Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › would they start 3 rookie OL
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April 7, 2015 at 4:27 pm #22325znModerator
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Some of this was originally in OL in free agency thread. It came up after JB was set to visit the Titans. But then I thought the issue was capable of its own thread.The question is, what if they don’t sign any FA linemen?
That leads to the possibility of starting 3 rookies on the OL.
I doubt that’s really possible, or likely, but discussing it led to some interesting stuff IMO.
April 7, 2015 at 4:27 pm #22286HerzogParticipantSteven baker is our third tackle? I think i’m gonna be sick.
April 7, 2015 at 5:33 pm #22291wvParticipantSteven baker is our third tackle? I think i’m gonna be sick.
I am less concerned about Barksdale than most, i think.
I really dont care if they resign him — I think he’s pretty ordinary.
I actually wouldnt mind three stud-rookies starting. Or scrounging
for another vet-Olineman and going with two rookies and some other vet.I know a lot of folks dont want three rookies but I
am more concerned about ‘quality’ than experience
at this point.w
vApril 7, 2015 at 6:18 pm #22293rflParticipantI am less concerned about Barksdale than most, i think.
I really dont care if they resign him — I think he’s pretty ordinary.
I actually wouldnt mind three stud-rookies starting. Or scrounging
for another vet-Olineman and going with two rookies and some other vet.I know a lot of folks dont want three rookies but I
am more concerned about ‘quality’ than experience
at this point.w
vI can see this viewpoint. He is not a special player at all.
But I guess I would stress the risk involved. We are sailing close to the damn wind on the OL. There have been very few decent OL vets available and we’re punting except for the one swing guy. The Rookie field looks like it’s deep. But, again, the risk. Rely on 3 rooks and you’d better have hit on all 3!
The other thing is the cap space. If we won’t use the cap space we got for Sam on a good OL, then I wonder why we made the trade.
I think the point ultimately is that, right now, we do not have even decent answers at 3 OL positions. The situation is dicey. As I’ve said before, they almost surely have a plan. But it’s a damn risky plan.
By virtue of the absurd ...
April 7, 2015 at 6:57 pm #22295wvParticipantThe Rookie field looks like it’s deep.
But, again, the risk. Rely on 3 rooks and you’d better have hit on all 3!Yup. They’d have to hit on all three.
And there’d be rookie-mistakes for sure.
But there might very well be worse
things than having 3 young, strong, healthy, stud
rookie OLinemen. Definitely not ‘ideal’
but there might be worse things.w
vApril 7, 2015 at 8:09 pm #22301HerzogParticipantThe Rookie field looks like it’s deep.
But, again, the risk. Rely on 3 rooks and you’d better have hit on all 3!Yup. They’d have to hit on all three.
And there’d be rookie-mistakes for sure.
But there might very well be worse
things than having 3 young, strong, healthy, stud
rookie OLinemen. Definitely not ‘ideal’
but there might be worse things.w
v3 rookie OL would once again put us in a familiar position. Losing in the first part of the season, than coming on strong afterwords. And that’s if you hit on all three. Unless you have a Saffold situation in which case he played well right out of the gate. It’s not a good plan to rely on that to happen. I’m assuming they will put Saffold and Robinson on the same side.
I know what the play calls will be:
Run left
pass left
roll out left
play action rightApril 7, 2015 at 8:23 pm #22303znModeratorRely on 3 rooks and you’d better have hit on all 3!
there might very well be worse
things than having 3 young, strong, healthy, stud
rookie OLinemen. Definitely not ‘ideal’
but there might be worse things.I doubt they start 3 rookies, even if they don’t sign anyone.
Remember we didn’t see Barksdale coming. Yet he played pretty well.
In 2013, they fielded a line that PFF (fwiw) ranked 13th. It was (until injured) Long Williams Wells Saffold Barksdale.
Williams was a clear weak link, but, they managed to get by with that, even with Clemens at qb.
Which gets me to my point. We don’t know who among the crop they currently have will be a Barksdale. IE good enough. Or, which veteran they already have who they can just get by with as an individual while playing good unit football.
Barnes? Jones? Rhaney? Bond? Washington? Baker?
My bet is at least one of those guys starts instead of a rookie. Whoever it is, we don’t know yet how he will perform–he could be anything from a Williams to a Barksdale. Either way, they have 6 guys who have already learned the system, gone through NFL weight training and film watching, and aren’t in the process of trying to learn how NOT to be a rookie both on and off the field while also trying to learn the Rams offensive system.
