Another 2 oline thoughts - Scherff and Hudson

[Elmgrovegnome]

I have no idea what their plan is at LT. But I do know it's the most critical need on the line, and the one that--if you F it up--will single-handedly destroy your offense. I also think that with no first round pick the next couple years and Whit's age, that they looked hard at what they had in-house before making the Ramsey trade. So that trade IMO tells us they think they have the answer.

Who that is again I don't know. But I think you make some good points with Edwards and I feel that he's a whole different level of talent than the other guys they've been developing. He's a huge dude, moves well, strong at the point, etc. Good example for me is when he loses snaps (which he did vs Atlanta) you don't see a guy running free to the QB every time. Lesser talents it's usually a gang rush to the QB if their technique fails or the DL gets a good move on them. With Edwards his fail snaps look like the one where he got stood up by 95 on a run play in the second half vs Atlanta, which impaired the run play but didn't bust it. Thing is I have no idea if he's got the feet for the blindside.

Boom is not as talented IMO. But that doesn't mean he can't make his bones as a plus starter and maybe even a LT in this league. He's the kind of guy who will work hard and technique you to death and grow year to year. At least that's my take on him right now and I still feel bad for the dude that he took that injury in the window where he might have started really putting things together.

And don't forget Evans. Just because he didn't start fast doesn't mean he's out of the running for next season at LT. Some guys take longer to learn and adjust. He's definitely a talented dude, and he's got quick feet on his college tape so I presume he'll still have that skill when he's up to speed and not thinking.

Anyway for myself the LT position is the one that is terrifying after this season. And for depth right now tbh. The interior spots are just so much easier to mix and match but the blindside... Those guys are hard to find.

Good post. I agree the moves at OLT are make or break. The certainty that Noteboom and Allen were the future followed by their struggles has me questioning the evaluation skills of Kromer.


I’ve been wondering if the blocking scheme changes this year is a factor. It was nearly all zone the last two years. So smaller, more agile Olinemen were required. Then after last seasons struggles with the Bears, Pats, etc... they decided it wasn’t going to work. So then they draft two big men to use a more power based blocking scheme. This would explain the struggles of Joe and Brian. They suddenly find themselves in a blocking scheme less suited to their talents. It would also explain the staffs confidence in them all last season. At the time they were still using almost all zone blocking.

 

[den-the-coach]

Well, Austin Corbett is going to replace either Allen or Blythe at that time we will understand the problem. Blythe has also been playing with a bad ankle, but most of us have lost confidence since the Super Bowl loss.

You could see Corbett going to RG and Blythe being moved back to his natural position of Center and that would indicate Allen is truly the problem. Overall, IMHO, I believe the two next domino's to fall will be Corbett to RG and Kenny Young to ILB next to Littleton.

I believe they could stick with Allen over Blythe more so because of Blytye being in his last year, however, next season, I believe draft capital will be spent on a Center or Guard and Corbett could be the new Center next season.

 

[Merlin]

Good post. I agree the moves at OLT are make or break. The certainty that Noteboom and Allen were the future followed by their struggles has me questioning the evaluation skills of Kromer.

I’ve been wondering if the blocking scheme changes this year is a factor. It was nearly all zone the last two years. So smaller, more agile Olinemen were required. Then after last seasons struggles with the Bears, Pats, etc... they decided it wasn’t going to work. So then they draft two big men to use a more power based blocking scheme. This would explain the struggles of Joe and Brian. They suddenly find themselves in a blocking scheme less suited to their talents. It would also explain the staffs confidence in them all last season. At the time they were still using almost all zone blocking.

Yeah good note on the scheme changes and how it affects the players. Seems that power interior run look is being mixed in more and more to help counter the "Fangio" defensive alignment.

So re: Blythe that relates back to the question of who is up next at RG. Whether he survives this season or not (I don't think he will), that position is going to someone else because he's gone this offseason.

