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

[VegasRam]

Very well said, bubba. Agree with every single word, man.

Agree as well - very well said @bubbaramfan .
You could lose the Boy Wonder allusion though - not warranted imo.

 

[Tano]

I don't think that's accurate. I believe Evans was a third round pick, and Allen was a fourth.

In fact, from a percentage point-of-view, the Rams may have drafted more OL in the top four rounds over the past five drafts, than any other position.

It appears my memory is bad prior to 2020

In 2018 we drafted Noteboom and Allen in the top 4 rounds. We prioritized OL in 2018 because we also got Demby in the 6th round

In 2019 we drafted Evans in the third round - unfortunately that was a bust and David Edwards in the 5th round.

I guess I am more annoyed about the 2020 and 2021 drafts when we completely ignored the OL until the 7th round when we could have gotten Biadesz or Humphreys in those two drafts

In 2022 we got Bruss which I hope will not turn out to be a bust.

So I am going to from now on focus on the fact that we ignored the OL in 2020 and 2021 and all of my statements from now on will be based on those two drafts. We really needed a center in both those drafts and both Biadesz and Humphrey were available and we bypassed them. And imho - both were some of the best players available at those spots too. So not only did we have a need at those spots but the BPA was met at that spot too.

 

[Tano]

And.. again.. you're asking for perfection in drafting...
No Hopkins? Great. What happens in the Super Bowl to the plays he made?

We all think Tutu was the wrong pick.. but, I'm on record that the idea they needed speed in the WR group wasn't wrong.

Every team takes chances.

And.. again.. we're talking about a rash of injuries.

You're arguing your philosophy, overall, is better than what the Rams have done.. and it's a philosophy that lead to a Super Bowl win.

Hopkins was good in the Super Bowl but what else has he done for us.

IMHO - we would have had to go to another FA TE who could have done just as well as Hopkins once the injury bug hit us in 2022 at the TE position.

 

[Merlin]

I don't know guys. I think there's almost over-analysis here.

Oh there's over-analysis here alright. That's something we do very well.

 

[Tano]

It appears my memory is bad prior to 2020

In 2018 we drafted Noteboom and Allen in the top 4 rounds. We prioritized OL in 2018 because we also got Demby in the 6th round

In 2019 we drafted Evans in the third round - unfortunately that was a bust and David Edwards in the 5th round.

I guess I am more annoyed about the 2020 and 2021 drafts when we completely ignored the OL until the 7th round when we could have gotten Biadesz or Humphreys in those two drafts

In 2022 we got Bruss which I hope will not turn out to be a bust.

So I am going to from now on focus on the fact that we ignored the OL in 2020 and 2021 and all of my statements from now on will be based on those two drafts. We really needed a center in both those drafts and both Biadesz and Humphrey were available and we bypassed them. And imho - both were some of the best players available at those spots too. So not only did we have a need at those spots but the BPA was met at that spot too.

And again I want to emphasize that I believe that we at minimum should get 1 OL in the first 4 rounds every other year and both 2020 and 2021 - we ignored the OL in the first 4 rounds. Just 1 extra player who hopefully was not a bust would have allowed us to dump Evans. He is the weak link in our OL. Plus if he was one of the two centers I really really really wanted, we wouldn't have to rely on Kolone as our 3rd center and could have kept another OL on the practice squad/active squad.

I know I know - shoulda coulda woulda

Grumble grumble grumble

 

[Kupped]

Hopkins was good in the Super Bowl but what else has he done for us.

IMHO - we would have had to go to another FA TE who could have done just as well as Hopkins once the injury bug hit us in 2022 at the TE position.

Lol.

Of course you do.

Sorry.. we can’t just imagine success.
Hopkins made the kind of plays he was drafted in the 4th round to make and very much looked like that guy in preseason.
You don’t get to assume success on your alternate path.

 

[Tano]

Lol.

Of course you do.

