Right tackle imperative to Rams O-line success in 2020

[Merlin]

Evans has talent he just needs to keep getting stronger and better with his hands. He's a project if he ends up starting, where we'll need to weather some subpar games plain and simple. So that's why Hav is so important, his status is a really big element because if he gets back to form then we will have a strong run game over the right side. That run game will lessen the desire of the best pass rushers to work the strong side and change that equation a bit in our favor. Last year we were behind the chains so much that we were vulnerable to the best rushers on the strong side on top of having the struggles at RT.

But even if Hav plays well big questions remain on this line at LG and C. Evans might be more capable of consistent run game production at LG, and if he shows that then Corbett will be pushed and that's a good thing. C there is a chance one of the depth guys can push Blythe but either way we're going to be below average there.

Whit's age is a concern too. His dropoff in the run game last year was real. His struggles early on vs the power blindside rushers were real. And our lack of answers behind him are real. Boom might be able to push for some looks if he's healthy but my confidence in him as well as our depth overall is far from high.

Basically we have questions surrounding 4 of 5 spots. Can we hit the flush? Maybe. We'll see.

 

[whitedk57]

I could not agree more with your assessment on 66

Honestly I haven’t given up on Allen either, I was really hoping his wrestling background would provide us with the physicality we’ve been lacking at C.

I suppose we’ll know more as it plays out

Hey, ease up on the jersey #s game - some of us don't pay attention and don't have them memorized. All I know is Donald is 99, and Ramsey is 20. Sometimes I forget that Goff is 16?

And linemen? Geez!

 

[Snaz]

Why trade one when we need a LT soon

 

[oldnotdead]

A problem at any position on the on-line is unacceptable. If you are running inside zone or a gap blocking variant then good play at OG and C are very important. Rob Havenstein's issues are primarily in pass protection. Being on the strongside they can help him with better play at TE. Too many times the TE simply released without a chip, leaving Rob's slow feet exposed.

We saw the consequences of an RG struggling with speed and power when Blythe was playing RG. To simply make a blanket statement about any single position being more important is simply wrong.

The fact that both TE's are not being attacked by the defense is correct. A lot has to do with teams moving to the 3-4 hybrid which allows DCs to scheme to attack an O-line's weakness. In the 3-4 hybrid, many times the primary pass-rushing threat is the JACK (OLB aligned as a DE) and who is many times going against the traditionally weaker of the two OT's the RT.

The Rams with Floyd and Lewis on the edges and AD and Robinson inside forces some hard decisions on an OC. As a pass rusher, Floyd is in my opinion as good as Fowler. With Lewis, the Rams have speed on the opposite edge lacking in Brockers. On the interior AD and Robinson provide tremendous push. It will be picking your poison for the offense.

The bottom line is I think Havenstein will start the season as the starter at RT but he's going to be on a very short leash. If he doesn't return to his 2018 form I think he will lose that start. The only reason I think Havenstein starts over Evans or Edwards is that Rob's contract is too large for him to be a backup until he plays himself onto the bench.

Regardless, I think Havenstein's days with the Rams are numbered. If he plays decently, this year he becomes attractive trade bait with an affordable one year left on his contract.

 

[BonifayRam]

Why trade one when we need a LT soon

We do seem to have a glut of MAINLY right OT types or OL'ers who have started @ that position in college i.e. Bobby Evans, Rob Havenstein, David Edwards, Chandler Brewer. Coleman Shelton, Joseph Noteboom & Tremayne Anchrum. I am sure the hope is that one of our OT's is good enough in his pass protection skills to be an effective replacement for Andrew Whitworth by the bye on the left aside @ OT.

As all the above posts on this tread would indicate everyone is counting on Rob Havenstein to return to full form of his 2017/2018 seasons. I agree fully that would be the key & the best results to desire. If a strong Ram running game is reborn this Havenstein might last out the full season as a starter. If that were to come about then the all of Kromers attention could be focused on finding the best of his OL'ers to replace the way past his prime wore down starter @ LT.

Sadly, I still maintain that I do not anticipate a full recovery for Havenstein to his previous glory. It would not surprise me that a plan will be prepared to replace both starting veteran OT's Havenstein/Whitworth by the bye week. On the positive side at least Kromer does have a good amount of good young prospects to succeed with his starting OT's shift change.

 

[Rams43]

Lots of great posts in this thread. Kudos to all.

My take?

Either the Rams coaches, particularly Kromer, know what they‘re doing or they don’t. I think that they do.

