Video: Wagoner’s Rams Buzz: Starting O-line Rounding Into Shape

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11344815

InvaderRam wrote:

i’m excited to see this offensive line. i think it will have a bigger impact than any other offensive group. the running game. and then off that the play action. pass protection. i’m excited to see how quickly this group can get it together. that should be the identity of this offense. the line.

Here’s some more buzz that feeds into that.

Barnes is apparently stronger. Got a little manhandled last year so if he has upped his game, that’s good.

Joseph is apparently fine.

Which brings us to the crucial “3rd left OT” issue. It’s a continuing problem with teams–finding a back-up LOT. Cause if a guy is a good LOT, he ain’t gonna be a back-up for long. Most good LOTs are taken high in the draft, so maybe you can develop a lower pick there for a couple of years and he can be good depth, but honestly, this is not common.

So the Rams solution is interesting, though I am not sure they sat down and planned this out. Someone good enough to be a very effective LOT is a starting caliber lineman. If he is a vet, and good enough to start, teams will compete for him; if he’s a draft prospect, and he looks good enough, he gets snapped up. So. If a decent 3rd LOT is going to be a guy who is good enough to start, and that means it’s hard to find one as a back-up…well, then, start 3 LOTs on your line.

The Rams are now 3 deep at LOT. Obviously–Long, Saffold, Robinson. And actually observers are saying Robinson looked more comfortable at tackle last Friday than guard. I take that to mean Robinson is not far off as a left OT, apparently.

They have Joseph to fill in at guard, and it seems Barnes to fill in at center, plus 3 starting caliber LOTs.

If any of that about Barnes and Joseph holds up, then this team can lose up to 2 guys on the line before they get down to the dreaded “developmental and/or journeymen” types who populate most teams depth charts at OL.

And maybe Bond is another guard.

And if they find one more guy among the remaining young hopefuls, then, IMO that is as deep as an OL can get in the NFL.

And that’s all IF there are injuries. If Long and Wells stay healthy, you’re right, this is a team-defining kind of OL. IMO as good a line as the Rams have had since the GSOT days. Different from that line, but as good if not better in a lot of ways. (To me the differences between that line and this one is summed up by the differences between Pace and Robinson.)

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InvaderRam wrote:

yeah. long and wells need to stay healthy. but what’s most encouraging is robinson’s development at left tackle. i think he could be a starter as soon as this year if they needed him to be. but hopefully not. i think by next year he could already be a better left tackle than long. straight up. it’s only been one preseason game, but his athleticism and power already stand out.

Which leads to an interesting possibility for next year. Just thinking out loud here. Barksdale goes (FA), Long moves to ROT and GR takes the left. At that point you just need a guard, and guards are easier to replace than LOTs.

InvaderRam wrote:

i think that’s a great point. i’m even willing to bet that’s what they’re thinking.

robinson, long, and saffold is a great start to an offensive line.

Yeah and watch them draft another LOT candidate for guard.

The solution to traditional NFL depth issues at LOT? Start 4 LOTs. Slide em over when needed.

Then your depth is mostly the cheaper, easier to find, more abundant ROT and OG types.

Their motto could be “an Ogden a year keeps the qb upright.” Okay it doesn’t rhyme but it’s still a good idea.

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