http://ramblinfan.com/2015/05/22/what-makes-the-st-louis-rams-offensive-line-intriguing/

What Makes The St. Louis Rams Offensive Line Intriguing?

by Blaine Grisak 1h ago

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The St. Louis Rams offensive line went from being a known commodity to being inexperienced and unknown in the matter of one offseason. While the Rams offensive line was known and a lot of their players were proven, that facet of the team was a total disaster last season.

Going into 2015, the Rams will have three new faces up front. Assuming rookies Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown start with Tim Barnes at center, the average age of the Rams offensive line is 23.8 compared to 26.8 this time last year.

Free agent acquisition, Garrett Reynolds, becomes the oldest player on the o-line at just 27 years old and Rodger Saffold becomes the most experienced with 60 starts. The rest of the offensive line? Reynolds has 27, Greg Robinson has 12, Tim Barnes has four, and everybody else….zero.

The Rams offensive line is an unknown commodity. While this can be frightening, it is also intriguing. This could be an experiment that goes bad or it could be one that pays off. Saffold and Robinson are the only two knowns up front, as shown from the experience stats above, everybody else we know almost nothing about.

The Rams are changing their identity on offense. They are now fully committed to being a run first, ground-and-pound team, and that is proven with the players they drafted. Here’s what makes the unknown players on the offensive line intriguing:

RT- Rob Havenstein

“Massive tackle with very functional length. Above-average power in run game and runs legs to create movement. Drive blocker by nature. Block winner at point of attack. Uses well-timed punch and has adequate foot quickness to set out to edge speed. Aggressive, play-finishing demeanor on the field. Plus body control and balance on second-level blocks with ability to sustain. Can brace against power and has feet to counter inside moves in pass pro.” -NFL.com

Havenstein fits the bill for what the Rams are looking for in their right tackle. Above average in the run game and plays with an aggressive play-finishing demeanor. He was considered the leader on the Wisconsin offensive line while opening up holes for first round pick Melvin Gordon.

Best of all, he had zero holding calls in 2014. This is interesting because the Rams had the most holding calls in 2014 among non playoff teams with 25 and had the most per game at 1.56 with the most yards lost at 15.6 per call.

RG- Rodger Saffold

Saffold is one of the players that is actually known on the Rams offensive line. Saffold had the 18th highest pass protection grade on Pro Football Focus while allowing only two sacks, two hits, and 12 hits.

Making the move from Havenstein’s spot at right tackle in 2013, Saffold has become on of the more impressive guards in the NFL. If he can stay healthy, and that’s a big if as Saffold does seem to get injured during a game at least a couple of time a year, Saffold gives the Rams some much-needed consistency up front and inside.

C- Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney

All three of these players have a very small sample size. Barnes has four starts in his career accumulating 281 snaps, Jones has 23 snaps in the regular season and Rhaney has 44 preseason snaps.

The Rams have a lot of unknowns up front, but none is more unknown than what they have at center. Between three players they have four total starts.

However, with the one player that only has four starts, he does have some upside. In week 13 of 2013 against the San Francisco 49ers, Barnes had a 1.7 grade on Pro Football Focus, the seventh highest grade of that week. Barnes’ performance was pretty balanced as he had a 0.8 grade in both pass blocking and run blocking, the pass blocking grade being top five for that week.

The next week Barnes struggled against the Cardinals having a -2.4 grade, among the league’s worst for that respective week.

In his third start, Barnes had a fairly average performance against the Saints, but did manage a top 15 pass blocking grade.

To finish off his year, Barnes managed a positive 1.7 grade against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which was top ten for the week and he had the third best grade in run blocking.

In his four starts, Barnes ranked as the 24th best center in the NFL out of 46. He had zero penalties and allowed only one sack while ranking as the 20th best run blocking center.

Moving on to Barrett Jones, according to NFL.com he:

“Possesses NFL size for an interior player. Solid pass protector whether playing inside or outside. Great awareness of late blitzers and twist stunts, and he gives excellent effort to reach free rushers so his quarterback stays upright. His versatility, intelligence and high character should get him penciled in at guard or center for the next decade in the NFL.”

We have yet to see much out of Jones, if anything. 23 snaps is not a great sample size. However, given what we do know, he was a four-year starter at Alabama, the powerhouse of the SEC. His college coach, Nick Saban, compared him to NFL great Bruce Matthews.

The bottom line is with Jones is that he’s smart. He has the intelligence to play all five positions on the offensive line which is rare. The problem is that he can’t seem to stay healthy or get healthy for that matter.

