OL talk, post camp

Willie Lampkin (5'11" 290) pancaking four Cowboys defenders in week 1 of preseason pic.twitter.com/pkbm7DoV86

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 10, 2025

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Wee Willie Lampkin takes down Buddy Johnson. .. t 5-11 his leverage point is low … arches his back, drives his legs, chops feet. pic.twitter.com/qwhf4uiR7a

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) August 10, 2025

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Willie Lampkin is his name… he’ll be on the 53 come week one…

via tt/draftdaytrade pic.twitter.com/wJSzkuPFa3

— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) August 10, 2025

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Doug Farrar ✍@NFL_DougFarrar
Lampkin put more defensive linemen on their asses than any other o-lineman I watched in this draft class. Tell him he’s too small to play in the NFL, and this could happen to you.

from https://ramblinfan.com/4-los-angeles-rams-offensive-linemen-bound-to-be-claimed-long-before-practice-squad

The team managed to sneak some excellent players onto the practice squad last season, but not all made it. The New England Patriots claimed Zachary Thomas off the Rams’ waiver wire last year. The same fate could await these four offensive linemen if the team tries to slip them through to the practice squad…., fans should prepare for some, if not all, to be claimed off waivers before making it to the Rams’ practice squad.

(4) – IOL Justin Dedich

The Rams are loaded with offensive line talent this year, and Dedich presents the first real challenge for the team. He won’t start over Beaux Limmer and is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with McMahon for a roster spot. But with his starting experience from 2024, his versatility in playing all three interior offensive line positions, and his affordable price, he would almost certainly be claimed the moment he hits the Rams’ waiver wire.

(3) – David Quessenberry

The plan was to have a veteran right tackle in reserve in case Rob Havenstein struggled to bounce back after offseason procedures cleaned up his shoulders. Quessenberry has proven to be far more than just a warm camp body or an insurance policy.

Per Rams beat writer Eric Lambkins II, both he and Justin Dedich displayed athleticism and range in Game 1 of the preseason. If the 34-year-old is released, another NFL team looking to strengthen its offensive tackle position will scoop him up quickly.

(2) – Willie Lampkins

The NFL wasn’t quick to give 5-foot-11, 290-pound rookie Willie Lampkin a chance. Now, with legitimate game footage showing him manhandling and pancaking NFL defensive linemen, multiple teams would line up to add him to their active roster. Strengthening that case is his inclusion among Pro Football Focus’s top-graded offensive players.

The eyes don’t lie — the 23-year-old is a future NFL star. The challenge is that he’s fighting for a roster spot on a team with very few to spare. If the team tries to sign him to their practice squad, could they lose him to another team? After his latest performance, it would take a miracle to sneak him through.

(1) – Wyatt Bowles

Shrine Bowl scout Noah Chang loved the Rams’ signing of Utah State’s Wyatt Bowles — and so did we. He racked up 51 pancake blocks at Utah State, and now the 6-foot-5, 300-pound behemoth is manhandling NFL defensive linemen. The Rams clearly liked what they saw, giving him nearly the entire game at left guard.

He reportedly played 24 pass protection snaps, and did not allow a single pressure.

Bowles might sneak onto the practice squad if his workload is limited in the final two preseason games. However, that strategy would defeat the purpose of preseason — preparing players for future roles in the regular season.

Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Center is a mild concern of mine.

here he gets his guy … but loses him, kind of got shed quickly … see what you think

he holds that block, maybe a big gainer pic.twitter.com/zMAuee0yHU

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) August 16, 2025

he didn't officially give up the sack here, but he lost at the LOS pretty fast … the LG had to help … and the QB flushed.

To me he got beat pretty good on the swim. pic.twitter.com/ezNgLTVTZZ

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) August 16, 2025

Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
I mean Shelton had to show enough that Bears wanted him as a FA … so it’s not like he sucks. It’s just that he’s (to me) average or below average NFL starter. I didn’t like him in LA that much. He never really beat out Brian Allen … and never scored as high on PFF. Is that completely dispositive? No.

It’s just that I think CS is a decent athlete, but a mediocre NFL center. Would prefer someone better. IMO, at this point in their careers … you are what you are. Either you’re good or average or bad and to me, Shelton will never be above average and sometimes looks pretty bad. It’s just that when I’d look at negative plays they look *really* negative.

