Goff already notices a difference with Rams' new O-line

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August 25, 2017 at 10:09 am #73215

zn
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Goff already notices a difference with Rams’ new O-line

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/34995/jared-goff-already-notices-a-difference-with-rams-new-o-line

HOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams’ offense flowed better — better than it did at any point last season — during Saturday’s preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, which offered the first meaningful sample size under this new, offensive-minded coaching staff. Jared Goff was more efficient, Todd Gurley was more patient, the receivers and tight ends were more, well, open.

But there was something else: The pocket looked cleaner, a product of a new offensive line that should be a lot stronger on Goff’s blind side.

Goff himself is already noticing the difference.

“No doubt,” the second-year quarterback said. “I think just as a whole, they’ve really worked together. They’re starting to jell, and I think you saw that last Saturday. The Oakland defensive line is no slouch. They’ve got some dudes over there, and they did a great job keeping them away and giving me a good pocket. It wasn’t just throw it and get hit; it was clean the whole night. It was. No one really around me.”

Behind the Rams’ offensive line last season, Goff absorbed an NFL-high 25 sacks over the final six weeks and Gurley averaged 1.59 yards before first contact for the entire season, ranked 41st among 42 running backs with enough carries to qualify.

The Rams have since replaced Greg Robinson, one of the game’s worst left tackles, with Andrew Whitworth, one of the game’s best. They kept Rodger Saffold, their best offensive lineman last season, at left guard. And they brought in veteran center John Sullivan, who spent last season as a backup under Sean McVay — now the Rams head coach — with the Redskins and seems to be fully recovered from prior back injuries. On the right side are third-year players Rob Havenstein (tackle) and Jamon Brown (guard).

Gurley needed only eight carries to reach 38 rushing yards Saturday, and Goff only took one sack, courtesy of reigning defensive player of the year Khalil Mack. Through the first two preseason games, Pro Football Focus has the Rams’ first-team offensive line allowing just three pressures on 109 pass-blocking attempts.

That is stunningly low for any team, but particularly the Rams.

“It’s been a good camp,” Gurley said. “We’ve been getting better. Each game, we’ll see how we do. We just have to go out there and just compete and communicate. Even though I might have a 1-yard run, we may have done one or two things, whether it’s me or a lineman or someone back side — 1-yard runs can always be 20-yard runs. It’s just the little things, going out there and communicating. Then the next game, having the same exact look and making sure we get it right.”

August 25, 2017 at 10:13 am #73217

JackPMiller
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Lets hope we don’t suffer injuries, especially at Center. If we do, we are screwed. Depth is a concern. Watching Austin Blythe was a nightmare. I pray he gets cut, and we get someone that knows how to play a little better than him. Blythe is atrocious.

August 25, 2017 at 10:18 am #73218

zn
Moderator

Through the first two preseason games, Pro Football Focus has the Rams’ first-team offensive line allowing just three pressures on 109 pass-blocking attempts.

I wonder if someone could make sense of that stat.

I figure they must be counting snaps per lineman. But 5 doesn’t divide into 109. So that must mean that on the 25 pass attempts (counting the sack), instead of 125 snaps (5 linemen x 25 attempts), they’re missing 16, which must mean a starting lineman missed 16 snaps.

Otherwise, to me anyway, the number “109” makes no sense.

August 25, 2017 at 10:22 am #73219

zn
Moderator

JackPMiller wrote:

Lets hope we don’t suffer injuries, especially at Center. If we do, we are screwed. Depth is a concern. Watching Austin Blythe was a nightmare. I pray he gets cut, and we get someone that knows how to play a little better than him. Blythe is atrocious.

I’ve seen good grades on Eldrenkamp from various line watcher types.

And…Blythe had one botched play. That does not mean he played poorly. It may mean that as often happens with linemen, one bad play gets magnified in people’s minds and overshadows everything else. That is, I have seen no report that Blythe played badly. Only that he had the one bad snap.

….

August 25, 2017 at 10:48 am #73223

zn
Moderator

RockRam wrote:

The 2 areas I have carefully focus on using Gamepass is the Oline and the QB. And both are looking very encouraging. Goff is decisive, accurate and consistent; the Oline is actually really good for pass pro, and just OK for run blocking but a big step ahead of last year. The left side especially looks locked down. The right side is the weaker side but that’s to be expected. You have very good vets on the Left, and young guys on the Right. But they’re looking like a real NFL quality Oline so far.

When you break down the 1st string Oline even in game 1 against the Boys, it did very well. There was one glaring error by Brown that got Gurley stuffed, but that’s about it. Against Oakland they were downright dominant. Sure Mack got the sack but it wasn’t on the oline. Everett and Higbee were double teaming Mack and he split them and made the play.

I’m saying right now that this starting Oline is so far superior to anything we’ve seen around here in years and that is encouraging. We also have better depth than some think. Eldrencamp has impressed me. Eldrencamp has done well at all 3 spots they’ve lined him up: both Guard spots and Center. And Blythe has had one bad outing and one good one. Blythe greatly improved from week 1 to week 2. Sullivan is just really good (I didn’t realize he was that good) and Saffold looks better than I’ve seen him in a long time.

The Left side is darn tough; and Brown and Hav are starting to get it together. I don’t see the right side as problematic at all. People keep knocking it, but when I watch every play in slomo I just don’t see it. They have done just fine and against the Raiders they were better than against the Boys. The right side seems to be getting measured by one missed assignment by Brown that got Gurley clobbered behind the line. The right side is an issue of technique and experience; they are not physically overmatched against anyone. The big thing is that Brown is coming off the ball quicker and that makes such a huge difference. Hav and Brown are handling stunts so much better too. Dude is the dancing bear; big guy who can move better than you think.

If they can just stay reasonably healthy, they are going to be a solid “B” oline at worst.

I think Williams has the possibility of developing into a starter; if not on the left then on the right. I liked him last year (he certainly wasn’t ready yet but he had excellent flashes). But he has good feet and moves pretty well. I suspect if we can get two good years out of Whit, Williams just might be ready to take over in 2019. He couldn’t have a better teacher than Kromer, or a better example and mentor than Whit who sees himself as a mentor and a coach on the field (in fact, apparently McVay has nicknamed Whit “coach”). If Williams has it in him, he is being given a golden opportunity to develop into an NFL starting LOT.

BTW: Murphy looks FAR more comfortable on the right side. He looks positively baffled and overmatched on the left.

I’m still concerned by TE blocking; frankly they’ve looked like crap. The only guy I’d trust blocking right now is Harkey.

August 25, 2017 at 12:26 pm #73236

Agamemnon
Participant

zn wrote:

Through the first two preseason games, Pro Football Focus has the Rams’ first-team offensive line allowing just three pressures on 109 pass-blocking attempts.

I wonder if someone could make sense of that stat.

I figure they must be counting snaps per lineman. But 5 doesn’t divide into 109. So that must mean that on the 25 pass attempts (counting the sack), instead of 125 snaps (5 linemen x 25 attempts), they’re missing 16, which must mean a starting lineman missed 16 snaps.

Otherwise, to me anyway, the number “109” makes no sense.

I don’t think 5 linemen is what they are counting. They probably are counting the number of pass rushers the other team sends. It could 4 or 5 or whatever. There were probably 109 individual battles, not always involving every offensive lineman.

Agamemnon
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