Rams: 3 biggest training camp battles to watch ahead of 2023 NFL season

[So Ram]

Wow, how time flies! It seemed like just yesterday when I was busting Tutu's chops about being a sucky All Pro Center...."

Well it didn’t cost The Rams the Super Bowl. Then again KC is Super Bowl champs.

 

[Steve808]

Well it didn’t cost The Rams the Super Bowl. Then again KC is Super Bowl champs.

Do you drink a lot when posting on this forum?

 

[So Ram]

Do you drink a lot when posting on this forum?

I guess you don’t follow The Rams & the saga of Tutu & All Pro Center whatever his name (Rocky Humpries) is.

Steve Avila should be Kick Butt & dominate from just OTA’s. He could even be the Center of The Future.

JB like #60 as a rookie & could sneak on the roster.The practice squad at the least if he doesn’t get picked up by another NFL team.

 

[Steve808]

I guess you don’t follow The Rams & the saga of Tutu & All Pro Center whatever his name (Rocky Humpries) is.

Steve Avila should be Kick Butt & dominate from just OTA’s. He could even be the Center of The Future.

JB like #60 as a rookie & could sneak on the roster.The practice squad at the least if he doesn’t get picked up by another NFL team.

What does that have to do with it didn't cost the Rams the super bowl and KC is the champs?

 

[TheTackle]

What does that have to do with it didn't cost the Rams the super bowl and KC is the champs?

Are we really going to get into yet another debate about CH? Brian Allen went to the pro bowl the same season and we won a SB. That’s not to say we didn’t miss badly when drafting Tutu.

In my years of supporting the Rams I don’t previously recall fans being so fixated on perhaps the most boring position on the entire field

Then again Tutu has hardly generated any excitement

 

[oldnotdead]

Hav is signed through 2025.

The rest of the contract is basically void years. Look at his age and his cap number. He's gone next year and he knows it. He's known it since he signed the extension in the same way Stafford knows he's gone after 2024.

 

[So Ram]

What does that have to do with it didn't cost the Rams the super bowl and KC is the champs?

Was Tutu Atwell a Ram when they won The Superbowl!! Doesn’t take a genius to know that.
Creed Humpries was an All Pro & won The Superbowl this last season. He was a major part of it.How the Chiefs turned there season around in 2021 was impressive as well.
Tutu Atwell did ok last season? He took major strides & this will be his first training camp he really gets to work with Matthew Stafford. — Last year because Wolford couldn’t throw it that far Stafford would step in a couple times & take Rep & launch it to him. The speed is there.
—Steve Avila is an Offensive Lineman that should really help The Rams.
—We can discuss The Rams Offensive Line & their status over those periods of time.
—Tutu Atwell has NOT HELPED The Rams as what ? A 2nd rd. Pick? We can go back to when Les Snead traded up for Tavon Atwell or Jamarcus Joyner.It’s not easy in The NFL to be small.

—Tomlinson is going to be that perfect example. He was a VALUE PICK. Those types of players Snead should not reach for. Especially when there is a player of NEED that falls to you. It’s the Old saying of letting the draft come to you.

 

[So Ram]

The rest of the contract is basically void years. Look at his age and his cap number. He's gone next year and he knows it. He's known it since he signed the extension in the same way Stafford knows he's gone after 2024.

Well coming from you & your TRACK RECORD you better make sure you know which side of the Stick your holding.Something is smelling a little foul??
I know I’m like Mcvay in the sense is it’s training camp.
Big Rob says he could lose his starting job,& that should be the mind set. You’ve already been WRONG about him for 3 years.

Rob Havenstein talks competition along offensive line heading into training camp, impressions of OL coach Ryan Wendell

Rams RT Rob Havenstein discusses the offensive line finding its "best five" during training camp and what he's taken away from new offensive line coach Ryan Wendell's approach to working with the group.

www.therams.com

&
Stafford looks fired up & it’s his team.

