Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › OL talk, 2020
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May 24, 2020 at 11:00 am #115273znModerator
from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/24/nfl-rams-right-tackle-havenstein-evans/
Right tackle is one of the most important position battles on the roster this offseason and will be decided in training camp – whenever it takes place. Right now, it’s hard to discern who the Rams will start on the right side of their line.
New offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell doesn’t know who it’ll be, but he has confidence in both Havenstein and Evans.
“As far as the tackles go, we’re incredibly lucky to have ‘Whit’ [Andrew Whitworth] over there on the left side. I know Jared [Goff] sleeps well at night knowing he’s got the big fella over there,” O’Connell said on a conference call with reporters. “But at the same time, that competition and those two guys over there at the right tackle spot, I personally just watching the tape and really studying those guys, I’ve got a ton of confidence in both of them. it’s going to be a great situation for us to have the depth there because the importance of both of those edges being firm and being something that we can have a lot of confidence in is huge.”
May 24, 2020 at 11:16 am #115274InvaderRamModeratorThe #Rams were reportedly close to pulling the trigger on OT Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland wouldn’t have started. So, the one high pick the #Rams almost made on the OL would have been for the future. That should tell you something about now.
oh. i just saw this. oh, man. i would have loved cleveland. not just for depth, but i think he really pushes whit for a starting job. a quality left tackle in the second round. i don’t know if the rams should have passed that up. then go for akers or jefferson with the next pick.
May 24, 2020 at 11:32 am #115277InvaderRamModeratorfrom https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/24/nfl-rams-right-tackle-havenstein-evans/
a quote from that article.
Evans is a lock to be on the roster and has been mentioned as a potential heir to Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, so if Havenstein does win the right tackle job, Evans will stick around as the swing tackle.
if they can pull that off, kudos to them. if they really think that then maybe evans should play at left guard this season like noteboom did last season in preparation for moving outside within the next couple of years.
whit evans blythe edwards havenstein
that’s not bad. i really believe hav will come back just fine this season. in the future. left tackle and center are still big question marks for me. i really wished they had picked cleveland. what with the rams originally being from cleveland and all. it only makes sense, right? seriously though. he has the potential of being a star at a very important position. in the second round? i don’t see how you pass that up. let him build up strength and soak up all of whit’s wisdom. oh well.
bobby evans certainly has the size and length. i just don’t know if he has the athleticism.
May 24, 2020 at 12:20 pm #115291znModeratorMcVay feels one of the few silver linings that came from the injury-plagued offensive line was that it gave the coaching staff a chance to better evaluate the depth they had, via J.B. Long on the team’s official website:
Last year was beneficial for us, in spite of having some of the injuries and shuffling things around,” Sean McVay said. “You got a chance to really evaluate a lot of guys playing in real games that count and you can see that there’s a lot of upside.”
McVay pointed out their in-season acquisition of guard Austin Corbett as an example of a player that could be poised for a big offseason under offensive line coach Aaron Kromer:
“You look at Austin,” McVay says of the 33rd overall selection from two years ago. “You say, alright, what does it look like if you give him an opportunity to have a training camp and some guidance under Coach Kromer’s tutelage.”
May 27, 2020 at 12:57 pm #115360znModeratorfrom Sean McVay addresses RT situation, is confident Havenstein will bounce back
Sean McVay addresses RT situation, is confident Havenstein will bounce backMcVay addressed the position on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, saying he’s confident Havenstein will rebound from an injury-plagued 2019 season. He also mentioned that Evans could play guard, which adds to the intrigue along the offensive line.
“What you feel good about at right tackle is Rob Havenstein is such a tough player. He was pushing through some injuries that I do think led to not seeing him play consistently at the level we’re accustomed to. I’m fully confident that he’ll get back to that. He’s feeling good,” McVay said. “I thought Bobby Evans being able to step in and play well toward the latter half of the season was really good for his confidence, but I’m not convinced that guy couldn’t play guard, either. So I think we’ve got some guys that are versatile – we know we have players that can play – but it’s about finding ways to get the best five on there and certain guys might have a little bit more position flex and I think until we get out and are really playing football again, that’s the challenging part of what these times entail.”
June 5, 2020 at 12:25 pm #115890znModeratorfrom https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/06/05/nfl-rams-andrew-whitworth-virtual-meetings/
It can be tough for coaches to teach players techniques through a computer, but studying plays and film work hasn’t changed all that much, according to Andrew Whitworth. He says it feels like a regular O-line meeting, only the players are not physically in the same room.
