Rams 2019 offensive line ahead of other teams this season

[ROD-BOT]

LA Rams 2019 offensive line ahead of other teams this season

The LA Rams brought back 2019's offensive line. Now it appears that decision could give the team a distinct advantage in 2020.

ramblinfan.com

Rams 2019 offensive line ahead of other teams this season

When is a bad offensive line not a bad offensive line? When you remove the casts, ACE bandages, and crutches. At least, that is what the LA Rams are counting on this year. The LA Rams owned the 31st-ranked offensive line in 2019. That fact alone triggered many to call on the team to sign free agent offensive linemen, draft multiple offensive linemen, and rework the entire unit. Of course, the recent history of the Rams proved that the team had been doing exactly that.

Since 2018, the Rams had steadily been adding offensive linemen. In that 2018 season, the Rams added Brian Allen, Joseph Noteboom, and Jamil Demby. In 2019, the Rams added Bobby Evans, David Edwards, and Chandler Brewer. Then, mid-season in 2019, the team picked up Coleman Shelton and Austin Corbett. If you do the math, the team loaded up on eight new offensive in the past two seasons. That’s quite the overhaul, to be honest.

Room for two more?

Conversely, the Rams not only did not add multiple offensive linemen in either the free agency or draft but instead re-signed all of last year’s offensive linemen to 2020 contracts. That’s not just veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, but also Austin Blythe and Coleman Shelton as well. Even in this offseason, the Rams added rookies Tremayne Anchrum and Cohl Cabral. 10 new additions to the roster since the 2018 NFL Draft.

That has been received with disappointment by some, but after thinking about it, many are reconsidering. After all, this is an offseason like no other, and that comes after a season unlike any other. The Rams offensive line in 2019 was crippled by multiple injuries throughout the entire season. But that means that the Rams have multiple players competing at virtually all positions with multiple-game starting experience. How can that be anything less than a huge positive, particularly in a year with zero preseason games?

Rams roster recovers

That brutally battered offensive line is healthy now. Healthy and a bit miffed. After all, practically everyone projects the Rams to finish in the NFC West basement. How easy is it to overlook the fact that Rams head coach Sean McVay has never led the Rams to a losing season? Easy enough it seems, as so many seem to have presumed that the Rams 2019 injuries will reoccur in 2020. But the very reason for the Rams’ struggles in 2019 is the very reason that the offense snaps back to true form in 2020. Injured players have healed.

The Rams have everyone back. Everyone. Not one player is absent yet from the 2019 squad. The team got the band back together. So in terms of pure continuity, the LA Rams are first on the list. First. No other NFL team has as much continuity in their offensive lines this season. Remember, this was the same offensive line, errors, and gaffs, that began the 2019 season 3-0 before injuries began to take a harsh toll.

Continuity, confidence, conquest

The LA Rams have everyone back from a season ago at a time that coaches have only had virtual contact with players. We covered the silver lining aspect of the Rams situation, and that is now catching the attention of others. In bringing back all five starters from 2019, plus players who started after injuries, the Rams offensive line has more depth than many NFL teams.



View: https://twitter.com/fb_filmanalysis/status/1285732609595772932?s=21

That advantage of one of the most familiar offensive lines will be a huge advantage for the team in the first 6-8 games of the season. While other teams are working out their bugs, the Rams enter 2020 having worked out their bugs a season ago. The Rams not only have a more capable offensive line for 2020 but also contingency plans that proved successful last season when the Rams offensive line struggled.

Rams offensive line can be markedly better

While the Rams have restocked the offensive line with last year’s players, there are many reasons to expect far better play this season. To begin with, familiarity and continuity is a huge plus. Reassembling a healthy roster will be a huge advantage over a season ago as well. And of course, the fact that so many players have actual NFL game experience gives the offensive line enough flexibility to boast an experienced backup at virtually all positions. That’s all just on the player side, though.

