Rams can’t afford another mistake on their offensive line, so Bobby Evans must stay

Rich Hammond

https://theathletic.com/1453403/2019/12/11/rams-cant-afford-another-mistake-on-their-offensive-line-so-bobby-evans-must-stay/

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Rams are now parents of a newborn, one they’ve just been able to get settled. It’s time to tiptoe out of the room slowly, so as not to create any further fuss.

Imagine hearing before Week 1 that the Rams would thrive in mid-December with an offensive line of Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, Austin Blythe, David Edwards and Bobby Evans. At that point, Edwards and Evans hadn’t played an NFL regular-season game and Corbett was languishing in Cleveland.

Yet as the Rams learned better than any team this season, it’s difficult to project an offensive line. A team sometimes has to go where the line takes it, and right now, after a couple months of searching, the Rams seem to have found the right mix. That’s why they must continue to start Evans over Rob Haventstein at right tackle when they play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and perhaps beyond.

“I think you see those (linemen) getting more and more comfortable,” head coach Sean McVay said this week. “They’re confident, they’re physical, they’ve got athleticism. I’ve been really pleased with that group.”

This isn’t easy. Havenstein has been a full-time starter at right tackle since 2015. He served as a cornerstone of the NFL’s best offense in 2017 and 2018. He’s been effective, he’s been a good teammate and the Rams rewarded him in August 2018 with a four-year, $32 million contract extension.

Havenstein is in the final stages of recovering from a knee injury that has sidelined him for the last four games (he was a full participant in Wednesday’s walk-through practice). To suggest he should be benched in favor of Evans, a 22-year-old rookie, on some levels might be illogical and impractical. Yet the Rams, the defending NFC champions, are in a fight just to make the playoffs, and they shouldn’t make any adjustments to their line until it’s obvious that they must.

“We’re going to monitor that as the week progresses,” McVay said Wednesday of Havenstein’s role. “It’s something we feel good about. If he is able to go, we’re getting another really good football player back. In terms of what capacity, we have not made that decision.”

Evans, a third-round pick from Oklahoma, entered his rookie season with low expectations and sat on the inactive list for the first six games. At the time of his drafting, pundits criticized Evans’ lack of height (6-foot-4) and athleticism, with many considering him to be a long-term project at best.

The Rams, with few other options, turned to Evans in Week 10 against Chicago. He has now played 256 snaps with only one sack allowed and zero penalties. For some context, Havenstein has played 616 snaps, with five sacks allowed and eight penalties.

Asked if he felt ready to join the starting lineup as a rookie, Evans said: “I did. I definitely did. This is something I’ve been working for since I was in second grade.”

“I would say I’m better in certain areas, as far as my pass blocking,” he added. “I’m definitely improved compared to where I was at the start of the season. Also in the run game, I think I’ve been able to move some guys around and open some holes for (Todd) Gurley.”

Evans vs. Havenstein is not exactly a straight-line comparison. Havenstein played next to Blythe — who struggled mightily at right guard before a move to center — and did not benefit from the Rams’ evolution to more “12” personnel looks, in which the right tackle is more often helped by a blocking tight end. That said, Evans is playing next to a fellow rookie (Edwards) and came in with zero practical experience. He has done well.

And that’s really where the analysis should stop. Even if, on some level, it makes practical sense to go back to Havenstein, the Rams can’t do it now. Maybe late-season stress will get to Evans and force a change, but that can’t be predicted. Evans already has bounced back from one poor game against Baltimore — the entire Rams offense was awful that night — with two consecutive solid efforts.

“It’s been a major improvement,” McVay said of Evans’ progress since the draft. “I’ve been really impressed, when you look at some of the players he has gone against, the caliber of big-time guys and the way he has been able to perform.”

The Rams used five different starting offensive-line combinations in their first 10 games. That is startling for a unit that enjoyed so much stability and success the previous two seasons.

The line seems to have settled in. Whitworth remains a rock, and his play has improved after some surprising early-season dips. Corbett, a No. 33 overall pick just 20 months ago who was acquired from the Browns for only a (2021) fifth-round pick in October, has been steady at left guard. Edwards, a fifth-round pick this year, has had some penalty issues but is doing fine for a rookie right guard. With this current group of starting linemen in place, the Rams have allowed only three sacks in their last four games.

