Projecting Rams’ starting offensive line after initial free agency moves

[OldSchool]

Shelton has been behind Edwards for the past two seasons but that he will change in 2022?

OK.

Might change in 2023 when Edwards is a free agent but benching him this year is silly.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I see we've pivoted slightly away

Thing with Edwards and Evans for that matter is their rookie deals run out next year (Havenstein too but that's another discussion). They both are likely gone after their rookie deals and hopefully somebody signs them for more than they deserve for our comp pick formula. Drafting 2 IOL this year covers Edwards and we either bring Hav back next year or they trust Jackson or Anchrum there. It is really starting to look like McVay is willing to cycle guards but seems to like stability in Tackles and Centers.

This is all starting to bring back some of the trauma from last year when we thought Corbett was going to start at Center with Evans at RG, ... until that thought went south very quickly.
Whether the Rams wish to start Shelton as an OG this season also offers a fright should he or Allen be injured early in the season and miss playing time. As far as I can remember Shelton has only played Center and LG, although many here speculate he can move right into the RG position just as easily. Shelton looked OK at LG in his brief stint, so I might speculate that if he must start as an OG, perhaps LG would be more comfortable for him while Edwards moved back to his RG roots when a rookie.
jmo.

 

[OldSchool]

This is all starting to bring back some of the trauma from last year when we thought Corbett was going to start at Center with Evans at RG, ... until that thought went south very quickly.
Whether the Rams wish to start Shelton as an OG this season also offers a fright should he or Allen be injured early in the season and miss playing time. As far as I can remember Shelton has only played Center and LG, although many here speculate he can move right into the RG position just as easily. Shelton looked OK at LG in his brief stint, so I might speculate that if he must start as an OG, perhaps LG would be more comfortable for him while Edwards moved back to his RG roots when a rookie.
jmo.

We could se movement with Edwards to RG if he isn't in their long term plans as well. Always interesting this teams training camp.

 

[Merlin]

I see Edwards to RG a way of accommodating Jackson. It requires Jackson to win the OG spot over the other suitors, but if he can do that then they'll put him on the left so as not to mess with his feet. Some guys that's not a prob, but assuming they go that route to ensure LT isn't fucked up in terms of starter and backup. LT is really crucial obviously this year, both Boom playing well there and the depth too.

This is Havenstein's OL now. Rams are going to see this year how he does as the leader of the pack, and I think he's ready because I noticed a difference in Hav's assertiveness in interviews last season not to mention him playing very well for us. He's been waiting for this IMO. The guy will never be a great pass pro type but his run blocking sure is nice.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I see Edwards to RG a way of accommodating Jackson. It requires Jackson to win the OG spot over the other suitors, but if he can do that then they'll put him on the left so as not to mess with his feet. Some guys that's not a prob, but assuming they go that route to ensure LT isn't fucked up in terms of starter and backup. LT is really crucial obviously this year, both Boom playing well there and the depth too.

This is Havenstein's OL now. Rams are going to see this year how he does as the leader of the pack, and I think he's ready because I noticed a difference in Hav's assertiveness in interviews last season not to mention him playing very well for us. He's been waiting for this IMO. The guy will never be a great pass pro type but his run blocking sure is nice.

Starting Jackson at LG compounds our injury risk in much the sameway as starting Shelton, losing the only real reserve LT or Center to injury could create a world of hurt.

 

[Merlin]

I think starting the best 5 is what is important. And I would think he is in the competition. Just a question of whether he is good enough this year.

 

[OldSchool]

Starting Jackson at LG compounds our injury risk in much the sameway as starting Shelton, losing the only real reserve LT or Center to injury could create a world of hurt.

Yeah lets not make things difficult on a 2nd year UDFA tackle. Let him acclimate there first.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Yeah lets not make things difficult on a 2nd year UDFA tackle. Let him acclimate there first.

Agree. I'm still pretty upset that we've allowed OL depth to take such a beating, and it really began during the injury riddled 2019 season, and we've done so little to turn it around. Then Tutu instead of Humphrey, ...

 

[dang]

I see Edwards to RG a way of accommodating Jackson. It requires Jackson to win the OG spot over the other suitors, but if he can do that then they'll put him on the left so as not to mess with his feet. Some guys that's not a prob, but assuming they go that route to ensure LT isn't fucked up in terms of starter and backup. LT is really crucial obviously this year, both Boom playing well there and the depth too.