Sorry.. we can’t just imagine success.
Hopkins made the kind of plays he was drafted in the 4th round to make and very much looked like that guy in preseason.
You don’t get to assume success on your alternate path.

Ehh - I am just not that impressed with Hopkins so I have a right to my statement since it is a belief not fact.

You can disagree with the statement but don't make fun of it.

 

[1maGoh]

It's amazing what a stud Kupp is when you know he's being double teamed on many plays. His TD against Dallas was a great catch and Diggs didn't have enough to catch Super Cooper once he got past Diggs. Kupp is sneaky fast.

Diggs got cut off by Skow. On Tutu's big catch, it was Diggs that chased him down. Maybe Kupp still outruns him, but that would make Kupp faster than Tutu in which case he really wasn't needed when we drafted him.

 

[Kupped]

Ehh - I am just not that impressed with Hopkins so I have a right to my statement since it is a belief not fact.

You can disagree with the statement but don't make fun of it.

Yeah.. it’s too easy to make an argument by assuming something that significant.
He made critical plays in the biggest game of the year at its most critical moment.
We can’t just assume a random street free agent makes that play.

By the way.. Bobby Evans was a 3rd rounder. Picked the wrong guy.

 

[So Ram]

Yeah.. it’s too easy to make an argument by assuming something that significant.
He made critical plays in the biggest game of the year at its most critical moment.
We can’t just assume a random street free agent makes that play.

By the way.. Bobby Evans was a 3rd rounder. Picked the wrong guy.

Who should have it been & who did you like after him ? We as Rams Fans know David Edwards has produced more & he was a 5th rd pick

 

[Tano]

Yeah.. it’s too easy to make an argument by assuming something that significant.
He made critical plays in the biggest game of the year at its most critical moment.
We can’t just assume a random street free agent makes that play.

By the way.. Bobby Evans was a 3rd rounder. Picked the wrong guy.

Well if we didn't have Hopkins, we would have had another TE on the practice squad. And to be honest, I think McVay would have found a TE just as good as Hopkins for the practice squad. Of course I have a very low opinion of Hopkins so there is that.

And yeah - we definitely picked the wrong guy in 2019. If we had picked the right guy, then we would have been okay except for the 3rd string center. Kolone is not even a good 4th string center and we have him as our 3rd string.

And then this entire post would be about arguing why the frick did we not pick Humphrey or Biadesz lol

 

[Tano]

Who should have it been & who did you like after him ? We as Rams Fans know David Edwards has produced more & he was a 5th rd pick

Maybe Ben Powers would have been a better choice?

 

[BonifayRam]

Much to happen in the future in this OL will come from the skills of these two post-regular seasons signed UFA/OL'ers. Just how will these two fit into the McVay/ Carberry blocking schemes? Both are well-traveled cut often Journeymen NFL OL'ers. So were former retired Ram OG Tom Nutten & OC Andy McCollum well known Donut Brothers.

Matt Skura Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

PFF scouting report: Matt Skura, C, Duke

Mike Renner and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Duke's Matt Skura ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.

www.pff.com

2013 Draft Profile-Oday Aboushi

Oday Aboushi is an Offensive Lineman prospect out of Virginia

www.milehighreport.com

NFL Draft 2013: Oday Aboushi prospect profile

Virginia offensive tackle Oday Aboushi has the size needed to succeed at the next level, but his athleticism will likely slide him down to a second or third round pick.

www.sbnation.com

 

[RamDino]

My suggestion is to run, run, tun. It is easier to block and will help keep Stafford erect. These linemen are being abused by stunts and missed assignments. Run and hope you can pick up 3-4 yards. If not, punt, and let the defense do their thing.

 

[RamDino]

I'm not saying stop passing altogether... just cut it back and give the new o-lineman a chance to play together for a bit.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I think Noteboom is playing better than many suggest on here, btw.
He was awful against Von, but has been much better since.

