Rams OL working through new combinations in OTAs, hoping to leave 2022 behindone.”

Jourdan Rodrigue

* https://theathletic.com/4556596/2023/05/30/rams-offensive-line-injuries-recovery/?source=emp_shared_article

Whatever could go wrong, did go wrong. A wave of injuries crushed their starters, most backups, and even some third- and fourth-string players in rapid succession. They featured 12 different starting combinations in their first 13 games and were starting from scratch their teaching of a complex language in that position group every week — with players at most positions who had not even been with the team in training camp. According to Football Outsiders, the Rams had 71 “adjusted games lost” to injury along the offensive line alone, the most since the statistic was developed in 2001 (the next closest were the 2020 Eagles, with 57.1 AGL).

Quarterback Matthew Stafford took 63 hits in nine games, the most a quarterback has been hit on a Sean McVay-led team, before also suffering a season-ending spinal cord contusion. For fans, the historically awful offensive line angst throughout 2022 even came with a little gut kick at the very end of the year: A player they definitely could have selected the in 2021 NFL Draft, center Creed Humphrey, anchored the Chiefs in the Super Bowl as one of the NFL’s best players at his position.

Everyone is trying to move on.

“No two teams are the same, and what happened last year stays in last year,” right tackle Rob Havenstein said earlier this month. “I’m not gonna harp on that too much. Whatever happened, happened. Can’t change it. Don’t want to change it, it is what it is.”

Yet a team can’t just visualize a reset, and hope it happens on the field. That team has to physically make it happen.

McVay fired previous offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and hired former player and Aaron Kromer disciple Ryan Wendell to take over the group, with Kromer’s son, Zak, assisting him. Former longtime left tackle and captain Andrew Whitworth has been a consistent presence in the building this spring, though no formal coaching or consulting role has been announced by the team.

In 2022, the Rams drafted guard Logan Bruss at No. 104, their top pick that year. But Bruss tore his ACL and his MCL that preseason, and so his potential is still unknown (although he’s cleared for practice and the Rams are cautiously onboarding him into the mix).

Re-investing in their offensive line was going to take much more than a lone late third-round draft pick, anyway.

This spring, amid a wave of cost-cutting and one-sided roster-rebuild moves, the Rams quietly extended guard/center Coleman Shelton on a two-year deal worth up to $4.75 million, pending incentives. They also reduced center Brian Allen’s contract by about $3 million via a restructure, after he battled injuries through much of 2022.

They drafted TCU starting guard (previously a center) Steve Avila at No. 36 and doubled up with fifth-rounder Warren McClendon, a two-year starter at Georgia.

Similar to 2021, skill-position players tempted some on staff during the draft — the Rams discussed trading up into the first round for five different players, all on offense. A series of first-round maneuvers from other teams excluded the Rams, who ultimately stayed at No. 36. Avila was the Rams’ top prospect when they reset their board after the first round in preparation for Day 2.

Avila is expected to start for the Rams right away, but much of that will be up to him.

As spring workouts unfold, it has become clear that the Rams will rotate many different players along the offensive line between the first, second and third teams. Where last year’s lone position battle was right guard, competition will happen this year at left tackle, left guard, center and right guard.

Possible starting combinations (note, media has only viewed one day of OTAs): From left to right, Alaric Jackson or Joe Noteboom; Avila or Noteboom or Jackson; Shelton or Allen; Tremayne Anchrum or Bruss or Shelton; Havenstein.

It’s interesting that the Rams’ starting group will potentially feature so many players with position flexibility. If 2022 was a worst-case injury scenario, multiple “flex” players could help with any “normal” injury scenarios that arise.

Another notable characteristic of this group is the size of its players (in OTAs especially, it’s OK to drop the often-skewed roster numbers and go with the eye test). Shelton isn’t a giant center, but he’s bigger than Allen. Jackson is a massive presence at either guard or tackle, with long arms. Avila is built like a prototypical body-moving guard, and even Anchrum (who entered the NFL as a tackle/guard combination player) is developing more like a stout guard rather than a tackle, though he can play either position.

Having both Shelton and Allen, who when playing center will do so on separate fields (between first and second/third teams), might be wasteful of a roster spot when the season begins — but for now, it’s useful. Both players are entrenched in the language of the offensive line and help “call” the offense. If a former starter is able to do that for the second and third teams, all of the developing players can better learn on the fly with someone next to them correcting and advising them, versus simply applying what they got in the meeting room to the field.

Noteboom doesn’t appear to be fully participating in OTAs so far, and McVay said they would continue to be cautious with his return from a 2022 Achilles tear. The Athletic previously reported that Noteboom should be cleared for training camp, but that the team will still onboard him slowly.

Jackson, who was cleared earlier this spring from the blood clots that ended his 2022 season, bluntly remarked in January that he wants to pick up where he left off at left tackle. He impressed at left guard last season when former starter David Edwards entered the concussion protocol and then slid over to left tackle as Noteboom’s replacement.

“I love playing left side, honestly,” Jackson said. “Tackle is my thing, for the most part. I understand that they paid Joe, so I get that whole part. But whatever I can do for the team, I’ll do for the team.”

Stafford seemed to appreciate that tenacity from Jackson during the first week of OTAs.

“Yeah, I think he’s a competitive guy. I think it comes out in his attitude probably when you guys talk to him, but also when he plays,” Stafford said. “Typical nasty offensive lineman and it’s fun to be around. He’s definitely a competitive guy that wants to get out there and play physical. It’s up to all those guys to go earn their spots like it is everybody on our team. As much competition as we can possibly have at all the positions is a good thing for us.”

Player to watch: McClendon — he didn’t allow a single sack in his final two seasons at Georgia. He also has become fast friends with Avila, which is important for the long-term future of the position group if the two players can set an early foundation.

“I feel like we just have similar personalities,” said Avila, who initially met McClendon at the Senior Bowl. “Usually there are some guys who are stuck up, in a way. I mean, he went to Georgia (laughs). … But he’s not like that. I’m glad that I have a teammate like that. He’s a cool guy (and) we’re going through this together!”

Between the draft and their coaching/consulting reset, the Rams are clearly hoping they have recalibrated the trajectory of an offensive line that in 2022 was swirling the drain.

Will it be enough?

Well, it’s May.

Linemen aren’t run blocking or having to truly protect the quarterback from any type of contact right now. For the Rams, these early days of OTAs are about evaluating different combinations of linemen, to see who sticks where. For many players and even coaches, this time of year is also about learning how to practice in the first place — and about resetting standards with new players and veterans.

This group may already look bigger, and some may be higher-round draft picks than many of the players who came before them. In the very limited time on the field so far, their overall energy is high. But Havenstein, who in this young group is now the grizzled, salty veteran entering his ninth season, knows not to lean too much into hope and projections in May.

“I think everyone came back ready to work,” Havenstein said. “Ready to get after it. … Guys who were here rehabbing, it’s been showing. Guys who went home, it’s been showing too. I’m very pleased with where everyone is now. Now (it’s) building some rapport with everyone.

“Like every NFL year, there are no slated starters anywhere (on the line). … We will find our best five guys to go out there and get it done.”