This is Havenstein's OL now. Rams are going to see this year how he does as the leader of the pack, and I think he's ready because I noticed a difference in Hav's assertiveness in interviews last season not to mention him playing very well for us. He's been waiting for this IMO. The guy will never be a great pass pro type but his run blocking sure is nice.

So Hav is not playing on fumes and targeted for release as soon as his rookie replacement is signed (blue font)?

 

[Wisconsinram]

Trust the front office!
I'm a huge and biased Badger fan/alumni. That said, it's nauseating to see so many rip Hav and Edwards. Hav has been a staple for years and we're not replacing that easily, especially given our draft position. I can buy that Edwards best position is RT and it makes sense that if we move on from Hav, we replace him with Edwards. However, if we want to compete for championships, we don't let above average players leave us. Edwards should be at RG, his more natural position.
And yes, I see Edwards past performance as the weak link to our Ol; I just think he's out of position as he's a natural RT.

 

[So Ram]

The reason all of us keep forgetting about Demby & Kolone is well, they are forgettable. I expect both to be cut after the draft, Demby's proven he can't step up to this level of competition and the only reason that Jeremiah "Was a bullfrog" Kolone continues to linger is because he's currently the 3rd center on the team. That's why he's been able to stay on the practice squad, plus he had some experience in the AAF League too, but he offers nothing IMO and again I expect both he & Demby to be gone sooner rather than later.

Well my point is how The Rams keep these players around for depth. They are guys who know the system.They don’t cost much.
The O”Line in the NFL is not an easy position to learn as use to be said about The LT spot. Imo it is more about the Physical.It takes time for these players to grow & get stronger.Plus learning multiple assignment’s within a group concept.

Those players could be crash,but it’s the development that will count.I’ll use AJ Jackson as an example. He did cost The Rams Jack,but he did hold a roster spot.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Folks keep posting speculations on who is backup LT and RT behind Noteboom and Haventstien. Let me remind you who was 2nd team in TC and started most pre-season games at those positions.

Aleric Jackson took more snaps at LT than anyone else not named Whitworth or Noteboom. Tremane Anchrum the same at RT. More snaps there except Havenstien.

This leads me to believe these two are the current backups at LT and RT. Of course Carberry will shuffle things in TC and Shelton is far from a lock at RG.

VetRamFan and I will be focusing on the OL during TC.

 

[Rams43]

This has been an interesting OL thread.

Here’s my take.

Carberry impressed me last year so I intend to relax and let him sort all this out. He seems quite capable and he already has lots of options and we haven’t even had our draft yet.

I have no horse in this race and simply want to see the ‘Best 5’ start.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Folks keep posting speculations on who is backup LT and RT behind Noteboom and Haventstien. Let me remind you who was 2nd team in TC and started most pre-season games at those positions.

Aleric Jackson took more snaps at LT than anyone else not named Whitworth or Noteboom. Tremane Anchrum the same at RT. More snaps there except Havenstien.

This leads me to believe these two are the current backups at LT and RT. Of course Carberry will shuffle things in TC and Shelton is far from a lock at RG.

VetRamFan and I will be focusing on the OL during TC.

I agree at LT, and there is no doubt that Anchrum out-played his size limitations at RT during the pre-season games last year, but I'm still unhappy that former Wisconsin RT David Edwards has not been given the opportunity to compete at what may be his best position, RT, ... and this due to poor IOL depth forcing him into an emergency role back in 2019.

 

[Memento]

Honestly think that Anchrum wins the right guard job. Shelton is valuable as a decent backup to the three interior positions, you have Jackson who has a ton of potential at swing tackle, and Pircher who is cross-training at all five positions and was a sponge with Whit, according to all accounts. He could be special. Personally, I'd draft an offensive lineman for guard/tackle because I don't trust Evans with it, as he played awful at guard.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Evans at Center is a stretch in my mind.
I was advocating Anchrum at backup Center last year.

I see our '21 line as experienced and relatively deep.

Having a starting spot up for grabs is ideal because we have three guys that can play there and we know we're going to draft a couple more as well, more than likely.

The competition will be good for the line.

Noteboom should be improved.
Edwards should be improved by experience.
Allen should be improved by experience.

We know that Havenstein is a borderline pro bowler.

We'll just have to shake the depth guys out in Camp.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Rams could have a lot on the line in NFL draft

Offensive line should be a focus with LT Andrew Whitworth and RG Austin Corbett gone and two other starters approaching free agency.

www.ocregister.com

Rams could have a lot on the line in NFL draft
The Rams got away with rejecting calls for them to pick offensive linemen in the past two NFL drafts, taking only a seventh-rounder in 2020 and completely ignoring the line in 2021.

