Rams LT Andrew Whitworth expected to return

[PhillyRam]

He doesn't play 5T.
Anyway, he's in a class all by himself.
Comparing Gaines to Donald is painful to my ears.

I think Gaines is simply a solid reserve, and could develop into a very good reserve/situational run stopper as part of a rotation. Nothing wrong with that role.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I think Gaines is simply a solid reserve, and could develop into a very good reserve/situational run stopper as part of a rotation. Nothing wrong with that role.

I agree, but when fans try to make comparisons between Donald and Gaines, that's a bridge too far.

 

[So Ram]

my major fear is that our young ol that most think will get better with more play time will also have film out there that teams will use to find weakness in thier play. not saying that will happen but it is a fear that i have after all look what happened with noteboom and allen.

There weakness was there lack of experience.Will see if they can learn. Noteboom last & Allen can both bulk up. That is the advantage along with extra training camp in house with Reggie Scott.

 

[So Ram]

Curious, but I saw a report somewhere about Whitworth & Blythe having an injury. Are they both aloud to train with Reggie Scott.
Also Allan and Noteboom through the end of the close of2019 & 2020 season.

 

[Zaphod]

He doesn't play 5T.
Anyway, he's in a class all by himself.
Comparing Gaines to Donald is painful to my ears.

I just think he has more burst getting upfield than SJD. I mean, if all you want to do is stop the run, but that won't demand double teams or capitalize on what AD is seeing.

 

[BonifayRam]

There weakness was there lack of experience.Will see if they can learn. Noteboom last & Allen can both bulk up. That is the advantage along with extra training camp in house with Reggie Scott.

There is a problem So Ram with both these OL'ers. On Kromers selected starting center in 2019...Brian Allen .....he is max'd out already physically.

He is under 6-1 listed around 305. BA is physically mature as he is going to get. He might even be too puffed up IMO. I would expect that Kromer will make him starter on Team OL #1 @ center early this 2020. I would bet that we see BA start & play for the first half of 3 of the 4 preseason games too. BA biggest need is experience & he could have used an extra full season getting blended into being the lead for the starter position @ OC in 2020. But I also expect that Kromer is going to have a veteran with some starting experience @ OC in his OL cadre.

Kromers current main back up to BA will be Coleman Shelton. Now Shelton is a different body type 6-5 300lbs he will need as you mentioned above some serious bulk up work assignments from this point through TC & preseason. I believe he has a very good chance to make this 53 MR due to the fact he can play OG/RG/RT posts. His skillfulness & versatility will be his key to success. I would look for Shelton to be the #8th or #9 OL'er in 2020.

Onto Noteboom.....Noteboom has legs/calves much like Andrew Whitworth. You could have put both Noteboom calves inside just one Rodger Saffold Calf! Noteboom is not built anything like a Rodger Saffold, Quenton Nelson, Marshal Yanda or Zack Martin. JN's body type is far closer to Ronnie Stanley or David Bakhtiari who are the two best LT's in 2019.

JN was NOT a well-defined OL'er in 2019 & IMO never should have been selected to start @ OG this season. Its obvious IF Kromer has gone a different route with JN where Joe would have been blended in tightly with Andrew Whitworth & Rob Havenstein used as an effective trio of OT's. When Big Rob was having game issues with small dinky quick pass rushers you would turn the RT post over to JN. The extra yr of OT experience would have put JN & the Rams LT post in a great position for 2020.

When you have a surgically reconstructed knee you will not have the opportunity to build much overall lower body core strength until summer. However, JN will be able to work the upper body muscle groups independently. When I see JN around the bye I expect to see a 6-5 315 to 320 pound LT who still needs lower body work but will be in very good upper body condition.

 

[Ram65]

Sounds like you are against resigning Whitworth. Even if Whitworth declines some I didn't see a better alternative on the roster.

What are the alternative?

Whitworth had a 72.8 PFF grade. If I were the Rams GM I would be very nervous with Evans and Edwards as my top LT candidates. I can see the Rams having a limit on Whitworth and other teams interested. I think the Rams still have a shot at a reasonable price.

Evans PFF grade at RT was very poor at 49.4 for the Rams. Evans did play RT for two years and LT for one year at Oklahoma out of a two-point stance. I don't if you want to put him in as Goff's blindside protection. I like his long arms but, he may need another year competing. He can compete with Haventein at RT or at RG.

