OL talk … September

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/16/rams-andrew-whitworth-pff-grade-week-1/

Whitworth locked down the left side of the Rams’ line. He earned a 95.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in the season opener, which was the second-highest among all offensive players in the NFL.

from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29939464/2020-nfl-pass-rushing-run-stopping-blocking-leaderboard-win-rate-rankings

Team Run Block Win Rate

1. Houston Texans, 75%
2. Green Bay Packers, 75%
3. New England Patriots, 73%
4. Cleveland Browns, 73%
5. Chicago Bears, 73%
6. Indianapolis Colts, 73%
7. Los Angeles Rams, 72%

Andrew Whitworth – highest graded OL through W2 (95.0) pic.twitter.com/z3qIsQrfFQ

— PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2020

Andrew Whitworth – highest graded OL through W2 (95.0) pic.twitter.com/z3qIsQrfFQ

— PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2020

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from https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-highest-graded-offensive-linemen-nfl-week-3

1. T ANDREW WHITWORTH, LOS ANGELES RAMS

Whitworth was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2006 — the first season PFF began charting NFL games — and he is still performing at a high level at nearly 39 years old. He, along with most of the Rams’ offensive line, took a step back in 2019, but it’s a group that has been much improved to start this season. Whitworth has allowed just one quarterback hurry on 64 pass-blocking snaps through the first two weeks, and he has consistently moved people in the run game. His start to the 2020 season is night and day from what we saw from him early on in 2019.

PFF grades through first two weeks of the season
Season Snaps Pass-blocking grade Run-blocking grade
2019 143 68.6 61.2
2020 142 88.9 95.1

The Rams are off to a hot start this season, and improved play from Whitworth and several other members of that offensive line — such as fellow bookend Rob Havenstein — is a big reason for that.

Andrew Whitworth: “You’ve seen what we talked about last year has come to fruition”

https://www.therams.com/news/andrew-whitworth-what-we-talked-about-last-year-has-come-to-fruition

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Rams’ run game is back, which in turn is helping the passing attack and opening up the entire offense as a whole.

For any of that to happen, though, it requires a strong effort up front. Coincidentally, early returns on the 2020 version of Los Angeles’ offensive line are promising.

“You’ve seen what we talked about last year has come to fruition,” Andrew Whitworth, the most experienced member of the group, told reporters during a video conference Friday afternoon.

Statistically, the Rams are fifth in the NFL in total offense – ninth in passing and third in rushing.

From an analytics standpoint, the 38-year-old Whitworth’s 97 percent pass block win rate is good for sixth among all offensive tackles in the league, according to ESPN. As a team, the Rams have the seventh-best run block win rate, helped by two of those young players who gained experience last year: Austin Corbett, whose 77 percent run block win rate is fourth-highest among all NFL offensive guards, and Austin Blythe, whose 73 percent run block win rate is sixth among centers.

Amid all the injuries the Rams’ offensive line endured last year, Corbett and Blythe were bright spots. Blythe started at right guard, moved to left, then took over for Brian Allen at center after Allen’s season-ending knee injury in Week 10. That shuffling led to Corbett plugging the hole at left guard, and he showed enough there to retain a starting role, though at right guard instead. Blythe also retained his starting job at center.

“I mean, a lot of these guys that we believed in that were young, just had no experience, and you get out there and play in real games and get a little bit of trial by fire, and get out there and experience things, it started to come together the last part of the season last year,” Whitworth said. “The play got better and better.”

Whitworth sees that same toughness and physicality in second-year pro Edwards, who is now stepping in for Joe Noteboom (calf) following Noteboom’s placement on injured reserve. Like Corbett and Blythe, Edwards gained valuable experience as a rookie last year (six starts in 10 games) and is well-positioned to step into a starting role.

“Dave, that’s how he’s wired,” Whitworth said. “He’ll fit right in because that’s the style of football he’s used to playing at Wisconsin, that’s kind of the player he’s been when he’s stepped in for us, because that’s really the style he plays and what he’s best at. I expect him to step in and do well.”

Sunday presents perhaps the biggest challenge to date for Los Angeles’ offensive line, going up against a Buffalo defensive line that has contributed to the NFL’s No. 3 run defense and No. 5 total defense.

Pass this test, and it only further solidifies the progress that has been made.

“They really have,” McVay said, when asked how well the offensive line has been doing in the run game and limiting sacks through the first two weeks. “They’ve done an excellent job.”

With no major changes to the OL, why is it performing at such a higher level than last year?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
This is a great question – and I’d first like to share the numbers that indicate success through the first three games for the Rams’ offensive line.

No. 3 in run-block win rate, per ESPN analytics (73 percent).

No. 13 in pass block win rate (60 percent).

Goff has taken four sacks, but has faced just 18 pressures and five hurries (good teams are averaging approximately 11 pressures per game; Goff’s per-game average is six).

No. 3 in rushing (tied with Cleveland).

First, I think they have found the right combination of guys. No disrespect to left guard Joe Noteboom, who is now on short-term injured reserve with a second-grade calf strain, but David Edwards has that mauling presence so desired in a guard. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is playing much better this season than last (before his injury), center Austin Blythe has demonstrated real command, right guard Austin Corbett seems to be consistent so far and Andrew Whitworth still ranks among the best left tackles in football at age 38. And remember, this is a group that struggled last year largely because it couldn’t stay healthy and, on the interior, lacked the maturity that makes for a physical, knuckle-taped, spittin’-swearin’ unit.

“I think it’s just a product of how we felt toward the end of last year,” Blythe said. “You know, everybody is the same guys they were last year, so it’s really just kind of building on the continuity that we were able to get a little bit of last year, toward the end of the year, and just build on that.”

Second, for the most part, they linemen showed up in shape, and with the mindset of being as physical as possible in all phases. And if some weren’t quite ready to go, the way training-camp practices were structured got them where they needed to be.

“I think we’re tougher up front,” McVay said. “I think we’re stronger. I think we’re bigger, inside-out. I think we’ve got some guys back that are healthy. (Strength coach) Justin Lovett came in and established a really good strength and conditioning program. The guys (are) pushing one another. I think there’s been a little bit of the ‘iron sharpens iron’ with how much competitive work we’ve been able to do with the way that camp was set up, where you’re going ‘good on good’ (ones-on-ones). Our offensive guys against the defensive guys and O-line, D-line. I think both those groups have really challenged one another and made each other better.”

Now, all they have to do is stay healthy.