But they can’t overlook offensive linemen in the three-day draft starting Thursday in Las Vegas.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired. Right guard Austin Corbett signed with the Panthers. Right tackle Rob Havenstein and left guard David Edwards are going into the final year of their contracts.

Even if the Rams are confident they can fill Whitworth’s starting spot with recently re-signed Joe Noteboom and replace Corbett with either Coleman Shelton or Tremayne Anchrum, they must restore depth along the line and anticipate departures a year from now.

Brian Allen, also re-signed, will start at center again. Other offensive linemen on the roster are tackle/guard Bobby Evans, tackle Alaric Jackson and guard Jamil Demby.

One thing the Rams can’t add in the draft is someone to fully take the place of Whitworth, who retired at 40 after being voted the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and, oh, by the way, helping the Rams to a Super Bowl victory a few days later.

With Whitworth gone after 16 years in the league, Havenstein (seven years) is the dean of the line, followed by Noteboom and center Brian Allen (four).

“Whit was such an important part,” Havenstein said Wednesday. “He was just him. I’m not going to be him, Dave’s not going to be him, Brian’s not going to be him, Joe’s not going to be him.”

Said Allen on Thursday: “You can’t fake leadership, you can’t fake stepping into a role. Guys don’t buy into that if it’s not authentic. I think everybody in the room’s going to keep being themselves, and that’ll be enough.”

A year ago, with then-center Austin Blythe gone as a free agent and Whitworth coming to the end, the Rams were expected to draft a center and tackle but did neither. That worked out because Allen completed his recovery from a 2019 knee injury and reclaimed the center job, and Whitworth had a great final year. The line was ranked seventh in the league by Pro Football Focus.

This year, the Rams have no first-round pick for the sixth draft in a row, having sent it to the Lions in the 2021 trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford, and no second-rounder, the result of last year’s trade with the Broncos for outside linebacker Von Miller.

Barring a trade up in the order, the Rams’ first pick will be in the third round with the 104th overall, and they’ll have seven more in rounds 4 to 7.

Judging by the 2021 draft and 2022 projections, by the time the Rams start making selections, the top 10 to 14 offensive tackles, four or five guards, and three to five centers will have been taken.

Here are some of the interesting prospects at the offensive line positions who could be available when the Rams pick:

TACKLES

Players to watch: Rasheed Walker, Penn State; Vederian Lowe, Illinois; Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky; Kellen Diesch, Arizona State; Max Mitchell, Louisiana

Note: Most of them have shown the ability to play left or right tackle or guard, and the Rams prize versatility on the line.

GUARDS

Players to watch: Cole Strange, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Sean Rhyan, UCLA; Darian Kinnard, Kentucky; Logan Bruss, Wisconsin; Spencer Burford, Texas-San Antonio

Note: Strange, who might be a center in the NFL, could be out of reach. Rhyan was All-Pac-12 at left tackle. Kinnard was All-America and, like Rosenthal, played at UK for new Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

CENTER

Players to watch: Cam Jurgens, Nebraska; Alec Lindstrom, Boston College; Dohnovan West, Arizona State

Note: West, who is from Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills, has played all three interior offensive-line positions.

 

[Riverumbbq]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Is this author me, or is he just plagiarizing my posts ?

Dohnovan West would be a nice pick, although a bit undersized right now, but I imagine he'll be long gone before our #104. Trade our 2023 2'nd round draft pick and we should be able to move up in a couple of 2022's earlier draft rounds and add another lower round pick.
jmo.

 

[So Ram]

Folks keep posting speculations on who is backup LT and RT behind Noteboom and Haventstien. Let me remind you who was 2nd team in TC and started most pre-season games at those positions.

Aleric Jackson took more snaps at LT than anyone else not named Whitworth or Noteboom. Tremane Anchrum the same at RT. More snaps there except Havenstien.

This leads me to believe these two are the current backups at LT and RT. Of course Carberry will shuffle things in TC and Shelton is far from a lock at RG.

VetRamFan and I will be focusing on the OL during TC.

Well in the beginning of training camp Bobby Evans was the starting RG.Shelton was the backup Center behind Corbett.Everyone wants to count him out.I don’t see it that way.
Bobby might already be penciled in ?
Then again Evans had 1 start & Shelton had 2 starts in 2021.

 

[So Ram]

I lol at AJ Jackson starting at RG.

Where is this idea coming from ?