Back to back year-long injuries have kept Jones sidelined and if he is ever going to be the center of the future for the Rams, the time is now.

Lastly, Demetrius Rhaney. Via NFL.com Rhaney has:

“Very good quickness, agility and balance. Gets into blocks quickly and keeps battling through the whistle. Good lower-body power. Solid anchor in pass protection. Has the size, power and agility to eventually compete for a starting job.”

Rhaney will have the ability to compete for a starting job. He’s had a year to learn. While he may be more suited for depth, he has potential, but has yet to really show anything.

LG- Jamon Brown

The Rams very well could sign Justin Blalock which would be a good signing and give the team some veteran leadership next to young players. However, if they don’t, they have Jamon Brown at left guard.

He has been a three-year starter, starting 26 games at left tackle and 13 and right tackle. However, according to NFL.com he could make the transition to guard:

“Intriguing tackle/guard prospect. His mass and athletic limitations are best-suited inside and his quickness off the snap could be an indicator that Brown’s best football could be ahead of him. With a wider base and better body control, Brown could become a starting guard or potential tackle in power scheme. Straight-line mover in space with potential to be effective blocker on inside zone plays from guard spot. Has experience at both tackle spots and at guard.”

One NFC executive said,

“”He could go much higher than anyone thinks because he’ll be on boards as a tackle or as a guard. He can move and he has some power so he will hit more teams draft boards than some of the other guys in the draft.”

Once again, the Rams have found a player that fits what they want to do. He is a straight-line mover and mauler in the run game. His versatility is valuable allowing him to not only potentially be a starting left guard, but also fill in at tackle if necessary.

LT- Greg Robinson

The Rams’ left tackle of the future whom they drafted second overall last year. Who is Greg Robinson. GRob as some call him didn’t have the best rookie season. He only started 12 games and didn’t start at tackle until midway through the year.

Robinson had grades of -5 or worse on three different occasions in 2014 and once accumulated a -8.5 grade, the sixth worst performance of any tackle last season. He also had 10 penalties of, as mentioned earlier, the Rams’ 25.

Mike Mayock compared Robinson to Orlando Pace. He has been said to be able to pave the way in the run game and be a franchise left tackle. The problem is, he has yet to show it. He was said to be raw, but this is a year in which he is going to have to step up. He has all the potential in the world, but at this point, that’s all it is, potential.

Conclusion

The Rams’ offensive line is in rough shape, there is no denying that. For the two rookies, the jump from college to the NFL is not going to be easy, there are going to be growing pains. The same goes for the new center that the Rams are going to have as well as Greg Robinson going into his second year.

However, with all of the problems that the Rams have on the offensive line, it is intriguing. They have beef up front now. They have players who possibly have the ability to turn into a historical offensive line like the hogs in Washington or become just as good as the offensive line in Dallas. The ability is there.

The Rams have four developmental players for the time being, but as this group grows together, this potential and intrigue could turn into something special for the long-term. Les Snead and Jeff Fisher have taken a lot of heat for not bringing back Barksdale, not signing La’el Collins, or over drafting their offensive linemen. It’s only a matter of time before we find out how this experiment plays out.

http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/todd-gurley-remembers-a-bruisin-from-new-old-st-louis-rams-teammate-alec-ogletree-043015
Gurley remembers a bruisin’ from new/old Rams teammate Ogletree
Elisabeth Meinecke
FOX Sports Midwest

APR 30, 2015 11:16p ET

Alec Ogletree (left) and Todd Gurley were Georgia Bulldog teammates for a year.

ST. LOUIS — When Rams 2015 first-round draft pick Todd Gurley joins his new teammates in St. Louis, there will be a familiar face among them, albeit on the opposite side of the ball.

Linebacker Alec Ogletree, a first-round draft pick of the Rams in 2013, played at the University of Georgia, where Gurley began his collegiate career as a running back in 2012. During Gurley’s first Bulldog camp, the linebacker delivered a hit during a goal-line drill that left an impression.

“Man, I felt that,” Gurley recalled. “I was like, from that day forward, ‘I’m running low.'”

Fortunately, the relationship wasn’t bruised long-term.

“I’ve got a good relationship with him,” Gurley said. “It will be good to get back there with him, team up. That’s one of the best players I ever played with.”

He couldn’t confirm, however, if Ogletree had texted him in the selection’s immediate aftermath.

“I haven’t checked my phone,” Gurley admitted. “I’m pretty sure he did.”

