UFA Center Targets

[jrry32]

One thing I find interesting is that none of the 2020 rookie Centers had a good initial season. At least that I can see. Just using pff grades here for a quick look...

* Ruiz played OG mostly which makes it a bit easier for a rook but still only got a 42 in pass pro and 57 in run blocking.
* Hennessy had a 28 in pass pro and a 59 in run blocking.
* Cushenberry had a 47 in pass pro and a 37 in run blocking.
* Biadasz had a 56 in pass pro and a 57 in run blocking, neither are good but better than the rest of this class.
* Ismael only had 4 snaps and a 59 grade at OG.
* Harris had a small sample size and a 34 and 62 respectively at OG.
* Hanson, Woodard, Hinton, etc did not play.

* For reference Blythe was 52 in pass pro and 74 in the run game. Which, btw, makes me laugh (the run game grade). BUT I think pff's rationale is when Blythe gets blown up and his guy runs himself out of the play it's a win for Blythe. Admittedly he did a good job sealing guys in the run game when they ran the slants that gave him so much trouble but still the continued penetration is not what you want in a ZBS.

Now I realize that Center is a tough position to transition to in the NFL nowadays. And that some of the above might well become excellent Centers. But maybe the Rams knew a thing or two about these guys in their projections eh?

This is good analysis. It's why I think the most logical move is sliding Corbett over to the Center position. He's better than Blythe in all respects, except experience at Center and maybe smarts (but the book on Corbett is that he also has a high football IQ). He's bigger, stronger, and more athletic. I just don't see McVay starting a rookie at Center. He's going to want somebody who knows the scheme well.

Draft the Bama Center — move up a bit in 2nd if needed. But do it!

I'd trade up in the second for Bama's LT, Alex Leatherwood. Kid could be an impact OG for us as a rookie and then potentially replace Whitworth in 2022. But Bama's Center? Nah. He tore his ACL in last month in the SEC Championship Game. There's no guarantee he'll be ready to play at the start of next year. And if he is, he'll almost certainly miss parts of Training Camp and the Preseason (if not all). He may even require the PUP list or a redshirt year. Talented kid, but I wouldn't draft him until the third round.

 

[Merlin]

This is good analysis. It's why I think the most logical move is sliding Corbett over to the Center position. He's better than Blythe in all respects, except experience at Center and maybe smarts (but the book on Corbett is that he also has a high football IQ). He's bigger, stronger, and more athletic. I just don't see McVay starting a rookie at Center. He's going to want somebody who knows the scheme well.

You definitely have me warming to the idea.

 

[Merlin]

Draft the Bama Center — move up a bit in 2nd if needed. But do it!

That boy is fuckin nasty sign me up.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I know some disagree, but I still say Corbett is our best option at Center. He was an above average to good RG for us, and that's a tougher position to play physically in this scheme than Center. He had a strong week at the Senior Bowl playing four positions on the OL, including Center, and practiced at Center for both the Browns and us. The kid knows the scheme, he reportedly has a very high football IQ, and has the size, athleticism, and power to be very effective at the pivot. Moving Corbett inside and adding another powerful, talented guy at OG does more for this offense than paying a FA Center imo. Imagine the running lanes we'll open up.

Going on what we saw, the coaches apparently felt that the Oline was better with Blythe at Center instead of Corbett. So that makes me wonder if they tried him at center in practice and weren’t satisfied. Starting the year with, Whitworth, Noteboom, Blythe, Corbett, Havenstein is not what I expected.

If Corbett can be a good Center then why didn’t they start with a line like this: Whitworth, Edwards, Corbett, Evans, Havenstein? We already know Noteboom was a huge miscalculation. I think many of us felt we’ve seen enough of Blythe also. But he was back out there, with three backup Centers behind him. Why wouldn’t Corbett be, at the very least the second string Center, if he had that potential?

I think Corbett is a bit suspect in pass pro. That could improve more by bringing in a good veteran center next to him. Rather than moving him and putting a younger Evans next yo him.

 

[OldSchool]

Going on what we saw, the coaches apparently felt that the Oline was better with Blythe at Center instead of Corbett. So that makes me wonder if they tried him at center in practice and weren’t satisfied. Starting the year with, Whitworth, Noteboom, Blythe, Corbett, Havenstein is not what I expected.

If Corbett can be a good Center then why didn’t they start with a line like this: Whitworth, Edwards, Corbett, Evans, Havenstein? We already know Noteboom was a huge miscalculation. I think many of us felt we’ve seen enough of Blythe also. But he was back out there, with three backup Centers behind him. Why wouldn’t Corbett be, at the very least the second string Center, if he had that potential?

I think Corbett is a bit suspect in pass pro. That could improve more by bringing in a good veteran center next to him. Rather than moving him and putting a younger Evans next yo him.

It could just be giving him a year of playing at guard to learn the system and his linemates which is exactly what they did with Blythe before moving him to center.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It could just be giving him a year of playing at guard to learn the system and his linemates which is exactly what they did with Blythe before moving him to center.

Could be. We will likely not know unless the sign a center, drafts a center early or try Corbett in training camper OTAs

 

[dang]

That was nice of you but I didn’t think it was confusing.

PressureD, the OP (Original Poster ... Not Offensive Pass-interference), made it clear from his first sentence that he was talking about the Center position.

I was just pointing out to OldNotDead that he jumped in without reading any of the thread posts.

Forgive him. He ain’t dead but he is pretty damn old!!!

 

[Merlin]

Forgive him. He ain’t dead but he is pretty damn old!!!

