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RockRam
The Rams fouled up, or evaluated wrong, etc., does this article settle the matter for you?
Yes, it was good. Does it settle matter? No. At least for me on what aspect I was interested in. It actually raises one more question.Did you notice that even Jackson said that he always felt that Center was his most natural position? And that Avila is so exceptional at OG especially on things like Screens that to move him away probably diminishes his unique abilities.
Yes. Saw that and it is good information.Considering how incredibly well the Rams have done with the Snead/McVay team, to imply that the Rams do impulsive rash things and put themselves in boxes (like Jones) that suddenly bit them simply doesn't hold water. .
This one is nuanced. I don't think Rams did anything impulsive or rash. It was a reaction to unexpected events.Quote
I think this new information is valid. But it does not mean that Jackson was -- all along -- going to be the center. He wasn't. This is new. And that has been my point all along.
jackson at center was not the plan.
Avila was moved to guard. Rams thought it was best for the team at the time. They signed Jackson who (now says center is his natural position) to play guard.
The Rams put value on positions and I don't believe for a second they intended to make Jonah Jackson the second-highest paid center in the NFL. Accoding to Over the Cap, Creed is highest paid center in the NFL at $18 mil per year. Jackson is making $17 mil a year. After that, the next-highest guy is a Pro Bowler and he's at $13.5 mil.
Rams---if they wanted to keep Avila at center they could have signed Lloyd Cushberry for the $12 mill a year he got from Titans. Cushberry us a better center than Jackson. Rams could have given him $15 Mil and still saved 2 mil on the cap.
Jackson's salary was in line with a guard. The kind of guard he's been. His $17 mil per year is $1 mil a year more the Dotson --- a good comparable.
The $17 mil makes him about 7th in the NFL ... seems about right for someone whose contract is up.
So, I honestly think the point stands that this was not the plan.
As far as worry wort --The one freaking out the most is D'Marco Farr. He says changing your guard and center this last is a big concern. We don't have to agree but he's smart enough to form his own opinion.
Look, we agree that McVay is not dumb, does not make a lot of bad decsision and is not "impulsive" or "rash"
We disagree that this was some sort of master plan. Avila was 100% moved to center. He was moved back. Jackson was 100% signed to play guard. Those are facts.
All that is left is to find out WHY this happened. That we don't know. It was a backup plan executed because circumstances changed late in camp. That is not a fact, it's my opinion, but it is opinion supported by contracts and moves.
Jackson saying he likes center doesn't prove that this was meant to be. It does not mean Avila "failed" at center or Jackson "failed" at guard.
Avila did mention the mental aspect of playing center, he brought that up. And Jourdan also mentioned his ability on screens.
Here is speculation --- Jackson was not as good at things as Avila and Avila was was not loving the move, making calls, etc. So, someone had the idea to swap then and see what it looks like and it looks good, So, they switch positions. Again, that is my personal speculation and it's not supported by specific facts.
But come on --- this was not what was intended when Jackson was signed. If it was they would have never moved Avila to center and taken hundreds and hundreds of reps for Jackson to mesh with the others at a position he loves, but has not played in a game for a few years.
This is plan B
