2 of Blythe, Lucas, Eldrenkamp

Not Blythe please.

 

[kurtfaulk]

So we just wasted draft picks and gonna cut them or you think people would let them slide to our waiver wire? And we're going to pick up random vets in year 2 of McVay and Kromer instead of guys they hand selected and coached?

I think he meant only 2 of the rookies will make the cut. Not cut all of them.

.

 

[OldSchool]

I think he meant only 2 of the rookies will make the cut. Not cut all of them.

.

Looks like he's saying we can't have 3 rookies on the 53 man roster. Might be misreading this who knows. If the rookies are better I don't get what peoples hang up is about having them on the 53 man. Neither of our back up tackles last year were anything worth bragging about. And I don't see them spending that pick on Allen unless they were confident he can handle the job as a rookie. There are about 10 centers in the NFL right now that started as rookies and were 4th round picks or later, even UDFA including our own Mr Sullivan and the Jason Kelce who I'm pretty sure was a pro bowler.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Looks like he's saying we can't have 3 rookies on the 53 man roster. Might be misreading this who knows. If the rookies are better I don't get what peoples hang up is about having them on the 53 man. Neither of our back up tackles last year were anything worth bragging about. And I don't see them spending that pick on Allen unless they were confident he can handle the job as a rookie. There are about 10 centers in the NFL right now that started as rookies and were 4th round picks or later, even UDFA including our own Mr Sullivan and the Jason Kelce who I'm pretty sure was a pro bowler.

You don't have to sell me on the idea. I think all 3 rookies are in the box seat to make the team.

But as always we're gonna have to wait for training camp and pre-season to see how it shakes out.

.

 

[dang]

I just don't see how we can hold 3 (of probably 9) OL spots on the 53 man roster for rookies. My guess 2 of Blythe, Lucas, Eldrenkamp, Pickup from another team's cut would provide early necessary depth.

Clarification (and only an opinion): Assuming 9 OL are kept on the 53 man roster - 5 starters, 2 vet backups and 2 rookies. The 3rd rookie goes to the Practice Squad. If the Rams keep 10 OL on 53 man roster - I could see them keeping all 3 rookies - but I don't see Rams holding that many spots for OL.

 

[den-the-coach]

@OldSchool put up a scenario in an earlier post that had the Rams keeping 9 including the 3 draft choices. I also like Corneilus Lucas and feel he could get a long look, but again this was @OldSchool 9 I believe, with Demby showing the ability to play RT.

LT...Whitworth, Noteboom
LG...Saffold, Blythe
C...Sullivan, Allen
RG...Brown
RT...Havenstein, Demby.

Demby could also fill in at Guard too, but that gives you nine players including the rookies, I could see the Rams keeping Lucas, if one rookie gets dinged up and they put them on IR.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Lucas played the last game vs Frisco @ RT and played very well. :boxing: If he picks up where he left off he makes the team at least as a backup to the right side. :sneak:

Going to be lots of speculation about the OL before the final cut. :banghead: How many will they keep? Who gets cut? How many make the PS and who?

4+ weeks till TC.:sleepz:

 

[Ramstien]

Fact is I trust these coaches when it comes to making personal decisions. Whatever group of players they decide to keep will be the ones that will make the Rams a better team now and in the future.

 

[tomas]

10 OL are kept on the 53 man roster - (injury insurance) i.e. ..Whitworth-.Sullivan-.Saffold.
LT...Whitworth, Noteboom
LG...Saffold, Blythe
C...Sullivan, Allen, Jake Eldrenkamp-(Blythe)
RG...Brown(Jake Eldrenkamp)
RT...Havenstein, Demby.