Fix the line

[FRO]

I may be in the minority, but I feel that our offensive line issue is bigger than our QB issue. The problem is we have have 2 and with the way Barksdale has played 3 holes on our offensive line. Another problem is free agency hasn't been too kind to us with linemen. From Bell to Brown to Wells to Long, we have gotten the premier free agent linemen and it's gotten us nowhere. A healthy Saffold is an asset at OG. Robinson has flashed at LT and has done well for a raw rookie, I don't care what PFF says. So here are the two, potentially 3 spots we need to fill.

C:
Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney are the holdovers. When Jones was drafted I thought he was the C of the future, the fact he can't get on the field really troubles me considering how bad we are in the middle. Rhaney is an athletic C prospect who the Rams are apparently high on, but he was a 7th rounder. Are you comfortable starting a rookie C when he makes the line calls in our offense? There are some guys in free agency who are attractive in Rodney Hudson and Stefen Wisniewski. Both are young and entering their primes. There is a good chance neither makes it to the open market. There are some good C prospects in the draft. The question is how do you fill that need?

OG:
Rodger Saffold can play any OG position, heck I think the guy could play every position on the line. Once his shoulder is better his play will be. Davin Joseph isn't cutting it. We don't have internal candidates to fill the role. There are some nice names out there in free agency and the draft.

RT:
Joe Barksdale has really struggle recently and is a free agent. Do the Rams bring him back? If we let him go then we will have to fill 3 spots on the line. With limited draft picks this year that may not be wise. There isn't really many names out there better than Barksdale, and there may not be a quality OT outside the first round.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

I think Bardsdale has been playing hurt this season, even if we don't hear about it.

But the biggest spots we need to upgrade are Center and RG.
I think Wells is gone, he's getting way more pay than his play has indicated, and Joseph is a backup at best.

I wouldn't be upset if we took two linemen with our 1st and 2nd picks next year, and a QB in the 3rd round.

 

[Amitar]

Totally agree. The line is a mess at C ROG and RT, and LT has me worried too. Draft OL rounds 1, 2, 3 and hit the FA market.

 

[Ballhawk]

We mainly need a left guard and a center. Barksdale was fine when Saffold was next to him and Saffold was better there as well. I don't want Joseph here at all. He is terrible!
They other question that needs answering is, what do they do with Long? Can he still play? And if so, where?

 

[FRO]

We mainly need a left guard and a center. Barksdale was fine when Saffold was next to him and Saffold was better there as well. I don't want Joseph here at all. He is terrible!
They other question that needs answering is, what do they do with Long? Can he still play? And if so, where?

Long will get cut.

 

[Rams and Gators]

Davis/Hill/Hekker: 301-478-3452-20-14-86.4

Since 2000 RGIII (258-393-3200-20-5-102.4) and Matt Ryan (265-434-3440-16-11-87.7) are the only QBs to throw for 3000+ yards and a better passer rating as rookies (Ben Roethlisberger threw for 196-295-2621-17-11-98.1)

Chances are you are not going to find a rookie who will come in and play at a higher level than the QB play we've received so far this year, if we're in win now mode (which after 3 losing seasons Fisher should be in playoffs or you're fired mode) then I agree, build the line and go with what we've got, let the new guy get his QB.

Obviously if Mariota or Winston (if we investigate better than FSU has) fall and we rate them as top guys then draft them.

The last thing I want is Bradford 2.0 where the guy's development is set back by playing behind a mess.

 

[Alan]

Rams and Gators coming back just oozing positive vibes:
Davis/Hill/Hekker: 301-478-3452-20-14-86.4

Since 2000 RGIII (258-393-3200-20-5-102.4) and Matt Ryan (265-434-3440-16-11-87.7) are the only QBs to throw for 3000+ yards and a better passer rating as rookies (Ben Roethlisberger threw for 196-295-2621-17-11-98.1)

 

[Rams and Gators]

Rams and Gators coming back just oozing positive vibes:

Is that sarcasm? I can never tell .

 

[Alan]

Rams and Gators
Is that sarcasm? I can never tell .

