Rams got through the first two games where the OL held up well enough @ pass blocking. But now the NFL world knows Rams have zero running game so just discard & go for their in-mobile shaky QB. Rams front 6 LOS can not run block & can not hold up for long on pass blocking either. Pass rushers who have have TE Jared Cook blocking them really get fired up & start drooling so bad they fling slobber all over the field before the snap.
Rams had issues last season @ run blocking too. But the LOS has undergone major renovation since this time last season by Snead, Fisher, Shotty & Boudreau. New TE (Mulligan), OLT (Saffold & Hunter), OLG (Smith & Turner), OC (Turner) & ORT (Richardson). In their place we have Cook, Long, Williams, Wells & Barksdale. We need to remember that we could not run the ball in pre season either. One can not say the standard line that its youth issues. Our 5 starting OL'ers average 29 yrs old. Like I said NOT a youth issue. Is it our OL coach? Don't think so Boudreau has shown us over & over he is able to get the most out of other teams discards that Fisher & Snead have drug-in off the streets.
I sure would limit the plays where Cook is lined up @ the LOS to run block he can not block forget about it. Harkey needs to be utilized more as the option @ LOS TE with Cook moving out as a wide out. Kendricks must be utilized back with Sam as the H-back/FB more often. Even Kendricks seems to have regressed @ run blocking too.
I would look @ the interior OL'ers for possible benching I would be looking @ the OG's first. @ OLG I would work in some Brandon Washington or tough guy Mike Persons with Chris Williams. Washington played the best I have seen as a Ram when he was @ OLG post. That's the side he played in college. The issues @ right OG I would do the same with Harvey Dahl where Tim Barnes & Shelley Smith will begin to get some action. If Saffold gets healthy enough I would seriously look hard @ inserting him back into the lineup @ one of those OG starting posts. Saffold 6-4 325 plus pound frame when healthy can blow Dl'ers off the OL. If Saffold gets hurt again not an issue we have a ton of OG's. Sad fact Saffold is our best run blocking OL'er. Changes are in order but I really doubt any are made. Tinkering around the edges is futile.
Rams number #1 RB Daryl Richardson as the starter should come to an end. Rams have four other RB's that need to gear up!
Snead & Fisher may need to rethink their positions on OL'ers in the draft. Say what you want all these high prized drafted weapons can do nothing without a fully functioning OL. The OL is NON operational & Snead & Fisher have emergency need to replace the non operational pieces of equipment. Trouble is they have NO new high quality parts ready. What they have is old worn used parts or unknown cheaper brands from other rundown parts places. Snead & Fisher have purchased high end cost elite programed/used OLT, OC, TE & ORG but none have operated as advertized. How could they have missed & all of them? What are the odds of that.
