How David Edwards fits with the Los Angeles Rams

[So Ram]

McVay sat all the starters in pre season games last year. Will he sit starters Noteboom and Allen this season? Both have never started an NFL game and have very few snaps.

Blythe never started in the preseason? Brown got a couple starts ?? So I say yes they will get some started Reps, especially if Goff is playing .

 

[oldnotdead]

Okay people need to remember that the Rams play a zone scheme with their oline. One of the reason's is that it allows for easier transitions between OG and OT. The concepts are the same, it's just remembering your cues on which way to block. But the blocking concepts are the same. It's also the scheme most of these guys have played in high school and beyond.

What I see the Rams doing with Edwards and Evans is that transitioning OT's into OG's makes far more sense when you play with a limited game day roster. The transition from OT to OG is easier than from OG to OT because of the athleticism required to play OT at this level. I think Evans would make a very good LG and Evans has the makings of a good swing OT.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/DowntownRams/status/1136745697770971140

 

[hotanez]

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/DowntownRams/status/1136745697770971140

we have an answer and the future starter at LT already. His name is Noteboom.

 

[BonifayRam]

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/DowntownRams/status/1136745697770971140

Edwards does seem to have positive LT type skills & abilities for Kromer to work with here & time to knock off any burrs he sees in the future:

Strengths
Initial slides are quick.
HS basketball player with good feet.
Early quickness in pass sets.
Gets long arms unfurled and extended into opposition.
Natural and fluid.
Potential to stick and slide after an engagement.
Initial quickness to cross-face on backside zone blocks.
Agility to alter body positioning in space.

 

[OldSchool]

we have an answer and the future starter at LT already. His name is Noteboom.

I think we do as well. TBH this goes back to Kromer 101. Train guys in multiple positions and have an insurance policy for everything. That said it wouldn't be a bad thing if Noteboom excels at LG and stays there and Edwards excels at LT. Either way we're in a good position.

 

[Merlin]

Jesus the media nowadays. Kromer runs the kid out there at LT in OTAs to get a look at him and suddenly it's whether he's the answer to replace Whit.

I mean who knows. But the days of media members who understand the process at this level and actually provide the fan base with meaningful analysis are gone. Only a few of them do that now. Thankful we have Vinny right now, he's about the only guy who I routinely read.

 

[Merlin]

we have an answer and the future starter at LT already. His name is Noteboom.

I think it's more accurate to say that Boom is the backup LT right now. And if he was good enough to push Whit out it would have begun happening by now in the form of them "opening up competition" at LT.

It's entirely possible we see the Rams move up for their LT of the future in the next draft. If one of these guys doesn't show them enough of course. But just because Boom's the guy they're most comfortable with replacing Whit with right now doesn't mean they see him as a long term answer on the blindside.

There's a long way to go on that whole thing IMO. And it is looming as a crucial decision for the franchise.

 

[oldnotdead]

Where they play people in OTA's is meaningless. Edwards has a whole lot of issues to correct before you can say he can play LT in the NFL. He's proved nothing yet. He showed in college he needs work. So if that's true then he's not ready to play yet in the NFL.

Make no mistake that if Whitworth is out of the game, Noteboom will play LT and whoever is next man up at OG will play LG and I think that will be Evans or Demby.

There is some question coming into the NFL whether Edwards can play OG. He lacks the anchor and drive needed at OG. Bottom line is he is a project player and IMO at least 2 years. He is exceedingly raw but they took him based on future potential as a swing tackle. I say again the NFL is technique heavy and that is exactly the issue with Edwards and IMO one TC won't be enough to correct his issues. Play him too early and he could get Goff hurt. Remember Edwards only became an Olineman in 2016 as a freshman.

IMO Edwards is behind both Evans and Demby in readiness to play. Remember last two years the Rams only carried 8 oline on the active 53 and only dressed 7 on game day. If they do that again this season Edwards could make the 53 active roster but be inactive all year which would be the best thing for him.

 

[Akrasian]

Where they play people in OTA's is meaningless. Edwards has a whole lot of issues to correct before you can say he can play LT in the NFL. He's proved nothing yet. He showed in college he needs work. So if that's true then he's not ready to play yet in the NFL.

Make no mistake that if Whitworth is out of the game, Noteboom will play LT and whoever is next man up at OG will play LG and I think that will be Evans or Demby.

There is some question coming into the NFL whether Edwards can play OG. He lacks the anchor and drive needed at OG. Bottom line is he is a project player and IMO at least 2 years. He is exceedingly raw but they took him based on future potential as a swing tackle. I say again the NFL is technique heavy and that is exactly the issue with Edwards and IMO one TC won't be enough to correct his issues. Play him too early and he could get Goff hurt. Remember Edwards only became an Olineman in 2016 as a freshman.

