Two things occur to me about our projected starting OL...

[Elmgrovegnome]

He couldn't prove me wrong last season since I had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn't expect him to be at Guard in the first place. I wasn't disappointed to see him get playing time at any position since he's supposed to be Whit's replacement pretty soon. I'm sure the Cowboy's game will tell us what's up.

I’m sure. If he’s really the starter. If he’s not then that will tell us too.

If he is the starter that tells me that the Rams Oline is not likely to be much better if any than it was last year. At least Allen being a backup would be addition by subtraction.

 

[Merlin]

I need to see him in game action a couple times to evaluate his real progress but I agree with the coaching staff that giving up his potential this early would be a terrible waste at this juncture.

Agree with most of your post there Leo, however I'll point out that wanting to see the guy earn his spot isn't giving up on him. In fact I think the single biggest question last year was Kromer starting some guys for what he saw as their upside or potential instead of what they were actually showing. That was the case with Demby who had no business in there with starters. It was also the case for Allen and Boom, both of whom should have faced more internal competition and won the jobs instead of having them handed to them.

But I assume McVay learned from that. He has to see that crowning both those guys and then sitting them like vets was fucking stupid. And that was all Kromer IMO. So Kromes is not all knowing.

As long as the Rams ensure there is competition I'm good with whatever lineup has the winners. Seriously. I mean I do have my opinions on these guys like all of us do, but if let's say Boom comes in and kicks ass then sure start him. Thing is that I'd better not see the same fucking BS in game 1 vs Dallas with him getting blown off the ball. If that happens, then McVay needs to get in Kromer's ass and deflate his fucking ego a bit.

 

[Dz1]

imho for O Lines guys last year is last year this year is this year, especially for the young guys...Then there;s the health part, lots 0f O Line guys keep quiet about injuries, being banged up, never know if they are or not,,,Nature of the game, especially line guys...

I think if everyone of the starters comes out at the start of the season they choice,we;re set, but I can see why they;re ?s about the 2 G positions...

Also because of this dang Covid, I think every Team in the NFL is going to make position mistakes and cut/kept players they should;t have...

 

[BonifayRam]

There are others on the team that have played Left Tackle in college. And I’m not so sure Noteboom is considered the heir apparent to Whitworth. If so why not be practicing him at OLT and why risk losing Joe to injury again if he’s considered second to Whitworth?

Unlike many of us fans maybe they think Joe could play well at guard. I think he clearly didn’t last year. Brewer is out this year but he seemed to be the backup tackle. Plus Evans( who coaches supposedly are impressed with) and Edwards played tackle in college. So did Anchrum.

That's a very good question @Elmgrovegnome on if the Rams really do consider Noteboom the heir to Whitworth. Noteboom was regarded as Whitworth’s heir apparent after the Rams drafted him in the third round in 2018.

You are correct that the Rams do have other OL'ers who have started for some time @ LT in college. Austin Corbett- 4 seasons, Jamil Demby - 4 seasons, Cohl Cabral- 2 seasons & Bobby Evans- 1 season.

Not real sure that Evans will ever be any heir to the LT position......he had a number of rough practices this past week in one on one pass protection drills with a rookie ER's Lewis who dominated Evans. Not sure what's up with our best performing 2019 rookie OL'er David Edwards. Its evident that he has lost his starting OL title now. It remains to be seen where he lands....can he earn the swing OG OL reserve position or is Kromer thinking he could take his near 6-7/315 to the swing OT reserve position. I do not see an LT in Edwards but I do see a good versatile OL'er RT/LG/RG in his future.

From the Podium: Sean McVay, Micah Kiser, Joe Noteboom, Brian Allen recap Day 3 of Rams contact integration period

www.therams.com

"I've lost weight, I've gained strength, so I feel better now than I ever had before." – Noteboom

• Although his 2019 season-ending knee injury left him experiencing a feeling of hopelessness and with an "extremely long" recovery process, Noteboom credits the Rams' athletic training staff for putting him in the position he's in now during training camp.
• McVay previously said Noteboom has "picked up where he left off" prior to the injury, and Noteboom attributed that to working with the team nutritionist, team trainers, and strength coaches to lower his body fat percentage and get leaner while still maintaining strength.

 

[den-the-coach]

Not real sure that Evans will ever be any heir to the LT position......he had a number of rough practices this past week in one on one pass protection drills with a rookie ER's Lewis who dominated Evans.

I get the feeling Evans is better on game day then at practice, however, Lewis did burn him on a couple of plays. Again I'm a fan of Noteboom and I expect if there is a season, that he bounces back this year and will be the starting LT in 2021 IMHO.

 

[BonifayRam]

I get the feeling Evans is better on game day then at practice, however, Lewis did burn him on a couple of plays. Again I'm a fan of Noteboom and I expect if there is a season, that he bounces back this year and will be the starting LT in 2021 IMHO.

Last year at this time the general thought was the Rams wanted to get Noteboom broke in & use to being a starter on that left side next to Whitworth. Not the best ideal OL position for Noteboom in 2019 but it was understandable. It was obvious to any fan who watches OL'ers every snap that Noteboom was a weak link from the start & it did not get better.