“So basically, what we’ve really done – it’s kind of changed throughout the week depending on what we think is best,” Whitworth told former Bengals tackle Willie Anderson on Instagram. “But really, for the most part, like an O-line meeting, the only difference is our O-line coach will get his Zoom and put it to where it’s attached to his computer and showing plays and he’s got his whole plethora of plays and everything we want to watch for the offseason. And you just kind of tag his screen. So really, it’s like you’re sitting in a meeting room. The only difference is you’re obviously not physically in there. We just talk and stop the tape and talk about plays. That part hasn’t really been that different.”
June 6, 2020 at 2:56 pm #115966znModeratorLoboRam
Movin the Chains Guys Give High Props to the Rams Oline
This past week they have been grading the Olines in the the NFL… Friday they gave their top five.
Jim Miller has the Rams at the # 3 spot and PK picks the Rams at the #2 spot!smileys with beer
Jim Miller says they have the “tons” of experience along the starting front line… some of his comments:
Loves the back ups! Evans, Edwards and Noteboom… will be some great position battles with some eventual starters coming from this group.
… Loves their versatility at several positions
… were 8th in explosive plays… top five in the RZ even with the starters down!
… were first in sacks allowed… again with backups playing alot of the time.
… 3rd down efficiency, they were 15th in the NFL… need to get better there and at rushing the ball
… 7th in total offense… good overall but will get better!Pat Kirwin has the Rams at #2… said going into grading each team he never would have thought he would have graded the Rams Oline this high but …
…. Really likes Noteboom and Evans… says they are not back ups to him, they are coming to camp to be starters.
… Best group of pass protectors in the NFL …. best team in sacks allowed per pass attempt.
… Great in Blitz protection, allowed a sack in 1:30 blitzes called.
… On reason he graded the Oline so high was the QB (said he’s Ok… Not a Drew Brees or Lamar or the big names, so the line stepped up and played well
regardless.
… They need to become a better run team, but he recognized Gurley’s injury in that department. He expects them to be much better there.
… Overall he gave them the high grade because of Whitworth and competition between Noteboom and Evans… he thinks they are both gonna be terrific
players.High praise from two analysts I like and respect!
June 14, 2020 at 6:30 pm #116546znModeratorThe OL splits in half and the dividing line starts with the Steelers game. After the Steelers game the OL is starting 3 inexperienced injury replacements–which normally is the kiss of death. But in the 7 games after the change, the Rams gave up 6 sacks, or 0.857 sacks per game. Across 16 games that would be 13-14 sacks, which would be the lowest amount allowed by a team since the Colts in 2009 (13). The previous 9 games they allowed 16 sacks, which is 1.77 a game, which across 16 games would be 28.4…and in 2019 that would be ranked 8th.
So they weren’t doing so bad before, when it comes to sacks. Though they were allowing pressures all year.
IMO when a team allows pressures but not sacks, the biggest difference is the qb. The qb is being coached on how not to give up sacks, plus of course he has the ability to avoid them by moving in the pocket or throwing more quickly etc. ‘
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I think the signs are pointing to it being this…though “this” depends on Hav getting back to form.
LOT Whitworth
LOG Evans
OC Blythe
ROG Edwards
ROT HavCandidates for 2nd string include Allen, Trewyn, Brewer, Anchrum, Corbett, and Noteboom.
Blythe is an experienced veteran who has played the position. Unless someone takes a huge leap in development, it’s not likely he gets displaced.
If Hav can’t go at ROT then Evans is the ROT and Corbett is probably in line to play LOG.
June 14, 2020 at 7:17 pm #116549AgamemnonParticipantCandidates for 2nd string include Allen, Trewyn, Brewer, Anchrum, Corbett, and Noteboom.
Tremayne Anchrum is the same guy. 😉
I am not a big fan of Allen.June 14, 2020 at 7:52 pm #116553znModeratorCandidates for 2nd string include Allen, Trewyn, Brewer, Anchrum, Corbett, and Noteboom.
Tremayne Anchrum is the same guy.
I was talking about OC Nate Trewyn, 2019 practice squad guy. He gets mentioned in this thread, near the end of page one. You can find that post by searching “Tony Pauline” since he is quoted in that post.
