Can Barrett Jones or Demetrius Rhaney Start For The St. Louis Rams?

The St. Louis Rams enter the 2015 NFL draft determined to beef up the offensive line, as well as add depth behind the starters. So far they have added some depth by signing Garrett Reynolds, but have yet to add anybody thats capable of starting.

The biggest hole that the Rams have on the offensive line might be at the center position. While they do have players like Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney, is it really possible that either one of those players could start?

Head coach Jeff Fisher believes so and voiced his confident last week at the owners meetings. “Barrett showed that he can play and we have confidence in Demetrius Rhaney,” Fisher said.

Jones and Rhaney are both mid-late round picks that have had minimal experience in the NFL. Jones, for the most part has been hurt in his time in St. Louis with back and foot injuries, while Rhaney was a seventh round pick a year ago. Is this just smoke screen from Jeff Fisher?

The Rams struggled with veteran Scott Wells last season, how can Fisher expect to be better in the middle of the line with two guys that haven’t proven anything in the NFL?

Rhaney who comes out of a small-school in Tennessee State, was a two-year starter. He has solid strength and fast movements, but unfortunately, he was at a small school for a reason. He’s not a naturally dominate athlete by any means.

The seventh round has underrated skills, and the Rams found a solid candidate with some upside in the seventh round, but to ask him to start in year to is a huge stretch. Even if he does end up being just a backup for Jones, given Jones’ injury history, there is a good chance Rhaney could see some action.

The seventh rounder got 44 snaps last preseason in four games allowing one quarterback hit picked up an overall rating of 0.3, ranking 38th. Of course, Rhaney wasn’t going up against starting competition though.

Jones on the other hand sat out all of 2013 after going through foot surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury and after suffering a back injury in training camp last year, he missed most of the season once again. He did get 23 snaps in the regular season compiling a rating of 0.6 on Pro Football Focus. Some of those were special teams snaps, so it is a very small sample size.

To have any sort of confidence in either of these players going into 2015 is a stretch and huge risk. It is possible that they could start, but to ask them to start and hold their ground is a whole other story.

The Rams are in a situation that if they can successfully rebuild the offensive line in one offseason, they can be a legitimate threat to make the NFC playoffs. However, whether of not Rhaney or Jones are an option at center remains to be seen.

Next: St. Louis Rams Must Make Big Trade In 2015 NFL Draft

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