Nice to see Atwell making progress.

Hoecht is a nice role player. Hope they hold onto him next year.

Glad the Rams kept it competitive.

I was most encouraged by the play of A.J. Acuri. He wasn’t dominant or anything and maybe PPF or PFF or whatever the f+*k it’s called will grade him poorly, but I thought that he played well in his first start.

The Rams really need to address their lack of a pass rush this off-season.

I wonder if Akers is annoyed.  After all, he supposedly wanted out of Dodge a few weeks ago, and now Henderson is released.

I have no idea if it will work out, but I’m glad that the Rams signed Thomas. Clearly there is a lot of work to be done in order to fix the Rams offensive line for next season. Some of that fixing might come with guys getting healthy, but I have to think that there is a real possibility that both Edwards and Allen are done. In addition, Evans is terrible, I don’t hate Shelton but he’s just ok as a RG, Noteboom looked shaky before he was injured, Jackson has blood clots is that going to be a long term problem? Who knows what Logan Bruss brings to the table and Havenstein isn’t getting any younger. Therefore, starting the process of finding new blood for the line is obviously crucial for this off-season, but I am glad they’re starting now.

zn wrote:

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue

The Rams offensive line continues to be slammed by injury. Chandler Brewer played through a Grade 3 MCL suffered in-game. He’s having surgery, 4-6 weeks. LT Alaric Jackson had blood clots and has to go on medication, out for the season.

Are the o-line injuries worse than the worst year in St. Louis yet?

JackPMiller wrote:

 

There is a chance that Stafford may retire. Not saying he will, but there is a chance. I do believe that Aaron Donald retires after the season is over. It might be a few years, that the Rams make the playoffs, if both Donald, & Stafford retire. Also, if both do retire, we may be better off trading players, that can get us, high draft picks, in return, as a complete rebuild will be the way to go. That’s of course, if we have any players, o our roster, that can be worth high draft picks.

Yep, seems like a scenario that could happen and at this point in his career he’s earned it. I would not be upset with him if Stafford took a wait-and-see approach before deciding if he’s going to play next season.

Hram wrote:

I am still happy we won the Super Bowl last year

Me too! That fact has me a lot less uptight about this season compared to how I felt every year during the Linehan/Spagnuolo/Fisher eras. Or maybe I’m finally growing up.

I don’t live in Minnesota, but the border is only a 45 minute drive from my front door. Haven’t been there since the pandemic started, but we have always been frequent visitors to the North Shore all the way down to the Twin Cities. Such a beautiful state.

My thoughts aren’t really about this game in particular. Already trying to forget it, to be honest. My thoughts are that I am shocked that the Rams beat the Niners in the NFC Championship Game last season. Yeah, yeah, different team, I know. It’s just the Niners have owned the Rams over the last several seasons regardless of health or circumstance. I hate it. I want an off-season that is totally geared toward beating the Niners. Even if the the Rams finish 2-15 next year. Not since the Rams first season back in LA has this team been less fun to watch.

My memory is fading. Hopefully Allen and Edwards can return and play well. Put Havenstein in bubble wrap in the meantime.

Skowronek’s contributions are nice to see, Alaric Jackson played well enough at LT. If any in-season trades happen, I hope it is for offensive line help and not a running back. I feel like I am watching a slightly below .500 team.

Up to this point, the Rams had been fortunate enough to avoid such an injury plagued season during the McVay era.

JackPMiller wrote:

canadaram wrote:

Bobby Evans is starting. This worries me.

I believe it will be Jeremiah Kolone, that will end up,starting, not Evans.

So Rams OL will be LT Joe Noteboom, LG Bobby Evans, C Coleman Shelton, RG Alaric Jackson and RT Rob Havenstein.

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) October 1, 2022

Bobby Evans expected to step in at left guard with Edwards out. https://t.co/jjBlNzhTTy

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) October 1, 2022

I wouldn’t have minded Kolone stepping in at this point.

A couple of next day thoughts. Both Powell and Skowronek have surpassed Atwell as offensive contributors. Skowronek was already there last season,  guess. I know that he has a different role than Atwell would, but after this offseason I was hoping to see Tutu at least be a threat in the long game, or maybe a couple of WR screens. Powell’s contributions versus the Cardinals were what I thought that Atwell could do.  Also, it would be nice if Stafford and Robinson  develop some kind of chemistry because right now there’s not much going in there.

Admittedly, I still have bad memories of the Rams having to play the likes of Larry Turner, Rex Tucker, Matt Willig in his mid/late 30s, as well as many others whose names that I have long forgotten. These guys replaced some pretty average starters. So hopefully McVay’s/Carberry’s Rams won’t be as bad at finding backups on the oline. I agree with you that the results are better at this this stage.

I was relieved when the Rams kept Noteboom this past offseason, but now I am concerned with his play/knee injury. The lack of a run game seems like harbinger of what might be in store for the offense this year. A play that stands out to me happened late in the Falcons game. Akers was able to turn a first down on short yardage despite being met in the backfield by an Atlanta defender. The Rams overloaded the line by bringing in Evans as an extra blocker and the Falcons still had Akers in the backfield. Good play by Akers gave the Rams the first down though.

I too am hopeful that next offseason the Rams go strong at finding help on the offensive line. I still find myself lamenting the decision not to pick Creed Humphrey. Granted I don’t know enough about how Humphrey’s game matches with what McVay is trying to do, but seeing Tutu’s name on the roster will forever make me think of Humphrey, just like I still associate Brian Leonard with the Rams passing on C, Ryan Kalil in the 2007 draft. If the Rams spent all of their resources on offensive linemen and running backs next offseason, I won’t complain …I’m only half joking.

Anyway, the next 3 weeks seem like they could be tough. I am especially dubious about the Rams chances versus the Niners.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by canadaram.