The coaching staff also had an entire off-season to mull over what went wrong in terms of blocking. To that, the coaches also had opportunities to study game film and determine what went right for the team. That will mean a great deal for the team, as the lack of preseason games and OTAs will make it more difficult for the Rams, and every team, to succeed early in the season. While many teams will be working hard to get into a rhythm, the Rams will be there from the first snap. Fret if you must. I am growing more and more optimistic over the Rams chances this year.

 

[André]

This is definitely a rose-coloured glasses kind of article. I really hope the offensive line comes together well. With even an average line this team will have a great offense. We just have to hope it can get to average.

 

[Soul Surfer]

This article is almost like I wrote it myself.

 

[Soul Surfer]

This is definitely a rose-coloured glasses kind of article. I really hope the offensive line comes together well. With even an average line this team will have a great offense. We just have to hope it can get to average.

I think it will be spotty at first but get better with each game as they play together, learn their assignments and get coached up as a unit.

 

[dieterbrock]

What keeps NFL QB's up at night, waking in a cold sweat?

 

[BonifayRam]

IMO…This article is one of the better ones that has come out from this site in some time. Snead did bring back the same Ol group as he had here in 2019.

Snead/McVay/ Kromer have 9 Rams OL'ers who started Rams gms last season. Very different from what the Ol had starting the 2019 season. Is that not a positive?

Starters
Whitworth 1123 snaps @ LT, coming off getting his most snaps in his long NFL career!
Blythe 1019 snaps RG & OC
Edwards 706 snaps @ RG & LG
Havenstein 638 snaps @ RT
Allen 583 snaps @ center
Corbett 548 snaps @ LG & RT
Evans 481 snaps @ RT
Noteboom 393 snaps @ LG
Demby 43 snaps LG & RG

Non starters
Shelton got 24 snaps played in 16 gms as a reserve @ RT/OG/OC.
Brewer got 22 snaps played in 7 gms as a OT reserve.

Always thought that this starting 2020 OL would look very close to the way it was in gm #17, with very few changes being pondered. Now with the COVID-19 issue involving the NFL season I feel even stronger in this opinion.

 

[Merlin]

The Rams have everyone back. Everyone. Not one player is absent yet from the 2019 squad. The team got the band back together. So in terms of pure continuity, the LA Rams are first on the list. First. No other NFL team has as much continuity in their offensive lines this season.

This is an interesting point made by the article. I don't feel any better about our OL overall because of them being returning players, however they do at least know the line calls and the situational logic and all that which, compared to some other teams who have big turnover on their line, could be an advantage.

But unfortunately for it to be an advantage our line still needs to play well. So as usual everything is going to come back to that.

 

[den-the-coach]

But unfortunately for it to be an advantage our line still needs to play well. So as usual everything is going to come back to that.

Again this is easy IMO, apparently the powers that be, including one of the best Offensive Line Coaches in the NFL Aaron Kromer, believes they have the parts necessary to be effective. Most of us have their doubts, however, the only thing I got out of this article is because the Offensive Linemen have been in the system and their is no change over, naturally you have cohesion, but as @Merlin so astutely illustrates, they could still suck, which doesn't make cohesion worth a damn.

 

[Ram65]

We all know that the offensive line is the big question mark going into the season.

Having all the lineman returning healthy at the start will ramp up the competition in the shortened camp. I'm looking for Blythe to improve without the lingering ankle and should injuries. I look for Havenstein to come into camp in better shape to regain his starting RT spot. Also, look for Whitworth to come in without what I labeled as a Super Bowl hangover. He will have a renewed energy with his new commitment to stay a Ram. Overall, I see an improved offensive line that played better than the 31st ranking by PFF in 2019. Edwards and Evans could round out the starting five but, there will be competition. The Rams now have experienced depth. It's still a team sport and McVay and Kromer figured out a few things to help the offensive line late last year.

