I took a crack at doing a "PFF style" grading of our OL blocking from the first 3 games. I've only done the 2 tackles so far. Maybe I'll do the IOL too and the run blocking, but it takes a long time to watch every play, so I'm already burned out and needed a break.
Method: +2 for a great play, +1, 0, -1, and -2 for really ugly, like if you get beaten immediately. I was really stingy (or generous, depending on your take) so the large majority of plays will get zero grades and not be categorized as either positive or negative. For example, if you get pushed back a little, especially if the EDGE is aligned wide, you'll still get at least a zero. Maybe even a +1 if you settle down a quality rush. The pocket has to be deformed quite a bit to get a -1. There was a play were McClendon is beaten inside by a counter and Stafford gets hit, impacting the throw. I gave McClendon a zero grade on that play, because I thought he did a solid job stopping the outside speed rush and giving the QB time to throw relative to the progressions, so even though he technically gave up a QB pressure and QB hit, I didn't think it was that bad a play. Similar deal where Abdul Carter got inside of Alaric Jackson and got a sack. I gave AJ a zero on that play, because he stayed engaged on the inside move, Avila could have helped him more and he at least gave the QB a chance to throw or try to evade the defender. Traditional stats like sacks and QB pressures don't always tell the entire story. The process (just like PFF) is inherently subjective and arbitrary, and people will disagree with how I graded specific plays, but the general goal of the exercise is just to give you some flavor re how each player performed and maybe offer a 2nd source to "cross check" the PFF grades. I didn't include as pass blocks plays where the OL went out to block on screen passes. We are only looking at pass protection plays.
1. Alaric Jackson
General Observations: (+) Excellent core power, there is good communication and timing between LT and LG (Avila) handling twists, body mass and low COG to drop anchor. Size and body mass to absorb power moves and bull rushes. Patient and doesn't lunge wildly. (-) Limited recovery quickness, lacks twitch, not explosive, can struggle to get to the corner to cut off elite speed and sometimes has to open his hips early, average athlete, lacks lateral foot quickness, doesn't have sudden COD. If his feet are late and his base isn't established, can lose his balance or become weaker and get pushed back.
Both of our OTs benefit from help from RBs, TEs and sometimes even WRs. Jackson gets good help from Avila. Since Parkinson can solo block, on occasion Jackson effectively becomes a guard. One play we had 2 TEs outside of him. A different play he just stood there and didn't have to block anyone, because the blockers outside and inside of him had it handled. Our OL in general also is protected by the scheme and by Stafford getting the ball out quickly. Quite a few plays, they don't really have to do much. Some plays, we take losses up front, but it doesn't matter, because the pass is out of the QB's hand before the defender can reach the QB.
Niners: +4 net grade (7 positive plays). I thought Jackson was very good in this game. One play I gave him a negative grade, I considered making it a zero, because even though he was beaten immediately, he had help to the outside, so maybe he knew that as long as he wasn't beaten inside it would be okay and the other guy would help cover up.
Giants: Zero net grade. This was the strangest game of the six (3 for AJ, 3 for McClendon) that I graded. For a variety of reasons, I didn't give him a single positive or negatively graded play the entire game, even though he gave up a sack. There were some "mixed plays" where I thought he did both good and bad things. Many plays, I didn't think his block was difficult. He had help from TE/RBs and one consequence of that is those players can't release into routes as quickly, impacting their value as receiving targets on those snaps. He also had several plays that weren't pretty, but I decided were "good enough" blocks, so I gave him a zero grade even though it didn't look clean.
Broncos: -8 net grade (3 positive plays). Jackson doesn't block well in space vs quicker and more athletic defenders, so he really got exposed against a talented Denver pass rushing attack. One of the plays I really didn't like came with 16 seconds left in the 4th quarter. He's beaten very quickly and Stafford gets hit. Very lucky the pass got out, because if the QB had to hold it just a split-second longer, this pressure/sack could have cost the Rams a chance on the final play to throw it into the end zone. The last snap would have been a Hail Mary pass instead.
Aggregate grade: -4 (10 total positively graded plays). [Since Jackson is the "guinea pig" and the 1st player through the process, I have no idea whether this number is good, average or below average. It is just a number. We'd have to grade a bunch of players from different teams in many games to get a better handle on what it means. My guess is that since we are only looking at 3 games, it is skewed by the Denver game. We don't have to play those guys every week. On the other hand, if we have to beat a defense like that to try to win the Super Bowl, IMO, not having an elite LT is an issue. Jackson isn't Andrew Whitworth.
