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mtramfan
I have my uneasiness about Allen holding up, but still - I don't want Avila at center. Ever.
I'd put Avila in at LG and leave him there. Hole plugged. Problem solved. Build around him - don't move him over, move somebody else into his spot, etc.
Allen calls line plays best and has good rapport with Stafford. Shelton brings those two key things to a lesser degree; Avila is totally raw - Stafford has to start over while Avila learns. Not a strategy that I like.
Oline needs continuity as a unit. We saw the alternative, too many times over, last year.
but probbaly not in 2023. Eventually Allen will have to be replaced and they don't have one. Shelton has never graded better than Allen. It's not fair to pick out Allen's bad plays and never give credit for the good ones.
But, with Avila they can draft a center next year and Avila stays at LG or if they find another guard that fall in their lap, they can move Avila over to center.
Also, if Shelton gets better, and can win the camp batter then that's fine, too. Or if Allen gets hurt, which happens to be his biggest issue then they have an answer for that.
So, Brett Kollman of Trench Warfare says left guard is his best position. He also says he can play center but LG is where he has the best ability, especially in pass pro.
Avila says he can play either one but says he played his best at left guard.
All evidence is that he's going to be the left guard. He's plug-and-play. You want your player to play the best position for him. You don't put him in a position because you don't like someone.
What is best for the team the Rams will do - with a guy like Avila they have options, this year and even more so next year. They may want him to do NFL-level line calls as a rookie . . . but I sense if they wanted a center they would have drafted a center, they could have traded down and gotten JMS or Tippman.
Remember, center has to snap, so that puts him at a disadvantage as a pass or run blocker. It would limit Avila's explosiveness. Plus, I have read he'd need to shed some pounds, too.
I only care that they put the best five on field, but also not to take a guy who can be great at left guard and only very good at center - at least as a rookie.
