Quote
LMU93
Not saying they shouldn't be doing this, but I can't recall a team (or at least a Rams team in my 42 seasons following them) going into the season with 5 of 8 OL having never started an NFL game. I would still consider adding a veteran backup in late August cuts (carrying 9 OL).
They could add someone. They added Blythe who was a vet, but that was in May in that off-season, not at the start of the season. But they seem dedicated to developing their own "yutes." And for all we know they like 1 or 2 of the UDFAs too.
This isn't exactly the same as what you're talking about in terms of having 5 guys without NFL starts, but in 2015, the Rams started 5 linemen who had little or no previous starting experience. Saffold was a vet of course, Robinson was in his 2nd year, and they had added Garrett Reynolds, who is the kind of "ronin" veteran you;'re talking about. Aside from that, Barnes had started 4 games in the previous 3 years. Havenstein, Donal, Brown, and Wichman were all rookies and all got starts (Rhaney got one start.) Injuries (mostly at left guard) forced them to keep starting new guys.
If you compare Foles in St.L and in Phil, one of the big differences was that the Eagles had an absolutely top (and relatively pretty healty) OL, while the Rams in 2015 had a bad mix of struggling players (Robinson), rookies, and injuries. Foles acted like he had no confidence in that line.
