5 last-second free agents for LA Rams ball control offense

C Shipley

The LA Rams center position was the most unstable offensive line position in 2019. Even after the Rams lost rookie center Brian Allen for the season, the move of Austin Blythe to the role was a patchwork solution at best. Defenses feasted on A-gap blitzes which were misdiagnosed by whomever the Rams had snapping the ball.

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That placed the Rams entire offense under extreme pressure to find positive yards while a defender was in their backfield. To fix that, we had identified the former Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley as a free agent target for the Rams this off-season.

Shipley is an NFL caliber starting center who has two solid advantages. First and foremost, he likely will sign for an inexpensive contract. that’s a huge plus for the Rams, who continue to navigate NFL salary cap purgatory. Perhaps the second advantage is that he can lose in competition to a younger player. That means that any other player seeking a starting role at the center must earn the playing time.

Shipley is NFL savvy. He’s played for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals, both teams are NFC West rivals. While he won’t excite fans at the level of a marquis signing might, adding him to the mix may actually have more value.  His presence on the roster does not eliminate the team from developing other players. Rather, it enhances their ability to develop at their own natural pace due to the lack of direct training contact with coaching staff.