They added to the middle zone-blocking stretch offense to doing some power gap blocking or whatever you want to call it that helped the run game later last year. The Rams now have different run blocking schemes to go to. Akers and Henderson are much quicker off the snap than Gurley was last year will help to find and get through the holes quicker. McVay will run more getting back around 29-30 attempts per game as he did in 2017 and 2018. That will help the play-action fakes be more effective. We could see more Jet Sweep action to help as well. Certainly, the Goff rollouts help wear down defense in the passing game. He also found Higbee as an offensive weapon. Van Jefferson's ability to get open quickly could give Goff a faster read and release.

 

[…..]

Again this is easy IMO, apparently the powers that be, including one of the best Offensive Line Coaches in the NFL Aaron Kromer, believes they have the parts necessary to be effective. Most of us have their doubts, however, the only thing I got out of this article is because the Offensive Linemen have been in the system and their is no change over, naturally you have cohesion, but as @Merlin so astutely illustrates, they could still suck, which doesn't make cohesion worth a damn.

If you take away the suckage, they could be a good unit!

 

[MachS]

Again this is easy IMO, apparently the powers that be, including one of the best Offensive Line Coaches in the NFL Aaron Kromer, believes they have the parts necessary to be effective.

Kromer gets a lot of praise but facts are he hand selected both Noteboom and Allen, sat them on the bench for their entire rookie season while we went to the SB, and cross-trained them at multiple positions. They were groomed to be replacement starters, then they had the entire next off-season to get ready to start, and they both failed miserably before injury. They weren't even close to average NFL starters... they were far, far below acceptable. Kromer and those two players have to take that accountability 100%. These were our first two picks of the 2018 draft, picks 89 and 111 overall. Who knows if they even become NFL starters now.

Contrast their performance with last year and Edwards and Evans coming in as rookies , a late 3rd rounder and 5th rounder... and both played pretty well for rookies. Both had moments of solid or great play combined with bad play as is expected for a rookie. But both showed much more than Noteboom/Allen did with 1 1/2 years less of NFL coaching and development. Edwards and Evans were not expected to start, they were not being groomed and developed the same way Noteboom and Allen were. They were literally thrown into the fire and both showed they are pretty good players and can be NFL level starters. Does this credit go to Kromer? I think not..I think these two guys just showed they have talent and can compete at a high level.

I agree that our continuity should be better this year with the returning starters having played together. But there are a lot of question marks and I dont think Kromer should automatically get the benefit of the doubt that "we'll be fine and he'll coach them up" as many say on this board. Who has Kromer developed on the offensive line since he's been here the past 3 years? The free agent additions of Whitworth and Sullivan, their solid play, experience, and leadership is what turned this line around after Fisher left. It wasn't the hiring of a "great OL coach" and him developing players. The two players he legitimately tried to develop for starting roles fell flat on their face last season. Kromer was also the run game coordinator last year and we had our worst rushing production in 3 years. This season will tell us as much about his coaching skill as it does Snead's/McVay's OL talent evaluation. If we have another horrible OL season my guess is he gets the boot.

 

[FarNorth]

LA Rams 2019 offensive line ahead of other teams this season

The LA Rams brought back 2019's offensive line. Now it appears that decision could give the team a distinct advantage in 2020.

ramblinfan.com

Rams 2019 offensive line ahead of other teams this season

When is a bad offensive line not a bad offensive line? When you remove the casts, ACE bandages, and crutches. At least, that is what the LA Rams are counting on this year. The LA Rams owned the 31st-ranked offensive line in 2019. That fact alone triggered many to call on the team to sign free agent offensive linemen, draft multiple offensive linemen, and rework the entire unit. Of course, the recent history of the Rams proved that the team had been doing exactly that.

Since 2018, the Rams had steadily been adding offensive linemen. In that 2018 season, the Rams added Brian Allen, Joseph Noteboom, and Jamil Demby. In 2019, the Rams added Bobby Evans, David Edwards, and Chandler Brewer. Then, mid-season in 2019, the team picked up Coleman Shelton and Austin Corbett. If you do the math, the team loaded up on eight new offensive in the past two seasons. That’s quite the overhaul, to be honest.