Homey swooped in shaking his cane like "get off my OC!"

 

[Flatlyner]

Draft the Bama Center — move up a bit in 2nd if needed. But do it!

He just had a torn ACL. I'd prefer not to move up in any round, especially for an injured center.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Forgive him. He ain’t dead but he is pretty damn old!!!

For the first couple months after I joined the Forum, I truly thought his handle was a self effacing “OldKnotHead”.

Felt bad when I realized how wrong I was. Also a little disappointed.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I really wonder how many good centers there are in the NFL

I"m guessing there are 1 or 2 studs, maybe 3-7 above average types, 1-2 JAGs, and a large group of merely solid types.

 

[1maGoh]

That was nice of you but I didn’t think it was confusing.

PressureD, the OP (Original Poster ... Not Offensive Pass-interference), made it clear from his first sentence that he was talking about the Center position.

I was just pointing out to OldNotDead that he jumped in without reading any of the thread posts.

Honestly though, why even use OC? I mean, are we concerned about people thinking we mean the defensive center or the special teams center (plausible but a totally different position with a different name entirely)? All the o-line positions are like that. OLT? As opposed to the defensive left tackle?

Using OC when taking about the center instead of just using C is unnecessary. I'm not judging anyone (much) and I don't mean to derail the thread, but it is a very unnecessary additional letter for what is being discussed and it does overlap with an abbreviation that needs to be OC.

It's not confusing, although it does raise the question



EDIT: Some clarity and correcting a tpyo

 

[Allen2McVay]

Honestly though, why even use OC? I mean, are we concerned about people thinking we mean the defensive center or the special teams center (plausible but a totally different position with a different name entirely)? All the o-line positions are like that. OLT? As opposed to the defensive left tackle?

Using OC when taking about the center instead of just using C is unnecessary. I'm not judging anyone (much) and I don't mean to derail the thread, but it is a very unnecessary additional letter for what is being discussed and it does overlap with an abbreviation that needs to be OC.

It's not confusing, although it does raise the question



EDIT: Some clarity and correcting a tpyo

All true but I would think someone responding on the thread would first at least glance at a single post and realize it’s about centers and not coordinators.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Going on what we saw, the coaches apparently felt that the Oline was better with Blythe at Center instead of Corbett. So that makes me wonder if they tried him at center in practice and weren’t satisfied. Starting the year with, Whitworth, Noteboom, Blythe, Corbett, Havenstein is not what I expected.

If Corbett can be a good Center then why didn’t they start with a line like this: Whitworth, Edwards, Corbett, Evans, Havenstein? We already know Noteboom was a huge miscalculation. I think many of us felt we’ve seen enough of Blythe also. But he was back out there, with three backup Centers behind him. Why wouldn’t Corbett be, at the very least the second string Center, if he had that potential?

I think Corbett is a bit suspect in pass pro. That could improve more by bringing in a good veteran center next to him. Rather than moving him and putting a younger Evans next yo him.

Mcvay talked about how confident and comfortable the offense was when blythe took over for Allen. Maybe it was about trust. But Corbett has been here 2 seasons now. He may be able to make the shift.

 

[Merlin]

Honestly though, why even use OC?

Maybe we should be asking why we use OG. Or OT.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Mcvay talked about how confident and comfortable the offense was when blythe took over for Allen. Maybe it was about trust. But Corbett has been here 2 seasons now. He may be able to make the shift.

Yeah and likely because Allen was terrible at just about everything a Center is asked to do.

I'd love for it if Corbett was able to transition to Center and be successful. I've seen the Austin Blythe show, and I don't want that on my TV while watching the Rams. Corbett would help the cap situation as he's on the roster. I am just skeptical that the

 

[Ram Ts]

Imagine if we hit on Allen and he was our starting above average center — instead of him being a bust. Definitely one time the rams staff was wrong and most posters were right. Ugghh

 

[PressureD41]

If the Rams do go to the contracted 2021 Ram OL'ers & which Austin Corbett would be the sure leader to take the starting OC post......we need to remember that Corbett himself will be a UFA one yr from now. Rams are still to be in salary cap hell in 2022 too.......then we need to look at the Corbett fix as a temporary 1 yr duration. No way to know if the Rams will be in a position to offer Corbett an acceptable deal for the future.

Rams need to be looking long term in having a future starting OC coming into the roster this season from the draft. Center Coleman Shelton will be a UFA in 2021 like interior OL'er Austin Corbett, OC Brian Allen & OT Joe Noteboom too. That's FOUR Ram OL'ers departing the Rams this time next year! Sure appears that an LT & OC should be high draft prospect considerations now.

PS....forgot to mention that LT Andrew Whitworth is still a question today in 2021 & I am sure LT Whitworth will be a much larger question after 2021. Andrew Whitworth would be a total of FIVE OL'ers most probably departing.

Ya, we better lock up a few for the next few years. Good insight on the contracts. Hopefully we can get Corbett on a modest 3y deal. He's earn it imho

 

[PressureD41]

Need to add a plus OG or G or OC or C ..... While keeping Evans as he appears to need to add more NFL strength.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Yeah and likely because Allen was terrible at just about everything a Center is asked to do.

I'd love for it if Corbett was able to transition to Center and be successful. I've seen the Austin Blythe show, and I don't want that on my TV while watching the Rams. Corbett would help the cap situation as he's on the roster. I am just skeptical that the

Not to mention that we have a little room in cap space in 2022. Corbett could play himself into an extension at center, which is cheaper than the other lineman.