LA Rams have bigger problems than offensive line right now

The LA Rams entered the offseason with needs at offensive line. But the team has greater needs than the offensive line now

The LA Rams exited the 2019 NFL Season with an oh-so-close-but-just-missed-the-playoffs sort of ending.  And for all intents and purposes, the most obvious needs for the team this offseason were offensive in nature.  The consensus for the 2020 offseason has been an offensive line fix.

The fix of the offensive line seemed to be the wellspring of anything needed to correct the team. Fix the offensive line to get running back Todd Gurley back on track. Fix the offensive line to give quarterback Jared Goff enough time to find WR Brandin Cooks on deep routes. Fix the offensive line to control the game clock. Fix the offensive line because the 2019 offensive line “sucked” and the only players who played well were free agents in 2020, and getting too old to be counted on this season.

That original consensus began to take on a life of its own. Despite developments elsewhere on the team’s roster, fans stuck to their guns about the need to get that offensive line in shape. After all, the 2018 Super Bowl roster had an incredibly productive offensive line. Restore the team to THAT level of play and the Rams would be a Championship caliber team once more.

What if I told you that the biggest problem that the LA Rams face is NOT the offensive line in 2020? Would you continue to read? Now I’m not saying the offensive line is a finished product, but the developments with the roster since the 2019 season ended has placed greater urgencies for the team at other parts of the team.

Rams already invested heavily

The LA Rams invested heavily in the offensive line in both 2018 and 2019.  In 2019, the Rams used draft pick 89 to select offensive tackle Joseph Noteboom from TCU and followed that up with draft pick 111 to select center Brian Allen. The team then added a developmental offensive tackle at pick 192 by adding offensive tackle Jamil Demby from Maine.

The team doubled down in 2019 by using pick 97 to select offensive tackle Bobby Evans from Oklahoma and followed up with offensive tackle David Edwards from Wisconsin. Midseason, the team had to fill holes caused by offensive linemen’s injuries, so they traded for guard Austin Corbett and signed center Coleman Shelton from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.

Over the course of 12 months, the LA Rams drafted or signed seven new offensive linemen. When you examine other areas of the team’s roster addressed by drafted players, the team has benefitted from a huge influx of new talent for the line.

It was this momentum of adding offensive linemen which led us to conclude that the 2020 LA Rams offensive line would pivot from rags to riches. The team promoted three persons who were brand new to the team into starting roles by mid-season. And they responded incredibly well, as the line actually improved.  Now the team has re-signed Shelton, Blythe, and Whitworth, accumulating incredible depth for the roster in 2020.  So deep in fact, that the team may need to shed some players before paring down for the 53 man roster.  Right now, the team is carrying 13 offensive linemen on the roster and will need to pare that down to eight for the season.

Critical hotspots on roster needing attention

The LA Rams’ roster has undergone a rather significant transformation so far, both in terms of number and importance of changes, mainly defections.  The team relies heavily upon a run-focused offense that sets up the passing game. And that allows the team to put up a lot of points. For the defense, the team had relied upon preserving a lead in the game. 2019 showed the team was unable to do either.  Now the team must restock the roster for a new philosophy, or to restore the team to its former formula for success.

Running Back

At the end of the 2019 season, the team had three running backs: Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson, and Malcolm Brown. Despite the bravado of Darell Henderson as the heir apparent to be the Rams’ featured running back, he hasn’t earned the right to be anointed into that role. In fact, Darrell Henderson rushed for 39 times in the NFL so far.

Despite excellent collegiate statistics, his draft profile was very specific: best-suited to a complementary slasher role. Another draft profile wrote: While I don’t foresee a feature role in Henderson’s future, I do believe he can be a complementary piece. That player fits the Rams need perfectly with RB Todd Gurley getting a minimum of 150 touches per season. Now, the Rams feature Henderson, and while he may prove to be an incredible NFL running back, 39 touches cannot confirm the outcome.  The Rams need a feature running back.

Edge Rusher

The Rams relied upon two players to pressure the quarterback in 2019.  DT Aaron Donald and OLB Dante Fowler Jr.  While Donald will return, Fowler has signed on with the Atlanta Falcons, the same team that signed just-released running back Todd Gurley. Not only that, but the Rams have released OLB Clay Matthews and Morgan Fox, while Cory Littleton has signed on with the Las Vegas Raiders.  Of the 50 sacks from 2019, the LA Rams have parted ways with players responsible for 25, or half of the total. Addressing the need to apply pressure on the quarterback must take a high priority in 2020.

Depth issues

While some might argue that the Rams offensive line has depth issues, the truth is that the only question mark right now is who may take over for left tackle Andrew Whitworth in the future. Right now, several players could compete for that spot. But depth is more critical for other positions on the team where the starters are gone, and reserves must step up in 2020.  Whether they do or don’t, their roles will need to be backfilled this year.

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Linebacker

The LA Rams have lost their four starting linebackers from 2019. OLB Clay Matthews, OLB Dante Fowler Jr., ILB Cory Littleton, and ILB Bryce Hager have all gone the route of expired contract in 2019. While the Rams have other players who can step up, the current depth chart for the four linebacker roles are as follows: strongside outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, inside linebacker Troy Reeder, inside linebacker Travin Howard, and weakside outside linebacker Samson Ebukam. Combined, they played 965 total defensive snaps for the LA Rams (out of a possible 4,430 snaps).  While the team has some depth at the position with Kenny Young, Micah Kiser, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, they will need someone to fill the sweeping vacancies so far.

Defensive backfield

While the Rams starting four defensive backs are solid, the team has lost valuable depth with the retirement of safety Eric Weddle, loss of safety Marqui Christian, and the exodus of Nickell Robey-Coleman. All in all, the team really cannot afford an injury at all in 2020. That makes the team very vulnerable, particularly in light of the track record of the Rams from 2019.

Whether or not the LA Rams are confident in signing cornerback Jalen Ramsey to an extension, the team needs to add depth to both cornerback and safety in the 2020 NFL Draft. And that same future-looking perspective can focus upon safety John Johnson, also due for a new contract in 2021.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the fans may still be smarting from the disappointment from the 2019 performance of the offensive line. But that problem was already dealt with. The LA Rams face a broader set of needs in the draft this year. Thankfully, even with starting in round two, the team should be able to address the roster’s needs adequately.