June 14, 2020 at 8:13 pm #116554InvaderRamModeratorTremayne Anchrum is the same guy. 😉
I am not a big fan of Allen.i agree. i would really give anchrum a good look at center if i’m kromer.
June 14, 2020 at 8:16 pm #116555AgamemnonParticipantCandidates for 2nd string include Allen, Trewyn, Brewer, Anchrum, Corbett, and Noteboom.
Tremayne Anchrum is the same guy.
I was talking about OC Nate Trewyn, 2019 practice squad guy. He gets mentioned in this thread, near the end of page one. You can find that post by searching “Tony Pauline” since he is quoted in that post.
LOL, my mistake. I don’t know much about him.
June 14, 2020 at 8:29 pm #116557znModeratorJune 14, 2020 at 8:59 pm #116558AgamemnonParticipantJune 18, 2020 at 8:28 am #116708AgamemnonParticipanthttps://www.therams.com/news/right-tackle-imperative-o-line-success-2020
Saturday, Jun 13, 2020 09:00 AM
Right tackle imperative to Rams O-line success in 2020
jb_long_headshot
J.B. Long Voice of the L.A. RamsThe Rams have a decision to make at right tackle, and modern football theory suggests it’s every bit as important as the one they made at left tackle.
Andrew Whitworth is back at age 38 to protect quarterback Jared Goff’s blind side. But while the right tackle position may not have inspired a Michael Lewis best-seller, it’s no less critical to any storybook season.
“The truth is, anybody who has been paying close attention to the league the last few years realizes (or at least should) that there is no longer a distinction between the two positions on the edges of a team’s offensive line,” former NFL lineman Ross Tucker wrote last summer.
Two years prior, an Andy Benoit article “Death of the Blind Side” proclaimed, “We’ll soon see right tackles valued equally to left tackles.”
While we aren’t yet there in terms of contract numbers, the sentiment was recently echoed by NFL Network commentator Bucky Brooks.
It’s amazing how many top EDGE rushers are playing LDE/LOLB (vs. RT). Coaches are attacking the front side of the QB by getting EDGEs 1v1 chances vs weaker RTs & TEs. Chandler Jones, Cam Jordan, Danielle Hunter, Khalil Mack & TJ Watt are crushing from LDE/LOLB spots #NFL
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) May 14, 2020
And Sean McVay agrees.
“Now you see a lot of these best rushers, like you talk about, they’re going to say, ‘Let’s find the matchup that we want’,” the Rams head coach said. “And in a lot of instances, they’re rushing that guy off the right side.”
“Really all five linemen can be stressed at any point in time based on how the defense aligns or tries to overload your protections,” Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell added.
But it’s more than just what opponents are trying to accomplish on defense. It’s also system-specific on offense. According to McVay, “the things that we’re asking (left and right tackle) to do are very similar across the board in our run game, in our protections.”
Unfortunately for the 2019 Rams, things did not go according to plan at right tackle, or really anywhere up front.
As Pro Football Focus put it, for the Rams offensive line, “it all came crashing back down to earth, and they finished (2019) with only the Miami Dolphins ranked lower.”
In particular, the author pointed to right tackle Rob Havenstein and his injury-plagued season as a primary reason for the collective decline.
“Havenstein had four straight seasons with a PFF grade of at least 69.7 and was coming off the best year of his career (83.6) before collapsing to an overall figure of 59.0 last year,” Sam Monson wrote. “Typically, that means he was struggling through some kind of physical issue or injury, and you would expect some kind of bounce-back in 2020.”
“(Rob) was pushing through some injuries that I do think led to not seeing him play consistently at the level we’re accustomed to,” McVay said, lending credence to PFF’s evaluation that Havenstein was less than 100 percent, even before he sustained a knee injury in Week 10 at Pittsburgh. He also echoed PFF’s optimistic prediction for 2020.
“I’m fully confident that he’ll get back to that,” McVay continued. “He’s feeling good.”
When Havenstein missed the final seven games, rookie third-round pick Bobby Evans stepped in with mixed results, individually. But overall, the offense thrived.
“I personally, just watching the tape and studying those guys, I’ve got a ton of confidence in both of them,” O’Connell said. “It’s going to be a great situation for us to have the depth there.”
To hear McVay tell it, it sounds like he’s inclined to trust Havenstein’s track record.
“I thought Bobby Evans, being able to step in and play well towards the latter half of the season was really good for his confidence,” McVay said. “But I’m not convinced that guy couldn’t play guard, either.”