Room for two more?

Conversely, the Rams not only did not add multiple offensive linemen in either the free agency or draft but instead re-signed all of last year’s offensive linemen to 2020 contracts. That’s not just veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, but also Austin Blythe and Coleman Shelton as well. Even in this offseason, the Rams added rookies Tremayne Anchrum and Cohl Cabral. 10 new additions to the roster since the 2018 NFL Draft.

That has been received with disappointment by some, but after thinking about it, many are reconsidering. After all, this is an offseason like no other, and that comes after a season unlike any other. The Rams offensive line in 2019 was crippled by multiple injuries throughout the entire season. But that means that the Rams have multiple players competing at virtually all positions with multiple-game starting experience. How can that be anything less than a huge positive, particularly in a year with zero preseason games?

Rams roster recovers

That brutally battered offensive line is healthy now. Healthy and a bit miffed. After all, practically everyone projects the Rams to finish in the NFC West basement. How easy is it to overlook the fact that Rams head coach Sean McVay has never led the Rams to a losing season? Easy enough it seems, as so many seem to have presumed that the Rams 2019 injuries will reoccur in 2020. But the very reason for the Rams’ struggles in 2019 is the very reason that the offense snaps back to true form in 2020. Injured players have healed.

The Rams have everyone back. Everyone. Not one player is absent yet from the 2019 squad. The team got the band back together. So in terms of pure continuity, the LA Rams are first on the list. First. No other NFL team has as much continuity in their offensive lines this season. Remember, this was the same offensive line, errors, and gaffs, that began the 2019 season 3-0 before injuries began to take a harsh toll.

Continuity, confidence, conquest

The LA Rams have everyone back from a season ago at a time that coaches have only had virtual contact with players. We covered the silver lining aspect of the Rams situation, and that is now catching the attention of others. In bringing back all five starters from 2019, plus players who started after injuries, the Rams offensive line has more depth than many NFL teams.



View: https://twitter.com/fb_filmanalysis/status/1285732609595772932?s=21

That advantage of one of the most familiar offensive lines will be a huge advantage for the team in the first 6-8 games of the season. While other teams are working out their bugs, the Rams enter 2020 having worked out their bugs a season ago. The Rams not only have a more capable offensive line for 2020 but also contingency plans that proved successful last season when the Rams offensive line struggled.

Rams offensive line can be markedly better

While the Rams have restocked the offensive line with last year’s players, there are many reasons to expect far better play this season. To begin with, familiarity and continuity is a huge plus. Reassembling a healthy roster will be a huge advantage over a season ago as well. And of course, the fact that so many players have actual NFL game experience gives the offensive line enough flexibility to boast an experienced backup at virtually all positions. That’s all just on the player side, though.

The coaching staff also had an entire off-season to mull over what went wrong in terms of blocking. To that, the coaches also had opportunities to study game film and determine what went right for the team. That will mean a great deal for the team, as the lack of preseason games and OTAs will make it more difficult for the Rams, and every team, to succeed early in the season. While many teams will be working hard to get into a rhythm, the Rams will be there from the first snap. Fret if you must. I am growing more and more optimistic over the Rams chances this year.

This a good year to have starters with experience, know who is starting where, and not screw around with cross training and lab experiments. Roll with what you believe is your best oline unless or until reality dictates otherwise.

 

[Soul Surfer]

@MachS
We have to remember that last year Kromer was also the Run Game Coordinator which I think diluted his ability to concentrate primarily on the offensive line.
Hopefully he'll just concentrate on the offensive line from here on out.

Plus, we really don't know that Kromer picked Allen or Noteboom.
That may have been strictly a decision made by a Snead and the Scouts.
Most teams want the coaches to coach and the talent evaluators to evaluate talent.

And I think it's important to note that Noteboom was drafted to be a possible replacement for Whitworth at left tackle where he actually looked pretty good.

