Offensive Line Breakdown….Who Will Make the Final 53?

[dang]

We need the 3 old-timers to hold the fort for the first half and be healthy at the end of the season. We need Jamon and Big Rob to keep pushing up towards excellence. We need 2 of remaining to show well as the season progresses. We get that and our offense will achieve even higher levels than last year.

 

[bubbaramfan]

flv, thx for the info. I'll visit the sportsbook and see how it works, never been there yet. I could live with 5 X 4K DWilliams does NOT make the final 53. If I have trouble, I'll PM you.

 

[So Ram]

flv, thx for the info. I'll visit the sportsbook and see how it works, never been there yet. I could live with 5 X 4K DWilliams does NOT make the final 53. If I have trouble, I'll PM you.

I’d go 10k with five to make up the 20k ?

 

[So Ram]

I’d go 10k with you to make the 20k ?

 

[bubbaramfan]

Sounds like we have a wager So Ram. 10K ROD$$ straight up. If DWilliams does NOT make the final 53, I win. If he DOES make the final 53, IOU. Practice Squad does NOT count.

I'm not sure how to set up the bet in Sportsbook, but we have plenty of time to do that. Needs to be done by the start of TC. flv will help with that.

So Ram, will you be going to any of the TC practices in Irvine?

 

[BonifayRam]

Austin Blythe is the man they are looking to to be the backup center this year.
Brian Allen is who they are attempting to groom as a possible future Center.
Allen fell in the draft because he is somewhat small but was probably one of the top two or three most talented centers *in college*.How that translates to the pros is still in debate, mostly due to his size.
Depending on how Camp looks for Allen and Demby, they both could end up on the practice squad.
I think Noteboom is the only player that will definitely be on the 53.But he would have to be really good in Camp to be a game-day active.

I agree fully with your assessment of where Austin Blythe stands @ this time. AB is one smart little OL'er who took to Kromer's direction well. AB sure appears to be in a good position to be a Ram for the next 2 seasons. AB's salary is also very cap friendly. When the Rams move out of the black into the red in the cap in 2019 AB stands a good possibility to be our starting OC as they cut consider Sullivan for the mandated cap relief.

The size of Brian Allen has been brought up a lot here as usual but a good reminder is another 4th rd OC/OG drafted prospect who was the same size as Allen ....Shaq Mason 6-1 304lbs has done outstanding being small for the Pats @ starting OG & it is thought that Mason could land a deal similar to the five-year, $66.5 million pact Andrew Norwell signed with Jags in March 2019.

BA started as a Freshman @ LG, Sophomore @ LG, Jr. @ starts @ LG & RG & then his last season all @ OC. So three out of 4 seasons BA was primarily a LG not a OC. The 2019 Rams stand a high probability to have 2 starting OG vacancies needing replacements due to lack of cap funds to keep the present starters. @ this very early stage I would not pencil in BA as a OC but would do that @ LG.

I guess the question is about Demby being placed on the practice squad ? He might need a year to get quicker & stronger. Would he get claimed ? The preseason is still a couple months away. How much players improve & condition the next month & a half could make a huge difference. —Right now I’m talking out my ass. How many 6th rd picks ever really make it ?? I like the pick & the player for sure.
I just think he is the odd man out right now!! You can say all you want about it.The fact is he his being moved around & now playing a little Tackle which is a good thing, but could be a sign he less likely to make the 53 ?Noteboom is going to be on the 53 as a swing tackle. Allen is a backup center who The Rams are placing at LG. —

I see no major questions on Jamil Demby @ this time. Jamil Demby just like Brian Allen will never see the Rams practice Squad! 6th round selections have gave the NFL many of a good player. Rams have a pro bowl 6th rd pick on its roster now. CB EJ Gaines was a 6th rd'er. 6th rd OL'er Ryan Jensen of the Buc's just signed a new contract for over 10 million a yr. All pro OL'er Jason Kelce was a 6th rd pick. Wade's 6th rd pick of Danny Trevathan started in Super Bowl 50 and led the Broncos with eight combined tackles & recovered a crucial fumble to help the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers 24–10. Oh he was a 6th rd'er too & has been earning over $7 mil a yr for the last 3 seasons. I look @ 6th rd selections much different from you. Snead sure likes them we saw that in this years draft.