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April 7, 2015 at 9:06 pm #22307JackPMillerParticipantSteven baker is our third tackle? I think i’m gonna be sick.
I am less concerned about Barksdale than most, i think.
I really dont care if they resign him — I think he’s pretty ordinary.
I actually wouldnt mind three stud-rookies starting. Or scrounging
for another vet-Olineman and going with two rookies and some other vet.I know a lot of folks dont want three rookies but I
am more concerned about ‘quality’ than experience
at this point.w
vI want to feel secure nextyear. Like rfl stated, we would have tee rookies, add on top, that Robinson is going into his second year, and Robinson is technically a rookie since he did not start, if correct, until week 8? This team is a playoff caliber team, is a playoff caliber team, and I do not want to feel scared of not being able to protect the QB. Barksdale looked bad, because he had Davin Joseph and Scott Wells at RG and C. I’d rather draft a LG, and and have Saffold move back to RG, and run between the RT and RG positions.
April 8, 2015 at 6:10 am #22320wvParticipantI wonder how many winning teams have started
three rookies on an Oline. I tried googling
it but i cant find anything.w
vApril 8, 2015 at 7:08 am #22322HerzogParticipantI wonder how many winning teams have started
three rookies on an Oline. I tried googling
it but i cant find anything.w
vI wonder how many teams have ever done that, winning or losing,
April 8, 2015 at 11:03 am #22328InvaderRamModeratorwell i doubt anyone could get 3 stud young olinemen in one draft. not sure that’s ever been done in the history of this league.
i do think they could draft 3 olinemen but i doubt they’d all be blue chip talent. at least one or two would need some development.
April 8, 2015 at 12:19 pm #22329wvParticipantwell i doubt anyone could get 3 stud young olinemen in one draft. not sure that’s ever been done in the history of this league.
i do think they could draft 3 olinemen but i doubt they’d all be blue chip talent. at least one or two would need some development.I haven’t been able to find a single instance
of a team starting 3 rookies on the Oline — so,
maybe its not a good idea 🙂w
vApril 8, 2015 at 12:30 pm #22330InvaderRamModeratorthey might end up starting 2. i think they need to at least sign one free agent. the more i think about it it’s absolutely vital that they draft oline in the first round i prefer that they draft a guy who can play multiple positions. that would be scherff, collins, or erving.
then draft another in the second or third. problem is third rounders i’m assuming are more likely developmental guys. that’s why they need jones or someone who had been in the system to step up.
April 8, 2015 at 2:03 pm #22335HerzogParticipantI’m wondering if Blaylock would be a better signing than Barksdale at this point. If they are going to draft a Stud right tackle, and they have two candidates that could at least hold the fort at center, both being experienced in the system. It would be better for a rookie RT to have two guys next to him that know the system. Of course, this all depends on Blaylock not being Joseph 2.0.
April 8, 2015 at 4:15 pm #22341znModeratorI’m wondering if Blaylock would be a better signing than Barksdale at this point. If they are going to draft a Stud right tackle, and they have two candidates that could at least hold the fort at center, both being experienced in the system. It would be better for a rookie RT to have two guys next to him that know the system. Of course, this all depends on Blaylock not being Joseph 2.0.
Problem is, the draft is better at guard than tackle.
April 8, 2015 at 4:18 pm #22342TackleDummyParticipantRobinson, Saffold, rookie, rookie, rookie. And Robinson is still learning his position. That would be worse than last year. Won’t happen.
BTW: I expect Robinson to have a really good year this year.
April 8, 2015 at 4:28 pm #22343HerzogParticipantRobinson, Saffold, rookie, rookie, rookie. And Robinson is still learning his position. That would be worse than last year. Won’t happen.
BTW: I expect Robinson to have a really good year this year.
Robinson Saffold Barnes/Jones Blalock Rookie RT (rookies developing and backing up Guard and Center)
Robinson Saffold Barnes/Jones Rookie Barksdale (rookies backing up Tackle and center)
I think I can live with either of these scenarios.
April 8, 2015 at 5:52 pm #22356sdramParticipantThe plan is three rookies? Kind a scary – poor Sammy, er I mean Nick. Have all other options failed?