I also think that it would be nice to only have questions about 1 or 2 OL players rather than 4-5 of them. But it is what it is.

Out of 15 candidates, surely the Rams should be able to come up with 9-10 keepers. I really believe that and consequently am sleeping like a baby at night.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Either the Rams coaches, particularly Kromer, know what they‘re doing or they don’t

That made me chuckle, then I thought... “It does feel set up that way”.

Like... chips all in. Now deal!

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

Hey, ease up on the jersey #s game - some of us don't pay attention and don't have them memorized. All I know is Donald is 99, and Ramsey is 20. Sometimes I forget that Goff is 16?

And linemen? Geez!

Duly noted

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

The virtual offseason is what concerns me most. I don't know how they can be cohesive without lining up next to each other. I like how we re-aligned our coaches, having Kromer is only focused on the O line now and O'Connell on being a coordinator.

 

[majrleaged]

We do seem to have a glut of MAINLY right OT types or OL'ers who have started @ that position in college i.e. Bobby Evans, Rob Havenstein, David Edwards, Chandler Brewer. Coleman Shelton, Joseph Noteboom & Tremayne Anchrum. I am sure the hope is that one of our OT's is good enough in his pass protection skills to be an effective replacement for Andrew Whitworth by the bye on the left aside @ OT.

As all the above posts on this tread would indicate everyone is counting on Rob Havenstein to return to full form of his 2017/2018 seasons. I agree fully that would be the key & the best results to desire. If a strong Ram running game is reborn this Havenstein might last out the full season as a starter. If that were to come about then the all of Kromers attention could be focused on finding the best of his OL'ers to replace the way past his prime wore down starter @ LT.

Sadly, I still maintain that I do not anticipate a full recovery for Havenstein to his previous glory. It would not surprise me that a plan will be prepared to replace both starting veteran OT's Havenstein/Whitworth by the bye week. On the positive side at least Kromer does have a good amount of good young prospects to succeed with his starting OT's shift change.

What was Hav's injury and why would he not recover fully?

 

[CGI_Ram]

The virtual offseason is what concerns me most. I don't know how they can be cohesive without lining up next to each other. I like how we re-aligned our coaches, having Kromer is only focused on the O line now and O'Connell on being a coordinator.

Yeah, even the general pal’ing around... getting comfortable with each other.

How quickly do things gel?

 

[BonifayRam]

What was Hav's injury and why would he not recover fully?

My below Apr 26, 2020 post provides some small amount of information on the injury that Rob may have experienced in 2019.

Kromer

Coaching an o-line before the season is one thing. Making adjustments to the o-line during the season is IMO the true test of a coach. When the right side was falling apart with Blythe and Havenstein, Kromer did nothing. Not until forced by injuries to Allen and Havenstein did Kromer make...

ramsondemand.com

With the conclusion of the Rams draft & the majority of the UDFA's being signed......we can NOW get a clearer ideal as to how our Rams Org. will move forward with its collected OL cadre as it relates to the RT post.

One very important question lingering since last season involved Veteran starting RT Rob Havenstein. Recently some elements have taken place. 1st-Early this past week Hav agreed to a reworked of his contract for the benefit of the Rams' salary cap issues. 2nd- This weekend the Rams did not draft an NFL OT. 3rd- Rams have not signed any UDFA OT.

It's evident as far as I am concerned now, based on all that has occurred with Hav's 2019 performance that @ some point unknown he incurred damage to his knee diagnosed as a torn Meniscus. It could have occurred in game 1, its just not known. NFL starting players do play with this injury but it will affect their performance due to the pain. Most OL'ers are not 6-8 330 plus pounds either. I would think all the extra lbs that he came into TC/ preseason did not help with this injury. That was clearly & fully on Hav.

It was during the Steelers gm. that he must have incurred more damage to that area that took him out for a series. I have commented on this before the Rams did not go into the Steelers' gm with a reserve OT. Hav's starting spot was filled by center Coleman Shelton. Hav did return for a series but was obvious Hav was in great pain & incapable of performing his duties. Hav was never seen again in the Ram OL for 2019.

Rams, now a 1/2 yr later are calculating & trusting on Hav to return to his pre 2019 performance & be in his best playing condition & fully healed as their starting RT for one more season. If Hav fails in this task then Snead under his management three 2nd yr OL'ers Bobby Evans, David Edwards & Chandler Brewer all standing by to take over the RT post. Here @ this 1 of 5 OL posts the Rams have this!

