RamsWire: Rams' offensive line still a major problem after Week 5

Rams' offensive line still a major problem after Week 5
By: Steve Rebeiro | 1 hour ago

Imagine you’re back in school, and you get handed a math test. You have no idea what any of the material on the test means. You do your best, and when the results come back your grade is a 10%. You try hard to learn for the next test, and you’re able to improve your grade to a 45%. You still failed despite the improvement. The problem isn’t that you didn’t try on the first test. You’re just bad at math.

That’s what it feels like watching the Rams offensive line. After five weeks, they’re simply not a good unit. They were the worst in the NFL through the first four weeks, according to Pro Football Focus. Things got better on Thursday night in the Rams’ loss to Seattle, but not by much. Is it possible that they’ll continue to improve their grade and bring that F up to a D or, dare I say, a C? Sure, but there isn’t a ton of evidence that it’s going to happen.

Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, and Austin Blythe have no excuse this season. All three have seen their PFF grades tank from last year to this year. Havenstein’s fall-off has been the most notable. He’s been directly responsible for two Jared Goff fumbles, and has been getting manhandled when faced with tough assignments this season. His PFF grade dropped from 84.7 last season to 47.5 through the first four weeks this year. Havenstein’s dip was nearly double the size of Whitworth’s, who has slipped from an 83.1 to a 64.6.

The trio played better than last week, especially Havenstein, but continued to make crucial mistakes. Both Havenstein and Whitworth were flagged for penalties that could have been avoided. Havenstein has three false starts in five games. These guys need to play better. The team is relying on them. Hopefully they can continue to get back into form like they did, for the most part, tonight.

Then there are the new guys. Joseph Noteboom has struggled, but it would be silly to put most of the blame on him. He’s shown flashes playing out of his native position at guard. He whiffed on a block early in the game that resulted in a 5-yard loss, but it was a tough block to make. Noteboom shouldn’t be asked to make a tough block, and that’s part of the inherent problem with this offensive line.

Then there’s center Brian Allen. Last year’s starting center John Sullivan had a terrible year, and yet his presence is somehow missed due to how bad Allen has been. The Rams have continued to say that they “like what they see” with Allen. What, exactly, are they seeing? There hasn’t been a moment this season where Brian Allen has flashed greatness.

Allen was also responsible for arguably the most unacceptable mental mistake of the season. Faced with a third-and-10 on Seattle’s 35-yard line and 20 seconds remaining on the game clock, the Rams swallowed a delay of game penalty because Allen didn’t snap the ball. This doesn’t happen in the NFL. It barely even happens in high school football. The Rams ultimately made up the ground, but Allen almost cost the Rams 5 yards of crucial field position. Goff was screaming for the football. It’s hard to hear, but if you want to be considered one of the 32 best centers in the world, this should not happen under any circumstances.

The three veterans should get their act together. Noteboom might develop into a quality guard. But it seems unlikely that Allen will develop into even an average starting center. The Rams don’t have time to deal with growing pains of this magnitude.

Trent Williams is currently sitting on his couch waiting for a call. Hell, John Sullivan is sitting on his couch waiting for a call. If the Rams want to be playing in February, they need to take a serious look at this unit and see if there are any ways to improve it externally. There doesn’t seem like much can be done internally.

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

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