Rams biggest offseason need remains LA’s biggest offseason riddle

The Los Angeles Rams offseason continues to evolve, but one significant position has received some of the least attention.

Los Angeles Rams fans will not soon forget the unmitigated disaster that was the 2016 season. What started out as promising with the first overall pick, a return to their old digs in LA, and a 3-1 start quickly dissolved into,“been there, done that.”

If the Rams aren’t careful, that may be a phrase muttered again this season.

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One area that has been curiously quiet is the center position. While the organization made some strides with the acquisition of Andrew Whitworth for the O-line, the Rams will have to hope veteran center John Sullivan doesn’t get injured.

Tell where we’ve heard this narrative before beginning with “hope.”

I’ve been on board with the idea that 2017 would be a massive reset for Los Angeles. Given how things went last season, the firing of Jeff Fisher, and an unproven, terribly ill prepared rookie in Jared Goff finishing the year at quarterback, starting fresh with a new rookie head coach seemed reasonable and logical.

But to watch the Rams last season, and note only the modest upgrades on the offensive line is something of a head-scratcher. I’m not underselling Whitworth, but putting the team’s collective eggs in hoping Sullivan doesn’t get hurt is a fool’s paradise.

Enter a rookie from the University of Washington. An undrafted tackle/guard nonetheless, now “training” at the center position.

Jake Eldrenkamp, a 6’-5”, 297 pound former Husky could be a player who inherits the anchor position on the Rams offensive line should Sullivan go down, which almost seems reasonably predictable all things considered.

Hello, paging Nick Mangold!!!

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Yes, it’s June.

The beginning of June factuality speaking, and the Rams have time to make some additions and subtractions. But is this one position, center, worth rolling the dice on and crossing the team’s collective finger and “hoping” it works out?

Like I said, “been there, done that.”