Not at all and it's good to have you back.

 

[den-the-coach]

IMO we'll know soon enough if Jones or Rhaney is part of the solution because the Rams might go hard after a Center in free agency otherwise they will be counting on one of the two. Then they might go in free agency after a Tackle because I truly wonder if Barksdale is part of the plan because if he was, he'd be signed by now. Jake Long will be cut just not durable enough to even consider carrying the contract.

In the end the Rams will either sign a Center or Guard in free agency then most likely use their first round pick on a tackle, however, if they load up in free agency maybe just maybe the plan is to trade up, but IMO, they will continue to build through the draft and hope for a healthy Sam Bradford or another Field General not currently on the roster.

 

[Alan]

den-the-coach divining the plan:
Then they might go in free agency after a Tackle because me thinks that Barksdale is not part of the plan. IMO, he'd be signed by now.

Why do you think it would be to Barks advantage to not test FA?

 

[BonifayRam]

I may be in the minority, but I feel that our offensive line issue is bigger than our QB issue.

Both are very big issues. The current & future big OL issue sure looks to be an issue Fisher & Snead can fix if they want too. In the past three years Snead & Fishers "Want To" has the look as an after thought & when they have worked on the OL to fix it the results have been very injury riddled & failures. Not a good track record for them to hang their hats on.

The problem is we have have 2 and with the way Barksdale has played 3 holes on our offensive line.

With five current Ram OL'ers entering free agency & two super high priced damaged worn OL'ers still on the roster in 2015 under contract ....I see more than 3 holes FRO.

Another problem is free agency hasn't been too kind to us with linemen. From Bell to Brown to Wells to Long, we have gotten the premier free agent linemen and it's gotten us nowhere.

That's the preferred route that Fisher & Boudreau wanted to travel the last three off seasons & yes most all of their signings went into the ditch or crashed. One would think that they may want to try something mostly different but fact is they are in a very big hole now & must do some UFA shopping that will certainly bring damage either to our ability to sign those 12 UFA's in 2016 or kill the cap in 2015.

A healthy Saffold is an asset at OG. Robinson has flashed at LT and has done well for a raw rookie,

Problem with Saffold is he is never healthy. I'd credit Saffold with the most of what we see positively on Greg Robinson. If Robinson had been playing next to a Davin Joseph ....Robinson might have fans screaming the "BUST Label" on him.

C:
Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney are the holdovers. When Jones was drafted I thought he was the C of the future, the fact he can't get on the field really troubles me considering how bad we are in the middle. Rhaney is an athletic C prospect who the Rams are apparently high on, but he was a 7th rounder. Are you comfortable starting a rookie C when he makes the line calls in our offense? There are some guys in free agency who are attractive in Rodney Hudson and Stefen Wisniewski. Both are young and entering their primes. There is a good chance neither makes it to the open market. There are some good C prospects in the draft. The question is how do you fill that need?

Rams should be three deep @ OC with Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney & Tim Barnes(if resigned) I certainly see no reason to go find another overpriced center when we have not seen what these three can do on the field yet.

OG:
Rodger Saffold can play any OG position, heck I think the guy could play every position on the line. Once his shoulder is better his play will be. Davin Joseph isn't cutting it. We don't have internal candidates to fill the role. There are some nice names out there in free agency and the draft.

Draft a few OG's, resign OG Mike Person & Travis Bond & use two of the three above listed centers as some of your interior reserves would be better than overspending on any of the UFA OG's.

RT:
Joe Barksdale has really struggle recently and is a free agent. Do the Rams bring him back? If we let him go then we will have to fill 3 spots on the line. With limited draft picks this year that may not be wise. There isn't really many names out there better than Barksdale, and there may not be a quality OT outside the first round.