2. Warren McClendon
General Observations: Jackson and McClendon are very similar players in their strengths and weaknesses. Is this intentional? Do the Rams have a "type" for OTs in our system? Normally, the LT has better length than the RT. Jackson has 33 7/8'' arms and an 83'' wingspan. McClendon has 34 1/4'' arms and an 82 3/4'' wingspan. This is a glass half full or half empty fact, because should we be glad to have a RT with good size and length or concerned that we basically have 2 starting RTs? (+) Good effective length and size to smother outside speed rushes and stuff attempts to shoot interior gaps, good contact balance, patient, grip strength when he can get his hands on the defender, very strong and thick build, sheer size is a roadblock that isn't easy to get around. (-) Slow feet, not quick, not sudden or explosive, anchor and balance crumble if base not set, Kyren Williams is considerable help to him. Timing and placement of his hands can sometimes be off. Not always the best awareness scanning. Limited COD vs stunts.
Niners: -1 net grade (4 positive plays). I thought his best play was when he was stout vs a bull rush. Blocks from Higbee and Parkinson helped protect him.
Giants: +3 net grade (6 positive plays). His worst play was when Burns destroyed him with a spin move and hit Stafford.
Broncos: -9 net grade (6 positive plays). A wild game with many positively graded blocks, but several negative plays as well.
Aggregate grade: -7 (16 positive plays). Notice that McClendon has a lower aggregate grade than Jackson, but he actually has more positively graded snaps than Jackson.
Conclusion: I feel that our OTs are "okay" starters, but I don't consider either of them to be "great" starters. After Week 2, neither of them were in the top 20 in ESPN's pass block win rate metric and if the ESPN numbers for the 3rd game match my tracking where both OTs had rough outings vs the Broncos, they shouldn't be climbing higher this week. Per SISDataHub stats, in 2025, Jackson was 15th among LTs in blown pass block percentage for players that had at least 300 pass blocking snaps. Jackson was tied for 6th among LTs after the first 2 games of 2026. In 2025, McClendon had the best blown pass block percentage among RTs with at least 300 pass blocking snaps at 1.8%. In the first 2 games of 2026 (SIS hasn't update their numbers to include the 3rd game), McClendon had a 4.8% blown pass block rate, only 24th among RTs with at least 40 pass blocking snaps.
Method: +2 for a great play, +1, 0, -1, and -2 for really ugly, like if you get beaten immediately. I was really stingy (or generous, depending on your take) so the large majority of plays will get zero grades and not be categorized as either positive or negative. For example, if you get pushed back a little, especially if the EDGE is aligned wide, you'll still get at least a zero. Maybe even a +1 if you settle down a quality rush. The pocket has to be deformed quite a bit to get a -1. There was a play were McClendon is beaten inside by a counter and Stafford gets hit, impacting the throw. I gave McClendon a zero grade on that play, because I thought he did a solid job stopping the outside speed rush and giving the QB time to throw relative to the progressions, so even though he technically gave up a QB pressure and QB hit, I didn't think it was that bad a play. Similar deal where Abdul Carter got inside of Alaric Jackson and got a sack. I gave AJ a zero on that play, because he stayed engaged on the inside move, Avila could have helped him more and he at least gave the QB a chance to throw or try to evade the defender. Traditional stats like sacks and QB pressures don't always tell the entire story. The process (just like PFF) is inherently subjective and arbitrary, and people will disagree with how I graded specific plays, but the general goal of the exercise is just to give you some flavor re how each player performed and maybe offer a 2nd source to "cross check" the PFF grades. I didn't include as pass blocks plays where the OL went out to block on screen passes. We are only looking at pass protection plays.
1. Alaric Jackson
General Observations: (+) Excellent core power, there is good communication and timing between LT and LG (Avila) handling twists, body mass and low COG to drop anchor. Size and body mass to absorb power moves and bull rushes. Patient and doesn't lunge wildly. (-) Limited recovery quickness, lacks twitch, not explosive, can struggle to get to the corner to cut off elite speed and sometimes has to open his hips early, average athlete, lacks lateral foot quickness, doesn't have sudden COD. If his feet are late and his base isn't established, can lose his balance or become weaker and get pushed back.