I can’t think of many instances in the past few years in which McVay has floated an idea like that – Evans playing guard, not starting at right tackle – without having a pretty solid sense that he’s leaning that direction.
If that’s the way it plays out, Evans could join David Edwards and Austin Corbett in a three-for-two battle at guard. (After starting the first six games of last season at left guard, Joe Noteboom may also be in that mix.)
So many things could happen between now and Week 1, including the Rams being able to orchestrate a trade or collecting another option off the waiver wire during roster cuts. And complicating matters is the lack of on-field work so far in 2020.
“Until we get out and are really playing football again, that’s the challenging part of what these times entail,” McVay noted.
For the moment, the options presented here reinforce the logic behind why the Rams did not invest draft capital in their offensive line this April. It’s also worth noting, they’ll be able to leverage that depth with an extra lineman active on game day thanks to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Havenstein may not have Whitworth’s resume, but he is in his prime and carries the second-largest cap hit in the position group this season. It sounds like he’ll get the first right of refusal at right tackle, and the Rams need him to recapture his Pro Bowl-worthy form.
“For us, we feel great about Whitworth and Havenstein,” McVay said. “We value those positions equally.”
“The importance of having both of those edges being firm and being something that we can have a lot of confidence in is huge,” O’Connell said. “And I think that’s where we’re at right now.”
June 29, 2020 at 1:30 pm #117328znModerator🏈 Rob Havenstein at right tackle?
🏈 Bobby Evans or David Edwards at right guard?
🏈 Austin Corbett or Joe Noteboom at left guard?It's time to discuss and debate the Rams' offensive line | @JourdanRodrigue @Rich_Hammondhttps://t.co/4NMCh4vkL8
— The Athletic L.A. (@TheAthleticLA) July 1, 2020
—
from that:
Jourdan Rodrigue
Sean McVay reiterated this spring that Havenstein was working through some injuries last season that in part contributed to his poor play. And if Havenstein works out at right tackle, that might mean seeing Evans at guard — something else McVay alluded to when he spoke with us in the spring.
Rich Hammond
I thought maybe … they might attempt to trade Havenstein, but the fact that they didn’t tells me they think he’s still a starting-caliber right tackle.
July 1, 2020 at 3:18 am #117376znModeratorThe Athletic L.A.@TheAthleticLA
🏈 Rob Havenstein at right tackle?
🏈 Bobby Evans or David Edwards at right guard?
🏈 Austin Corbett or Joe Noteboom at left guard?I don’t know why they do it that way.
Depends on whether Hav can go at ROT (and they make a case that he was already playing hurt early in the year before then going out with a new injury).
If Hav can go at ROT, then I would think it would be Evans and Edwards as the first 2 up at LOG and ROG. I think they’re both ahead of Corbett, and I think it’s too soon for Noteboom to be in the running with those 3. I think NB just backs up Whitworth.
If Hav can’t go it’s a different story. But if Hav can go I see Edwards and Evans in line for both guard spots, Corbett 3rd in line, and NB not in line at all at OG except as eventual depth there. (“Eventual” because there’s a good chance he isn’t ready to play at the start of the season…IMO NB, when he’s up to speed, will be a prospect at LOT behind AW.)
It will also be interesting to see if they have anything in Trewyn, Anchrum, and Brewer. All 3 are intriguing prospects actually. But they would be depth in 2020, not starters, you would think.
I think people know about Anchrum and Brewer but Trewyn gets good buzz too. See this post in this thread: zn, May 10, 2020 at 3:47 pm, on page 1. There’s not much on him but there’s enough for him to be intriguing. Here’s a taste: “He’s a tough, wide-bodied blocker at the pivot who plays with terrific fundamentals”.
July 1, 2020 at 10:06 am #117395znModeratorOG Austin Corbett, Los Angeles Rams
Another offensive lineman with a lot to prove, Austin Corbett was an intriguing prospect who was potentially overdrafted by the Browns in the second round. His NFL position was always up for debate, having played tackle in college, but he was always viewed as an interior lineman at the next level. He has been playing almost exclusively at left guard in the NFL, having impressed the most at the Senior Bowl at center, but that playing time has been almost universally poor thus far. What’s impressive is how consistently below-average Corbett has been so far, with every start he had for the Rams last season earning an overall PFF grade in the 50.0s. Corbett enters 2020 needing to show improvement to save his future at the NFL level.