Draft a OT with one of your two top draft picks with the hope he can be a starter real soon. If your forced to purchase a veteran OL'er then get a OT not a OG or an OC! My suggested plan would be make a very serious effort & offer to sign UFA 32 yr old veteran OT Michael Roos to a two yr deal. Roos has started forever @ both OT positions & plays both very well. With Roos you get a OLT a ORT & a swing OT all in one package. If you are going to over spend on a UFA he better be a complete OT who can do many things. I would not overpay a one position OL'er like Barksdale & then hope the mighty Saffold can come to the rescue & can help prop JB up when the speeders get after him..... let him go. If Fisher fails to land Roos then Saffold will be the starting ORT until one of the rookies is ready.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

Robinson
1st pick
Jones
2nd pick
Saffold

I'd like a FA Center like Rodney Hudson but that may not be happening

 

[ZigZagRam]

-Re-Sign Barksdale who has played himself into an affordable deal.
-Try to re-work Jake Long's deal.
-Sign Stephen Wisniewski.
-Spend an early pick on an interior OL for depth.

Long-Robinson-Wisniewski-Saffold-Barksdale

Continuity is important. Barksdale should be better with Saffold on his left instead of Joseph. Long needs to take a pay cut. We'd be deep at tackle once again and with a stud rookie (I haven't even started scouting interior OL yet so I couldn't tell you who I'd want) we'd be pretty deep on the interior as well.

 

[FRO]

-Re-Sign Barksdale who has played himself into an affordable deal.
-Try to re-work Jake Long's deal.
-Sign Stephen Wisniewski.
-Spend an early pick on an interior OL for depth.

Long-Robinson-Wisniewski-Saffold-Barksdale

Continuity is important. Barksdale should be better with Saffold on his left instead of Joseph. Long needs to take a pay cut. We'd be deep at tackle once again and with a stud rookie (I haven't even started scouting interior OL yet so I couldn't tell you who I'd want) we'd be pretty deep on the interior as well.

Jake Long was horrible this year. His best football is behind him. Cut bait and move on.

 

[Corbin]

-Re-Sign Barksdale who has played himself into an affordable deal.
-Try to re-work Jake Long's deal.
-Sign Stephen Wisniewski.
-Spend an early pick on an interior OL for depth.

Long-Robinson-Wisniewski-Saffold-Barksdale

Continuity is important. Barksdale should be better with Saffold on his left instead of Joseph. Long needs to take a pay cut. We'd be deep at tackle once again and with a stud rookie (I haven't even started scouting interior OL yet so I couldn't tell you who I'd want) we'd be pretty deep on the interior as well.

Long is toast.... dude is done in the NFL.

 

[Boffo97]

-Re-Sign Barksdale who has played himself into an affordable deal.
-Try to re-work Jake Long's deal.
-Sign Stephen Wisniewski.
-Spend an early pick on an interior OL for depth.

Long-Robinson-Wisniewski-Saffold-Barksdale

Continuity is important. Barksdale should be better with Saffold on his left instead of Joseph. Long needs to take a pay cut. We'd be deep at tackle once again and with a stud rookie (I haven't even started scouting interior OL yet so I couldn't tell you who I'd want) we'd be pretty deep on the interior as well.

We don't need to rework Long's deal. Not only is he done, the Rams wrote his contract so he could be cut this year without much dead money.

 

[BonifayRam]

-Re-Sign Barksdale who has played himself into an affordable deal.
-Try to re-work Jake Long's deal.
-Sign Stephen Wisniewski.
-Spend an early pick on an interior OL for depth.

Long-Robinson-Wisniewski-Saffold-Barksdale

Continuity is important. Barksdale should be better with Saffold on his left instead of Joseph. Long needs to take a pay cut. We'd be deep at tackle once again and with a stud rookie (I haven't even started scouting interior OL yet so I couldn't tell you who I'd want) we'd be pretty deep on the interior as well.

Happy Holidays ZigZagRam,
Your suggested comment on Long is interesting. I'm not sure he will be too happy in not getting his 10.5 million in 2015. I see you still think that Long can line up @ OLT? Was Long already declining toward average on-field levels before this last ACL tear with accumulation of knee, back, shoulder and bicep surgeries injuries? After two back to back ACL tears & an MCL tear on top? Long had a right MCL sprain injury in 2012 with Miami. Long missed the 2011 pro bowl with a left knee injury. If you recall he has a past surgery history where in college he had surgery on his right knee & also his right foot in 2005.

