Rodrigue: Rams need a new plan at center as starter Austin Blythe signs with the Chiefs

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2487517/2021/03/30/rodrigue-rams-need-a-new-plan-at-center-as-starter-austin-blythe-signs-with-the-chiefs/?source=emp_shared_article

he Rams entered free agency this spring walking a thin line at center: They knew they needed a plan (and preferably one that featured a proven player) after pushing so many resources into the acquisition of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

But, limited financially and backed against a shrunken salary cap, they also knew they needed to settle on team-friendly contract terms, and stick with them. That led to 2020 starter Austin Blythe exploring the market, and ultimately finding a new home and one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday afternoon, according to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor.

Correctly, the Rams predicted that the center market would cycle around a bit before bottoming out. It took until what we can consider to be free agency’s “third wave” for Blythe to find a deal, and all the while, they sat in a staring contest with the center and his agent, optimistic when free agency began in mid-March that he’d eventually find his way back to Los Angeles.

All it takes is one other team to blink first. Now, the Rams find themselves in a tough spot at one of the offense’s most key positions.

No, Blythe was not going to be a long-term answer at the position. The fact that he signed a one-year deal showed where his market timeline stood, and that’s likely where the Rams wanted him, too. He was Pro Football Focus’ ninth-best center in 2020, so while he played at a top-10 level he also wasn’t exactly in Pro Bowl conversations year over year.

But his value to the Rams was large this offseason, because he lent stability, continuity and was a “proven entity” at a position where now, there are only questions without immediate answers.

Without Blythe, the Rams have few possibilities for a “Plan B”. They can still sign a veteran center to a short deal — ironically, former Chiefs center Austin Reiter, 29, is still available. They’ve got about $7 million in workable cap space at the moment, with a safety-valve option of restructuring some or all of Stafford’s $9.5 million base salary in 2021 to free up a bit more, if needed. The fact that they didn’t move from their number for Blythe, however, indicates an unwillingness to sign the players left in free agency to the kind of deal required to exercise that safety valve.

General manager Les Snead, while praising Blythe in early March, also discussed the difficulty of matching even a veteran player into the Rams’ scheme.

“It’s even hard just to project a player that may be with another NFL team (and whether they) can do it,” he said, “just because they will still have to learn our system and still at that point have to quickly process football within our system.”

Snead pointed toward currently-rostered center Brian Allen, a fourth-round pick in 2018, as a possibility for replacing Blythe. But Allen spent the entire 2020 season rehabbing what Snead called a “serious” leg injury. How well he will return from that injury is still unproven, even though he does have prior starting experience. Coleman Shelton, who was recently tendered by the Rams as an exclusive rights free agent, also could have potential — but has never started a game. Former second-round pick (Cleveland) Austin Corbett, who plays guard for the Rams, also has center experience — and any movement of Corbett would possibly signal moving Tremayne Anchrum, a 2020 seventh-rounder, into the guard spot.

Even if they sign a veteran, or start either Allen or Shelton in 2021 — or shuffle around their line even further — the Rams still absolutely must draft a center this April. The class is promising and deep, and full of players with potential ranging from ready (or nearly-ready) starters to developmental guys with big upside. But any rookie will still need time to develop physically and mentally, to learn the Rams’ offense and blocking schemes and to establish a partnership with Stafford — all the while, we don’t even know how much time teams will be able to spend together this spring. A best-case scenario (and the Rams’ “Plan A”) would have been re-signing Blythe for a year and also drafting a young center/guard, then allowing the rookie to develop for a year and get some practice snaps in with Stafford before taking over full-time.

Without Blythe, the Rams have now also telegraphed their hand across the league, showing other teams their biggest need entering the draft. Their first pick is late in the second round, at No. 57, so not only will the Rams depend on the draft boards of all other 31 teams falling in their favor so they can get “their guy” (whether it’s at No. 57 or later), but also on that player being the right guy long-term.

Projecting centers, especially, is really tough. Doing so out of need, while relying on the luck and game theory of the draft itself, is never a position a team wants to be in. Free agency exists to fill immediate needs; the draft is better-served as a tool for the future.

Any of the Rams’ current options — from incoming veteran, to rookie, to currently-rostered player — rely on what Snead would call “unknown entities”. As unknown variables increase, so does risk.

One argument some have even made throughout the spring, as we collectively waited on Blythe to either re-sign, or sign elsewhere, is that with a veteran set of eyes diagnosing defenses at quarterback such as Stafford, the Rams can afford to make riskier decisions at center — or even start a rookie.

Sure, Stafford is gifted in many areas, including moving his pocket, escaping pressure, reading and re-setting coverages and keeping plays alive in order to freestyle downfield a bit.

But calling plays and helping to align the offense is far from the only job a center has — and, in dominant center/quarterback tandems, this action is very much a partnership. Any dependency on one or the other reflects poorly on the dependent player, and makes him a weak spot against whom teams will find an edge.

Among many other positional nuances, a center must also be an anchor point for the run game and work to help prevent the interior push and pressure that “Pac-mans” a quarterback’s pocket and forces him to flush outside into the radius of the often faster, more dangerous players on the perimeter. He is an extension of the quarterback — a partnership that takes time and experience to build. The less “risk” that is involved in doing so, the better it is for an offense as a whole. It’s not that Blythe was the key to the Rams’ entire offense; re-signing him was simply the least-risky option.

After all, why would a team invest major resources into bringing in a veteran quarterback, with whom they adamantly believe they can win a Super Bowl, and not equip him with all of the proper tools to do his job with as little stress — as little risk — as possible?

