Let's talk about next year's Offensive Line

Herzog wrote:

I’m optimistic about this unit for next year. I want to know the board’s thoughts on the offensive lineman we have and how good they’ll be next year.

Havenstein, Wichman, Brown, Donnal.
Rhaney, etc, and so forth.

I have no ability to evaluate O-lineman. Is my optimism for good cause?

I think it’s really hard to say right now what all they have. Given that, I think they have an OL plus depth for next year, and I mean a pretty good OL if not better than that.

EARLY indications are that Hav, Brown, and Wichman are all good picks. And that GR is improving but how much he will be improved next year isn’t clear.

Along with the draft picks they have 3 “ronin” or younger vets they got off of a practice squad and/or through low budget free agency. This team has made something out of that type of player before so I would not discount them.

The 14 they have as of now… Some of them are injured but will be back

Centers % Center/Guards
Barnes
Kush
Rhaney
Folkerts

Guards & G/T swingmen
Brown
Wichman
Reynolds
Saffold
Arkin

Tackles
Robinson
Havenstein
Williams
Battle
Donnal

My prognosis? Boudreau and Fisher have built good lines before for a combined 40 years of doing it and I expect them to do it again.

If they like what they have they won’t add much more; if they don’t they will.

from off the net

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RustyRay

Many people have the all 22 film to watch. I do. Many people including myself watch it and have focused on Robinson. I do. I dont say things about players that I haven’t observed or watched on the coaches film.

I have watched Greg Robinson all year. He isnt great, to me he is just okay and there is no doubt that is disappointing when it comes to the 2nd overall pick. We should all want and expect more then that….but it is what it is. Its not his fault either…He was raw clay…it was said a million times….Snead and Fisher believed in him.

Bottom line to me is he is improving period…I have watched it (more then the TV), I have paid attention to it and he is simply getting better and he is the Rams LT for at least the next 3 years. I believe he will turn the corner sooner then later and all this bust stuff will drop into the wastebasket where it belongs.

I can say from watching Greg Robinson this year he is improving all the time. He still has too many mental lapses that hurt him and he still makes mistakes with his technique that kill him as well…but he is getting better….