How good can the Rams offensive line be in 2024?

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How good can the Rams offensive line be in 2024? | Sporting News

The Los Angeles Rams are counting on the trenches to propel their offense in 2024

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How good can the Rams offensive line be in 2024?​

As the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay has benefitted from some of the best offensive line play in the league. The 2017-2018 Los Angeles Rams offensive line featuring Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Jamon Brown, Austin Blythe, and Rob Havenstein helped the Rams take the league by storm in McVay's beginning years, catapulting them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018. In 2021, the play of Whitworth, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, and Havenstein helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.

Now the Rams are counting on their offensive line to put them back in the Super Bowl hunt. The Rams invested in their offensive line this offseason, drafting two players and making guards Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson some of the highest-paid guards in the NFL. Havenstein returns as the longest-tenured member of the team, and Alaric Jackson helped solidify the left tackle spot. All-rookie left guard Steve Avila is moving over to center, a position he played extensively in college.

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Rams' offensive line heading into 2024. Pro Football Focus doesn't share that same optimism, ranking the Rams' unit 16th in the NFL.

"The Rams' shrewd trade acquisition of Kevin Dotson ahead of the 2023 campaign paid massive dividends. He put together a breakout season, finishing with the second-highest PFF grade among guards and earning himself a new contract with the Rams. Los Angeles will hope Jonah Jackson, who the team signed in free agency, will yield similar results, as they are expected to be once again among the better run-blocking units in the NFL."

How the Steelers and Cowboys, teams relying on rookies throughout the unit, ranked in the top 10 but the Rams fell to 16th is beyond me, but regardless, PFF isn't sold on the Rams' ability up front ahead of the 2024 season.

I think their 2024 offensive line could be as good or even better than their 2018 unit. The Rams have built this unit well to fit exactly what they want to do: Run Power Often. The Rams have one of the heaviest offensive lines in football for a reason, and it's the key to their identity as a power-run team. This unit is built to bulldoze and pave the way while the 1-2 train of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum is full steam ahead behind them.

Both Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein are physical, rugged run blockers at the tackle spot. Jackson isn't anything more than average in pass protection and Havenstein has lost a step from his prime days, but they both are superb run blockers who can help drive defenders off the line of scrimmage. With the Rams potentially moving to using heavier personnel in 2024 as well, the Rams can offer both some help in pass protection with tight ends or their running backs to help mitigate their deficiencies as pass blockers.

The real strength of this team is in their interior, however. Jonah Jackson-Steve Avila-Kevin Dotson might be the most physically intimidating interior in the NFL, and each of those players are road graders in the run game. All three are stout in pass protection as well. Dotson and Jackson were top-15 in pressures allowed last season, and Avila allowed the fewest sacks of any rookie offensive lineman last season. This unit is the anchor of the Rams' offense, and this could be the best interior trio in the NFL in 2024 if Avila's move to center goes well.

The Rams' 2024 offensive line also boasts the best depth of any unit in recent memory. Joe Noteboom is the primary backup at left tackle, while 2023 fifth-round pick Warren McClendon is the primary backup at right tackle. Los Angeles spent two draft picks boosting their interior as well, adding center Beaux Limmer out of Arkansas and guard KT Leveston out of Kansas State. Those two have the edge for backup spots inside but will have to fight off former third-round pick Logan Bruss and 2022 sixth-round pick Zachary Thomas.

Offensive line play is the backbone for any offense, at all levels of the game. The Rams were wise to invest heavily into this unit this offseason, as it seems poised to propel their talented offense to another postseason run.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Recently, I listened to two different podcasts from ‘The Athletic’. One was a guy talking about the best supporting casts for each NFC team. The other was about the best offensive lines in the NFC.

The first guy had the Rams right in the middle and claimed the Offensive line was a weakness. The second guy was very excited about the Rams offensive line and ranked them very highly.

 

[snackdaddy]

I suppose nothing is certain. Continuity is important for an offensive line. We do have 4 of the 5 starting linemen returning. But there are two position changes with Avila moving to center and Jonah Jackson at left guard. I think this line will be pretty good at some point. I just don't know if they will be good from the start.

 

[Loyal]

STUDS!

 

[Soul Surfer]

STUDS!

Logan Bruss?

 

[bubbaramfan]

This offense is primed to dominate "time of possession", and let McVay handle clock and time out management (his biggest weakness as a coach IMHO). Rams are set to dominate the run game on some teams.

PS, Bruss can't hold the jock of any of these starting five.

 

[OldSchool]

If Jackson plays to last years level and Hav has a good year, health permitting they could be among the best in the league.

 

[So Ram]

This offense is primed to dominate "time of possession", and let McVay handle clock and time out management (his biggest weakness as a coach IMHO). Rams are set to dominate the run game on some teams.

