The OL is a disaster, but the plan was sound.

[AvengerRam]

That's fine, I never expect credit for any of my posts.
No one can or did predict our injury riddled season, but several posters have had the foresight to anticipate what may come of an OL which has not been invested in to the degree we've been trying to reason over for several seasons, like establishing a stronger run game from the trench, or better options for protecting our franchise QB. OL investment has been secondary since Whitworth was signed, and what a value that turned out to be.
I believe too much has been made over the departure of Corbett, many fans here weren't happy with his production at the time, I also believed that C John Sullivan was DONE when he left, I'm not shedding any tears over those guys, but losing Roger Saffold was a big blow to our team, that and failing to properly invest during subsequent years, whether it be free agents or the draft. Explaining Jamil Demby & Bobby Evans as depth would be a struggle for anyone, and basically replacing Saffold with Edwards, a real head scratcher. Some don't necessarily see the OL as important as the skill positions, but others of us prefer to build from the trenches out. jmo.

Nobody is saying that the OL is not of paramount importance, nor is anyone suggesting that the Rams' have not made mistakes over the years in staffing that unit.

However, when you're coming off a Super Bowl Championship, you have to consider the butterfly effect. In other words, what move should the Rams have made that would be helping us today, but would not have carried the potential of altering last year's outcome?

In that regard, Saffold is an interesting example. If we had signed him to a big FA contract, could that have impacted our ability obtain a player who helped us win a ring last year? Who knows? What we do know is that David Edwards was a much cheaper option than Saffold, and he started every game last year.

This is also why the Tutu over Creed selection is still discussed. Clearly, we'd be better off with Creed as our center, and foregoing the Tutu selection would not have skuttled our Super Bowl run.

This offseason, the Rams did sign two in-house OL and dedicated their highest draft pick to an OG. Heck... you described Bruss as "the brute squad" (NOTE: Princess Bride references are always welcome!) a few months ago when you, like most of us, anticipated him providing a high-quality starter for a Day 2 rookie contract price.

Now that things have gone bad, its easy to say "I told you so." But, again, nobody "told us" that the OL would be THIS BAD. And, by the same token, nobody knows how good this OL would have been if we had avoided injuries.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don’t get dismissing Corbett while praising Saffold.
Corbett is better and more reliable right now.. which is when the team is having problems.
I get the point about wanting to invest more in the line to have a dominant group.. I really do.

But the decisions that cost the Rams that kind of unit are also part of what produced a championship.

Prior to his free agency, many dismissed Corbett, same with Brian Allen as it looked like it was going to be one or the other due to anticipated CAP costs. I see a similar scenario brewing at DT following this season, Greg Gaines or D'Shawn Robinson, likely not both because of CAP.
I believe Corbett was allowed to walk as Centers are harder to replace, it became a numbers game, and their skill levels were probably considered fairly equal at the time. Teams that are top heavy with CAP have tough decisions to make, Corbett suffered because of it imo.

 

[Ellard80]

I feel like our 0-line should be locked in a room and forced to listen to Metalica

problem solved

 

[1maGoh]

Yeah anything's "possible." It's all speculation; the problem is they should've assessed the probabilities a lot better. We should've planned for the eventuality Noteboom wasn't likely to replace Whit's ability, e.g.. Just my .02.

The problem with assessing probabilities better, is that they are still probabilities. If it's 1 in a million that you fail, they'd a great bet but it can still come up on that 1. Sometimes great odds still fail.

While Noteboom has been meh at best, I think that would be workable so long as we weren't swapping out the three guys to his right once or twice a game.

 

[Riverumbbq]

In that regard, Saffold is an interesting example. If we had signed him to a big FA contract, could that have impacted our ability obtain a player who helped us win a ring last year? Who knows? What we do know is that David Edwards was a much cheaper option than Saffold, and he started every game last year.

This offseason, the Rams did sign two in-house OL and dedicated their highest draft pick to an OG. Heck... you described Bruss as "the brute squad" (NOTE: Princess Bride references are always welcome!) a few months ago when you, like most of us, anticipated him providing a high-quality starter for a Day 2 rookie contract price.

As I mentioned several times at the time of Saffold nearing free agency, the Rams could have easily cut or traded the declining Brockers, and the money would have been even, although Brockers still had another year on his contract and was allowed to walk the following year.

Yes, admittedly, I bought into the Bruss hype after the draft, and that's after posting how much I preferred Georgia's Jamaree Salyer, who is now starting for the Chargers. I was quite happy that we drafted a larger OG who came with starting expectations, whether it be game 1 or mid-season, it was a relief to know that we weren't going to rely on another late round draft pick to help solve our predicament. His injury was a huge blow, who would have known that this would just be the start of our interior OL meltdown. jmo.