My thoughts on the subject of Havenstein's returning to previous playing form was not based primarily on his health or his removal from active playing status @ RT, but on his serious degrading lack of pass blocking skills & abilities going into his 6th season as a starting RT in the NFL.

 

[BonifayRam]

LA Rams who could be demoted in 2020
by Bret Stuter

5 LA Rams who could be demoted in 2020

As the LA Rams prepare for the 2020 NFL season, these presumed 5 starters could surprisingly and ultimately lose their starting roles

ramblinfan.com

Right Tackle

I don’t think anyone expects Rob Havenstein to show up poorly on the offensive line in 2020. In fact, I think almost everyone I’ve talked to quickly comes to the same conclusion for two different reasons. Everyone believes that Havenstein’s performance in 2019 was a complete fluke – a rare and random anomaly that has almost no chance of repeating in 2020. Some attribute the downturn to an unreported, uncorrected injury. Others cite the struggles of teammates Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen and link that to his own struggles because he tried to overcompensate.

But there is no denying the reality that the Rams trusted right tackle disappointed everyone, no one less than himself, as he struggled to perform in 2019, The expectation is that he will have everything fixed for 2020. Magically. Just poof!! and it will all be fixed. That’s quite a leap of faith to take since we truly do not know what happened in 2019 to cause the drop-off. Without knowing what happened then, how can anyone be sure that it won’t re-occur in 2020?

Fountain of Youth
Perhaps the LA Rams won’t wait for the answer. After 2019, the team may simply be ready to pull the trigger on a youth movement for the offensive line in 2020. After all, the team was forced in that direction last season and discovered that 2019 rookies David Edwards and Bobby Evans flashed serious and promising potential as they took over on the right side of the offensive line. Newly added left guard Austin Corbett seemed to hold his own on the left guard side. That merely leaves left tackle, and center, as the two offensive line positions without an obvious successor to veteran players.

First impressions for Rob Havenstein are vitally important for him this season. If he shows any signs of rust, the Rams’ only logical decision is to opt for a younger player with unknown ceilings, rather than stick with a veteran with a ceiling that will lower each year. Is it a coincidence that the only offensive lineman drafted played right tackle for a very successful Clemson football program in 2020? The LA Rams are ready to go young.

 

[majrleaged]

My below Apr 26, 2020 post provides some small amount of information on the injury that Rob may have experienced in 2019.

Kromer

Coaching an o-line before the season is one thing. Making adjustments to the o-line during the season is IMO the true test of a coach. When the right side was falling apart with Blythe and Havenstein, Kromer did nothing. Not until forced by injuries to Allen and Havenstein did Kromer make...

ramsondemand.com

With the conclusion of the Rams draft & the majority of the UDFA's being signed......we can NOW get a clearer ideal as to how our Rams Org. will move forward with its collected OL cadre as it relates to the RT post.

One very important question lingering since last season involved Veteran starting RT Rob Havenstein. Recently some elements have taken place. 1st-Early this past week Hav agreed to a reworked of his contract for the benefit of the Rams' salary cap issues. 2nd- This weekend the Rams did not draft an NFL OT. 3rd- Rams have not signed any UDFA OT.

It's evident as far as I am concerned now, based on all that has occurred with Hav's 2019 performance that @ some point unknown he incurred damage to his knee diagnosed as a torn Meniscus. It could have occurred in game 1, its just not known. NFL starting players do play with this injury but it will affect their performance due to the pain. Most OL'ers are not 6-8 330 plus pounds either. I would think all the extra lbs that he came into TC/ preseason did not help with this injury. That was clearly & fully on Hav.

It was during the Steelers gm. that he must have incurred more damage to that area that took him out for a series. I have commented on this before the Rams did not go into the Steelers' gm with a reserve OT. Hav's starting spot was filled by center Coleman Shelton. Hav did return for a series but was obvious Hav was in great pain & incapable of performing his duties. Hav was never seen again in the Ram OL for 2019.

Rams, now a 1/2 yr later are calculating & trusting on Hav to return to his pre 2019 performance & be in his best playing condition & fully healed as their starting RT for one more season. If Hav fails in this task then Snead under his management three 2nd yr OL'ers Bobby Evans, David Edwards & Chandler Brewer all standing by to take over the RT post. Here @ this 1 of 5 OL posts the Rams have this!

My thoughts on the subject of Havenstein's returning to previous playing form was not based primarily on his health or his removal from active playing status @ RT, but on his serious degrading lack of pass blocking skills & abilities going into his 6th season as a starting RT in the NFL.

Thanks