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January 21, 2016 at 3:53 pm #37832
znModeratorRams finish 28th in PFF’s offensive line rankings
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The good news for the Los Angeles Rams offensive line is that it improved in the eyes of Pro Football Focus in 2015. The bad news is that the three-spot jump in PFF’s annual offensive line rankings still leaves the Rams at a lowly 28th in the NFL.
As always, these rankings aren’t an end-all, be-all when it comes to performance and there were some positives for the Rams upfront over the course of the season. It was a group that struggled as much as expected in the early going but performed better as the year wore on. Of course, by the time the Rams found some cohesion, it was too late to make a playoff run.
It’s exactly what many believed would happen when the team refused to add proven veterans in free agency. After the season, coach Jeff Fisher said he didn’t have regrets about the approach.
“As I’ve said numerous times, since our arrival here we’ve been wanting to go ahead and build that offensive line through the draft,” Fisher said. “We haven’t had the opportunity because of the other needs. This year we had the opportunity. This is going to be a good group and it’s going to be a good group for a long time with depth.”
Coincidentally, it was the one veteran the Rams did add via free agency that fared the best in the eyes of Pro Football Focus: guard Garrett Reynolds. Reynolds was a stabilizing factor for the line, settling in at left guard but also chipping in at right tackle when need be.
As for biggest disappointment, well, it should be no surprise that the finger got pointed at second-year left tackle Greg Robinson. Robinson still struggles with penalties and pass protection. The Rams need him to take a massive step forward sooner than later or they’re going to have seek alternatives.
Still, the Rams appear to have some intriguing young pieces in place. An argument could be made that rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein was the group’s most consistent performer when he was healthy. He did not allow a sack or draw a penalty, according to the Rams coaches review of the tape.
Rookie guards Jamon Brown and Cody Wichmann also had their moments in combining for 16 starts and should factor into the mix moving forward.
This is still going to be a young group in 2016 but at least this time around it will have some experience. Rookies accounted for 31 starts on the offensive line, nearly 40 percent of the total for that group overall.
While the total ranking via PFF’s grading system would indicate major issues on the offensive line, it’s only fair to point out that the Rams allowed the fewest sacks in the league (18) and finished seventh in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
Undoubtedly, it would serve the Rams well to continue to seek help for the offensive line moving forward, especially at center. But now that they’ve invested so much time and willingness to lose in the short-term, they’d also be wise to see their investments through.
January 21, 2016 at 4:11 pm #37835znModeratorPFF’s OL rankings.
I include the top 6 + the Rams.
Plus, just for fun…Seattle.
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RANKING ALL 32 OFFENSIVE LINES THIS SEASONKhaled Elsayed reveals the final offensive line rankings for the 2015 NFL season, with the Cowboys at No. 1.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/20/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/
It starts upfront. That’s the mantra we hear each and every year, insisting that a team’s fortunes on offense start with the success of their offensive line. Only, for some teams, it doesn’t so much as start up front, as it does finish.
When you have a line that can make things happen, whether buying your quarterback time or giving your running back big holes to gallop through, it can be a thing of beauty. So, we’re celebrating those offensive lines with our annual offensive line rankings. This isn’t the result of which team has the best five players starting, but looks at every player who played a snap on the line in 2015, and measures how well they did their job.
(Editor’s note: Last season’s ranking are noted in parenthesis.)
1. Dallas Cowboys (1st)
Pass-blocking rank: 1stRun-blocking rank: 1st
Penalties rank: 32nd
Stud: With studs at three spots on the line, it was hard picking a No. 1 guy. But left tackle Tyron Smith, our second-ranked lineman on the year, is that guy, with a tremendous season that has become the norm for him.
Dud: He was far from disappointing, but rookie La’el Collins was the weakest link on this line, simply by not being as good as the other guys on it.
Summary: That’s two years in a row atop our rankings for the Cowboys, who have reaped the rewards on their heavy investment in talent with first-round picks. All three of their former top picks graded in the top three at their respective positions, and even the less-heralded members were hardly poor. The Cowboys are our top offensive line for the second year in a row, and the truth is, it wasn’t even close.
2. Carolina Panthers (22nd)
Pass-blocking rank: 4thRun-blocking rank: 6th
Penalties rank: 7th
Stud: If Trai Turner looked good as a rookie, he looked great in his sophomore year. Well worth Pro Bowl contention (and the spot we awarded him), there are a lot of teams wondering just how he was allowed to get all the way to the 92nd pick of the 2014 draft.