Regardless, Ogletree was prolific welcoming his old and new teammate on social media as he retweeted congratulations from people showing love for the new pair of Georgia Bulldogs in St. Louis. About an hour after the pick, Ogletree’s timeline had close to 80 such messages.

http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/jeff-fisher-deviates-from-script-focuses-on-st-louis-rams-offense-at-2015-nfl-draft-050215
Fisher deviates from script, focuses on Rams’ offense in draft
Howard Balzer
FOX Sports Midwest

MAY 02, 2015 8:28p ET
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May 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher talks with the media about first round draft pick Todd Gurley (not pictured) during a press conference at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Curry / USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Fisher and the Rams may have drafted four offensive linemen at this year’s draft, but don’t mistake that for a “quantity over quality” approach.

ST. LOUIS — To say the 2015 draft was an unusual one for Rams coach Jeff Fisher would be an understatement of gargantuan proportions.

Fisher has been at this head coaching gig since 1995, and only once before did his team open the draft with a succession of more than one offensive player. Yes, this was the third time in four years with the Rams that the draft began with an offensive selection. But in each of those years, the choices of wide receiver Tavon Austin in 2013 and tackle Greg Robinson in 2014 were followed by two defensive players.

In 16 years at the helm of the Tennessee Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers), only seven times was offense the choice in the first round. And only in 2006 did the draft begin with two offensive players: quarterback Vince Young and running back LenDale White.

The offensive onslaught at this year’s draft began with the eye-opening selection of running back Todd Gurley at 10th overall and didn’t stop until Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager was picked in the seventh round (224th overall) with a choice St. Louis had acquired from the Jets for running back Zac Stacy.

In between, six other offensive players were picked, including four offensive linemen, Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion and Mizzou wide receiver Bud Sasser.

Certainly, the strategy was fueled by the need to give assistant coach Paul Boudreau some (hopefully) able and (definitely) experienced bodies for his offensive line. That was achieved, at least on paper, with the addition of four linemen in the second (Wisconsin tackle Rob Havenstein, 42 starts), third (Louisville tackle, but projected guard, Jamon Brown, 40 starts), fourth (Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal, 16 starts) and sixth (Fresno State guard Cody Wichmann, 50 starts) rounds. Those four linemen combined for 148 starts in their college careers.

Donnal’s starts were limited because after becoming a starter in his sophomore season, he suffered a torn ACL (yes, that injury again) in his third start, but he came back a year later and participated in every game — he just didn’t start. Last season, however, he started all 13 games at right tackle.

In the three previous drafts, the Rams selected a total of six offensive linemen, but only two in the first four rounds: Robinson in 2014 and center Barrett Jones in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. Jones is expected to compete for the starting job with Demetrius Rhaney, a seventh-round pick last year who spent the season on injured reserve, and Tim Barnes.

The other two choices were tackle Mitchell Van Dyk (seventh round, 2014), who is currently on the Steelers’ roster, and guard Rokevious Watkins (fifth round, 2012), who has eaten his way out of the NFL.

General manager Les Snead says that the Rams “studied the OL as hard as any position this year,” and notes that the average round in which starting guards and right tackles were drafted is 3.6.

“It was not hard at all,” responded Fisher when asked if it was tough to stick with offense for so long. “Every team is different. Every situation is different. Every draft is different. But we clearly entered this draft collectively feeling that we were going to come away with some solid offensive linemen. We feel good about it.”

Beyond that, the results of this year’s draft became an illustrative primer in how Fisher wants this team to truly reflect the image and style he desires.

His Titans became a force in the NFL with Eddie George running behind a large and physical offensive line. From 1999 through 2003, Tennessee and St. Louis tied for the most regular-season wins in the league. It was no secret why.

Now, with the addition of a healthy Gurley running behind a huge line, Fisher hopes to begin duplicating those halcyon days in Nashville.

Just check out the linemen added in the draft since a year ago: Robinson (6-5, 332), Havenstein (6-7, 321), Brown (6-4, 323), Donnal (6-6, 313) and Wichmann (6-6, 315). Also added to the group is this year’s unrestricted free-agent signing of Garrett Reynolds (6-7, 305), who has experience playing for Boudreau in Atlanta.

“We’ve got two big, strong, physical players that extend plays, that finish plays, that go downfield,” Fisher said after Day 2. “They’re mauler-types. They’re very, very aggressive, so they’re going to fit our style.”

It wasn’t surprising then, to hear Donnal describe himself.