Edwards PFF grade at RG was a little higher at 61 a little below average. Edwards played RT in college. He was ahead of Evans coming off the bench to play LG. Again I'm not sure he is the one to protect Goff's blindside. He has no experience at LT. He can compete with the others and could stay at RG giving him a more permanent position.

Do you or anyone have alternative options?

I don't see Blythe getting that much nor do I really want the Rams to resign him. Maybe as a backup.

 

[Memento]

I definitely want more physicality up front on both sides of the ball.

Defensively there are 2 guys I covet on the DL early on: Davis and Futa. Davis is a rangy strong guy who will excel at 5T for us if he is there in round 2 which is questionable. Futa is a nose who could allow us to move SJD to 5T but I also think he can play 5T and is well suited for it. He is cited round 3 and later on a lot of sites so should be in play for us.

You mean Leki Fotu? I fucking love that kid (platonically and as a prospect, of course). He's my favorite D-Lineman in this class, save for the top guys. He's 6'5", 335 lbs., moves well, stuffs the run, and - even though Utah didn't ask it of him (which they should've done) - he has natural pass-rushing ability who only needs technique. He reminds me of Ngata, except Ngata was much more polished at this stage.

 

[JonRam99]

No coincidence that the best OL's we've had were centered by Sullivan. The left side of Saffold & Whit was locked down. Road graders on the right. We were solid.
I'd be OK if we picked up a vet C, but they've got to be at least as good as Sullivan. LG is also critical, would be nice if Corbett plugged in there, so we have good experience & talent from C to LG to LT -- the whole left side. LT would be Boom backed up (ideally) by Whit, if possible, or vice versa depending on how soon Boom can get healthy. I think a developmental LT would be a great pick in the 3rd or 4th.
RG & RT then seems good between Evans / Edwards / Havenstein.

I'll say it again: if we don't plug the hole at C, nothing we do will matter. Whatever our 1st pick winds up being (2nd round, low 1st w/ trades), I really, really want a stud C.

 

[bubbaramfan]

This years draft is loaded with good interior OL. I count at least 5 centers that are bigger than Allen and could start in the NFL.

 

[Merlin]

Sounds like you are against resigning Whitworth. Even if Whitworth declines some I didn't see a better alternative on the roster.

What are the alternative?

Whitworth had a 72.8 PFF grade. If I were the Rams GM I would be very nervous with Evans and Edwards as my top LT candidates. I can see the Rams having a limit on Whitworth and other teams interested. I think the Rams still have a shot at a reasonable price.

Do you or anyone have alternative options?

I don't see Blythe getting that much nor do I really want the Rams to resign him. Maybe as a backup.

A good GM isn't looking at Whit's 72.8 PFF grade. He's projecting what Whit's level of play will be next year. Whit was atrocious vs the better edge defenders he saw early on. He got better as the season went on but some of that was competition driven. But either way 2019 saw a dip in his playing ability and once that happens with old linemen the fall can be fast and hard.

The dude is 38 years old. He was brought in as a temporary addition to get us to where they could find a LT. There has to be a succession plan in place. The Rams have to make a move for the future at the position it's not an option.

Evans has good feet and afforded himself well after being thrown into the fire as a rookie. He should be able to take on that job especially if the Rams reload the line to be a plus run game unit. Boom will come available sometime later as an additional fallback option. Plus they have Edwards.

How much would the 2020 Whit be than Evans? Maybe not that much tbh. And Evans is young and talented and will improve. It sucks but they have to give the younger players a shot and the money side of the NFL is going to force their hand too barring Whit electing to take a cheap contract.

 

[iamme33]

There weakness was there lack of experience.Will see if they can learn. Noteboom last & Allen can both bulk up. That is the advantage along with extra training camp in house with Reggie Scott.

noteboom and allen had 2 year with reggie scott. the other first year guys had a year with him. not saying that more time in the system won't help them. it's just that other team are going to gain experience and bulk up also. again not saying these guys can't work out just I fear with film out there they maybe exposed.i guess this is a hope for the best expect the worst.