 

[Soul Surfer]

It seems like I recall seeing a post on here rating the last 8 games that were played by our o-line last year and they were about 14th in that 8 game span.

Does anybody have those numbers?

 

[Kevin]

Kromer gets a lot of praise but facts are he hand selected both Noteboom and Allen, sat them on the bench for their entire rookie season while we went to the SB, and cross-trained them at multiple positions. They were groomed to be replacement starters, then they had the entire next off-season to get ready to start, and they both failed miserably before injury. They weren't even close to average NFL starters... they were far, far below acceptable. Kromer and those two players have to take that accountability 100%. These were our first two picks of the 2018 draft, picks 89 and 111 overall. Who knows if they even become NFL starters now.

Contrast their performance with last year and Edwards and Evans coming in as rookies , a late 3rd rounder and 5th rounder... and both played pretty well for rookies. Both had moments of solid or great play combined with bad play as is expected for a rookie. But both showed much more than Noteboom/Allen did with 1 1/2 years less of NFL coaching and development. Edwards and Evans were not expected to start, they were not being groomed and developed the same way Noteboom and Allen were. They were literally thrown into the fire and both showed they are pretty good players and can be NFL level starters. Does this credit go to Kromer? I think not..I think these two guys just showed they have talent and can compete at a high level.

I agree that our continuity should be better this year with the returning starters having played together. But there are a lot of question marks and I dont think Kromer should automatically get the benefit of the doubt that "we'll be fine and he'll coach them up" as many say on this board. Who has Kromer developed on the offensive line since he's been here the past 3 years? The free agent additions of Whitworth and Sullivan, their solid play, experience, and leadership is what turned this line around after Fisher left. It wasn't the hiring of a "great OL coach" and him developing players. The two players he legitimately tried to develop for starting roles fell flat on their face last season. Kromer was also the run game coordinator last year and we had our worst rushing production in 3 years. This season will tell us as much about his coaching skill as it does Snead's/McVay's OL talent evaluation. If we have another horrible OL season my guess is he gets the boot.

They Rams have said publicly that they use a collaborative decision making process so Kromer or any other position coach or coordinator or even Snead does not “hand pick” players in the draft. Kromer has a big part in ranking players on their board, as do the scouts, but the decision is made by a leadership group.

 

[oldnotdead]

Merlin has shown last year and again this year with his stills what a disaster Blythe is. This guy lacks field vision and field awareness you need in a starter.

That said, I believe the Rams have starting quality linemen on the roster. What will be important is for that Kromer to actually fit the puzzle together correctly by playing to the strengths of each of the guys on the roster. Case in point, not starting Bythe, it's Allen or Shelton at center. Edwards is a RT, not RG and that was apparent as well last year. So RG should be Evans or Brewer.

LT Whitworth, Noteboom
LG Corbett, Brewer
C Allen, Shelton
RG Evans, Anchrum
RT Havenstein, Edwards

Gameday actives: Noteboom, Brewer, Shelton & Edwards

IMO Anchrum is a better candidate than Blythe for a roster spot as he can play both OG positions with his best fit at RG. Next year Havenstein will be gone so start practicing Edwards to take over. Noteboom IMO is still slated to follow Whitworth. He can serve a two-year apprenticeship behind one of the best LTs in the business who enjoys mentoring young guys. I still say Whitworth should be the o-line coach when he retires. The Rams could convert his 2021 money into a coaching contract.

The talent is there, it simply needs to be used and coached up properly. But sadly I have big reservations about Kromer and Dickenson. They made their reps with the Rams coaching proven vets. They completely failed with the young guys last year and IMO it was their failure as coaches not the lack of talent with the players. If the o-line struggles with a gap scheme which is all about execution as the technique is something all of the linemen have known since high school, it will be a coaching failure. Time for Kromer and Dickenson to prove they know how to coach.