Seems like there’s always room for a couple Davon Joseph types. But, hopefully the Davon Joseph type’s they sign this season play better than Joseph did. I’d say at this point since the Rams didn’t listen to anything I’ve said about the OL that all is lost. No, I’d actually say they’re gonna see what they can get in the draft and then sign the leftovers once again. Maybe Jake Long gets healthy and comes back as a backup guy? Maybe Richie Incognito wears out his welcome in Buffalo and Fisher decides to roll the dice on him. Maybe Rich Saul or Tom Mack come out of retirement and lead the Rams to a bruising win at Kezar stadium over the San Francisco 49ers.
April 8, 2015 at 6:16 pm #22358InvaderRamModeratorI’m wondering if Blaylock would be a better signing than Barksdale at this point. If they are going to draft a Stud right tackle, and they have two candidates that could at least hold the fort at center, both being experienced in the system. It would be better for a rookie RT to have two guys next to him that know the system. Of course, this all depends on Blaylock not being Joseph 2.0.
Problem is, the draft is better at guard than tackle.
it does seem like it is better at guard. plus the top guards might have the ability to slide over to tackle.
i would like them to re-sign barksdale over blalock. for a lot of reasons.
April 8, 2015 at 7:30 pm #22359wvParticipantJust somethin i read,
on the topic of starting rookie OLineman.
This is the only instance of two rookie 1st Rounders
starting, that i can think of. The two guys Singletary picked.http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ers-rookie-starting-linemen-grinding-learning-3246493.php
49ers’ rookie starting linemen grinding, learning
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer Published 4:00 am, Friday, November 12, 2010
Mike Iupati’s personal odometer says he should be preparing for the Humanitarian Bowl. Anthony Davis’ body clock says it’s time to gear up for the St. Petersburg Bowl.
But then, 13-game seasons were so college ago. These rookie offensive linemen are in the NFL now, where 12 games played – four exhibition, eight regular season – means they still have eight games to go.
Welcome to the rookie wall, big boys, where bruised and beaten bodies are forced to play far beyond the confines of Pop Warner, high school and college scheduling demands.
“I can’t try to compare this to my college career,” Davis said. “Just got to keep going.”
Davis, the No. 11 overall draft pick from Rutgers, has started all eight regular-season games at right tackle. Iupati, the No. 17 overall pick from Idaho, has done the same at left guard.
“Just got to keep grinding and keep working,” Iupati said.
For 488 snaps, they have squatted their 300-pound-plus bodies at the line of scrimmage. On 488 snaps, their bodies have smashed into an equally big defensive lineman.
Any day now, their bodies are going to start wondering when does it all end.
“I think you’re so busy, you’re so involved, you don’t have time to notice you’re really tired,” said left tackle Joe Staley. “But there is a sense in your body that this season’s long. We’re only halfway done with our season and they’d be ready to be done with it by now.
“Every rookie goes through that process.”
If anything, playing right away has accelerated the maturation process for both players – even if the rest of the offense paid the price for the initial learning curve.
Davis has given up six quarterback sacks and committed six false starts, tying him for second-most in the NFL in both categories. No one will say who allowed the sack that left Alex Smith with a separated left shoulder at Carolina, but it came through Davis’ side.
“I’m not near where I want to be,” he said. “I’ve got to keep getting better.”
Iupati’s miscues are less visible because he’s tucked between a tackle and center, but when someone beat Staley inside, it was usually because Iupati didn’t slide over in protection.
Such mistakes were to be expected when coach Mike Singletary decided to throw two rookies into an offensive line that was so bad last year, the team felt the need to draft two linemen in the first round.
At least they’re grounded enough to admit they have been pretty bad at times. Both players realized as much when they recently watched film of their preseason game against the Raiders, making their progress since all the more evident.
“What was I thinking? What the heck was that?” Iupati said as he laughed. “When I first got here, it was bad. But it’s better now.”
And Davis?
“What was I doing?” Davis said as he shook his head. “I look at pictures from earlier in the season, it’s like night and day.”
Davis and Iupati say they now know better, and both coaches and teammates say it shows.
Consider Sunday’s game against St. Louis a good progress report. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is a defensive whiz who sends pressure from everywhere. Davis joked that the Rams “brought the coach one play.”
If Davis and Iupati can form a wall against the Rams, they may break through the rookie wall just yet.
“I’m just excited to come to work,” Iupati said. “It’s all a mind-set. Just have fun playing the sport you love and keep playing, keep learning.”
