While many are very nervous starting multiple rookies on the O-Line, other teams have done it successfully. It's more a matter of the individual players ability and the length of time it takes for chemistry to kick in. Even if it takes half the season for the new players to 'get it', I have no problem adding 2 or 3 young high quality guys who start and perform well for the next several years. Doesn't seem to fit Fisher's M.O., but the team is up against the wall with so many open starting positions, ... and lack of depth. jmo.
the problem with this as it pertains to the offensive line. It is not solely about the "individual players ability", as it is about the sum of the parts.
It's in vogue right now to bash this regime for their apparent lack of ability to put together a "successful' unit. I couldn't disagree more with that mindset. The biggest issue for this regime, hasn't been the "plan" or the players signed. It's been the onslaught of injuries that they have had to endure in the time they have been here. The most successful O-lines are primarily the ones where the same five guys reamin on the field for the entire season. Sure having a Pro-Bowl caliber player amongst them doesn't hurt. But go back to the GSOT days. Other than Pace,and to a lesser extent, Adam Timmerman, the other guys on those teams were never household names. Tom Nutten, Andy McCollum, Tucker, Gruttadoria, etc. But as a unit, they were outstanding. For the old time STL Cardiac Cardinal fans, they had arguably the best OL in history for those few years. Again, other than Dan Deirdorf, none of the other guys were considered ProBowl talents. But as a unit, they ALL played at a ProBolw level. Tom Banks? Really? Roger Finney? Bob Young? The one thing they had in common, was they ALL were on the field for the entire season.
My point is, the plan they put in place was sound. Bringing in Jake Long, AND Scott Wells were great moves. If they had stayed on the field, and if Saffold would have stayed healthy for an entire 16 game schedule, this OL unit would have been very good.
I know many will come back at me saying they should have "planned" for these players to get hurt, as they have a history of injuries. Well, my reply to that, is ANY player can get hurt on any play, so planning for injuries just is a waste of time. They don't have a crystal ball.
Having COST EFFECTIVE depth players is the only way to protect yourself. But when a team is forced to play as many different players in a single season as the Rams have been forced to use, no "plan" is gonna look good at the end of the day.
