Brian Allen Released

[RamBall]

This must mean they are going with a youth movement and Havenstein will be next to go.

 

[VeteranRamFan]

This must mean they are going with a youth movement and Havenstein will be next to go.

You just had to go there, didn't you @RamBall ?

 

[Flatlyner]

I think the Rams will kick a couple of tires in the first wave, but ultimately decide to resign Dotson at $13-17M/yr.

There will be a lot of big names cut and available in a second wave. I’d look at Demario Davis, Tredavius White, Ogbah, Mack, Kendricks, Justin Simmons, DJ Jones, and Nick Chubb.

Oh and our favorite late hit poster boy is likely a cut coming off a major injury, Dirty Dre. Couldn’t think of a more deserving player.

I'd be somewhat surprised at cutting Dirty Dre, but, they do have a 10.4/mil out in cutting him and his cap hit is 9.6m so there is an avenue. They would be breaking up the "best MLB tandem in the NFL" though.

 

[Flatlyner]

Wish Allen the best, he was a big part of our SB O-Line. Now, with the saved cap, lets get Dotson and Shelton back in the fold and move forward for another SB run.

 

[FaulkSF]

I'd be somewhat surprised at cutting Dirty Dre, but, they do have a 10.4/mil out in cutting him and his cap hit is 9.6m so there is an avenue. They would be breaking up the "*dirtiest MLB tandem in the NFL" though.

FTFY

 

[So Ram]

Bottom line is Avila IS a center. He's also a G.

Who knows how they really feel about Shelton. Could be sayronara.
They may be confident they can resign Dotson.
They may have other options for Avila's spot.
You never know but I'll bet they do.

I’d say any Rams Fan that thinks Steve Avila will play anywhere besides LG is out of there minds IMO ! It that time a year again.

 

[RamBall]

You just had to go there, didn't you @RamBall ?

I dont get to be first very often. I saw my chance and took my shot lol.

 

[Corbin]

If your QB can handle protections, you want your QB handling protections.

Some of Purdy's worst moments in the Superbowl was cause the center handled the protections and then didn't see the movement after his head went down.

All the greats handled their own protections.

I fail to see the reason you are comparing Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy Mouth.

Outside of them playing the same position there is no similarities.

 

[oldnotdead]

I don't think they would have outright released Allen unless they have already talked to Coleman. I think they are simply ironing out the specifics of his contract but to me, it seems very likely Shelton will get signed as the starter. McAllister should be in line as their backup.

No way I see them moving Avila. He's far more valuable where he is. This gives them the continuity McVay wants at center and on the left side. If Jackson shows improvement then he should be extended next year. I still think drafting an OT in the third round is definitely on the table.

If they can't sign Dotson, I see Noteboom as their bridge starter at RG. I can see them going as high as $9M/yr with Dotson if they do I think they can resign him. Then Noteboom becomes expendable and a post June 1 transactional release (he would be released before June just not posted as a release until after June 1). Drafting an OT who can play both RT and LT will cover them should they not be able to extend Jackson next year.

Releasing both Noteboom and Havenstein as post June 1 transactions allows them to pay for extending Shelton and Dotson as well as Robinson and perhaps Witherspoon all key bridge players. The release of Allen, Noteboom, and Havenstein allows them to extend 4 key starters as it should free up about $25M in cap If they truly expect to make a run at a SB this year extending those 4 guys would seem a logical move to provide continuity at key positions. Also, extending Robinson would make Atwell trade bait.

The next couple of weeks will be interesting to see who gets extended and who doesn't.

 

[Loyal]

As much as I want defense loaded... IF they were to snap up J Powers in round one on top of resigning Dotson we might end up with one of those OL that road grade everyone. Because that dude is a load and so is Avila & Dotson. Now yes I know Dotson isn't dominant in run blocking but that would be a trio that would win in both run and pass. You'd be hard pressed to find a way to beat them consistently with any DL.

So yeah I'd be good with that. Though I think @Loyal would need to lock himself in the head with a jar of vaseline like that time he was ten with a Farrah Fawcett centerfold.

You bastid, I had a poster of Jaqueline Smith, not Steve Austin's girl!

 

[Loyal]

Avila is the best LG we've had since Rodger Saffold, why do people want to move him to center? Does it make sense that McVay/Snead picked him in the 2nd round to ultimately be a center?

 

[WestCoastRam]

Avila is the best LG we've had since Rodger Saffold, why do people want to move him to center? Does it make sense that McVay/Snead picked him in the 2nd round to ultimately be a center?

I think people just have gotten enamored with centers after all the Creed talk and obsessed that Avila played it in the past without understanding some of the nuances of offensive line play. The center tends to be the least valuable position on the line (which may seem odd to people since he snaps the ball - it's the ball, must be important!).

