Vinny B: 5 key questions for Rams: How they have been answered

5 key questions for Rams: How they have been answered

By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News

IRVINE >> Sean McVay called his Rams together on a sun-splashed Thursday morning moments after a loud horn sounded to end practice.

Thirty seconds or so later, the chorus of 80 players yelling “Rams” could be heard bouncing across two football fields, nearby locker rooms and weight rooms and a UC Irvine campus springing back to life after summer vacation.

And with that, the first Rams’ training camp presided over by new head coach Sean McVay was officially in the books.

Ahead is a game against the Raiders in Oakland, and then the Rams are back to official headquarters in Thousand Oaks. Soon they will be settling into a normal regular-season routine as they navigate through the final two preseason games and the approaching 2017 season.

The Rams faced five key questions heading into camp three weeks ago, key aspects of their operation they’d have to address to help ensure a rebound from last year’s 4-12 record.

Let’s take a look at those questions — and the verdicts — with training camp now over.

OFFENSIVE LINE MUST GET SQUARED AWAY

The addition of free agent left tackle Andrew Whitworth changes the whole dynamic of an offensive line that was ranked among the worst in the NFL last year. It takes a position of weakness and makes it a strength, and with Rodger Saffold a fixture at his natural left guard spot and veteran John Sullivan the starting center, the middle and left side of the Rams offensive line is settled.

But while the Rams have peace of mind on the left side, the right side is still a bit unsettled. They went into training camp hoping the moves of Rob Havenstein from tackle to guard and Jamon Brown from guard to tackle would solidify the right side, but after a week of camp Havenstein was back at tackle and Brown back at guard.

Havenstein has fit right back in at tackle, but not so much Brown, who faces a big couple of weeks ahead as the Rams decide whether he can be counted on as a starter or if a change needs to be made.

It’s a concern, obviously, but collectively the offensive line appears much improved from last year, and the veteran leadership of Whitworth, Saffold and Sullivan should be a boon to Jared Goff and help Todd Gurley get back on the right track. If Brown - or a replacement - can lock down right guard with Havenstein anchoring the right side, the Rams could be decidedly better along the offensive line in 2017.

VERDICT: Headed in the right direction

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