The O line
PostPosted:1 year 7 months ago
Now, I already know the usual suspects here who conduct themselves as the leading authorities on our OL. That’s fine. Your opinions are more than welcome and solicited. And I am sure you all will get into hearty debate. Please, keep it on topic and leave the personal sniping out of it. Thank you in advance.
That said, here we are.
We started the season:
Boom-Edwards-Allen-Shelton-Hav
Most had cautious optimism. That could be a pretty decent line.
Backing them up in no order
Anchrum (lost for season)
Arcuri (ps)
Pircher (ps)
Skura (ps)
Brewer (ps)
Evans
Jackson
Kolone (ps)
Bruss (lost for season)
Aboushi (added after week 2, on active roster)
Allen - injured, might be back this week or next
*Shelton - dreaded high ankle, out 6-8 weeks.
We will now be starting
Boom-Edwards (if cleared) or Evans-Kolone-Jackson-Hav
You can do the math for the remaining backups.
OL against Dallas:
Boom/Starter
Edwards/Starter (if cleared) or Evans/3rd stringer
Kolone/PS-3rd stringer
Jackson/second stringer but at OT (A Jax was to be our swing tackle) out of position at RG
Hav/Starter.
Most would say that is not a recipe for winning, especially against the top teams. And a lot of our games have been and will be against top teams. A Gap pressure, T/E twists, Mug looks and blitzes, delay A Gap blitzes will be a problem for any team with what we now have on the interior. And all the TE/blocking WR help in the would doesn’t matter on the inside.
Some may opine, as I have before but am not so sure now, that the Rams draft and acquire decent to good OL, then develop them to their ceiling. That plan is great as it frees up $ for skill players. It’s also a great plan when your starters stay healthy and when your developmental players reach their potential. The problem with the latter is that it takes time; 2-3 seasons usually.
The Rams are now having to accelerate that development curve like a Space X rocket launch. As Snead said today on the coaches show, this adversity and development will pay off down the road. All we can hope for is that “down the road” means late in the season AND that we are still relevant and in contention at that time.
There are a number of concerns with this team and almost all of them on the offensive side of the ball. The D does have some warts but is in much better shape. However, I think most would agree that if the OL is playing well, the Rams can play with and beat anyone.
So the argument is going to be that the model isn’t working. At least not under these conditions. But the contrary would surely mean we wouldn’t have some of the high end, “star” playmakers.
Can’t have it both ways.
I think with a little luck on the injury front. And if Snead has acquired some cats who are, or will soon be better than we expect - we might actually be in pretty good shape when it matters. We just have to find ways to win more than we lose as that process solidifies.
Fire away.
That said, here we are.
We started the season:
Boom-Edwards-Allen-Shelton-Hav
Most had cautious optimism. That could be a pretty decent line.
Backing them up in no order
Anchrum (lost for season)
Arcuri (ps)
Pircher (ps)
Skura (ps)
Brewer (ps)
Evans
Jackson
Kolone (ps)
Bruss (lost for season)
Aboushi (added after week 2, on active roster)
Allen - injured, might be back this week or next
*Shelton - dreaded high ankle, out 6-8 weeks.
We will now be starting
Boom-Edwards (if cleared) or Evans-Kolone-Jackson-Hav
You can do the math for the remaining backups.
OL against Dallas:
Boom/Starter
Edwards/Starter (if cleared) or Evans/3rd stringer
Kolone/PS-3rd stringer
Jackson/second stringer but at OT (A Jax was to be our swing tackle) out of position at RG
Hav/Starter.
Most would say that is not a recipe for winning, especially against the top teams. And a lot of our games have been and will be against top teams. A Gap pressure, T/E twists, Mug looks and blitzes, delay A Gap blitzes will be a problem for any team with what we now have on the interior. And all the TE/blocking WR help in the would doesn’t matter on the inside.
Some may opine, as I have before but am not so sure now, that the Rams draft and acquire decent to good OL, then develop them to their ceiling. That plan is great as it frees up $ for skill players. It’s also a great plan when your starters stay healthy and when your developmental players reach their potential. The problem with the latter is that it takes time; 2-3 seasons usually.
The Rams are now having to accelerate that development curve like a Space X rocket launch. As Snead said today on the coaches show, this adversity and development will pay off down the road. All we can hope for is that “down the road” means late in the season AND that we are still relevant and in contention at that time.
There are a number of concerns with this team and almost all of them on the offensive side of the ball. The D does have some warts but is in much better shape. However, I think most would agree that if the OL is playing well, the Rams can play with and beat anyone.
So the argument is going to be that the model isn’t working. At least not under these conditions. But the contrary would surely mean we wouldn’t have some of the high end, “star” playmakers.
Can’t have it both ways.
I think with a little luck on the injury front. And if Snead has acquired some cats who are, or will soon be better than we expect - we might actually be in pretty good shape when it matters. We just have to find ways to win more than we lose as that process solidifies.
Fire away.