Now, does that mean having a dominant center is a bad thing, absolutely not! In a vacuum that's great. But a dominant guard is more valuable. The best center in the league is certainly more valuable than an above average guard. But a great guard is better than a great center.

But it does get tricky. Historically, it was the right guard who was the most important of the guards. This would often allow the Center to slide left and help the lesser guard (at left) in pass protection. Thing is, Avila is pretty great at LG and often was able to take care of his guy and help out Jackson on his assignment. Moving Avila to Center breaks up a very good duo of Jackson and Avila on the left side and would make Jackson less effective.

There's always a chance that Avila moves to center, generally speaking we want the best 5 out there. But the best I would say is that it's a non-zero chance. Yah dig?

 

[Memento]

I respect Allen's contributions (even though I didn't like the pick), but it was time, he was injured, and he saves money. An obvious move.

Noteboom should be next, possibly a June cut.

 

[Ram65]

I thought Allen would be a solid OC for some years. He helped win the SB but, couldn't get healthy. Wish him the best in the future. He will always have the SB season memories and a ring. The Rams can use the cap savings. I would like to see the Rams keep building a top-level O LIne.

 

[dang]

You bastid, I had a poster of Jaqueline Smith, not Steve Austin's girl!

Cheryl Tiegs for me. Prime spot on my high school bedroom wall!!

 

[Allen2McVay]

One stat that jumps-off the page regarding Allen's Rams career.

Allen was with the Rams for six seasons.
In 2021, he started 20 games. In the other five seasons combined, he started 16 games.

 

[Haden]

One stat that jumps-off the page regarding Allen's Rams career.

Allen was with the Rams for six seasons.
In 2021, he started 20 games. In the other five seasons combined, he started 16 games.

Wow!!!! i had no idea he missed that many games in prior seasons. No wonder he only served as the backup in 2023. Clearly, he was only good for a handful of games typically.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Wow!!!! i had no idea he missed that many games in prior seasons. No wonder he only served as the backup in 2023. Clearly, he was only good for a handful of games.

Lot's of injuries ... back-up in his rookie season (2018) and last year.

 

[Merlin]

I think people just have gotten enamored with centers after all the Creed talk and obsessed that Avila played it in the past without understanding some of the nuances of offensive line play. The center tends to be the least valuable position on the line (which may seem odd to people since he snaps the ball - it's the ball, must be important!).

Now, does that mean having a dominant center is a bad thing, absolutely not! In a vacuum that's great. But a dominant guard is more valuable. The best center in the league is certainly more valuable than an above average guard. But a great guard is better than a great center.

But it does get tricky. Historically, it was the right guard who was the most important of the guards. This would often allow the Center to slide left and help the lesser guard (at left) in pass protection. Thing is, Avila is pretty great at LG and often was able to take care of his guy and help out Jackson on his assignment. Moving Avila to Center breaks up a very good duo of Jackson and Avila on the left side and would make Jackson less effective.

There's always a chance that Avila moves to center, generally speaking we want the best 5 out there. But the best I would say is that it's a non-zero chance. Yah dig?

Center relates strongly to QB. I think that's one thing that is commonly overlooked when the position is discussed.

IF you have an inexperienced QB then a Center who can make great line calls is worth his weight in gold. We saw that with Sullivan in the early McVay years when Goff was running the offense. Goff was not ready to run all that stuff at the line. So Sullivan had enormous impact even though his best years were in his rear view. And if you know you will be drafting a QB and running a young one in coming years then having a Center hit his peak during that moment the young QB takes over would of course be immensely valuable.

So using the Rams as an example here if you were planning on going away from Stafford in let's say 2025, and you're thinking of taking a QB this year in the draft and expecting him to take over after a redshirt year (or simply taking one next year in the draft), then you will prioritize the position more.

IF on the other hand you have a seasoned vet who has a grasp of those line calls and pre-snap read mastery in general, as Stafford does have, then Center quality is much less important. You just need a guy who can hold up well enough physically in the middle, which is easy to accomplish if your guards are strong. Which by extension means that Guard is more important that Center, in this case RG since it is potentially an area of need depending on Dotson.

No idea what they're thinking with QB. I can guess that they envision Stafford for two more seasons. But they may want to be ready for a younger signal caller at some point, and may be ready to take a guy like Penix or Nix or whoever else they might prefer. If that is the case then we're probably looking at two picks that I'd rather have used on defense used on offense. Which would annoy me greatly. But it would be a QB and a Center in those first three rounds if that were the case. The Center would then need to be of decent quality mentally and project to being able to at least help out with the calls.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Avila may move to center or stay at guard.
That said, Rams beat writer, Jourdan Rodrigue even questioned if he would stay at guard awhile back.