“I view myself as a blue-collar grinder,” he said. “I’m a guy that’s going to come out and work my ass off every day to be the best that I can possibly be. I thoroughly enjoy just playing football, being an offensive lineman and moving the guy from point A to point B against his will. Protecting the quarterback and mauling inside. There’s nothing better.”
Jan 1, 2014; Tampa, Fl, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive linesman Andrew Donnal (78) against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. LSU Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

“It’s been a long time coming, particularly because of the needs,” Fisher said of this year’s haul. “After Todd, our focus went to the big guys. All of them finish; that’s the thing we really like. They’re downfield, they’re pushing people over piles, they’re aggressive and they’re finishing. As (Rams GM) Les (Snead) said about Cody, ‘If you’re somewhere in the vicinity, he’s gonna hit you.’ There’s some contact involved, and that’s the mindset that we need to carry forward. But it’s also not something that we have to teach; it’s the way they play right now.”

Fisher took exception when it was suggested that he and Snead drafted a glut of linemen with the hopes that at least a few would work out.

“We didn’t throw darts,” he said. “We think these guys can play. Now, we’ll have a much better idea once we get them in here, but we feel they all can come in and contribute. They are durable, they’re smart, they’re well coached and they’re going to fit in.

“We’re building this team for the future and I think we’re establishing an identity right now.”

There’s no need to expand on what that identity means. What’s in question is where that “future” will be. But that’s a discussion for another day.

Howard Balzer can be heard daily on Lunchtime Live with Howard Balzer from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays on TalkSTL.com 1380 AM.

How good is the Rams Receiving Core?

by Colin Hubbard 1w ago
http://ramblinfan.com/2015/05/13/how-good-is-the-rams-receiving-core/
When it comes to the St. Louis Rams, nobody speaks of their receiving core. It is easily the most overlooked part of their offense.

The Rams might not have the biggest named receivers, but they involve several young talents who finally have a quarterback to throw them the ball.

The Rams will use Brian Quick, Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks as the main targets in 2015.

Quick has 54 career receptions, 833 yards and seven touchdowns in three years. Quick’s 6-4, 209 pound frame at the age of 25 will give Foles a big target on the outside.

Britt hauled in 48 receptions, 748 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. In Britt’s six NFL seasons, 48 catches is the most he has had in a season. This is the most interesting player of the bunch. Britt is believed by many to possess the traits that a number one receiver would have, but has yet to be used to his full potential.

Bailey has just 47 career receptions, 661 yards and one touchdown in five career starts. So again, we aren’t really sure how good he really is. But, with his young age, Bailey will be another solid target for Foles to use.

Austin has 71 career receptions, 660 yards and four touchdowns, but zero in 2014. Austin also rushed for 224 yards in 2014 and found the end-zone two times. Austin will likely see a lot of trick plays and rushes in 2015. He hasn’t been the receiver we as Rams fans have wanted him to be, but one thing we know is, if you give Austin the ball in space, he will make you pay. And Foles will be able to do a better job of getting Austin in those positions.

Cook, since coming over from the Titans, has been targeted 184 times, but has only caught 103 passes. At the age of 28, Cook is the most experienced receiver the Rams use. If I am Foles, Cook is my number one, third down receiver.

Kendricks, in his four years, has been a great red-zone target, hauling in five touchdowns in 2014. It will be interesting to see how often both Cook and Kendricks are on the field on at the same time in 2015. They as tight ends, give the rams two big bodies who can both catch the football.

Cook is the oldest receiver out of this bunch at the age of 28. And while none of them have pulled away from the others, Foles will use each of them a lot better than Austin Davis or any other quarterback throwing to them ever has.

St. Louis will run the ball a lot in 2015. With Todd Gurley and Tre Mason patrolling the backfield, who wouldn’t want the run game to come first? But like many people know, when you’re down a touchdown with two minutes remaining in the game, it’s up to Foles and this receiving core to get the ball from point A to point B.

So, who will be the best receiver in 2015? There are plenty of solid names to choose from.

Are The St. Louis Rams Headed Into A Building Year?

by Blaine Grisak 5d ago
http://ramblinfan.com/2015/05/16/are-the-st-louis-rams-headed-into-a-building-year/

After two seven win seasons and a six win season there is no question there is a lot of pressure on head coach Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams to take the next step and make a playoff run. After years of 2, 3, and one win years under Steve Spagnuolo and now three years of mediocrity, to say the least, fans are ready to win, and they’re ready to win now.

However, by the way the Rams drafted and the way that this season is shaping up, it feels as if this year may go the complete opposite. Yes, the Rams have a potentially elite defense and acquired a quarterback that can hopefully stay healthy for an entire season, but this team is still missing key pieces. After three years in the Jeff Fisher era, this is still a team that is built to win for the future rather than right now.

