The Rams' offensive line needs a major overhaulAlden Gonzalez
From now until the start of free agency, on March 7, we'll take a position-by-position look at the Los Angeles Rams in eight installments. The Rams -- coming off a 4-12 season that prompted the hiring of rookie head coach Sean McVay -- have about $40 million in cap space but do not have a first-round pick. They also have a lot of needs, all of which can feel a little overwhelming without breaking it down by section. We'll do that here. Next up: the offensive line. (Previous: WR/TE, DL.)
If the Rams hope to improve their offensive line, the first step will likely be finding a left tackle to replace Greg Robinson, who has struggled at the position. G. Newman Lowrance/AP Photo
Key returnees: Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Rob Havenstein, Tim Barnes, Jamon Brown, Cody Wichmann, Andrew Donnal
Notable free agents: N/A
Top free agents available (for now): Kevin Zeitler (G), Rick Wagner (RT), T.J. Lang (G), Andrew Whitworth (LT), Larry Warford (G), Riley Reiff (RT)
Key stat: The Rams' offensive line allowed 25 sacks of Jared Goff over the last six games, the most in the NFL during that stretch. That averages out to more than four sacks a game. Over the course of a full season, that rounds off to 67 sacks, which would have been the fourth-highest total in history. Only David Carr (76 with the Texans in 2002, 68 with the Texans in 2005) and Randall Cunningham (72 with the Eagles in 1986) absorbed more sacks in a season.
Was it scheme or talent? Did they draft the wrong players, or did they simply not develop them well enough? These are the questions the Rams must answer about their offensive line, which took a major step back in a season hindered mostly by an inability to protect the quarterback or open space for running back Todd Gurley. The Rams drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014 to '15, but none of them necessarily played well in 2016.
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