Both of our OTs benefit from help from RBs, TEs and sometimes even WRs. Jackson gets good help from Avila. Since Parkinson can solo block, on occasion Jackson effectively becomes a guard. One play we had 2 TEs outside of him. A different play he just stood there and didn't have to block anyone, because the blockers outside and inside of him had it handled. Our OL in general also is protected by the scheme and by Stafford getting the ball out quickly. Quite a few plays, they don't really have to do much. Some plays, we take losses up front, but it doesn't matter, because the pass is out of the QB's hand before the defender can reach the QB.
Niners: +4 net grade (7 positive plays). I thought Jackson was very good in this game. One play I gave him a negative grade, I considered making it a zero, because even though he was beaten immediately, he had help to the outside, so maybe he knew that as long as he wasn't beaten inside it would be okay and the other guy would help cover up.
Giants: Zero net grade. This was the strangest game of the six (3 for AJ, 3 for McClendon) that I graded. For a variety of reasons, I didn't give him a single positive or negatively graded play the entire game, even though he gave up a sack. There were some "mixed plays" where I thought he did both good and bad things. Many plays, I didn't think his block was difficult. He had help from TE/RBs and one consequence of that is those players can't release into routes as quickly, impacting their value as receiving targets on those snaps. He also had several plays that weren't pretty, but I decided were "good enough" blocks, so I gave him a zero grade even though it didn't look clean.
Broncos: -8 net grade (3 positive plays). Jackson doesn't block well in space vs quicker and more athletic defenders, so he really got exposed against a talented Denver pass rushing attack. One of the plays I really didn't like came with 16 seconds left in the 4th quarter. He's beaten very quickly and Stafford gets hit. Very lucky the pass got out, because if the QB had to hold it just a split-second longer, this pressure/sack could have cost the Rams a chance on the final play to throw it into the end zone. The last snap would have been a Hail Mary pass instead.
Aggregate grade: -4 (10 total positively graded plays). [Since Jackson is the "guinea pig" and the 1st player through the process, I have no idea whether this number is good, average or below average. It is just a number. We'd have to grade a bunch of players from different teams in many games to get a better handle on what it means. My guess is that since we are only looking at 3 games, it is skewed by the Denver game. We don't have to play those guys every week. On the other hand, if we have to beat a defense like that to try to win the Super Bowl, IMO, not having an elite LT is an issue. Jackson isn't Andrew Whitworth.
2. Warren McClendon
General Observations: Jackson and McClendon are very similar players in their strengths and weaknesses. Is this intentional? Do the Rams have a "type" for OTs in our system? Normally, the LT has better length than the RT. Jackson has 33 7/8'' arms and an 83'' wingspan. McClendon has 34 1/4'' arms and an 82 3/4'' wingspan. This is a glass half full or half empty fact, because should we be glad to have a RT with good size and length or concerned that we basically have 2 starting RTs? (+) Good effective length and size to smother outside speed rushes and stuff attempts to shoot interior gaps, good contact balance, patient, grip strength when he can get his hands on the defender, very strong and thick build, sheer size is a roadblock that isn't easy to get around. (-) Slow feet, not quick, not sudden or explosive, anchor and balance crumble if base not set, Kyren Williams is considerable help to him. Timing and placement of his hands can sometimes be off. Not always the best awareness scanning. Limited COD vs stunts.
Niners: -1 net grade (4 positive plays). I thought his best play was when he was stout vs a bull rush. Blocks from Higbee and Parkinson helped protect him.
Giants: +3 net grade (6 positive plays). His worst play was when Burns destroyed him with a spin move and hit Stafford.
Broncos: -9 net grade (6 positive plays). A wild game with many positively graded blocks, but several negative plays as well.
Aggregate grade: -7 (16 positive plays). Notice that McClendon has a lower aggregate grade than Jackson, but he actually has more positively graded snaps than Jackson.
Conclusion: I feel that our OTs are "okay" starters, but I don't consider either of them to be "great" starters. After Week 2, neither of them were in the top 20 in ESPN's pass block win rate metric and if the ESPN numbers for the 3rd game match my tracking where both OTs had rough outings vs the Broncos, they shouldn't be climbing higher this week. Per SISDataHub stats, in 2025, Jackson was 15th among LTs in blown pass block percentage for players that had at least 300 pass blocking snaps. Jackson was tied for 6th among LTs after the first 2 games of 2026. In 2025, McClendon had the best blown pass block percentage among RTs with at least 300 pass blocking snaps at 1.8%. In the first 2 games of 2026 (SIS hasn't update their numbers to include the 3rd game), McClendon had a 4.8% blown pass block rate, only 24th among RTs with at least 40 pass blocking snaps.