July 1, 2020 at 10:45 am #117401znModerator
July 5, 2020 at 6:52 am #117582znModeratorNFL Draft Notes: Middle Tennessee State’s Chandler Brewer Goes From Cancer Treatments to Pro Day
He concealed cancer treatment from scouts to avoid the distraction. Now Chandler Brewer is gaining his strength back in time for the draft.from MAR 27, 2019
The Chargers scout was leaving pro day at Middle Tennessee State when he stopped to shake hands with guard Chandler Brewer, and to let him know that he tested well.
Brewer, a team captain for the past two seasons and a first-team Conference USA selection, thanked him before making the impossible transition into a disclaimer he’d been providing to any evaluator who didn’t know his story:
“You know, I battled with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma this year…”
According to Brewer, the scout’s bag hit the turf. He pulled out a notebook and began jotting everything down about the cancer that surfaced in Brewer’s left knee just a few months earlier. It wasn’t the first time he’d gotten some version of that bug-eyed reaction this spring.
“You never think you’re going to have something like cancer come up, especially when you’re 21 years old,” Brewer said by phone this week. “I thought I had nothing wrong with me. I was a healthy kid. A lot of people, when they hear that, they think the worst. I just told myself to stay as positive as could be, and I’d get through it no matter what.”
The razor-thin margin between good collegiate player and NFL player is never more pronounced than this time of year, where pro day workouts and combine measurements are used to break deadlock ties between prospects stacked on a big board. A person’s future could come down to one play, one time when he was being watched by the one right person.
Which is why this stretch of time has been unique for Brewer, who hid his diagnosis from everyone except for his coaching staff, close friends and family until posting it on Twitter and Instagram a month ago. Ranked one of the top 30 players at his position heading into 2018, he knows his future is in the NFL. Coaches have told him so. His training partners for the last three months, former Colts Jack Mewhort and Joe Reitz, have told him, too. But what if that one time someone caught his game he looked a little gassed? What if they didn’t go back to his junior year tape to confirm?
“If I could go back, I guess I’d want the scouts to know when they came to practice,” Brewer said. “Just because, if some days I looked a little more fatigued than others, they wouldn’t just think ‘OK he’s just tired.’ It’s because he was in radiation an hour ago. If I could go back, I wish I let the trainers tell them.”
Reitz, who played offensive line for the Colts from 2011 to 2016, had no idea either. He started his first training session by watching film with Brewer from his 2018 season and didn’t hesitate to point out plays where he felt Brewer didn’t finish a block strongly enough.
“He never brought it up,” Reitz said. “I’m telling him, ‘See if you can finish a little better here,’ and we both find out a few weeks later that he had cancer, and it’s like, ‘Dude, we’re talking to a guy who was probably playing at 50 percent of his capacity and we’re telling him he needs to finish more.’
“It was just amazing that he was on the field.”
The three spent much of their time together challenging Brewer more from a three-point stance. Reitz and Mewhort would intentionally line themselves up offsides to simulate a better speed rush, going after Brewer as hard as they could.
Clips of Brewer dating back to high school show a mauler with long arms. At Middle Tennessee State, he was constantly on the move in the Blue Raiders’ RPO, quick screen offense, swinging his 6′ 4″, 318 pound frame toward linebackers, edge rushers and tackles across a rocky schedule that included Georgia and Kentucky.
Like many at the position, a quiet personality hatches into something more intense at practice and on game day.
But his off time is spent hunting and fishing. Brewer said he likes to drive his truck around with the windows down listening to country music—the same tunes that the staff at Saint Thomas Rutherford Cancer Center had playing for him when he went in for his daily pre-practice treatments. He prefers solitude, which is why he wanted to complete his senior season without constantly being reminded of his fight.
“I didn’t want it to become a distraction for the team or anything,” Brewer said. “Obviously we had a job to get done. We wanted to make the championship, win and get to a bowl game. I didn’t want people coming up and–not necessarily feeling sorry–but I didn’t want all that. I just wanted to come in every day, grind and not even think about that.”
He discovered his condition during spring ball when a knot surfaced on his left knee. At first, Brewer thought it was something that needed to be rolled out or scraped. After a while, a trainer insisted he get it checked out.
A removal procedure in June led to a phone call the following month that Brewer received during a lunch with his roommate and girlfriend at a burrito joint near campus. After all the ceremonial follow-up calls were made to a worrying mom, a dad who promised his son he’d get through it and a doctor who laid out a battle plan, Brewer wanted to confirm that he could still play his senior season.
