OL in free agency … Barksdale, Blalock, Wisniewski, etc.

I’m convinced. Let’s sign Barksdale and Blaylock(who knows the system). That would be great for continuity. I would then like to have two rookies that are so good, they outplay And supplant them.

Playoffs, here we come!!

zn wrote:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

Jaguars agreed on a 1-year deal with former Raiders C Stefan Wisnewski, per league source.

Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo

C Stefen Wisniewski’s deal with the Jaguars is one year at $2.5 million, source says.

With Wiz to Jax, Rams check center options

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/article_28a3e1db-d65d-58ed-be97-525cd3e3cb61.html#.VTRF1ApC0ZY.twitter

The Rams have had their eyes on Stefen Wisniewski for a while, and maintained interest in him even as the free-agent center made visits to one team after another this offseason.

But with Saturday’s news that Wisniewski had signed with Jacksonville, the Rams must now look elsewhere for a starting center in 2015.

It could very well come in-house, because the team has three returning players on the roster whose primary position is center: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes, and Demetrius Rhaney.

Given his pedigree as an award-winning college player at Alabama and a fourth-round draft pick in 2013, Jones would have to rate as the front-runner.

But slowed by offseason surgeries each of the past two seasons, Jones has had only a handful of snaps on offense in NFL regular-season play. Barnes, the University of Missouri product who recently re-signed with the Rams, did start four games in 2013 after an injury to then starter Scott Wells.

Rhaney, meanwhile, was a seventh-round draft pick last season _ the answer to the trivia question, who did the Rams draft after taking Michael Sam? But he missed the entire 2014 season after suffering a training camp knee injury.

There are some starting options remaining at center in free agency, but none are nearly as appealing or nearly as young as Wisniewski, 26, who signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars for a modest $2.5 million.

In Jacksonville, Wisniewski is re-united with his former offensive coordinator at Oakland, Greg Olson. (Olson was Rams offensive coordinator under Scott Linehan in 2006 and ’07.)

Chris Myers, most recently with Houston, is on the market; as is Samson Satele, formerly of Miami; and Lyle Sendlein, who was released by Arizona earlier this offseason. Myers, who turns 34 in September, has 128 regular-season starts on his resume. Satele, 30, has 114 career starts. Sendlein, 31, has 109.

The Rams, who have had at least nine offensive linemen in for pre-draft visits this month including Florida State center Cameron Erving, currently must replace starters at center, guard, and right tackle from last season

nittany ram wrote:

http://sbnation.com/e/8214896?utm_campaign=turfshowtimes&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

from that article:

Wiz was the last serviceable Center on the Free Agent on the market. What the Rams lack with proven commodities at center, they make up for with youthful options. The team currently has Tim Barnes, Demetrius Rhaney, and Barrett Jones under contract.

Barnes filled in reasonably well in 2013 when filling in for Scott Wells. The Rams thought enough of Barnes to bring him back after non-tendering him. Rhaney has been praised frequently by Fisher, but was unable to do much last season due to injury. After a decorated career at Alabama, Jones has done next to nothing in the NFL and is largely an unknown.

Barring a trade – and with Snead you can never rule that out – the Rams not in position to draft a Center in the 1st round. Cameron Erving is the highest rated Center in the draft and he would be a reach at #10. After Erving, you have a cluster of players who could be selected in rounds 3-5. I’m not saying that those players aren’t going to be good pros, but I question whether any of them would be an immediate upgrade over the group that the Rams have.

The only thing for certain is that the Rams starting Center next year is not going to have much – if any – starting experience.

The only thing for certain is that the Rams starting Center next year is not going to have much – if any – starting experience.

I don;t know what will happen, but if this does, it would not be rare. Time to drum up a reminder: several centers played last year as rookies. In comparison, at least Jones and Rhaney have gone through a training camp or 2.

Rookie centers starting last year include

ROUND PICK PLAYER GAMES STARTED
4 105 Bryan Stork 11
4 111 Russell Bodine 16
5 161 Corey Linsley 16
6 205 Luke Bowanko 14