Dud: When something went wrong in the running game, Michael Oher was usually at the center of it. He did a good job in pass protection, but no tackle came close to grading as badly as he did in the running game.
Summary: The tackles are the weak spot of this line, but not so weak where it really matters for them (pass protection). The strength is obviously the interior, where Andrew Norwell (building on a successful rookie year), Turner, and Ryan Kalil are amongst the best at their position. They’re a foundation for success on the line.
3. New Orleans Saints (11th)
Pass-blocking rank: 9thRun-blocking rank: 2nd
Penalties rank: 10th
Stud: This was the year that former second-round pick Terron Armstead proved he was a top-tier tackle.
Dud: Nothing overly terrible here, but Senio Kelemete had some issues in pass protection that shouldn’t be ignored.
Summary: The tackles are the most reliable players on this line, and the addition of Max Unger was certainly a good one (though you could debate whether the cost was worth it). Generally a really good run blocking outfit, let down only by their infrequent troubles protecting their QB up the gut.
4. Atlanta Falcons (26th)
Pass-blocking rank: 6thRun-blocking rank: 8th
Penalties rank: 3rd
Stud: One of the more unheralded players in the league, Ryan Schraeder is the kind of right tackle you don’t realize is as good as he is. A really solid player, you rarely notice him—which is a great thing at his spot.
Dud: The team lost faith in him eventually, with Mike Person’s continual problems snapping the ball playing a pivotal role in the Falcons’ second half collapse.
Summary: On paper, this line didn’t inspire confidence, but when you get guys doing what they’re good at, positive things happen. The introduction of Andy Levitre and Chris Chester, as well as the commitment to a zone-based scheme, worked from day one, with their work in the run game excellent. Are they a little lightweight against more powerful defenders? Yes. Are they much better than anyone expected? Definitely.
5. Cleveland Browns (6th)
Pass-blocking rank: 3rdRun-blocking rank: 13th
Penalties rank: 17th
Stud: Our Bruce Matthews award winner for best lineman in the league, Joe Thomas has never let his high standard drop. This year was no exception.
Dud: First-round pick Cameron Erving had a rough time of things. He looked monumentally out of his depth in his 429 snaps.
Summary: The tackles were the highlight of the line, with both Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz playing extremely well. The interior play prevented this line from being any higher on the list, though both guards were far from disappointing, and Alex Mack never a liability. We’ve just seen them all play better, with it not coming together this year.
6. Oakland Raiders (16th)
Pass-blocking rank: 2ndRun-blocking rank: 18th
Penalties rank: 30th
Stud: After a good rookie year, guard Gabe Jackson cemented his status as a “hit” for Reggie McKenzie with an even better second year.
Dud: If this line had one weakness, and it did, it was J’Marcus Webb. A player who stood out for all the wrong reasons.
Summary: Nothing sums up the transformation going on in Oakland like their offensive line. The left side is particularly strong, with Jackson and Donald Penn ever presents. Sure, Rodney Hudson probably isn’t worth the money, but even his addition resulted in better play on the line.
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28. St Louis Rams (31st)
Pass-blocking rank: 25thRun-blocking rank: 27th
Penalties rank: 22nd
Stud: Journeyman guard Garrett Reynolds came in and was particularly impressive in the run game.
Dud: Another year like this one, and Greg Robinson will be well on the way to bust status. It’s not just the penalties causing problems—it’s the consistent amount of pressure he’s allowing.
Summary: With so much young talent, it may take a while for the Rams’ line to come together. Unfortunately, it’s biggest risk (Robinson) isn’t paying off right now, but if there’s solace, it’s that Ron Havenstein looked the part as a rookie. This whole group needs to make a big leap in 2016.
…30. Seattle Seahawks (19th)
Pass-blocking rank: 27thRun-blocking rank: 29th
Penalties rank: 27th
Stud: It wasn’t the year he was hoping for, but Russell Okung continues to prove himself as starting-caliber left tackle in a league short of them.
Dud: The hope was that moving Justin Britt to guard might hide some of his weaknesses. The hope was wrong, with Britt having more issues at guard than he did at tackle.
Summary: It’s amazing that the Seahawks got as far as they did with a line that struggled to open many holes, and a pass protection unit that was sieve-like. It got better when Patrick Lewis came in, but their poor play serves to only highlight how good the backs were, and how talented Russell Wilson is at extended plays.
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