“A lot of people say they can’t eat when they’re stressed out. I guess I’m a stress eater because I just kept eating and I couldn’t get full,” he said.
He considers himself lucky now that the hurdles only manifested themselves in the post-surgery pain, and an arc of time from right after the Georgia game on Sept. 15 to right before the Kentucky game on Nov. 17 where his energy level bottomed out. He had to put an increased focus on diet and hydration. He anticipated the wall of fatigue that typically hit him toward the end of games and practices much earlier.
Then, the week of practice before the Wildcats game hit, Brewer said he felt an anvil lifted off his back. He was whooping and screaming during practice again. It felt like everything his body had lost came rushing back. The actual end to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was still yet to be confirmed (Brewer said after one more stint of radiation in early April, his appointments should start getting pushed back to six months and eventually once a year), but this was a metaphorical benchmark. A recognition that, during the biggest performance window of his lifetime, he’d maintained a foot in the NFL world despite a cancer scare.
“You know, the first thing I thought was, ‘Man, this was the worst timing possible,’” Brewer said. “But that was quick. I knew everything happened for a reason. God put it in my path just to make me stronger, maybe a better believer, too. I wouldn’t change anything.”
July 5, 2020 at 7:08 am #117583znModeratorNFL Draft Notes: Middle Tennessee State’s Chandler Brewer Goes From Cancer Treatments to Pro Day
He concealed cancer treatment from scouts to avoid the distraction. Now Chandler Brewer is gaining his strength back in time for the draft.==
from BonifayRam
Chandler Brewer has now grown into NFL OT size being over 6-6 & close to 325 lbs. Brewer played four OL posts in four preseason gms as a rookie. The majority of his snaps were @ LT but it was not much more than the other OL posts. Edwards & Brewer show’d some promise. Edwards clearly was the best of the four @ multiple OL posts however Brewer demonstrated in preseason he was better than Demby & Evans.
At the beginning of the season Brewer did not win a Master Roster spot but did make the initial Rams PS unit. Early in the season Demby failed as top reserve & Edwards stepped into position & with several injuries to starting Ol’er Edwards was starting & Brewer graduated to the Rams roster as the 9th OL’er. By the end of the season Brewer was the top reserve OL’er.
Brewer has been an ascending OL’er since he signed with the Rams. Yes….. injuries did help him with his rise but injuries occur every year too. His ability & versatility to forge through the responsibilities of four NFL OL posts after undergoing that bad cancer event in college is extraordinary. His climb up the Kromer OL position ladder is also a good accomplishment.
July 7, 2020 at 9:04 am #117657znModeratorfrom PFF–NFL offensive line rankings: All 32 units entering the 2020 NFL season
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-offensive-line-rankings-all-32-units-entering-the-2020-nfl-season
25. LOS ANGELES RAMS
No offensive line took as big of a step back as the Rams, a team that dropped from one of the league’s best to 31st during the 2019 regular season. They had eight linemen pass protect at least 250 times and only left tackle Andrew Whitworth put up a pass-blocking grade better than 61.6. Whitworth took a step back overall, grading at 72.8, his lowest since 2008. He remains as one of the better tackles in the league, and he’s been fantastic since joining the Rams, but he’ll turn 39 years old during the season.At right tackle, Rob Havenstein’s regression remains a mystery. He had four solid seasons under his belt, including an 83.6 overall grade that ranked seventh among tackles in 2018. Last season, however, he posted a 50.9 grade that ranked 81st out of 89 qualifiers. If the Rams are going to get back on track, it must start with Havenstein.
The interior of the line saw huge turnover last season as left guard Rodger Saffold and center John Sullivan needed to be replaced, but the youth movement has gotten off to a slow start. At left guard, Austin Corbett and Joseph Noteboom both saw significant snaps, with Corbett posting the better grade at 51.8, good for 71st among guards. Right guard Austin Blythe saw his grade drop from 73.4 (12th) to 50.3 (76th) last season, so much like Havenstein, a return to form is crucial for the Rams.
Center Brian Allen finished 26th among centers with a 58.6 grade, and his biggest issue was pass protection, where his 45.4 grade ranked 33rd out of 35 qualifiers. David Edwards should also be in the mix for playing time after posting a 61.0 grade on 689 snaps as a rookie while fellow 2019 draft pick Bobby Evans remains a developmental option after a 49.4 grade on 479 snaps at right tackle last season.