April 8, 2015 at 7:55 pm #22362znModeratorConsider Sunday’s game against St. Louis a good progress report. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is a defensive whiz who sends pressure from everywhere. Davis joked that the Rams “brought the coach one play.”
If Davis and Iupati can form a wall against the Rams, they may break through the rookie wall just yet.
9ers won in overtime.
But Rams got 5 sacks.
April 8, 2015 at 8:00 pm #22363AgamemnonParticipantTootie Robbins: 1982 / Round: 4 / Pick: 90
Luis Sharpe: 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 161982 St. Louis Cardinals
9/13/2009
Eugene Monroe has his hands full with Dwight Freeney, whose spin move is as quick as ever. No way to be entirely ready for that. David Garrard has really helped out the rookie tackle a couple of times, but Freeney also has a sack. With Eben Britton at right tackle, the Jaguars are the first team to start rookie tackles in the opener since the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals with Luis Sharp and Tootie Robbins.http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/3222/halftime-observations-from-jaguars-colts
April 8, 2015 at 8:11 pm #22364wvParticipantTootie Robbins: 1982 / Round: 4 / Pick: 90
Luis Sharpe: 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 161982 St. Louis Cardinals
9/13/2009
Eugene Monroe has his hands full with Dwight Freeney, whose spin move is as quick as ever. No way to be entirely ready for that. David Garrard has really helped out the rookie tackle a couple of times, but Freeney also has a sack. With Eben Britton at right tackle, the Jaguars are the first team to start rookie tackles in the opener since the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals with Luis Sharp and Tootie Robbins.http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/3222/halftime-observations-from-jaguars-colts
Interesting. Two Rookie tackles in the opener.
Ive been reading about rookie OLinemen,
just for the heck of it.I saw this article on Alex Mack, and it mentioned
a situation at the Center position that made
me shake my head a bit:Alex Mack’s Learning Curve Taking Some Time
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2009/08/alex-macks-learning-curve-taking-some-time/“…Since their return in 1999, the center position for the Cleveland Browns can be defined by two specific moments: The team selecting Jim Pyne as the first player overall in the expansion draft, and the first play of the 2006 minicamp that would ultimately end the career of LeCharles Bentley.
What followed the Bentley injury was a series of events that couldn’t even be made up if one tried. Back-up center Bob Hallen, who would have been the default starter, simply decided to leave camp without any discussion with the coaching staff. Needing a center, the team signed Todd Washington. Eight days later, Washington announced his retirement. One week later, Hallen would do the same. Adding insult to injury, last minute addition and then-starting center Alonzo Ephraim was suspended for four games for substance abuse.
Ross Tucker and Lennie Friedman then joined the revolving door of centers until the team was able to trade for Fraley, who has been starting ever since…”
April 8, 2015 at 8:23 pm #22365wvParticipantNice article. See link.
w
v“….Based on these numbers, here are a couple of thoughts:
When you draft a lineman in the first two rounds, you are drafting an immediate starter.
Of the 45 linemen in this analysis, 33 (73%) started the majority of games for their teams in their rookie season. Eight other players (denoted with a *) suffered either serious or season ending injuries in their first year. That leaves only four players who did not start the majority of games in their rookie season. In other words, barring injury, 90% of offensive linemen taken in the first two rounds are starters in their first year. That’s pretty encouraging for any team contemplating drafting an offensive lineman.
Rookie linemen have a steep learning curve.
Despite their high draft pick status, only eight of 45 (18%) linemen delivered an above average performance (marked in green in the table above) in their rookie season as graded by PFF. Keep in mind that a positive PFF grade means that a given player played better than the NFL average player at his specific position. A below average grade doesn’t mean that a rookie necessarily played badly. In fact, an argument could be made that some of these guys actually played quite well, for a rookie.
Most rookie linemen arrive in the NFL still needing to improve their technique, work on their strength & conditioning, learn new playbooks and much more while facing wily veterans who will prey on their inexperience. This takes time.
Popular opinion holds that you can expect monumental improvement from rookies in their second year in the NFL. That may be true for many positions, but does not seem to be true for linemen. The sum of the second-year PFF grades for players picked between 2008 and 2010 is identical to their first year grades. Sure, some improved, and some regressed. A look at the tables above shows no significant improvement in the grades for all players between year one and year two. And a look at this year’s Pro Bowl lineman presents a similar picture. The average Pro Bowl lineman is 28 years old and is in his sixth NFL season.
