Random Ramsdom: Where would you rank LA’s OL?

Random Ramsdom: Where would you rank LA’s offensive line?
Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 7/14/23

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Daniel Stone



Happy Friday and thanks for checking out today’s links! We’re happy to have you! The first link for today discusses the Los Angeles Rams offensive line, and that is going to be our question for today: Where would you rank the Rams offensive line?

It’s tough to say right because we don’t even know exactly what the line will look like, and there’s certainly going to be plenty of news that comes out during training camp and into the regular season. That being said I do not think the Rams will have the worst offensive line this year. I expect the Rams to be competitive in the NFC, and I have to think their offensive line will reflect that as well.

Please check out more links below and let us know what you think in the comments section!

Do Rams Have NFL’s Worst Offensive Line? (fannation/ramsdigest)

“The Los Angeles Rams used the first of 14 draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft on left guard Steve Avila, with general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay taking the TCU product with the 36th overall pick.

But while the addition of Avila should help to bolster the offensive line in Los Angeles, it still hasn’t changed the perception that the Rams have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. In fact, Sharp Football Analysis recently ranked the Rams’ offensive line 31st in the NFL, an ominous sign as quarterback Matthew Stafford tries to stay on the field in his age-35 season.

“The Rams’ failure to upgrade at left tackle was one of the shocking non-moves of the offseason. Joe Notebloom allowed a 10 percent pressure rate last year, ranking 34th out of 35 qualified left tackles,” Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis wrote. “On the other side, Rob Havenstein ranked 28th out of 36 right tackles and also returns. Good luck keeping Stafford healthy.”

Two-time All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. A failure to replace Whitworth is especially troubling given that Stafford was never particularly mobile, and figures to rely even more on playing in the pocket as he ages. However, two stints in concussion protocol limited Stafford to just nine games last season, and not having a solution to protect his blindside makes you wonder how realistic it is for the veteran quarterback to play a full season in 2023.

The good news for the Rams is that they are scheduled to have a first-round pick in 2024, which would mark the first time since 2016 that they made a selection in the top round of the NFL Draft. That pick could potentially be used to take an offensive lineman.

Then again, the Rams have almost no proven talent at linebacker or in their secondary, and given that future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald has flirted with retirement the past two offseasons, there’s no guarantee he’ll be with the team beyond 2023. And if Los Angeles is bad enough, taking a quarterback in the first round might become a consideration.”