Now a year later the Rams resigned Whitworth back for another season & once again Noteboom has been inserted back in @ LG throwing/kicking out two of last years starters. Corbett was flipped to the RG (@ this time) & Edwards was kicked to the reserve unit fighting for a roster position.

I am slow most of the time these days but I get it now the Rams want or desire in the worse way to get Noteboom broke in real good @ LG with future plans for 2021 to have as much experience as possible starting to finally take over the LT post.

Evans did prove he was better in game time than practice time last season.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Joe Noteboom feels 'way more comfortable' now at guard

Joe Noteboom is hitting his stride at left guard this summer.

theramswire.usatoday.com

Joe Noteboom feels 'way more comfortable' now at guard

Joe Noteboom was drafted in 2018 to potentially replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. As a college left tackle at TCU, it was only natural for Noteboom to be groomed to protect Jared Goff’s blindside at some point down the line.

But with Rodger Saffold leaving in free agency last year, there was a void at left guard, which the Rams asked Noteboom to fill. He struggled early and continued to have trouble at his new position as the season went on, eventually suffering a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Noteboom is back at left guard in training camp, running with the first-team offense. He seems in line to keep his starting job, feeling much more comfortable at the position than he did last year.

“I definitely feel way better than I did last year. I felt good last year, but it was just kind of the inexperience at guard. That was my first time playing it. I definitely feel way more comfortable there right now,” he said Friday. “I kind of learned, like even when I wasn’t playing I was just watching it over and over again. So, I think it’s guard right now. I’m trying not to think about it if I’ll play anything in the future. Just kind of trying to focus on guard because that’s most likely what I’ll be playing. But definitely feel way more comfortable there than last year.”

Whitworth signed a three-year extension this offseason, and although he may not play out the entire length of it, he will remain the left tackle for at least one more season. That complicates Noteboom’s future a bit if he struggles again in 2020, because there may not be an opening at tackle until 2023 if Whitworth keeps defeating Father Time.

Hopefully for the Rams, Noteboom takes a positive step forward this season and becomes a quality starting guard, bringing some security to the offensive line for the foreseeable future.

 

[MachS]

Joe Noteboom feels 'way more comfortable' now at guard

Joe Noteboom is hitting his stride at left guard this summer.

theramswire.usatoday.com

Joe Noteboom feels 'way more comfortable' now at guard

Joe Noteboom was drafted in 2018 to potentially replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. As a college left tackle at TCU, it was only natural for Noteboom to be groomed to protect Jared Goff’s blindside at some point down the line.

But with Rodger Saffold leaving in free agency last year, there was a void at left guard, which the Rams asked Noteboom to fill. He struggled early and continued to have trouble at his new position as the season went on, eventually suffering a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Noteboom is back at left guard in training camp, running with the first-team offense. He seems in line to keep his starting job, feeling much more comfortable at the position than he did last year.

“I definitely feel way better than I did last year. I felt good last year, but it was just kind of the inexperience at guard. That was my first time playing it. I definitely feel way more comfortable there right now,” he said Friday. “I kind of learned, like even when I wasn’t playing I was just watching it over and over again. So, I think it’s guard right now. I’m trying not to think about it if I’ll play anything in the future. Just kind of trying to focus on guard because that’s most likely what I’ll be playing. But definitely feel way more comfortable there than last year.”

Whitworth signed a three-year extension this offseason, and although he may not play out the entire length of it, he will remain the left tackle for at least one more season. That complicates Noteboom’s future a bit if he struggles again in 2020, because there may not be an opening at tackle until 2023 if Whitworth keeps defeating Father Time.

Hopefully for the Rams, Noteboom takes a positive step forward this season and becomes a quality starting guard, bringing some security to the offensive line for the foreseeable future.

Who knew all a young olineman had to do after a terrible season is tear their ACL and MCL to become a better player.

 

[So Ram]

It’s really not all that hazy when you break it down a bit.

We already seem to know the names of three of our starters.

Whit
Blythe
Hav

Barring injury, those three guys are our opening day starters, I think.

Which reduces our unknowns to just the two OG positions. IOW, Kromer has the entire rest of camp to shuffle and tweak those 2 positions and he seems to have no shortage of quality candidates, does he?

I, too, am a bit surprised by who and where Kromer is inserting players. I had thought it would surely be Corbett at LG and Edwards at RG, but Kromer has forgotten more about OL play than I ever will know and if he wants to tinker then that’s fine by me. Certainly makes it appear that our OL depth might be even better than I had thought.

Noteboom being healthy this early was the wild card. That is such a surprise & a benefit to the Offensive Line.

Good points,but Corbett has never been through a training camp with Kromer. Noteboom was the starting LG no matter what Fans think or thought of him playing LG.

What I remember Notebooms rookie season was Kromer tried him at RG when Brown was going to be out for 4 games. He started him to late in training camp & Austin Blythe settled in there. He held his own & Noteboom was able to be Mentored from Whitworth. Demby was lost & took a lot of reps early in the preseason.