The Rams also have helped their young linemen in recent games with an increase in two-tight-end sets and a rededication to the run game. They have been utilizing Gurley more, in a traditional sense for a running back, and have been using receivers in the run game with jet sweeps.

“Any time you can start working the perimeter and inside, you really start to stretch the defense because they’re not sure what to play,” Whitworth said of the run game. “It just puts them in a tough spot. They have to commit one way or another to stop something. That’s just kind of the efficiency that, in years past, we’ve had and that we’re starting to get back.”

Which is another reason why the Rams shouldn’t do any more tinkering with the line now. It started during the offseason, when they believed they could replace two veterans (left guard Rodger Saffold and center John Sullivan) with two second-year linemen (Joe Noteboom and Brian Allen). Noteboom started slow — and likely made life difficult for Whitworth, who uncharacteristically struggled in early-season games — before suffering a major knee injury in Week 6.

Allen also showed improvement before his own knee injury in Week 9, but it’s notable that Rams offensive players — without drawing negative comparisons to Allen — have had strong praise for Blythe’s communication and poise since he replaced Allen at center. Would Noteboom and Allen be thriving now if they stayed healthy? It’s possible, which makes the Rams’ long-term planning even more interesting.

The one stable position since the start of 2017 — left tackle — is about to become the biggest issue. Whitworth, who turns 38 on Thursday, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Retirement is a possibility, particularly since he pondered it after last season, but Whitworth is playing at a high level. Presumably, there’s a chance the Rams could convince him to return on a short-term contract. If not, well, the options aren’t great.

In an ideal world, Noteboom would have thrived this season at left guard before sliding over to tackle. Instead, he underwent major knee surgery in October. With a normal recovery time, Noteboom could be ready for the start of next season, but it’s doubtful that the Rams would feel comfortable with him taking over at left tackle without a full offseason to prepare.

Havenstein has played right tackle on a full-time basis since his time at the University of Wisconsin started in 2011. Evans played left tackle last season at Oklahoma, but if he were to change positions during his NFL career, it most likely would be at guard, given his physical attributes.

The Rams have more options inside but still must make some decisions. Blythe is set to become a free agent after this season. Given the way the offense has thrived with him at center, do the Rams retain Blythe and move Allen to guard, where he played during three of his four years at Michigan State?

Noteboom and Edwards also are options inside, and it seems increasingly likely that Corbett, who is under contract through the 2021 season, will be a part of the Rams’ plans in some form.

Then there’s right tackle. As recently as this fall, the Rams clearly believed Havenstein had locked down that position. If the Rams are ready to flip that plan and commit to Evans, what would that mean for Havenstein? He has an annual salary-cap hit of approximately $8 million through the 2022 season, and the Rams can’t cut him after this season because he has a dead-cap hit of $6.15 million.

Given the Rams’ relative lack of depth at tackle — independent of what might happen with Whitworth — the wise move seemingly would be to keep Havenstein no matter what. But considering that players such as Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks and Aaron Donald are set for raises in 2020, could the Rams really afford to keep a high-salaried backup lineman?

That’s getting ahead of things a little bit. Evans has had significant action in only four NFL games, so it’s premature to project something dramatic. But Evans’ strong play thus far has given the Rams some options for the future and has — if they’re smart — secured his place in the lineup for now.

“I’m just going to keep grinding,” Evans said Wednesday. “It doesn’t matter if (Havenstein) is starting or I’m starting. I’m all about the team and about my guys.”

.@AaronDonald97 stays bringing the 🔥

The 2018 NFL leader in QB pressures (72) is back at it again. #ProBowlVote @NextGenStats powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/wUVWp5fWlU

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 12, 2019

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Aaron Donald is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year again, which would be his third straight. That would make NFL history https://t.co/OSYQSJfUQK

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) December 11, 2019

Steven Jackson and the Rams hosted Dallas in 2008 and @sj39 put in one of his best games! 160 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns! The Rams defeated the cowboys 34-14 that day. In his prime Jackson had the size, strength, agility and speed. He proved to be lethal this day! pic.twitter.com/eBbEB1Fwrb

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) December 11, 2019

CanuckRightWinger

I am taking great pleasure in watching the Postgame Seahawks wrap-up shows shown up here on the Vancouver Cable Network!!!
Clearly the Seattle area talking heads are stupefied by:
-how did the Seattle Offensive juggernaut that was averaging the NFL 5th best 27.4 PPG coming into this game, get shutout on TDs;
-how did Russell Houdini Wilson get sacked FIVE times by Los Ramos;
-how did Todd ReportedlyHibernating Gurley rush effectively against the vaunted Seattle D…..I mean, they have that Javeon BruceAlmighty Clowney…..and just push them around with a pretty-much rebuilt rookie OLine!!??