Matthew Stafford on having Cooper Kupp back on the field, how he feels physically this training camp compared to last year's

Rams QB Matthew Stafford talks about what it's like having Cooper Kupp back on the field as training camp gets underway, plus the biggest difference for him entering this year's training camp compared to training camp in 2022.

www.therams.com

 

[oldnotdead]

The media is right that the competition for starters at LT and Center will set the OL. The only real question will be who is the starter at LG. Right now I think Bruss will be the one. The loser at LT and C will be the primary backup swings. I think that LT is Noteboom's to lose. Jackson would then be the swing OT for a year then take over at RT in 2024. I also think that the competition for center is a one year deal. That there is a strong indication that McAllister could be the starter in 2024 with Maginn as backup.

I think it's clear McAllister makes the active roster, Maginn probably moves to PS for a year. McAllister had a strong OTA and apparently continues to impress in TC early on. The question really is whether Anchrum makes the team this year. Maginn and Thomas bring versatility he doesn't. I also think this OL has as much depth as I can remember.

 

[AvengerRam]

The rest of the contract is basically void years. Look at his age and his cap number. He's gone next year and he knows it. He's known it since he signed the extension in the same way Stafford knows he's gone after 2024.

You said he is in a “contract year.” He’s not. Everything else is just speculation.

 

[Corbin]

Wow, how time flies! It seemed like just yesterday when I was busting Tutu's chops about being a sucky All Pro Center...."

He beefed up in the off season.

Tutu looks massive after putting on 5% more body weight [blue font]

Are we really going to get into yet another debate about CH? Brian Allen went to the pro bowl the same season and we won a SB. That’s not to say we didn’t miss badly when drafting Tutu.

In my years of supporting the Rams I don’t previously recall fans being so fixated on perhaps the most boring position on the entire field

Then again Tutu has hardly generated any excitement

typical Rams Sportswriter in the offseason

" Tutu Atwell is motivated this season"



Rams fans with any sense of team operations

Those still rooting for Tutu because they don't know
how to admit they been so wrong

 

[oldnotdead]

You said he is in a “contract year.” He’s not. Everything else is just speculation.

Geez look at his contract. For all intentions he basically is. His base jumps by $5.5M, his cap hit jumps to $14.7M for a 32 year old RT whose play is in decline. His run blocking sucks and he can't stop an edge with both power and speed. Do you honestly think and are willing to say they will not release him when his cap hit jumps by $5M to $14.7M?

They could play Jackson, Thomas or Bruss at RT and they would be an upgrade. The best attribute for Havenstein is he's durable. But he's hardly a top RT in his play. Can you say with a straight face that Havenstein is a better OT than Jackson who probably would play for less than half of what they would have to pay Rob? Hell they were even trying Bruss at RT. Bruss was a very good OT in college.

 

[muggmeister]

Geez look at his contract. For all intentions he basically is. His base jumps by $5.5M, his cap hit jumps to $14.7M for a 32 year old RT whose play is in decline. His run blocking sucks and he can't stop an edge with both power and speed. Do you honestly think and are willing to say they will not release him when his cap hit jumps by $5M to $14.7M?

They could play Jackson, Thomas or Bruss at RT and they would be an upgrade. The best attribute for Havenstein is he's durable. But he's hardly a top RT in his play. Can you say with a straight face that Havenstein is a better OT than Jackson who probably would play for less than half of what they would have to pay Rob? Hell they were even trying Bruss at RT. Bruss was a very good OT in college.

I'm not a rocket scientist but nothing you are saying makes sense regarding his contract, see below. They would only save $2M by releasing him as compared to his dead cap weight so simply releasing him for additional cap space does not hold water. However, if his play declines dramatically, THEN I could see them releasing him, but if you think Noteboom, Jackson, or Bruss would be better than big Rob then you are old, and almost dead.

