LA Rams: Calculating the clash of current roster changes

Interior offensive linemen

The LA Rams are certainly in the midst of a strategy for a makeover of the offensive line. Not only is the team absorbing the loss of 2020 starting offensive center Austin Blythe, but the unit is now likely facing the retirement of venerable offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth.  Two key starters will have left the team over the span of just two years, and over the past two seasons, the LA Rams have only added one offensive lineman via the draft, a rather undervalued Tremayne Anchrum.

Clearly, the Rams had added developmental players over the years to their roster for the offensive line, and that is why we were calling for a sudden spike in performance over a year ago when nearly all other websites were convinced that the offensive line was trash. Now, after the Rams offensive line has been ranked among the top five in the NFL for 2020, the team is going to double down on getting one more great year out of the group with only a modest investment.

The key to the offensive line hinges on the belief that the combination of offensive center Austin Corbett and right guard Bobby Evans can outperform the 2020 combination of offensive center Austin Blythe and right guard Austin Corbett. I believe that is a safe bet. While I’m still fighting the fears of Evans at right guard, I’m quite confident that Corbett will deliver a much stronger game than Blythe at the center. That, in turn, could benefit the overall offensive line as the offensive guards will feel less vulnerable and vigilant to A-gap blitzes.

Any downside to new players: It could be a wise choice, but I’m not sold that the best way to stock an NFL offensive line is to draft offensive tackles exclusively, and then retrain them for an interior role when they get to the pros. That being said, both David Edwards and Bobby Evans fall into that category. Therefore, I’m not sold.

Any upside to new players: I like the idea of placing one of the best young offensive linemen at the most important spot on the offensive line. This move will successfully start Austin Corbett at all three interior offensive linemen positions. I think that will pay handsomely, not just in his own performance, but improve the Rams’ ability to snuff blitzes as well.

Overall effect expected: It seems like this all comes down to the play of Bobby Evans. Will his 2021 performance Austin Blythe earned a 69.3 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2020 during the regular season.  Evans will need to perform nearly at that level to make it a wash. I’m unconvinced that he can do it yet.