If the Rams were forced into keeping Long due to no other options filling all the Holes would Long not be better off moving to OLG where what skills & talent that still remains (power run blocking) could be put into better use than @ blind side protector OLT? Maybe even right OT too.

If they release Jake it will cost them 2 1/2 million in 2015 cap dead $$$. If Long was still viable as an interior Left OG run blocker something might get worked out. I not fully convinced as most others that Jake Long is completely done playing in the NFL. I think he will NOT earn 10.5 million from the Rams in 2015. In addition I also think Long's his days as a starting @ OLT are done & over.

 

[rhinobean]

I may be in the minority, but I feel that our offensive line issue is bigger than our QB issue. The problem is we have have 2 and with the way Barksdale has played 3 holes on our offensive line. Another problem is free agency hasn't been too kind to us with linemen. From Bell to Brown to Wells to Long, we have gotten the premier free agent linemen and it's gotten us nowhere. A healthy Saffold is an asset at OG. Robinson has flashed at LT and has done well for a raw rookie, I don't care what PFF says. So here are the two, potentially 3 spots we need to fill. This I agree with regard to Wells and Joseph! Joe, not so much! Not fond of the idea of paying too much for bazooka Joe but don't think the other 2 need be retained even J Long may need to go although he might be an okay backup. Like Wisniewski if possible and 2 high round draft choices since you can't have too many big uglies!

C:
Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney are the holdovers. When Jones was drafted I thought he was the C of the future, the fact he can't get on the field really troubles me considering how bad we are in the middle. Rhaney is an athletic C prospect who the Rams are apparently high on, but he was a 7th rounder. Are you comfortable starting a rookie C when he makes the line calls in our offense? There are some guys in free agency who are attractive in Rodney Hudson and Stefen Wisniewski. Both are young and entering their primes. There is a good chance neither makes it to the open market. There are some good C prospects in the draft. The question is how do you fill that need?

OG:
Rodger Saffold can play any OG position, heck I think the guy could play every position on the line. Once his shoulder is better his play will be. Davin Joseph isn't cutting it. We don't have internal candidates to fill the role. There are some nice names out there in free agency and the draft.

RT:
Joe Barksdale has really struggle recently and is a free agent. Do the Rams bring him back? If we let him go then we will have to fill 3 spots on the line. With limited draft picks this year that may not be wise. There isn't really many names out there better than Barksdale, and there may not be a quality OT outside the first round.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

I may be in the minority, but I feel that our offensive line issue is bigger than our QB issue. The problem is we have have 2 and with the way Barksdale has played 3 holes on our offensive line. Another problem is free agency hasn't been too kind to us with linemen. From Bell to Brown to Wells to Long, we have gotten the premier free agent linemen and it's gotten us nowhere. A healthy Saffold is an asset at OG. Robinson has flashed at LT and has done well for a raw rookie, I don't care what PFF says. So here are the two, potentially 3 spots we need to fill.

C:
Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney are the holdovers. When Jones was drafted I thought he was the C of the future, the fact he can't get on the field really troubles me considering how bad we are in the middle. Rhaney is an athletic C prospect who the Rams are apparently high on, but he was a 7th rounder. Are you comfortable starting a rookie C when he makes the line calls in our offense? There are some guys in free agency who are attractive in Rodney Hudson and Stefen Wisniewski. Both are young and entering their primes. There is a good chance neither makes it to the open market. There are some good C prospects in the draft. The question is how do you fill that need?

OG:
Rodger Saffold can play any OG position, heck I think the guy could play every position on the line. Once his shoulder is better his play will be. Davin Joseph isn't cutting it. We don't have internal candidates to fill the role. There are some nice names out there in free agency and the draft.

RT:
Joe Barksdale has really struggle recently and is a free agent. Do the Rams bring him back? If we let him go then we will have to fill 3 spots on the line. With limited draft picks this year that may not be wise. There isn't really many names out there better than Barksdale, and there may not be a quality OT outside the first round.

Well I guess all I have to say if you're in the "minority" then the majority are 'rons (what else is new?)