Edwards might be a True Tackle in the Future.

 

[So Ram]

I find Noteboom back at G very disturbing. My confidence about this year is greatly reduced based on that.

Then again I'm just a random ROD guy and I hope I'm wrong, like I hoped this time last year....

DMarco says it's good to put the "athletes" on the left side and the road graders on the right, because most runs are to the right (which I didn't realize).

Well that said, Saffold as much as he is a athlete & is a solid road grader.

My take on Noteboom being at LG just makes it easier for him to switch over to LT.

Btw - F’ D”Marco !! Go tell him to ask Jeff Fisher what he thinks.

 

[So Ram]

One would think when you know your 2019 season first as an NFL starter was mostly done in "Fail-Mode" then end abruptly during the 6th game with a horrific right knee injury......I believe Noteboom has spent much of his time since this terrible national debacle in getting himself physically sound in his knee, being stronger in all other parts of his body & most important of all preparing & loading his brain with the OL technical knowledge to delete last season from his mind.

I label it as experience & I think your neglecting his talent. I don’t understand the negative,but then again I didn’t watch him that closely.

-Brian Allen from what most folks talked about was the problem & the reason he got injured ?????

 

[den-the-coach]

-Brian Allen from what most folks talked about was the problem & the reason he got injured ?????

Brian Allen did cause Noteboom's injury, after the play Allen pushed a guy into Noteboom that caused the knee injury and is one of the major reasons i detest Allen.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

one of the major reasons i detest Allen.

And playing for Sparty has nothing to do with this

Cmon be honest...lol

 

[Soul Surfer]

Joe Noteboom was drafted in 2018 to potentially replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. As a college left tackle at TCU, it was only natural for .....

....the Rams to take a natural College left tackle and change him into a guard??

This is the dumbest idea they've had since they put zero experience Noteboom and zero experience Allen in the middle of our offensive line last year.

Especially since Noteboom didn't look anywhere near as good as Corbett did but if you consider the player you might get when you add in the potential Corbett could get as a guy getting first string reps.

 

[Rams43]

....the Rams to take a natural College left tackle and change him into a guard??

This is the dumbest idea they've had since they put zero experience Noteboom and zero experience Allen in the middle of our offensive line last year.

Especially since Noteboom didn't look anywhere near as good as Corbett did but if you consider the player you might get when you add in the potential Corbett could get as a guy getting first string reps.

They’re simply trying to determine the ‘best 5’, Surfer.

Whit is still considered the best LOT, but apparently they think Boom might be among the best options at OG. Specifically LG.

Ain’t any more complicated than that, man.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I think it would be even better if they concentrated on turning Noteboom into a tackle.

I also thought it was pretty silly when, in training camp, they flopped Havenstein to right guard and Jamon Brown to RT.

we need continuity on the line not a bunch of flip floping wondering.

 

[So Ram]

I think it would be even better if they concentrated on turning Noteboom into a tackle.

I also thought it was pretty silly when, in training camp, they flopped Havenstein to right guard and Jamon Brown to RT.

we need continuity on the line not a bunch of flip floping wondering.

Well in 2020 that is what is going on ?? Like you say though,Kromer experimented with Brown & Hav. The difference is when that accord ?

There is no pure example of how The Rams view things,because of the difference of seasons & players(depth).

I’d rather Noteboom play than not. Experience is key & what happened last season hurt both Allen & Noteboom by not playing in the preseason. I don’t think that could be said enough.

 

[So Ram]

Brian Allen did cause Noteboom's injury, after the play Allen pushed a guy into Noteboom that caused the knee injury and is one of the major reasons i detest Allen.

What I’ve noticed about Noteboom is the game has not slowed down for him & at Tackle he has more time to adjust. It’s going to be his third season
& he has had time to view his own game tape at Guard.

What happens with Evans & Edwards ?? Both held there own last season.
Like I’ve said At end of 2019, I like The Rams depth upfront. Who plays Center behind Blythe is going to be interesting.

 

[DR RAM]

Just a couple comments based on reading this thread. Notebook was given the shot to start at LG, and it’s not based on this season’s performance. Why? Because it happened before we were in pads. it’s important, because there’s no preseason football. You’d probably have to perform pretty terribly in scrimmages to lose it, but it’s a long season.

i don’t think this is any sort of indictment on Edwards, or anyone else, it’s a coaches decision at this point. I also really want to stress that the tiny bit we’ve seen on one on one’s, the DL has a tremendous advantage. The DL have a 3 way go, at their leisure. They can go left, right, or bull rush, with no reading, no consequences for the defense. Huge advantage! Don’t read too much into it.

However, if the OL has a great rep, against a good player, then you can read into that, IMO. Remembering back to the Senior Bowl practices, this is a big reason why we fell in love with big Rob Havenstein. He handled these type of plays as good as anyone I’ve ever seen in this type of drill.

Inthink we will probably roll with these guys, but I also think they will be on a relatively short lease.