That would be like commissioning a famous artist to paint your portrait, and then handing them a crayon. They could still perhaps create something beautiful, but you’re still the guy who handed them a freaking crayon.

Happy 78th Birthday to the dancing legend himself, Christopher Walken pic.twitter.com/I6dPCvxCwT

— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) March 31, 2021

Jalen Ramsey has allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage in 37 of his 74 NFL starts (2016-2020)

Leads the NFL🔒 pic.twitter.com/5o48qs6xpG

— PFF (@PFF) March 30, 2021

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
former Rams center Austin Blythe agrees to terms with the Chiefs, per @TomPelissero

..

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Of any moves/departures for the Rams in FA, this is the one that surprises me. With Allen coming back from a serious injury and Shelton relatively unproven, C position now far from settled. Rams wanted to wait out market and got into staring contest; Chiefs blinked first.

..

Austin Blythe is headed to Kansas City, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with the Chiefs https://t.co/4gzUxh9gMM

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 30, 2021

If Rams don't re-sign Austin Blythe, what are their options at center? https://t.co/M0ZrG0yWK3

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) March 30, 2021

Mike Lindell declares that as a result of voter fraud lawsuit he'll soon be filing, "Donald Trump will be back in office in August." pic.twitter.com/5Ewtd9SZ1O

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 29, 2021

oldschoolramfan

This is going to be a CRAZY DRAFT…

Tons of players opted out last season.
Some teams cancelled season for Covid.
Players had a whole year off to get healthy from previous injuries.

Projecting 5 QB’s in Top 10 picks…That means Rams are picking 52nd best player at pick #57…

Put on your seat belts and get ready for a wild ride in this years draft. It’s gonna get CRAZY!

In 2020, Matthew Stafford ranked in the Top 10 among QBs with at least 300 dropbacks in terms of:

🚀 aDOT (T-3rd)
💥 Big Time Throws (8th)
❌ Fewest Turnover Worthy Plays (T-8th)#Rams pic.twitter.com/t7K8jKawXW

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) March 29, 2021

Happy 38th birthday to @JustinTuck!

He played a HUGE role in the @Giants’ last two Super Bowl wins with four total sacks on Tom Brady in #SBXLII & #SBXLVI. pic.twitter.com/K8hNgrACol

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Fox News makes roughly $1.6 billion a year, about half of its revenue, from 66 million American pay TV customers who seldom/never watch the network. Why should they subsidize a torrent of lies, right wing propaganda, and wailing about Dr. Seuss? My latest: https://t.co/0rb9BKib92

— Patrick Hruby Presented By YOUR BRAND HERE (@patrick_hruby) March 7, 2021

Proposal for 17-game regular season includes three preseason games

* https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/29/proposal-for-17-game-regular-season-includes-three-preseason-games/

NFL owners will vote on approving a 17-game regular season schedule for the 2021 season at this week’s league meetings and there’s little suspense over which way that vote will go.

Ever since the league secured the right to expand the regular season, it has been a matter of when rather than if the league would choose to add another week of games to the slate. The league’s new TV deals were negotiated to include a Week 18 doubleheader on ESPN, which joins Steelers president Art Rooney II’s comments from last week as evidence of where the league is going.

The size of the preseason was less certain. A reduction from four games was coming because the Collective Bargaining Agreement only allows for 20 games between the regular season and playoffs. There was question if the league would go to two or three preseason games, but it has now been answered.

Rooney said last week that they’d be playing three games and Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the resolution that owners will vote on includes a provision for three preseason contests.

Albert Breer of SI.com reports those games will be scheduled so that there are no games in the week before final cuts and Labor Day, which is a departure from past years when teams have wrapped up the exhibition season a couple of days before making cuts.

The NFL is moving forward with a 17-game regular-season schedule in 2021. If the plan is finalized, the #Ravens will play the Rams in the extra game based on the formula set by the league.#RavensFlock https://t.co/ma7Sgwc96c via @toddkarpovich

— Todd Karpovich (@toddkarpovich) March 29, 2021

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2018 NFL Draft: Coleman Shelton Scouting Report

* https://withthefirstpick.com/2018/03/27/2018-nfl-draft-coleman-shelton-scouting-report/

Washington’s Coleman Shelton is an athletic 2018 NFL Draft center prospect with starter potential.

Shelton heads into the 2018 NFL Draft having gained a ton of experience at Washington. He has done a good job when facing top-level competition and performed in high-pressure situations. Shelton has the potential to develop into a starter at the next level, but may need some time.

He features a solid frame for the position with a thick build and long arms. Shelton’s best attribute is his overall athleticism and movement skills. He is someone who can work in the screen game, block on the edges and reach the second level.

His balance and measured approach when in space helps him avoid missing blocks.

Shelton’s quickness out of his stance gives him the ability to seal defenders from the play. However, his lack of strength is a cause for concern. He is able to gain inside hands, but lacks the power to latch and control the action.

This allows the defender to easily disengage and work his way to the ball carrier. Shelton’s inability to press the defender off his frame results in him getting pushed back into the pocket.

His lack of power also limits his ability to generate a push off the line of scrimmage. He’s more of a finesse blocker who uses angles and does his best work on the move. However, Shelton can become a more versatile player by putting more time in the weight room.

Look for an NFL strength coach to focus on improving Shelton’s upper body strength. This will be key for his ability to potentially crack the starting lineup.

The lack of strength also shows up in the passing game where Shelton can be overwhelmed by powerful defenders. However, he does have the foot speed and balance to mirror the rush and protect the gaps.

Overall, Shelton has the potential to be a starter in the NFL. The key will be for him to add strength and become a more physical player. Until he’s able to improve this part of his game he is likely to spend time on the bench.