I am gomng to trust McVay, but I am also hoping Limmer corrects whatever cost him and gets back into lineup. So my *hope* is that Limmer can be pretty good.

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/08/19/rams-preseason-backup-ol-has-been-dominant-in-pass-protection/85724896007/?taid=68a4ac6f9ebb270001b83174&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

L.A. hasn’t played any starting offensive linemen and the Rams still rank No. 1 in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking grade with 81.7 this preseason. The Minnesota Vikings trail them at 76.0.

Two Rams guards ranked among the five linemen with at least 87 blocking snaps who haven’t allowed a pressure this preseason, per PFF: Wyatt Bowles and Justin Dedich. Bowles is an undrafted player out of Utah State, while Dedich went undrafted out of USC in 2024 and started three games — all of which were wins.

zn wrote:

Today the offensive coordinator, LaFleur, said: “it definitely is the deepest offensive line that we have had. There’s a lot of NFL football players there that are competing for those last spots.” – LaFleur

I don’t think a lot of Rams back-up OL candidates will make it to the practice squad.

The starting OL:

Jackson/Humphries
Avila
Shelton
Dotson
Havenstein

It remains to be seen how they handle Jackson. Is he on 6 week IR? On the 53-man roster but not starting? Starting in week 1?

Candidates for back-up positions on the 53-man roster. My bet is they keep a 9-man OL on the 53-man roster, which means at most only 4, the rest go to the PS. It could be only 3, depending on how they handle Jackson. I don’t see them cutting Humphries.

OC:
Limmer
OG:
Dedich
Bowles
Arcuri
OT/OG:
Leveston
OT:
McClendon
Quessenberry

That’s 7, out of those either 3 or 4 make the 9-man OL in the 53-man roster, depending on Jackson.

Maybe Wedig at OT is a candidate?

Lampkin is injured, and out.

Anyway it’s a deep, deep OL. Deepest we have seen for years and years.

And they often pick up someone from other teams’ cuts. In fact, basically, that’s what Shelton is.

And how did they build this starting OL?

Jackson: UDFA
Humphries: bargain vet FA
Avilla: 2nd round pick
Shelton: picked him up 2 different time when other teams cut him (SF, then Chicago)
Dotson: 4th round pick in trade
Havenstein: 2nd round pick

They only drafted 2 of them!

Has the makings to be the best OL in the McVay era, and perhaps the best since the 99 & 2000 GSOT days.

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As of today, the Rams OL is:

LOT Jackson
LOG Avila
OC Shelton
ROG Dotson
ROT Havenstein

OC Limmer
OG Dedich
OT McClendon
OT Quessenberry
OT Humphries

When it comes to this, the start of 2025 could not be more different from the start of 2024.

Last year the OL began the season with 2 starters out (including A.Jackson) and then lost 2 starters in game 1, including the perpetually injured Noteboom. They were a bit shaken up at center (with both Avila and Jonah Jackson being tried there and it not working). They ended up starting a rookie (Limmer obviously). In fact they were forced to start a number of untested depth guys early in the season.

That OL mess was one of the primary reasons they started 1-4 (the other being a young green defense).

This year all 5 starters are set and ready to go. They re-signed Shelton because of his veteran experience and because he already knew Stafford and the system. They have veteran depth in the back ups–both Quessenberry and Humphries have been starters before. McClendon started in some games last year, and progressed in year 3–the team talked about him as a surprise break through guy. Dedich acquited himself well last year when forced to start for a few games, and Limmer obviously has grown some behind Shelton (they had other options for back-up OC and Limmer is the one to make the 53, so you have to assume he was the best). So this year’s depth is not a bunch of untested youngsters, like last year.

This is the first year I can remember where every backup O-lineman has played in regular season games before.

Plus they cut a few guys who were pretty good themselves, which means they have the bodies out there to add some OL depth to the practice squad.

Seems like every year the Rams pick up a young O-lineman who was cut by another team, so they could do that too.

Offensive coordinator LaFleur said this is the deepest he has seen the Rams OL and I think he’s right, going back even further than I think he realizes.

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