Development is the key word for the Rams as they’re rolling it back with last year’s 31st-ranked unit, but with five players all within their first three years in the league, Los Angeles is expecting improvement from at least a few of them.
==
No changes to Rams’ O-line, but team optimistic about better results
Lindsey Thiry
The Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff and roster underwent numerous changes throughout the offseason as star running back Todd Gurley was cut, receiver Brandin Cooks traded and three new coordinators arrived. But there was one group that went largely untouched: the offensive line.
After an uneven season, it was widely expected that the position group would be addressed in free agency, or more likely — because of salary-cap constraints — the NFL draft. But the lone addition came in the form of a seventh-round offensive guard.
Rams general manager Les Snead said he knew the lack of movement within the group would buck conventional thinking.
“We did go into [the draft] probably a little different than maybe the outside of our building where, ‘OK, hey, it’s a major, major glaring weakness,'” Snead said. “We felt confident that if we continue grooming and developing these players, they’d have a chance to become a really solid offensive line.”
Since Sean McVay joined the Rams as coach in 2017, the Rams have used six of 39 draft picks to select offensive linemen, all of whom remain on the roster. And all 13 linemen (including practice-squad players) from last season’s 9-7 team will return in 2020, including left tackle Andrew Whitworth — who signed a new three-year, $30 million contract — and guard/center Austin Blythe, who returns on a fresh one-year, $3.9 million deal.
“We know we have players that can play, but it’s about finding ways to get the best five on there,” McVay said. “Certain guys might have a little bit more position flex.”
After the Rams held a virtual offseason program amid the coronavirus pandemic, it remains uncertain who will make the starting five, and how they will line up.
Whitworth, who is entering his 15th season, will maintain his post at left tackle. After an unexpected decline in production last season, Rob Havenstein — who was sidelined after nine games because of a knee injury — is anticipated to return to right tackle. Blythe, a dependable starter at center and guard, also is expected to maintain a starting role.
“I’m still comfortable going back and forth,” Blythe said. “Wherever the team thinks that I can help the best or help the most is a position that I’ll play.”
Last season, the Rams’ line experienced instability previously unseen in McVay’s tenure as coach.
In 2017, the Rams started the same five linemen in 15 games (McVay did not play starters in Week 17). In 2018, the Rams started the same five linemen every game as they powered their way to a Super Bowl LIII appearance.
But last season, the offensive line shuffled through five different starting lineups because of injuries and fit issues.
As the Rams drew 118 penalties in 2019, which ranked 25th in the NFL, 42 of those penalties were committed by the offensive line — including 13 from Whitworth and eight from Havenstein.
The offensive line’s pass block win rate dropped from 74.3% in 2018 to 56.9% last season, according to ESPN metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.
McVay and Snead have emphasized that the unanticipated injuries and growing pains last season could pay dividends in 2020.
“We’ve been adding those players and I’ve said it many a times,” Snead said. “Fortunately or unfortunately, a lot of them got to play last year.”
Whitworth emphasized the unit’s steady growth through the final seven games after the lineup stabilized.
“You really think about the inexperience we had up front and how little guys have played in football games,” said Whitworth, who played alongside four left guards during 2019. “To see where we finished the season offensively and really were able to build ourselves up.”
If optimism about the development of the offensive line pans out, the Rams’ biggest issue next season could be sorting which players will fill interior spots.
Guard Joe Noteboom and center Brian Allen, who started a combined 15 games in 2019, return from season-ending knee injuries. Guard David Edwards and tackle Bobby Evans — who both were thrust into starting roles as rookies — and guard Austin Corbett, who started seven games last season, also will compete for starting spots.
“We have a lot of guys who can play really good football,” Blythe said. “When you have guys go down to injury like we did last year, there are silver linings to all of it.”
July 22, 2020 at 4:42 pm #118262znModeratorNiners Nation@NinersNation
Brandon is one of the best OL evaluators out there, and he’s releasing his tiers.Tier 1=elite. Tier 2=very good. Tier 3=good/above average. Tier 4-solid/average
—
LTs ranked in tiers for 2020 (no rookies):
Armstead
Bakhtiari
Smith
WilliamsStanley
Tunsil
Castonzo
LewanMatthews
Villanueva
Whitworth
BrownDawkins
Okung
Wynn
Miller
Decker
Humphries
Leno Jr.
