Los Angeles Rams offensive line post-minicamp update

While the laundry list is long for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, progress has been made, and will continue to as LA heads heads towards the regular season.

Los Angeles Rams rookie head coach Sean McVay inherited a dumpster fire of an offensive line. But let’s be honest, this whole offense was a dumpster fire last year. McVay, at least for the short term, will be judged on his ability to turn the offense around and score points. Because of so many holes on the offense, he, along with GM Les Snead, had to be frugal with their resources. So how has the offensive line overhaul gone so far?  Let’s look at the timeline:

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• January 12^th: Rams hire Head coach Sean McVay
• February 8^th: Rams hire Matt LaFleur as Offensive Coordinator and Aaron Kromer as Offensive Line coach.
• March 9^th: Rams release C Tim Barnes
• March 9^th: Rams sign LT Andrew Whitworth
• April 5^th: Rams sign C John Sullivan
• April 27-29^th: Rams do not address the offensive line in the draft, but add several as undrafted free agents in the following weeks: G Jake Eldrenkamp (Washington), C Anthony McMeans (New Mexico), OL Alex Kozan (Auburn, Waived on 5/12), and OL Kwayde Miller (San Diego State, Waived 5/22)
• May 12^th: Sign OL Shaq McMeans  (Waived the following day)
• May 16^th: Claim C Austin Blythe off Waivers (from Colts)
• June 15^th: Traded T Greg Robinson to the Lions for a 6^th Round pick
• June 20^th: Rams release C Demetrius Rhaney

From the changes so far, 2 things are true.

1. 1. Rodger Saffold is likely to be the only starter who started in the same position for the Rams last year (if Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein start, it will be at different positions).
   2. It is impossible that the Rams offensive line is as bad as last season.

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The new staff blew up the NFL’s 27^th best offensive line with relatively few resources. They signed one big free agent (Whitworth), one third tier free agent (Sullivan), brought in bodies for depth, gave up zero draft picks (and gained a future pick from the Detroit for Robinson). If the line ends up being anywhere close to league average this year, McVay and company will get credit for a major step forward. But is this realistic?

Whitworth, assuming he continues to be the ageless wonder whose play does not fall off despite his age, should more than solidify the left side of the line. The rest of the starters on the line are question marks, but most fans will take “question marks” over the performance last year.

The bottom line is this: we do not judge the offensive line in a vacuum. We will judge it as a part of McVay’s entire offensive system that is designed to move the ball and score points. Rome was not built in a day. Turning the Rams around is going to take a multi-year rebuild. McVay is going to need to show that this team can make steady, incremental improvement.

As for this fan, I’m up for giving him a chance.