To expect the Rams to compete with at the very least two rookies starting on the offensive line and that doesn’t include Greg Robinson who will be in only his second year is unrealistic. These players will need time to grow.

They drafted Rob Havenstein who could be a mauler up front. The drafted Jamon Brown who is a big guy that they can plug inside, but played at tackle at Louisville. Certainly he will need time to learn the position.

As mentioned above, its unrealistic to expect these players to come in and dominate right away and thats if they pan out. The Rams drafted developmental players that are going to need time to learn the game.

Winning in the NFL starts up front, and the Rams simply aren’t ready to win up front, at least on the offensive side of the ball. The Rams have struggled to compete with the defensive lines of Arizona, Seattle, and San Francisco over the past two years because of the weak offensive line.

Snead and Fisher made steps to fix that, but unlike when they signed Jake Long in the offseason a couple of years ago, this won’t be an immediate fix. This product is going to be something that takes this year and maybe another year until its ready.

The examples above are all on the offensive line, but even look at the Rams’ first round pick Todd Gurley. This is a player that may not be ready to play right away, but yet Fisher has called him the running back of the future. By the sounds of it, the Rams have no intention to win right now.
“This is the running back of our future. It makes no sense to put him in a bad situation sooner than we have to.”-Jeff Fisher

As much as some, including myself, dont want to hear it, the Rams are heading into a building year. That doesn’t mean that they will have another season in which they win two or three games and end up with the number one overall pick. No, this team is better than that. The defense alone will win them games.

Jeff Fisher’s worst seasons in the NFL were in 2004 and 2005 and even then his teams won four and five games and then were back on the mediocre trail in 2006 winning eight games.

It is imminent that the Rams are headed into a building year in 2015. While they have veteran leadership on defense, that is something they are missing on the offensive side of the ball where they are very young.

Fans are ready for the Rams to take the next step, but by the way things are shaping out, it looks like that may have to wait until 2016 or 2017.

How Much Offense Will St. Louis Produce in 2015?

by Colin Hubbard 6h ago
http://ramblinfan.com/2015/05/22/how-much-offense-will-st-louis-produce-in-2015/

With the 2015 season in fast approach, the St. Louis Rams have transformed their offense into what many expect to be a lot better than years past. But, how much should we really expect as fans? Here is a look at where the Rams have ranked in total team offense of the course of the past few years.

2014 – 28th 314.7

2013- 30th 304.8

2012- 23rd 329.0

2011- 31st 283.6

2010- 26th 302.9

2009- 29th 279.4

2008 – 27th 287.2

2007 24th 297.5

2006 6th 360.4

The Rams haven’t averaged more yards a game than a Superbowl winner of that year since 2006. Since then, the Rams have ranked 23rd or worse. In that span, the Rams have made zero playoff appearances and had zero NFC West titles.

As a matter of fact, the Rams have won the NFC West just once (2003) since the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers left to join the newly formed NFC South in 2002.

I fully expect the Rams to finish somewhere in the teens this year in total offense, but history says otherwise. Nick

Foles is the best quarterback the Rams have had arguably since Kurt Warner. Marc Bulger had a solid career, but Foles has a much higher ceiling. Todd Gurley might be as good as if not better than Steven Jackson, but don’t expect them to do anything with the offensive line they have in front of them.

For whatever reason, Rams’ fans believe that rookies, who have never played in an NFL game will make an impact right away. And that they will “teach themselves.” That isn’t how offensive lines work. Look at the Falcons for example. They went from nearly going to a Superbowl in 2012 an a solid offensive line to one of the worst in the matter of seven months. They thought rookies like Lamar Holmes, Peter Konz would be able to fill voids that the team lost in the offseason. They were sadly mistaken.

And guess who they brought in to replace Michael Turner? Oh wait, that would be Jackson. We all know how that wen’t. Hard to run through holes when their aren’t any to run through.

So what makes you honestly think that two rookie starters will lead the Rams to their first playoff berth since 2004? In a division full of nasty defenses? Foles’ pure talent will be enough to bring the Rams’ offense to a level they haven’t reached in a few years, and Gurley will have a solid rookie campaign. But, you won’t see their full potential due to the fact that the Rams have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

As far as I see it, bringing in Foles and Gurley is wasting their time and potential. And it isn’t doing any good to have high expectations either. Take everything with a grain of salt. You will thank me later.