LA Rams: Team should kick the tires on OL David DeCastro

Can’t ignore injuries

Even as the Rams appear to have the answer to the starting five, that does not answer the nagging question of what happens if anyone is injured. The LA Rams starting five appeared to be a solid group early in the season and even was able to handle the loss of injured left guard Joseph Noteboom.

Los Angeles Rams

But when the injuries impacted left tackle Andrew Whitworth and then left guard David Edwards, the LA Rams offensive line simply was not up to the task. The Rams have built the roster out of young late-round or undrafted offensive linemen, and they were simply not up to the challenge of instant promotion into a starting role for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.  Nor should they be.

Winning is more than having a solid plan when everything is running smoothly. It’s about planning for contingencies, anticipating existing vulnerabilities, and preparing the backups to handle that sudden promotion into live-fire action. For the past two seasons, the LA Rams offensive linemen have been forced to compensate over losing starters under the worst possible conditions. This year, with a full offseason program at their disposal, the LA Rams should be investing in planning for the unthinkable. After all, injuries happen. Now, what will the organization do when it happens this year?

Right now, it appears as though the team will scramble once more. The backups for the starters likely fall to Joseph Noteboom, Chandler Brewer, Coleman Shelton, Jamil Demby, and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. That projected depth places veteran Brian Allen and the three undrafted rookies outside of the team’s current plans for 2021’s immediate roster needs.  I don’t know how comfortable I am with that.