Robinson
DillardFisher
Reiff
Smith
SolderBolles
Jackson
Pipkins
Christian— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) July 22, 2020
==
RT tiers heading into WK1:
Schwartz
Johnson
–
Ramczyk
T. Brown
–
McGlinchey
Bulaga
Havenstein
O. Brown
–
James
Cannon
Moton
Moses
Nsekhe
Collins
–
Wagner
Smith
Taylor
O’Neill
Dotson
Conklin
Massie
McGary
Gilbert
–
Hubbard
Feiler
Ifedi
Remmers
Tevi
Henderson
Shell
Hart
Davis— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 1, 2019
July 23, 2020 at 12:08 am #118277znModeratorTen best-performing NFL O-lines by expected rushing yards
https://www.nfl.com/news/ten-best-performing-nfl-o-lines-by-expected-rushing-yards
Next Gen Stats just revealed a new metric: expected rushing yards per carry. Today, Nick Shook explores the 10 best-performing NFL offensive lines by expected rushing yards from last season.
We used expected rushing yards — the offseason’s new advanced metric — to take a deep dive into running back play on Tuesday. Now, let’s look at how it will soon help shape opinions of a position group whose performance has long been difficult to quantify: the offensive line.
Film study can tell us a lot about an offensive line, but that requires devoting countless hours to watching every play (and not just once, but three to four times at a minimum). Pro Football Focus’ player grades are a handy resource, but they provide just one frame of reference for evaluating O-line performance. Enter Next Gen Stats’ expected rushing yards per carry (xYPC).
Offensive line play is just one factor that determines xYPC, but ranking the top 10 offensive lines from 2019 based on xYPC, as we’ve done below, gives us an idea of how effective these units were at creating opportunities for running backs on a per-play basis. What will be interesting is the juxtaposition of rushing yards over expectation (RYOE) alongside xYPC, which can tell us a lot about whose rushing struggles were more the fault of the offensive line and whose were more the fault of the team’s running backs.
…
Before we get started, here again is a glossary of these new acronyms:
YPC: Yards per carry
xYPC: Expected yards per carry (the baseline metric for blocking effectiveness)
ERY: Expected rushing yards (total for the season)
RYOE: Rushing yards over expectation
RYOE per attempt: Rushing yards over expectation per attempt…
Atlanta Falcons
Freeman’s replacement for 2020, Todd Gurley, was also near the bottom of the league in the same categories. His -0.67 RYOE per rush and -150 RYOE on 223 carries helps explain the Rams’ struggles last season. We’ll see if he can turn it around in Atlanta.
…
Rank 9
Los Angeles Rams
2019 stats: 4.31 xYPC, 1,438 ERY, -170 RYOE, -0.51 RYOE per attempt
The Rams should really be commended for landing on this list, especially after losing Joe Noteboom early in the season and needing a replacement so badly, they swung a deal (which could end up being a steal) with the Browns for Austin Corbett in the middle of the season. This might also be the most damning piece of evidence related to Todd Gurley’s future, as we covered above with Atlanta. The league average in xYPC was 4.18 last season, so the Rams’ mark of 4.31 is nothing to scoff at. Yet, the Rams weren’t able to break 4 yards per carry with Gurley (and friends) in the backfield. Notably, the Rams landed in the top five for outside-run percentage at over 64 percent of all running plays in 2019. Perhaps having more trust in the interior linemen — which, again, a lack thereof after losing Noteboom is understandable — will produce better results for Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson and rookie Cam Akers in 2020. What’s that old saying? Run north and south, not east and west? Yeah, that might help things in Inglewood.
July 23, 2020 at 12:17 pm #118292znModeratorNext Gen Stats just revealed a new metric: expected rushing yards per carry. Today, Nick Shook explores the 10 best-performing NFL offensive lines by expected rushing yards from last season.
from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/07/23/nfl-rams-offensive-line-stat-running-game-gurley/
Next Gen Stats developed a new statistic that measures an offensive line’s effectiveness at creating yards for its running backs. It’s called expected rushing yards per carry, putting into perspective how successful a line was at creating opportunities in the running game compared to other units across the NFL.
The Rams surprisingly ranked ninth in the NFL despite finishing 26th in rushing yards and 18th in attempts last season. The offensive line had an expected yards per carry (xYPC) of 4.31 compared to the actual team average of only 3.7 yards per carry.
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