Rams’ 2018 schedule features only three top-10 offensive lines

Rams’ 2018 schedule features only three top-10 offensive lines from last season

Cameron DaSilva

Rams’ 2018 schedule features only three top-10 offensive lines from last season

With Robert Quinn being traded to the Miami Dolphins and Connor Barwin sitting on the free agent market, the Los Angeles Rams will likely be without their starting outside linebackers from last season. They’ve done nothing to address that hole this offseason, likely leaving that to the draft.

What Les Snead and the front office have done instead is bolster the defensive line in order to generate pressure up the middle, taking some heat off of their edge rushers. The trio of Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers rivals any of the top units in football, posing a major threat to every offensive line they face.

When you add in the fact that the Rams won’t face many elite O-lines next season, it shouldn’t be very hard for Donald, Brockers and Suh to wreak havoc in the backfield regularly. Here’s where each of their opponents’ offensive lines ranked last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Philadelphia: 1
Oakland: 8
New Orleans: 9
Chicago: 11
Green Bay: 13
Kansas City: 16
Detroit: 19
San Francisco: 20
Minnesota: 22
Denver: 23
Los Angeles Chargers: 24
Seattle: 27
Arizona: 31

As you can see, there are only three units that ranked in the top 10 a year ago. Of course, changes have been made by just about all of the teams above, so it’s not a clear indication of how good (or bad) their lines will be next season. However, it does give you an idea of just how big of an advantage the Rams’ defensive front will have in 2018.

In the NFC West alone, there should be a great deal of pressure on the other three teams to bolster their offensive lines.