 

[oldnotdead]

Regarding Noteboom and Allen it's been reported that Snead personally was involved in the scouting of these two. In 2018 Noteboom started at LT and played very well. Then god knows why, but Kromer stuck him in at LG a position he's never played in his entire football career and expected him to start in the NFL? Sorry but that's stupid.

Allen is always denigrated on this board while Blythe is elevated. But the truth is, in reality, Allen outplayed the revered Sullivan who actually played only a bit above average here in LA and Blythe who has been proven on this very board to be a scrub. No IMO if Allen is 100% healthy he starts at center and will continue to improve.

Allen reminds me of Nick Hardwick whom I watched his entire career in the NFL. Nick was a decent pass protector, not the best to be sure, but good enough. He excelled in his run blocking in their power gap scheme. He often made multiple blocks in the secondary opening the way for Tomlinson. He also excelled in his blocking calls at the LOS. But that skill only comes with experience. Allen was average in that regard but again it only comes with experience. I've seen enough to be encouraged that he can develop into a fine center.

 

[FarNorth]

@MachS
We have to remember that last year Kromer was also the Run Game Coordinator which I think diluted his ability to concentrate primarily on the offensive line.
Hopefully he'll just concentrate on the offensive line from here on out.

Plus, we really don't know that Kromer picked Allen or Noteboom.
That may have been strictly a decision made by a Snead and the Scouts.
Most teams want the coaches to coach and the talent evaluators to evaluate talent.

And I think it's important to note that Noteboom was drafted to be a possible replacement for Whitworth at left tackle where he actually looked pretty good.

This isn't intended to be argumentative but the Rams' site still has Kromer listed as run game coordinator. Of course, he may benefit this year from the addition of Kevin O'Connell as OC who will undoubtedly have a big role in all phases of the O.

"Aaron Kromer
RUN GAME COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE
Aaron Kromer begins his fourth season with the Los Angeles Rams, his third season serving as the team’s run game coordinator."

 

[So Ram]

@MachS
We have to remember that last year Kromer was also the Run Game Coordinator which I think diluted his ability to concentrate primarily on the offensive line.
Hopefully he'll just concentrate on the offensive line from here on out.

Plus, we really don't know that Kromer picked Allen or Noteboom.
That may have been strictly a decision made by a Snead and the Scouts.
Most teams want the coaches to coach and the talent evaluators to evaluate talent.

And I think it's important to note that Noteboom was drafted to be a possible replacement for Whitworth at left tackle where he actually looked pretty good.

There was past article’s on Brian Allen & resources of how he was a guy The Rams liked.

—Kromer & son Zach spend time at the combine together. I find it like Belacheat & son.

—Truth lies that The Rams went & got Austin Corbett for a 5th rd pick. He started at LG to finish the season.

—Noteboom is a big question mark to me as in 2020. The way Whitworths contract is structured is insurance in case he is not ready to play LT.

David Edwards & Bobby Evans were excellent finds. Still have not got a response back on were they would have gone in the 2020 draft. I think both there teams would have made a better run at a National Championship with them.At 23 years of age going into there 2nd season,both players look to have a solid NFL career ahead of them. This is how McSnead will get ahead with The Rams foundation of the future.
Look around at all the late draft picks The Rams are developing.McClod ,Joyner,Littleton. That is just the start of it.

 

[Soul Surfer]

This isn't intended to be argumentative but the Rams' site still has Kromer listed as run game coordinator. Of course, he may benefit this year from the addition of Kevin O'Connell as OC who will undoubtedly have a big role in all phases of the O.

"Aaron Kromer
RUN GAME COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE
Aaron Kromer begins his fourth season with the Los Angeles Rams, his third season serving as the team’s run game coordinator."

Yes, that's why I mentioned "Hopefully this year..." excetera excetera.

I hope they learned their lesson on that one.
We need Kromer concentrating strictly on the offensive line.

Little bit is hard to tell what exactly let means percentage-wise between offensive line Run game coordinator.
It may just be an extra title they tagged on for whatever reason or meaning.