Here’s PARAM…
Absolutely not. Kromer had the OL playing very well. He utilized Jamon Brown, who started 14 games the previous 2 seasons (at G & T) and he played well in the 2017 season. Then in 2018 he replaced him with Blythe, starter of 1 G in his career to that point and he was servicable....at 2 positions. Didn't we make the SB? In 2019 he had Noteboom and Allen playing well (28 PPG on offense the first 5 weeks) prior to JNs injury. And then 3 weeks later when Allen and Big Rob went down in week 9, he coached up Edwards, Corbett and believe it or not Evans. In fact, at that time, Evans was considered to have a brighter future than the other two. We did finish 9-7 that season. A lot better than the 5-12 this year but of course we had 5 times the amount of injuries in 2022.
See the problem with Noteboom and Allen is their injuries. But some fans allow that to cloud their judgement of their actual talent. I have heard fans say how bad the OL played early in the season, particularly Noteboom. And I read some fans quoting PFF stats like "Noteboom leads the league in sack and pressures allowed". But upon review.....rewatching every game including the Buffalo game I call BS. Those numbers were bogus. The dude is a stud at LT. Quick kick step, balance, good punch, etc. I watched him handle Bosa with ease. I watched him handle 4 guys on the Cowboy DL too....they moved Parsons opposite Havenstein after 4 tries vs Noteboom because he couldn't get more than a yard into the backfield. The problem I have is I don't watch that part of the game when the game is live so I don't dispute those misconceptions until I've rewatched the games and focused on the player (or players) in question.
I don't know what they plan on doing in 2023 but I wouldn't be shocked if nothing changed on the OL. I like Allen at C but his knees are shot. You can't realistically rely on a guy who needs to have them drained every other week. Noteboom? He should be the LT and he'll probably be ready in time for camp. Jackson playing along side him would give the Rams a very good left side of the line. If Shelton doesn't opt out and starts at C, with Anchrum or Bruss at RG, the weak link in the OL will be Havenstein. He gets beat often in pass pro. But we'll see. It could be they go a different direction but I don't expect it. Drafting a C? Absolutely. How high? I don't know.
But I would ask anybody who thinks...expounds....repeats what they hear about Noteboom not being any good to rewatch the game and focus just on him.
