Quote
Suh-weet!
Quote
Rams43
Quote
Speed_Kills
is surprised by the Rams oline
its a fanatatsic development but you can't talk about the Rams or for that matter turn on the TV and hear other talk about them and not mention the oline
The Rams are averaging 140 yards rushing a game... they could rush for 60 yards a game last year
its dramatic
Well, it’s about the degree of improvement that was the surprise, Speed.
I think that R2K’s point is that some of us could see the late season improvement, plus knowing that Blythe, Hav, and Whit (if he returned) would be once again healthy and constitute at least an average OL.
The clues were there for those that really examined our OL situation. A category that didn’t include most pundits, obviously.
Truth that is
LOTS of people on this very board pointed to the reasons you and R2K have identified to believe the OL might at least be average - and ascending, given its youth besides AW. AND lots of folks said *average* might well be enough to flip the switch on this offense. It's fair to say few of us expected the running game and overall offense to be as effective as it has been, but that we'd see very meaningful improvement is something lots of folks expected.
All that said, I don't look at this team and see "elite." Having played a very weak schedule I see one dominant win, and that was against a very bad Washington team. I see a team that, for nontrivial stretches, has struggled in "all three phases" even as the O and D each has had spectacular moments. (ST has been mediocre or worse throughout.) Edge rushing, passpro on 3rd-and-long, consistency in the running game (on both sides of the ball), the kicking game - all areas of concern.
AND they have a chance to be really good!
Yeah before the season a lot of people saw OL improvement last year and said they could at least be solid this year. Most of that depended on the tackles coming back closer to their top form from the previous year or 2.
I agree with the rest of your post too.