We do need to take into account competition.. and the Rams have faced 3 beastly defenses in the first 5 weeks.

My gut agrees with you. And… JN is low on my list of concerns. I know some are not fans of PFF, yet his grades are generally trending up supporting your comment on improvement... But damn he shit the bed against SF, and he’s been streaky too looking at the sacks, hits, hurries, and pressures.

The whole line needs to up its game. Even our best have been just okay.

NOTEBOOM:

HAVENSTEIN:

 

[jrry32]

Can't control for injuries. Most OLs would look bad if they were being forced to play their third-string C and fourth- and fifth-string OGs.

 

[Mojo Ram]

@RamDino used the word erect in a post

 

[El Chapo Jr]

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.

Yup pros and cons of our approach. Last year's we got all the perks, this year more cons. Hopefully it changes as we get healthy.

 

[BonifayRam]

My gut agrees with you. And… JN is low on my list of concerns. I know some are not fans of PFF, yet his grades are generally trending up supporting your comment on improvement... But damn he shit the bed against SF, and he’s been streaky too looking at the sacks, hits, hurries, and pressures.

The whole line needs to up its game. Even our best have been just okay.

NOTEBOOM:
View attachment 56900

HAVENSTEIN:
View attachment 56901

Rams OT Joe Noteboom ‘Developing’ - But Is He Running Out of Time?

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/nfl/article267286437.html

The Los Angeles Rams made a significant investment in left tackle Joe Noteboom this offseason, but his early-season struggles seem to have Rams coach Sean McVay growing impatient.

The Los Angeles Rams' injury-laden offensive line has an Andrew Whitworth-sized hole at left tackle - and not in a good way. Described by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as a "heck of a player, hall of fame player," the 6-7, 331-pound Whitworth retired following Los Angeles' Super Bowl win this past February. Stepping into Whitworth's all-important role of protecting Stafford's blindside is a fifth-year pro, Joe Noteboom, who did the same in spot starts last year, including during a pair of playoff games after Whitworth went down with an injury.

Noteboom entered Los Angeles' wildcard win over the Arizona Cardinals and played over half the snaps and proved enough to warrant a start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the week after while Whitworth continued his recovery. Noteboom more than held his own, and while he didn't play after Whitworth returned, left the playoffs with much higher stock than when he started.

His efforts impressed Rams coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead enough to earn a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason, with the belief that his uptick in performance was simply a sign of things to come. However, through five games, Stafford has been sacked 21 times - tied for the most in the league - and, per Pro Football Focus, Noteboom has been responsible for five of them - also tied for the most in the league.

The 27-year-old Noteboom still has time to right the ship - but per McVay, the Rams aren't necessarily pleased with the pace of Noteboom's growth. "He still is a young developing player, but we want to be able to see that growth and maturation occur a little bit more quickly," McVay said. "I do have a lot of confidence in Joe that that will get done.”

Los Angeles spent a third-round pick on Noteboom in 2018, and he was a career 17-game starter entering this season. Experience hasn't quite been the issue, and he's certainly provided high-end flashes.

The problem, McVay said, has been turning those flashes into the consistent play required for a professional left tackle. “I think it's been some things that are in alignment with what we expect from Joe, then there's some things that he could do at a higher level," said McVay, citing consistency. "I think he'd be the first to be able to tell you that. But the good thing is that you've seen enough positives over the course of Joe's career to really be able to build on it."

The other good thing for Noteboom is that he still has his quarterback's trust, even with his early-season struggles. "I think Joe has done a really good job this year," Stafford said. However, the numbers - and McVay's subtle hint of growing impatience - tell a different story, one that the Rams certainly weren't anticipating after shelling out $40 million and making a three-year commitment to the former TCU Horned Frog.

Fortunately for Noteboom, there are 12 more games this season to turn his difficult start into a Hollywood ending, beginning with Sunday's 1:05 kickoff against the Carolina Panthers at SoFi Stadium.