Through Week 14, these teams have the highest defensive sack rate. #GoNiners #HereWeGo #KeepPounding #DUUUVAL #HTTR #GoPats #LARams #Saints #GoBills #Browns #FlyEaglesFly #Skol @gregcosell | @MattBowen41 pic.twitter.com/wIvzxMOblp

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 11, 2019

LMU93
Last year the Rams had 20.5 sacks by players not named Aaron Donald (1.3 per game)

This year they have 32 (2.5 per game).

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Tyler Higbee has 40 catches, which is almost half of Zach Ertz’s total (79). Yet, Higbee has 8 more YAC and the same number of broken tackles (3)

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PFF: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-14-team-of-the-week?utm_source=cj&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=cjaff&cjevent=c0be803f1c2e11ea825c01b10a24060e

TYLER HIGBEE, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Higbee was a weapon in the Rams’ play-action game on Sunday night. His 116 yards were tops among all tight ends this week, as he moved the chains on four of his seven targets. It was such an impressive performance that he still made our team despite a drop.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
Austin Blythe being able to move from guard to center midseason and play well in the process – and really, provide leadership to the bunch of youngsters around him at a critical stretch of the season – has been a low-key big deal

Wow!

A humpback whale launches itself into the air close to an unsuspecting fisherman in Monterey Bay, California.

pic.twitter.com/QssDONqw9j

— FierceWarriorNStilettos (@InactionNever) December 10, 2019

Just want to mention that the President accused the FBI of attempting a coup today based on a deliberate misreading of an investigation that said the opposite and everyone’s just like ho hum the president makes up imaginary coups all the time no biggie.

— Tim Miller (@Timodc) December 9, 2019

#Rams QB Jared Goff — Four passes of 15+ yards off PA Boot Flood in the Week 14 win over #Seahawks. Targets Tyler Higbee (7-116) here on the crosser. @NFLMatchup @LindseyThiry pic.twitter.com/MjKmnPm6kE

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) December 11, 2019

DOWNTOWN RAMS [DTR]@DowntownRams
#Rams have lost LB Dakota Allen off their practice squad. He has been signed to the Jacksonville #Jaguars active roster.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
The NFL has set its projected salary cap range for 2020, giving the Rams some extra spending money – not that they hadn’t already accounted for it. The Rams are projected to have between $22.8 and $27.2 million in cap space next year.

Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero
The NFL informed club officials today it is projecting a salary cap of $196.8 million to $201.2M. That’s up from $188.2M this season. Revenue growth continues entering final year of labor deal.

𝒥𝒾𝓂 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓉@Jim_Everett
Are there enough balls to go around & feed these 6: Kupp, Woods, Higbee, Cooks, Everett, and Gurley? Yet only 5 can be on the field in any given personnel grouping.

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https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/12/10/21001666/los-angeles-rams-rookie-report-week-14-taylor-rapp-darrell-henderson-bobby-evans-david-edwards

S Taylor Rapp: You can preety much shoe-in Taylor as the Rams’ rookie of the year. We just have to wait for the season’s end to announce it.

Rapp was his usual self on Sunday night. The rookie dynamo tacked on six total tackles.

Jared Goff and Sean McVay explain what happened on pick-six https://t.co/58vUduMylT via @theramswire

— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) December 10, 2019

#LARams Rookie Taylor Rapp has been BALLING lately

Over the last 5 weeks among all Defensive Backs (min. 300 snaps), Rapp's grades rank:

– 1st in Pass Rush
– 3rd in Overall Defense
– 4th in Coverage
– 8th in Tackling
– 15th in Rush Defense pic.twitter.com/jgect2j9HZ

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) December 10, 2019