I have no ideal what position JD will end up @ with the Rams, but I see JD as a versatile LG/RG prospect who will start early in addition with RT abilities. With RT Rob Havenstein entering the Million $$ lottery as a UFA in less than 8 months along with Saffold & Brown there are so many high demands on the need of a Demby the next 2 seasons. The last place I believe we will find him will be the Practice Squad.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Every year when a team cuts down to 53 they always have to decide who they think they can risk putting out there as a cut and not get taken by another team.
That other team would then have to put them on their 53, meaning that they would then also risk a player that they want to put on their practice squad.

Cut time is critically risky.
Sometimes you have to risk letting go of a 6th rounder at cut time to keep someone you did not want to lose immediately.

They potentially could be available later anyway.

Again my opinion is that the only rookie lock to make the 53 is Noteboom.

Most teams would probably lock up 60 players if they could for future development and depth if they were allowed to.

 

[BonifayRam]

Every year when a team cuts down to 53 they always have to decide who they think they can risk putting out there as a cut and not get taken by another team.
That other team would then have to put them on their 53, meaning that they would then also risk a player that they want to put on their practice squad.

Cut time is critically risky.
Sometimes you have to risk letting go of a 6th rounder at cut time to keep someone you did not want to lose immediately.

They potentially could be available later anyway.

Again my opinion is that the only rookie lock to make the 53 is Noteboom.

Most teams would probably lock up 60 players if they could for future development and depth if they were allowed to.

I agree that any of 6th rd'ers are usually easy cuts before the regular season begins....other 2018 Rams 6th rd'ers like OLB Trevon Young, NT Sebastian Joseph & RB John Kelly would be in that cadre of usual cuts however the OL situation is the biggest concern going forward.

The development of future starters is #No 1 @ the moment I. Future development of OL reserves like a Darrell Williams or Cornelius Lucas or a Jake Eldrenkamp is nowhere close to a priority. We will see if I am correct in August.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I realize that developing players for the offensive line is a priority and I'm sure that part will come into the conversation come cut time.

It would still come down to how much confidence they have in a Demby, (for instance).

It wouldn't surprise me if they picked up another veteran cut like they did with Blythe tomorrow.

It wouldn't surprise me if they picked up someone's final cut.

It wouldn't surprise me if they already have their eyes on some player that could be a final cut and grab one of them.

Building the line is a fluid situation with a lot of moving parts.

I would be surprised if they stick to any ONE mantra involving O line building.

 

[OldSchool]

I realize that developing players for the offensive line is a priority and I'm sure that part will come into the conversation come cut time.

It would still come down to how much confidence they have in a Demby, (for instance).

It wouldn't surprise me if they picked up another veteran cut like they did with Blythe tomorrow.

It wouldn't surprise me if they picked up someone's final cut.

It wouldn't surprise me if they already have their eyes on some player that could be a final cut and grab one of them.

Building the line is a fluid situation with a lot of moving parts.

I would be surprised if they stick to any ONE mantra involving O line building.

It wouldn't surprise me if McVay and Kromer knew what they were doing and picked the right guys who didn't need to be on the practice squad.

It wouldn't surprise me if we ran 3 rookies as backups along with Blythe or Neary starting week 1.

It wouldn't surprise me if within a year or two those 3 draft picks will be starting on our OLine.

 

[Soul Surfer]

It wouldn't surprise me if McVay and Kromer knew what they were doing and picked the right guys who didn't need to be on the practice squad.

