Bobby Evans The Enigma

When the Los Angeles Rams selected Tackle Bobby Evans from Oklahoma there was tempered enthusiasm. Evans had just blocked for two straight Heisman Trophy winning Quarterbacks in Kyler Murray & Baker Mayfield. Evans played both RT and then switch to LT his senior season and handled himself quite well with the adjustment. Many felt that Evans would be the eventual replacement for Rob Havenstein at RT and in fact, Evans handled himself quite well as a rookie in 2019 starting 7 games at RT for the injured Havenstein and many wrote Big Rob (not Bobby) off in 2020 figuring the Rams would trade Havenstein then just keep Evans at RT.

Many Mock Drafts by some of our draftniks had Havenstein gone, but the Rams kept Big Rob in 2020 and when LG David Edwards went down the Rams turned to Evans at LG and the results were checkered at best. Evans really struggled in pass protection and it was never more evident against the Green Bay Packers in post season as most of the pressure against Goff came from the LG spot, which made many of us appreciate David Edwards because although Edwards is not a road grader, he is very solid in pass protection.

Then in 2021 with the acquisition of high profile QB Matthew Stafford and not drafting an offensive linemen in the draft the Rams grand plan to reboot the Offensive Line was to move Austin Corbett to Center & Bobby Evans to RG. Made sence because some felt that Evans was better suited for the right side then left and would also improve the run game because that was Evans greatest asset as he's a better run blocker then pass blocker. In OTA's & beginning of training camp blocking nobody the Rams kept with that line Corbett trying to make to adjustment to Center & Evans at Right Guard.

Now the scrimmage the Rams had against the Dallas Cowboys was instrumental in so many ways. The Rams feel the scrimmages are better to get their top players ready for the season and sit the starters during preseason and it's hard to argue with McVay's philosophy there because the Rams continue to have good results. However, against Dallas, there was some major issues with pass protection as Evans was a turnstile at RG plus there were a few errant snaps from Corbett, but mostly, so much pressure was coming from RG, that the Rams pivoted quickly and decided to put Brian Allen back at Center thus moving Corbett back to his natural position.

All of the sudden the bigger, stronger Allen looked like an angel sent from Heaven. The line was better with Bobby Evans far away from the starting unit. The Rams actually played Evans a ton in preseason, hoping that additional live reps would improve him, however, his preseason was as disappointing as the scrimmage and it seemed that Evans was now overtaken by the likes of not only Coleman Shelton at Guard, but an UDRFA in Alaric Jackson from Iowa as a tackle. During the Super Bowl run this was evident and even more so against the Minnesota Vikings with Whitworth & Noteboom out because of COVID the Rams started David Edwards at LT & Coleman Shelton at LG with Evans on the bench, however, when Brian Allen went down with injury & the Rams had to reshuffle the deck instead of moving Evans to LG, they put in Alaric (AJ) Jackson at LT, Edwards back to LG & Shelton to Center. Now Evans was lucky to even be active as it appeared he was option number three or maybe even four with a healthy Tremayne Anchrum.

At this point as the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams move forward with the departure of RG Austin Corbett to free agency, some have thought that Bobby Evans would be in play again at RG, however, before the draft the Rams signed Coleman Shelton to a two year deal and penciled him at RG and then with their first pick in the draft, 3rd round 104, they could not have former great RB Steven Jackson run up to the podium fast enough to draft Wisconsin Guard Logan Bruss with Head Coach Sean McVay immediately stating that Bruss has a legitimate shot to start at RG come September, wondering if Evans is now even in the Ram plans.

Some will communicate that Bobby Evans could be this years Brian Allen, but I have my doubts because Evans seems from my perspective to lack the desire to improve as his pass protection has regressed & his run blocking also seems not be as strong as it was in his rookie campaign. Some also like to communicate that Evans is more of a Tackle then Guard, but again, he played plenty of RT in preseason last year and struggled against 2nd & 3rd teamers. The Rams in the 7th round drafted Michigan State's AJ Arcuri who played RT & LT at Michigan State and if Arcuri's showcases any ability, could send Bobby Evans out in a trade or being released and ending his tenure when last year at this time, Evans was the starting RG and it's hard to figure why some grow and some don't, but to this point Bobby Evans could be the one draft choice that did not live up to any expectations considering the round he was selected.