Offensive linemen are not plug-and-play solutions to your O-line troubles. And for most of them, their learning curve needs to be measured in years, not months.
Tyron Smith Rocks….
April 8, 2015 at 8:33 pm #22367wvParticipantThings said about OLinemen.
w
vhttp://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/4/10/5579326/nfl-draft-2014-evaluating-offensive-linemen
NFL Draft 2014: What do you watch when evaluating offensive linemen?
By Danny Kelly…Attitude
You’ll hear scouts say things like, “he plays with tenacity,” “he plays with vinegar,” “he’s a glass eater,” “he plays through the whistle” and “he finishes.”
These things — all the same — hold weight with me, more than a lot of other teachable features.Got that dirtbag in you?
Usatsi_7226370_medium
Maybe it’s because I’m used to watching the NFC West all season and that division has made its reputation over the past couple seasons for being smash-mouth, hard-nosed and merciless in the trenches. The Niners’ offensive line in particular is an enviable one, made up of mean human beings who enjoy, nay, relish hitting the people in front of them. There’s a psychological edge that you can project when you have a group like this, and it can trickle down to your whole team.
April 8, 2015 at 8:39 pm #22368AgamemnonParticipant2009 NFL Draft
Projected as a first-to-second rounder by Sports Illustrated, Mack was the highest ranked center available in the 2009 NFL Draft.[6] He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 21st overall selection. He was the first Golden Bears offensive lineman selected in the first round since Tarik Glenn in 1997.
Cleveland BrownsMack signed a five-year contract with the Browns on July 25. During the 2009 NFL Season, Mack started on the Browns offensive line every game. After a shaky start, the Browns line, anchored by Joe Thomas, paved the way to three consecutive 100+ yard games by Jerome Harrison and one game in which Harrison ran for 286 yards, which stands at third all-time in one game. At the end of the regular season, Mack was selected as center on the All-Rookie team.[7] He started all 16 games, committed only 1 penalty and allowed just 1 sack.
During the 2010 NFL season Mack again started every game for the Browns. He was named to the 2011 Pro Bowl roster as a second alternate to replace Nick Mangold.[8] During week 5 of the 2011 NFL season, Mack played through appendicitis during a loss to the Tennessee Titans. Mack had an appendectomy during Cleveland’s bye week and came back and started against the Oakland Raiders the week after the bye week.
On December 27, 2013, Alex Mack was voted to his first Pro Bowl Selection, after having been added in 2011 to replace an injured player.
On April 9, 2014, it was announced that the Jacksonville Jaguars had offered Mack a five-year contract, worth reportedly $42 million.[9] The Browns had a maximum of five days to match Jacksonville’s offer, which they did on April 11.[10][11] Mack had been previously assigned the transition tag, nullifying his free agency unless a team signed Mack to an offer sheet. During Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 12, 2014, Mack was carted off the field due to a leg injury. X-rays tested positive that his leg had a broken fibula, forcing Mack out for the rest of the 2014 campaign. Prior to Mack’s injury, he had never missed a single snap in his professional career.
April 8, 2015 at 8:46 pm #22372wvParticipant2009 NFL Draft
On April 9, 2014, it was announced that the Jacksonville Jaguars had offered Mack a five-year contract, worth reportedly $42 million.[9] The Browns had a maximum of five days to match Jacksonville’s offer, which they did on April 11.[10][11] Mack had been previously assigned the transition tag, nullifying his free agency unless a team signed Mack to an offer sheet….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_MackYeah, i really wanted Mack
in that draft. I thought then,
and still think the Center position
is under-valued.I will never understand why
LT is valued more than Center.
Itz no use trying to reason with me
on this either 🙂w
vApril 8, 2015 at 9:10 pm #22376znModeratorItz no use trying to reason with me
on this eitherWell, consider the following perfectly logical reasons:
wait, phone. Right back.
April 8, 2015 at 10:33 pm #22379InvaderRamModeratorat this point. the only way i don’t see the rams picking offensive line is if marcus mariota drops.
April 9, 2015 at 11:12 pm #22482znModeratorDespite their high draft pick status, only eight of 45 (18%) linemen delivered an above average performance (marked in green in the table above) in their rookie season as graded by PFF.
Sobering numbers!
It suggests that what you want to do is find okay placeholders and delay as many rookies starting as possible.
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