It wouldn't surprise me if we ran 3 rookies as backups along with Blythe or Neary starting week 1.

It wouldn't surprise me if within a year or two those 3 draft picks will be starting on our OLine.

All true.
I already mentioned those possibilities.

My main point is anything is possible at this point.

I expect a little bit of all of that.

 

[Soul Surfer]

It wouldn't surprise me if we ran 3 rookies as backups along with Blythe or Neary starting week 1.

Actually this part would surprise me quite a bit.

We will probably only have 7 game-day actives which means five starters and two backups.

I seriously doubt those backups will be rookies, particularly Week 1.

Remember the two game day actives are going to have to play two positions each.

If a rookie gets up to speed that quick, that would be pretty amazing.

 

[Prime Time]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-ranking-offensive-lines-by-pass-blocking-efficiency

Ranking all 32 offensive lines by pass-blocking efficiency
BY MARK CHICHESTER

15. LOS ANGELES RAMS
2017 pass-blocking efficiency: 78.6

Best individual PBE: John Sullivan, 97.7

The Rams’ unit went from drastically underachieving in 2016 to becoming a strength of the team in 2017.

The line allowed just 151 pressures on their 551 passing plays. Veteran free agent acquisitions John Sullivan and Andrew Whitworth both performed at a high level throughout the season, and both ended the year ranked 18th among their respective positions with PBE ratings of 97.7 and 96.1, respectively.

While Whitworth showed slight signs of decline in 2017, he still ranks first among qualifying tackles over the PFF era with a career pass-blocking efficiency of 97.0.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Best individual PBE: John Sullivan, 97.7



Veteran free agent acquisitions John Sullivan and Andrew Whitworth both performed at a high level throughout the season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After watching him play last year I was trying to tell people that John Sullivan is a stud.
After watching Scott Wells and Tim Barnes it was incredibly apparent.

 

[So Ram]

Sounds like we have a wager So Ram. 10K ROD$$ straight up. If DWilliams does NOT make the final 53, I win. If he DOES make the final 53, IOU. Practice Squad does NOT count.

I'm not sure how to set up the bet in Sportsbook, but we have plenty of time to do that. Needs to be done by the start of TC. flv will help with that.

So Ram, will you be going to any of the TC practices in Irvine?

I don’t know either about how to make the wager, but I’m in. There is no way D. Williams will be on practice squad, so he would be flat out cut. The lack that he doesn’t cross train night be his demise?

Yes- I’ll be at a camp at some point I believe.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Great So Ram. VeteranRamFan will be there too. Should be some other ROD menbers, Ramball, Merlin were there last year. Looking forward to meeting you.

 

[So Ram]

I agree fully with your assessment of where Austin Blythe stands @ this time. AB is one smart little OL'er who took to Kromer's direction well. AB sure appears to be in a good position to be a Ram for the next 2 seasons. AB's salary is also very cap friendly. When the Rams move out of the black into the red in the cap in 2019 AB stands a good possibility to be our starting OC as they cut consider Sullivan for the mandated cap relief.

The size of Brian Allen has been brought up a lot here as usual but a good reminder is another 4th rd OC/OG drafted prospect who was the same size as Allen ....Shaq Mason 6-1 304lbs has done outstanding being small for the Pats @ starting OG & it is thought that Mason could land a deal similar to the five-year, $66.5 million pact Andrew Norwell signed with Jags in March 2019.

BA started as a Freshman @ LG, Sophomore @ LG, Jr. @ starts @ LG & RG & then his last season all @ OC. So three out of 4 seasons BA was primarily a LG not a OC. The 2019 Rams stand a high probability to have 2 starting OG vacancies needing replacements due to lack of cap funds to keep the present starters. @ this very early stage I would not pencil in BA as a OC but would do that @ LG.