 

[Malibu]

No doubt that Austin Corbett is getting some practice reps in @ RG with the first team OL. Rams traded for AC for a good reason. Even though AC was strictly a starting LT in college @ Nevada, AC played 3 other positions in the 2018 Senior Bowl gm. Started @ RT, then moved to starting center & finished the game @ starting LG.

AC was known by Snead & his staff since that Bowl gm...reason is Snead drafted DE Og Okoronkwo because OO gave most all college RT's nightmares along with QB's. OO & AC met during the Senior Bowl gm when OO & AC went at it from the beginning. AC playing RT was the only OL'er who was able to handle OO.

AC provides some hope that he can be a starting LG or RG in the near future if needed. I do not believe that there is any major center concerns being involved with AC trade. Kromer has Coleman Shelton & Jeremiah Kolone in reserve.

AC is here now to first to contend in the starting RG post where recent Ankle/Knee injured Blythe who continues to seriously struggle physically. Second to back up David Edwards who is starting @ LG in case LT Whitfield goes down. The main OL problem is & has been @ both OG posts. Kromer looks to have the ongoing issues @ LG put down, however the dumpster fire @ RG is blazing!

Ref. Your last paragraph comment....
I look @ it this way, Browns OL scheme is completely different from the many schemes Kromer will employ. AC was strictly LT in college who has arm length, massive hands, wide center section & in general a 6-4 310 NFL OG size body. AC was first inserted as a rookie to start @ LT post, then OC & then this season RG. I believe AC's best playing post will be @ LG & to a small lesser degree RG in this better OL blocking scheme of Kromer. AC is now in the perfect position to shed that "outright bust" tag!

Ref. Your first paragraph..I agree with them. Blythe has played in 46 NFL game & in his 4th season. But Allen & Blythe were matched up against an all pro named NT Grady Jarrett & veterans DT's Tyler Davison & Jack Crawford. That's not easy assignments. I can see a first yr starting OC Allen having some issues but NOT RG Blythe. Blythe needs to be out of the starting RG position ASAP!

But Brian Allen? No! The center position is a very tough place to learn the NFL. That's what Allen is doing...learning. Brainwise it is the hardest most difficult OL position to get down.

How many games did rookie Allen start last season?
Zero.
How many games in his rookie season did Allen get at least several offensive series in with the first string OL?
Zero.
How many 2019 preseason games did he start?
Zero.
How many 2019 preseason games did he play in?
Zero.

Wow? it's a tough place in here to make fans hopeful for the future for a first year center.

Allen had a full year to learn. Enough with the lack of playing time. Minny has Bradbury and he looked great in the Thursday night game. Either in general you got it or u don't. Both he and Blythe are going to kill our chances to make the playoffs with their sub par play. We need to trade for one of those 2 positions and NOT rely on Corbett. If AC works out great but let's not count on it.

All you have to do is compare and contrast last year's stats vs this year's there is no comparison in almost every metric. So anyone that thinks it is Goff is crazy. It is a really bad OL play that is literally dragging us down. No amount of game experience is solving this problem we MUST trade for a highly skilled RT or C in the next week period! The experiment is over especially with the massive talent we have on this team.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Allen had a full year to learn. Enough with the lack of playing time. Minny has Bradbury and he looked great in the Thursday night game. Either in general you got it or u don't.

Bradbury was a first rounder & the 18'th overall pick in the draft. Allen was #111 in the 4'th round, yet you are expecting similar results for the two first time starters ? A little developmental time should be expected, let's not write him off quite so soon.

 

[Soul Surfer]

anyone that thinks it is Goff is crazy. It is a really bad o line play.

I wish this were a strange occurrence but we see it a lot in the knee-jerk viewer and talking head world.

And Goff has to have confidence in the line and sometimes that takes a couple games.

And there's no doubt in my mind that he does now have confidence in this oline.

 

[TexasRam]

i’ve done a lot of film review of Noteboom and i think he’s going to be an excellent LT. He doesn’t have the push or bulk or maybe the demeaner to play guard but he’s really solid in pass pro, especially for a first year guy.