PS, Bruss can't hold the jock of any of these starting five.

What’s your prediction before training camp on who makes the 53 from The O’Line only ?

Hard choice right now,how good
Are this rookies & how much have the players from the practice squad improved?

My thoughts are only 8 O’Lineman make the squad ?

 

[So Ram]

Logan Bruss?

Does he even make the squad ? He got cut last season.

Zach Thomas just about to Matthew Stafford killed ,doing an impression of Bobby Evan’s.

 

[Merlin]

Biggest threat to this offense now will be pass rushing fronts with speed off that edge. But the teams with power edges, like SF, our boys should handle just fine. And the speed rush fronts you can run on too, just comes down to McVay disciplining himself in his calls to keep it balanced.

I think if this line stays healthy they're gonna be very good. Certainly top ten. Maybe elite. Very excited.

 

[Loyal]

Logan Bruss?

I never include Bruss in my thoughts...

 

[Flint]

I suppose nothing is certain. Continuity is important for an offensive line. We do have 4 of the 5 starting linemen returning. But there are two position changes with Avila moving to center and Jonah Jackson at left guard. I think this line will be pretty good at some point. I just don't know if they will be good from the start.

It might be my rams colored glasses but I think these guys will come together pretty quickly. I don’t know if they expected everything to fall into place the way it did but could it be that the FO wanted to beef up the middle and they weren’t that upset when Shelton tested the market? There also hasn’t been that much change, new center and new guard and Avila already knows the system.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Biggest threat to this offense now will be pass rushing fronts with speed off that edge. But the teams with power edges, like SF, our boys should handle just fine. And the speed rush fronts you can run on too, just comes down to McVay disciplining himself in his calls to keep it balanced.

I think if this line stays healthy they're gonna be very good. Certainly top ten. Maybe elite. Very excited.

Last year the teams that blitzed and tried to confuse the Rams were the toughest, like Martindale and the Giants pass rush, The Browns and Ravens were some others.

I wonder if this means the Seahawks will pose some new challenges.

 

[bubbaramfan]

My guess on who Rams keep on OL: Aleric Jackson, Jonah Jacckson, Avila, Dotson, Havenstien, Noteboom, Beaux Limmer (as backup Center) Warren McClenden (as backup T) and Mike McCallister.

 

[snackdaddy]

Does he even make the squad ? He got cut last season.

Zach Thomas just about to Matthew Stafford killed ,doing an impression of Bobby Evan’s.

Bruss is second on the depth chart at RG behind Dotson. I feel like they should just cut bait at this point. He can't stay healthy. And he isn't very good if he can.

Thomas was the sole reason for the Bengals loss. But I blame the coaches. It was obvious he was overmatched and had no business playing left tackle against a very good pass rusher. They left him out there to get burned over and over. His confidence had to be shot.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I never include Bruss in my thoughts...

That's probably best.
I have so much more respect for a free agent or late draft pick that works hard and makes the team than some guy picked too high that flops.

 

[So Ram]

Bruss is second on the depth chart at RG behind Dotson. I feel like they should just cut bait at this point. He can't stay healthy. And he isn't very good if he can.

Thomas was the sole reason for the Bengals loss. But I blame the coaches. It was obvious he was overmatched and had no business playing left tackle against a very good pass rusher. They left him out there to get burned over and over. His confidence had to be shot.

Will never understand Sean Mcvay not stepping up & noticing that as well. -that’s why John Streicher was brought on as well as other game time decisions.

Why not put Noteboom at LT & move Zach Thomas to the right side(guard) ? If he can’t play both guard spots ? What good is he on the depth chart ?

Another season of learning & getting bigger & better doesn’t hurt players development.That’s why you have OTA’s & training camp.

The Rams motto is The Work Works! So that is what we as Fans have to hope for & what separates The Rams from being an average Franchise to a Top franchise.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

How the Steelers and Cowboys, teams relying on rookies throughout the unit, ranked in the top 10 but the Rams fell to 16th is beyond me, but regardless, PFF isn't sold on the Rams' ability up front ahead of the 2024 season.

Another thing flying under the radar is fine with me.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

“How the Steelers and Cowboys, teams relying on rookies throughout the unit, ranked in the top 10 but the Rams fell to 16th is beyond me, but regardless, PFF isn't sold on the Rams' ability up front ahead of the 2024 season.”


PFF is becoming another mainstream whore imo. Sam Monson picked the Rams to have under 8.5 wins. These clowns are either more out of touch than I realized or they are succumbing to ratings pressure.

 

[ReekofRams]

I never include Bruss in my thoughts...

Just in your dreams.