 

[Merlin]

I feel like our 0-line should be locked in a room and forced to listen to old Metalica

problem solved

FIFY.

 

[payote75]

Saffold was also available this off season and might have taken less money didn't exactly sign a whopper of a deal with buffalo that would have been smart you lose whit add another veteran who is familiar with the system. Thats something I think should have been looked into.

I think they just want to get by this game then assess what to do. It's not like they can make 6 trades but some move or moves will be made. So there is time to learn everything etc.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

View: https://twitter.com/thinkblue47/status/1579895886787751936?s=46&t=BfPeU5leP3_MYz5Xu2abUQ

 

[Loyal]

OMG...the Age of Funk is over....


View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1579926454581592065?s=20&t=pBlvjR3oLePPF37VrecegQ

 

[Kupped]

Prior to his free agency, many dismissed Corbett, same with Brian Allen as it looked like it was going to be one or the other due to anticipated CAP costs. I see a similar scenario brewing at DT following this season, Greg Gaines or D'Shawn Robinson, likely not both because of CAP.
I believe Corbett was allowed to walk as Centers are harder to replace, it became a numbers game, and their skill levels were probably considered fairly equal at the time. Teams that are top heavy with CAP have tough decisions to make, Corbett suffered because of it imo.

Again… I still don’t get dismissing Corbett.
People knew there would be a choice to be made.. was it the right choice? Fuck if I know because the 3rd rounder they drafted to play him got hurt.
Again… injuries… and a rash of them in one group.

 

[Kupped]

View: https://twitter.com/jourdanrodrigue/status/1579964242765414400?s=21

 

[PARAM]

Our depth may have been fine, if not for the injuries. Allen goes down, Shelton moves to C, Anchrum comes in at G. He's immediately injured so his evaluation is incomplete. But being the first man in speaks to what they thought of him. Next man in was Jackson and he's played fine. Then Kolone at C. What should we expect for the #3 C? Edwards goes down and Evans comes in. Name me a team with a real good #9 O lineman. Nobody plans for or even can plan for devastation. But win Sunday and we're 3-3 with a bye to figure the rest out. Skura? Odbushy?

 

[Soul Surfer]

But how much bad luck should you expect?

And how were they pushing their luck with several players with no injury history?

4 injuries to one position group is a lot.

I'll let you argue that out with yourself since what you seem to be into.

 

[Kupped]

I'll let you argue that out with yourself since what you seem to be into.

Okaaaaaaay…
So… you wouldn’t have Signed Allen and Noteboom?
They’re injuries waiting to happen, right?

And Anchrum, Bruss and Shelton were just due for injury.. right?

Same with Edwards.

I’m sorry.. you wanna argue the guys they drafted aren’t good enough or something… sure… seems like a legit conversation… you wanna pretend 5 injuries at one position group is a product of poor planning? That doesn’t pass the smell test.

Have fun.

 

[Psycho_X]

I remember screaming at my tv when this happened live. Got to hit the holes when they are created too.


View: https://twitter.com/pointsbetusa/status/1579218168098263040?s=21

 

[Soul Surfer]

I remember screaming at my tv when this happened live. Got to hit the holes when they are created too.


View: https://twitter.com/pointsbetusa/status/1579218168098263040?s=21

A blind squirrel could have found that hole.

 

[rdlkgliders]

5 injuries at one position group is a product of poor planning?

I don't have a side in this debate however I do think that the OL was playing poorly after 1 or maybe 2 lost O.l 5 just made compensating for the poor play much tougher

 

[Kupped]

I don't have a side in this debate however I do think that the OL was playing poorly after 1 or maybe 2 lost O.l 5 just made compensating for the poor play much tougher

I think they were okay up until the 4th guy (Bruss, Anchrum & Allen)…
Okay. Good enough to win 2 games against mediocre teams.

Okay. Not “good”.

There’s just no way they were gonna survive with a 3rd string center & 5th string guard.

We’ll see what they come up with.

 

[Mojo Ram]

If the Rams had invested heavily into the OL the last few years(FA and 1st round picks)…we very well could have a beastly OL with Goff throwing to Woods, Van Jefferson, Skoronek and Brycen Hopkins.

No thanks.

 

[rdlkgliders]

I think they were okay up until the 4th guy (Bruss, Anchrum & Allen)…
Okay. Good enough to win 2 games against mediocre teams.

Okay. Not “good”.

There’s just no way they were gonna survive with a 3rd string center & 5th string guard.

We’ll see what they come up with.

This regime has always done something to make us better. This time it is triage and survival and we don't have much to give without
mortgaging the future. A tough predicament for sure.