YEAR		AGE	BASE SALARY	SIGNING	ROSTER	OPTION	RESTRUCTURE	MISC.	CAP HIT	DEAD CAP	YEARLY CASH	CASH AAV
2022		30	$1,500,000	$2,035,294	-	-	$1,548,000	-	$5,083,294	$25,961,802	$8,676,470($8,676,470)	$8,676,470
2023		31	$1,500,000	$1,235,294	$4,000,000	$1,200,000	$768,000	$1,000,000	$9,703,294	$20,878,508	$11,500,000($20,176,470)	$10,088,235
2024		32	$6,500,000	$1,235,294	$5,000,000	$1,200,000	$768,000	-	$14,703,294	$12,175,214	$11,500,000($31,676,470)	$10,558,823
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 3 YR, $31,676,470; $8,971,920 DEAD CAP​
2025		33	$6,500,000	$1,235,294	-	$2,866,666	$768,000	-	$11,369,960	$8,971,920	$11,500,000($43,176,470)	$10,794,118
2026		34	-	$1,235,294	-	$2,866,666	-	-	$5,768,627	-	-
2027		35	-	-	-	$1,666,667	-	-	$1,666,667	-	-
2026		36	UFA

 

[RamFan503]

Regardless of who starts at LT this year it's clear that the other will be starting next year at RT. Havenstein is in a contract year and there is no way I see him extended when they have both Jackson and Noteboom. So I think the Rams are set at both OT positions going forward.

I suppose if you predict Hav's demise year in and year out, eventually, you'll be right. Kinda like a broken clock that sounds like a broken record.

 

[den-the-coach]

I like Jackson over Noteboom as Boom's durability is always in question. Skowronek & Atwell will flip flop where Skowronek will be in on running downs and short yardage, Atwell will be mixed in on passing downs plus play action opportunities.

Bennett will win the backup challenge, however, if Rypien plays well, he could force them to keep 3. Dresser Winn has a great name, but wasn't even that good at a smaller college.

 

[Soul Surfer]

..... fans being so fixated on perhaps the most boring position on the entire field

Center?

I don't think Center is boring at all.
In my opinion, Center is one of the most IMPORTANT positions on the field.

 

[den-the-coach]

In my years of supporting the Rams I don’t previously recall fans being so fixated on perhaps the most boring position on the entire field

FWIW I played Center in both HS & College so I am biased, but I disagree with you in so many ways. But then again, I find long snapping exciting too because you are not noticed unless you do something wrong.

Also let's not forget Ken Iman, Rich Saul & Doug Smith.

 

[AvengerRam]

Geez look at his contract. For all intentions he basically is. His base jumps by $5.5M, his cap hit jumps to $14.7M for a 32 year old RT whose play is in decline. His run blocking sucks and he can't stop an edge with both power and speed. Do you honestly think and are willing to say they will not release him when his cap hit jumps by $5M to $14.7M?

They could play Jackson, Thomas or Bruss at RT and they would be an upgrade. The best attribute for Havenstein is he's durable. But he's hardly a top RT in his play. Can you say with a straight face that Havenstein is a better OT than Jackson who probably would play for less than half of what they would have to pay Rob? Hell they were even trying Bruss at RT. Bruss was a very good OT in college.

Do you know what “contract year” means? Seems like you don’t.

 

[Tumak61]

There seems to be a battle at WR. Jefferson could be falling down the depth chart. Anything is possible now for that group. Wouldn't surprise me to see Atwell become the X, which would really open up the bunch sets to do their thing.

 

[dang]

There seems to be a battle at WR. Jefferson could be falling down the depth chart. Anything is possible now for that group. Wouldn't surprise me to see Atwell become the X, which would really open up the bunch sets to do their thing.

WR2 is Jefferson’s to lose. And he has a chance to be a good WR2. What I don’t want to see is Jefferson getting 50 recs/750 yds/3TDs as our WR2. We need better results from him or have someone else take over WR2.