I see no major questions on Jamil Demby @ this time. Jamil Demby just like Brian Allen will never see the Rams practice Squad! 6th round selections have gave the NFL many of a good player. Rams have a pro bowl 6th rd pick on its roster now. CB EJ Gaines was a 6th rd'er. 6th rd OL'er Ryan Jensen of the Buc's just signed a new contract for over 10 million a yr. All pro OL'er Jason Kelce was a 6th rd pick. Wade's 6th rd pick of Danny Trevathan started in Super Bowl 50 and led the Broncos with eight combined tackles & recovered a crucial fumble to help the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers 24–10. Oh he was a 6th rd'er too & has been earning over $7 mil a yr for the last 3 seasons. I look @ 6th rd selections much different from you. Snead sure likes them we saw that in this years draft.

I have no ideal what position JD will end up @ with the Rams, but I see JD as a versatile LG/RG prospect who will start early in addition with RT abilities. With RT Rob Havenstein entering the Million $$ lottery as a UFA in less than 8 months along with Saffold & Brown there are so many high demands on the need of a Demby the next 2 seasons. The last place I believe we will find him will be the Practice Squad.

Right now it is all a blank board. OTA’s are done & yes mini camp is underrated.The fact is is that player workout voluntarily & get rewarded during mini camp to get a early summer. Coaches & training staff are afraid players might get hurt, because of mind set
Going into vacation.

The last week or so Kromer started switching players around, how that changes when they comeback I don’t know?

Kromer talked about cross training & having only 8 lineman on Sunday? It makes me wonder what will happen at the end of the preseason. I got way ahead of myself in terms of depth.I have an idea of what it will look like from the start, which doesn’t mean much at this point.
Demby was a solid draft pick, but I still have doubts. Yes, once pads come on, I personally think he is a weak link as far as strength. I believe in his skill level & size moving forward though.

 

[BonifayRam]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-ranking-offensive-lines-by-pass-blocking-efficiency

Ranking all 32 offensive lines by pass-blocking efficiency
BY MARK CHICHESTER

15. LOS ANGELES RAMS
2017 pass-blocking efficiency: 78.6

Best individual PBE: John Sullivan, 97.7

The Rams’ unit went from drastically underachieving in 2016 to becoming a strength of the team in 2017.

The line allowed just 151 pressures on their 551 passing plays. Veteran free agent acquisitions John Sullivan and Andrew Whitworth both performed at a high level throughout the season, and both ended the year ranked 18th among their respective positions with PBE ratings of 97.7 and 96.1, respectively.

While Whitworth showed slight signs of decline in 2017, he still ranks first among qualifying tackles over the PFF era with a career pass-blocking efficiency of 97.0.

I agree here I saw no drop off in center John Sullivan's on field performance either in fact I was of the opinion that his run blocking had improved greatly by the end of the season. This soon to be 33 yr old center could end up be the most dominate OL'er when its all said & done. 33 for a center is close to being broken in fully. One of the main reasons the Rams Org. went out & gave JS a sizeable raise up from 999K to a near 6.4 mil for his services for the 2018 season.

Now it's a totally different situation on the other mentioned starting veteran Ram OL'er Andrew Whitworth. AW performance did trend downward as the season wore on. AW had a bad pro bowl performance too. I would say that AW had major impact in the overall performance of the 2017 OL from his leadership & shared tips & such, I have no such delusions that AW will be able to match his outstanding 2017 performance in 2018. AW is fighting advanced age playing one of the most difficult & important offensive positions.

As the playoff looms for the Rams & with the 2018 season stretching deep into the month of January the 37 yr old LT is sure to be in need of some early breaks in late games earlier in the season from one of the new rookie OT's to help keep AW ready for the grand conclusion & close of the 2018 season.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I'm pretty sure that every player on the offensive line cross trains.
I would think it would be mandatory.

Williams is a tackle/guard.

Williams had definitely better have a good camp.
Those three draft picks definitely put him on the bubble.
He's not practice squad eligible but he's veteran enough to get picked up by another team.