I’ll bite.
Why would it bother The Rams ? Well why would Ram Fan think it is going to happen? First off most around here never thought he would make it through his first contract.
Noteboom ? The injury to Whitworth only comes at more of an expense.Noteboom is just as good as Whitworth at this point.I’d say there is no drop off & both players are playing at a high level.
HOF - will see how many Fans turn out ? I can’t even tell you what Warner’s HOF intro was like ?
Just some OL thought nuggets at this point in time.....2021 season from 2020-
Andrew Whitworth: 85.3 (-0.8
), Joseph Noteboom: 78.1 (+2.3). JN will likely have the JPP assignment, which he faced in Week 10 of 2020. I agree with you not much difference between AW & JN in the overall performances but I would add that JN might be a better pass protector & that AW is better in the run blocking.
The biggest trench show on these line battles Sunday afternoon will not be on the edges but will be the center vs. those two inside DT's Vea & Suh. If McVay forgets about the run game this becomes a big problem for our interior OL'ers.
Brian Allen is far better in his run blocking assignments even going up against an NT like Vea than pass blocking.
Did you notice
that OL coach Carberry went with center
Coleman Shelton as the Rams 6th OL'er on the right side edge in the Wild Card game after JN was inserted into starter @ LT? It was
NOT the senior reserve OL Bobby Evans... what are your thoughts on that?
Shelton has demonstrated excellent mobility with accuracy to make those blocks
on the move whereas Evans has had all kinds of whiffs & missed blocks when utilized as the 6th OL'er. IMO Shelton is a better run blocker on the edge than Noteboom when used as the 6th OL'er. He hits his target. Against this Buc defense, I would let this OL run block their posteriors off taking the manhandling approach to attack. This OL even without AW is fully healthy give them the chance to make these run blocks & shock
the NFL world with a power game mentality even with having the super hyped-up skilled positions receivers on board. Bucs will be caught with their pink thongs & panties down.
The Bucs will prioritize stopping the run to force McVay & Stafford to primarily play their weaknesses. Bucs planning to squeeze out several crucial Stafford INT's by the end of the first half to control the game from that point in order to get the tight win. Bucs will protect their weak secondary in their game plan.
My conclusion is McVay must run and run again to wear down that veteran DL in the 2nd half utilizing all Michel, Akers, and Henderson keeping those RB's fresh with the ability to carry the game on their shoulders against the planning by the Bucs coaching staff. There is a 5 yr past
History on McVay that tells them McVay will not stay with the run game in critical close games.
It's up to HC McVay to win this, he
now has a full stud-horse corral to do just that
for the first time this season! McVay also now has 2 very good RB pass catchers with very good speed (Akers/Henderson) to utilize for big gains after Stafford's short passes.