IMO Edwards is behind both Evans and Demby in readiness to play. Remember last two years the Rams only carried 8 oline on the active 53 and only dressed 7 on game day. If they do that again this season Edwards could make the 53 active roster but be inactive all year which would be the best thing for him.

I think at this stage that's correct. It wouldn't shock me if they carried 9 this season, since I expect them to lose two after this year. Edwards does need time before he's ready, and he's a risk. If he regains the strength he had his junior year, he could make himself the gameday OT backup at some point in the season. Not a sure thing, but supposedly he is fully healthy now, and has been working out. I think the Rams took him as a bargain potential LT. Noteboom has the edge, but it's always good to have options. And when Edwards was healthy, he was likely a better prospect than Noteboom.

 

[hotanez]

I think it's more accurate to say that Boom is the backup LT right now. And if he was good enough to push Whit out it would have begun happening by now in the form of them "opening up competition" at LT.

It's entirely possible we see the Rams move up for their LT of the future in the next draft. If one of these guys doesn't show them enough of course. But just because Boom's the guy they're most comfortable with replacing Whit with right now doesn't mean they see him as a long term answer on the blindside.

There's a long way to go on that whole thing IMO. And it is looming as a crucial decision for the franchise.

I believe they do see him as the future LT. will they draft one in the future? I can't predict the future so I don't know, anything can happen I guess. Never said he is better then Whit or that he could push him out but I believe that when Whit decides to retire Note will be our LT.

 

[Rams43]

I will be stunned if Boom is not our future LOT when Big Whit retires. Period.

Boom is playing LG this year for 2 reasons only. Kromer wants to give him NFL live fire experience next to Whit and Kromer wants to get his best 5 players on the field on that OL.

I see Edwards, Evans, and Demby battling to become future starters at one of the OG positions, assuming Blythe is allowed to walk.

 

[BonifayRam]

Where they play people in OTA's is meaningless. Edwards has a whole lot of issues to correct before you can say he can play LT in the NFL. He's proved nothing yet. He showed in college he needs work. So if that's true then he's not ready to play yet in the NFL.

Make no mistake that if Whitworth is out of the game, Noteboom will play LT and whoever is next man up at OG will play LG and I think that will be Evans or Demby.

There is some question coming into the NFL whether Edwards can play OG. He lacks the anchor and drive needed at OG. Bottom line is he is a project player and IMO at least 2 years. He is exceedingly raw but they took him based on future potential as a swing tackle. I say again the NFL is technique heavy and that is exactly the issue with Edwards and IMO one TC won't be enough to correct his issues. Play him too early and he could get Goff hurt. Remember Edwards only became an Olineman in 2016 as a freshman.

IMO Edwards is behind both Evans and Demby in readiness to play. Remember last two years the Rams only carried 8 oline on the active 53 and only dressed 7 on game day. If they do that again this season Edwards could make the 53 active roster but be inactive all year which would be the best thing for him.

At the 2018 preseason, Kromer had 3 interior OL'ers who were primarily centers more than OG's (Sullivan/ Blythe & Allen). Starting OG's Saffold & Brown with Brown heading into suspension. Joe Noteboom was the primary swing OT/OG. The Rams released OG Jamil Demby but retained OG/OC Aaron Neary, OC Evan Boehm & OT Darrell Williams signed to Practice Squad. Initially, Rams went extra light (7) in the OL cadre numbers with the expectation of Jamon Brown returning to take up the starting RG posts again. It was a bit of a gamble but Blythe surprised everyone!

When Jamon Brown's suspension was over he returned to make 8 active OL'ers as a reserve. However, he was soon released on October 30th lowering the OL cadre numbers back down to seven again. Rams continued to run light with active OL'ers @ seven. Neary was clearly the 8th OL'er but he was on the PS. It wasn't until December 12th when the Rams increased the OL numbers & went back up with 8 active OL'ers on the 53 player roster with the return of Jamil Demby. That number of OL'ers remained the same till the very end of the 2018 season.

I do not see the Rams going that light in OL numbers in 2019.

 

[oldnotdead]

The issue has always been one of the limit a team can dress on game day. IMO it's a nonsense rule but as long as they have it many teams like the Rams only carry 8 on the active 53 roster because like the Rams they usually only dress 7 online on game days. Why carry more when the balance are going to be inactive. That's why most teams go heavy on DB's and oline on their practice squads. They can always draw on that roster like their ready reserve on short notice if necessary.

I don't see them changing that practice.

 

[Ramstien]

From what I am hearing don't be surprised if an improved Blythe is once again starting on the OL.