 

[BonifayRam]

A trade suggestion

i’ve done a lot of film review of Noteboom and i think he’s going to be an excellent LT. He doesn’t have the push or bulk or maybe the demeaner to play guard but he’s really solid in pass pro, especially for a first year guy.

Your over the Target here on Joe Noteboom......far more OT than OG & more left side than right side. Wonder what OL post places him in the best place to be very successful ? AS he needs now is a long successful rehabbing event on those tore ligaments in that knee. He will be wearing a good size brace on that knee for a long time. I would expect to see him placed on the 53MR by mid season as David Edwards backup.

Kromers mission remains the same as it was when the season began .......Rams must find TWO starting OG's for the beginning of 2020. Kromer does have a few interior OL'ers under contract for 2020 in Austin Corbett, Jamil Demby & Coleman Shelton.

Kromer stands a very good chance to also have Bobby Evans (who is more OT than OG) Jeremiah Kolone (swing OG & OC) & Chandler Brewer (swing OG /OT) under contract too.

 

[Riverumbbq]

A trade suggestion

My trade suggestion is Reynolds, Blythe & a 5'th rounder (the one we just received) for Brandon Scherff. alm:

 

[Ram65]

Seems like the Rams will stick with Allen at OC. Some good and some bad but, he is still learning.

Blythe will be out next year and it could be sooner.

Corbett takes Blythe's RG spot. Longer arms and is a bigger body.

Edwards takes over next year at LT until Noteboom comes back. Then Edwards gets move to LG. From QB to TE to LT/RT he has to be a good athlete with good feet. Whit retires. (I don't think they can afford him anyway.)

Havenstein stays at RT.

This leaves LG open until Noteboom comes back. I like Evans upside and he could take the LG spot. Coleman is on the roster I assume because he can play multiple positions. Not sure if any others step up but, they will get a shot.

Snead will be working it to find some diamonds in the rough for next year. Maybe, he gets a backup from another team (FA or trade) that could start this year for the Rams or next year. I can't see where the money would come from for a quality starter from another team. Even though the Rams haven't spent draft capital on offensive lineman he could spend a higher draft pick if the Rams think they get value.

 

[BonifayRam]

My trade suggestion is Reynolds, Blythe & a 5'th rounder (the one we just received) for Brandon Scherff. alm:

Brandon Scherff sure looked shaky Thursday night. I would place a high value on BS no matter how he has played this season.

Rams OL will be without Andrew Whitworths veteran leadership. Leaving that to Rob Havenstein who has only been in the NFL since 2015. He is not a complete OT due to his pass blocking weakness. Rob has no pro bowl or all pro seasons in his resume. Is this our leader in our OL?

Problem is the market value for BS in 2020 is $50 million for 4 yrs @ approx $12.5 mil a season. Rams will need to do some serious recalculating & big cuts to get him in here to lead our leaderless OL.

Snead might want to have a flashback to 2017 when he refurbished his OL with two older former all pro veterans to go with another older veteran to interweave with two inexperienced RT & RG!

In 2020 Snead is currently in route to go with 4 out of five OL positions with OL'ers who have nothing but a handful of regular season starts between them......is another disaster in waiting.

Meanwhile elsewhere in his regularly used offense he has an abundance of game experience located in these positions ....RB/WR/SL/TE & QB. Should it not be the other way around?

 

[BonifayRam]

My trade suggestion is Reynolds, Blythe & a 5'th rounder (the one we just received) for Brandon Scherff. alm:

I would make a better offer to Washington because we need veteran leadership real bad in our OL & the RG position is our current weakest post on the entire team.

I would throw in WR Brandon Cooks & CB Troy Hill to ensure that the Redskins bite. Goff does not have the time to throw deep or the long arm throw accuracy to fully utilize Cooks anyway. Thomas can easily take his spot for the over the middle slants & sideline medium passes.

 

[pmil66]

Not trading Reynolds. Under a cheap contract for next year, he had some nice games when give a chance last year. He is a valuable reserve.
Picking up a RG to replace Demby on the roster would be fine, give up a day 3 pick or swaping picks would work.