The timeline is probably 2026. How fast can a freshman become a PhD?
The Rams’ center typically calls and sets the initial protection but Stafford has the power to supersede the call if he wants — an important detail especially in 2024 as the team went from former starter Coleman Shelton (who departed in free agency last spring) to second-year lineman Steve Avila, to rookie Beaux Limmer (with a Week 10 game in which veteran free-agent acquisition Jonah Jacksonplayed center, before the coaching staff moved back to Limmer). Stafford has played with four centers over the past calendar year.
Limmer, a sixth-round pick last spring, has secured his role as a starter. Stafford said that it remains Limmer’s responsibility to get up to speed on his calls (and to lean on guards Avila and Kevin Dotson for cross-checks), but against more complex or aggressive defenses, Limmer noted his appreciation that the veteran quarterback can take over:
2024, Week 8, Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, :53 remaining in the first quarter, first-and-10
After shifting Kupp inside, Stafford used multiple dummy counts. Broadcast microphones picked up his “ready-set-hut” — an actual count frequently starts with the word “turbo.” After noticing both overhang defenders jump, he knew the Vikings would blitz. Stafford “canned” the original call, meaning of the two plays McVay called into his headset, Stafford canceled the first play so the offense would run the second call.
The second play was a pass, so Limmer wanted to slide the protection to the inside linebacker. Andrew Van Ginkel (No. 43) typically plays on the edge but on this play, he was inside, which likely alerted Limmer of the possibility that Van Ginkel could have been in that position to blitz.
However, Stafford had a better read on the defense and adjusted the protection. Microphones captured it:
“Out to 22!”
Stafford’s call overruled the center and slid the protection out to safety Harrison Smith (No. 22).
Stafford was correct: Smith blitzed while Van Ginkel dropped. Sometimes dropping non-traditional players out of certain exotic pressures leaves them vulnerable in coverage. Stafford attacked Van Ginkel, throwing to Nacua running a dig behind him.
“It gives me the most confidence,” Limmer said. “Obviously I’m a rookie this year, so coming in I didn’t know really anything about the offense. So if I ever make a wrong call or anything — I mean, he hears it right away and he’s flipping the protection or whatever it is. It gives me a lot of confidence not to make the wrong call, because he’s going to make it right if I do.”
Maybe it just feels that way because we don't give a shit about the other teams? Lol......Yeah the limited reps in the preseason certainly don't help though
And we all know who they are. Shelton, by every measure is an upgrade AT THIS POINT over Limmer. It was obvious (to me) how much more coherent the Rams OL was with Shelton.
I'm sure there is something to your feeling that we typically start slow. While McVay is a trendsetter, there is a real cost to his method of not playing starters and key backups in preseason. That cost is you're going to start slower than you could.
in 2021 the rams started 7and 2
When did McVay start doing that? I don't believe he sat starters in his first few years coaching. But I'm going off the top of my head and could be wrong.
And yet there we were in a very real position to beat the future SB champions. No one - and I mean NO ONE expected that - especially after a 1-4 start, yet there we were.
My whole point with Atwell has been very simple and it even applies to the Eagles game. If McVay saw so much potential in using Atwell then why did he get a whopping grand total of 0 snaps in that game. Make it make sense.
It’s not up to me or you to make it make sense. All this second guessing and griping when the very people getting us to within a play or two from going to the NFCC happen to have a very different view of some of these players. Hell - in an ideal world, we’d just add and subtract players with impunity. We would never have anything but the best at their positions. We’d have only players the fans thought were worthy because the staff saw things the same way.
I think it is, as it pertains to the fact we post here to discuss these things, and these silly conversations being a reason many engage in message boards.
Well that’s a stretch but ok…. Just seems like an odd exercise in futility and frustration.
You know damned well how much I celebrated this season and wouldn't get negative at all about the lows and kept positive about where this team can go so don't go there with me on the bolded.
Yes and no. The Rams have their reasons for the moves they make, but fans don't have to like them all.
You're right that we've seen McVay be stubborn before. I would add though that the entire Tutu/Creed thing is a fan creation. We've had no indication, no evidence whatsoever that the Rams were even interested in a center that year, let alone Creed.