 

[Zaphod]

A good GM isn't looking at Whit's 72.8 PFF grade. He's projecting what Whit's level of play will be next year. Whit was atrocious vs the better edge defenders he saw early on. He got better as the season went on but some of that was competition driven. But either way 2019 saw a dip in his playing ability and once that happens with old linemen the fall can be fast and hard.

The dude is 38 years old. He was brought in as a temporary addition to get us to where they could find a LT. There has to be a succession plan in place. The Rams have to make a move for the future at the position it's not an option.

Evans has good feet and afforded himself well after being thrown into the fire as a rookie. He should be able to take on that job especially if the Rams reload the line to be a plus run game unit. Boom will come available sometime later as an additional fallback option. Plus they have Edwards.

How much would the 2020 Whit be than Evans? Maybe not that much tbh. And Evans is young and talented and will improve. It sucks but they have to give the younger players a shot and the money side of the NFL is going to force their hand too barring Whit electing to take a cheap contract.

I understand the case you’re making, and it does make sense, but it’s still a bandaid with your fingers crossed.

And then I have to question what we have for backup at swing tackle with Noteboom out indefinitely.

Then remember what a lack of viable competition did to us with the gamble at center last year.

People may say that I undervalue our OL depth, but I don’t care. We’ll be tapping the draft again for OL talent if we’re smart.

 

[Kevin]

I agree, but when fans try to make comparisons between Donald and Gaines, that's a bridge too far.

I was referring to your complete dismissal if anyone under your preferred height.

 

[BonifayRam]

We’ll be tapping the draft again for OL talent if we’re smart.

At least two OL'ers selected from the 6 draft picks is mandated!

A future starting center must be considered due to the Brain Allen miscalculation by Kromer.

A pure LT kind no more RT prospects are needed when you have Havenstein, Edwards, Brewer & Evans under contract for 3 more seasons.

I do believe that Joseph Noteboom when healthy can be a better than average starting LT for Goff. The issue is his 2020 season is in jeopardy due to his reconstructed knee. Plus add in Noteboom is only under contract for one more season.

 

[Ram65]

Bythe can get paid whatever somewhere else for that much money.




You are the cap guy. I know there are limits to the cap space. The extact amounts are hard for me to determine. I can't figure out this year let alone next year. I do know the Rams have a lot more cap room next year at least as it looks now.

If the Rams extend Ramsey this year I thought they would save cap space this year.

I don't know what it would cost this year to extend both Johnson and Kupp. I didn't think it would add a lot to this year's cap but, I would be interested to know how much it would be. I had and have my doubts that the Rams would extend both JJ and Kupp. I remember seeing an estimated value of Kupp at $19 Million a year. The Rams may have to let one of them go.

I see the risk in signing Whitworth and don't see the Rams getting in a bidding war. I also have strong doubts about the other options.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I was referring to your complete dismissal if anyone under your preferred height.

Really ?

A preference is not a complete dismissal, a preference is a ... preference. I also explained my reasoning as my opinion. If you prefer shorter 5T's, I can accept that as your opinion. Not sure why this is such a problem for you ?

 

[Ram65]

A good GM isn't looking at Whit's 72.8 PFF grade. He's projecting what Whit's level of play will be next year. Whit was atrocious vs the better edge defenders he saw early on. He got better as the season went on but some of that was competition driven. But either way 2019 saw a dip in his playing ability and once that happens with old linemen the fall can be fast and hard.

The dude is 38 years old. He was brought in as a temporary addition to get us to where they could find a LT. There has to be a succession plan in place. The Rams have to make a move for the future at the position it's not an option.

Evans has good feet and afforded himself well after being thrown into the fire as a rookie. He should be able to take on that job especially if the Rams reload the line to be a plus run game unit. Boom will come available sometime later as an additional fallback option. Plus they have Edwards.

How much would the 2020 Whit be than Evans? Maybe not that much tbh. And Evans is young and talented and will improve. It sucks but they have to give the younger players a shot and the money side of the NFL is going to force their hand too barring Whit electing to take a cheap contract.

They gave the young guys a shot last year and it didn't work out so well.

At this point, we agree it sucks.

You studied the offensive line extensively. I'm not sure Evans was that good. I like his long arms and he can get better. If Whitworth walks we will find out if he or Edwards can fill in at LT. Rams would be thinner at OT without Whitworth.