LA Rams: 3 reasons why the offensive line will be very good

Whitworth’s retirement

With each interview and each passing day, it seems more and more likely that this could be the last season from the LA Rams’ venerable offensive left tackle, Andrew Whitworth. While the timing could have been better, because the Rams face losing five offensive linemen to expired contracts in 2022, the team has one year to sort things out. For his teammates, this adds a new and higher level of focus to this season.  This one is for Big Whit.

It’s not a mantra that is intended to pull together a diverse group to a single purpose.  It’s not even similar to the deck of Captain America collector cards pulled from a dying Agent Coulson’s pocket to unite superheroes. No, this is a real-world endeavor to give back to a player one last time, in the hopes of returning the favor of so many times when he gave to the team.  One needs to look no further than the 2020 season when a badly injured Whitworth pledged to return to play with his teammates if the Rams made the playoffs.

They did, and he kept his promise.

That leadership was a driving force for the Rams as the team faced adversity and moments of self-doubt. Now, that same team can repay the trust and belief of their offensive line leader by giving him one helluva retirement party. Perhaps one that culminates in a Super Bowl ring and hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

Why should the team need any extra motivation? The need to push to excellence never subsides. It’s 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It’s a pace that is so difficult to sustain that many incredibly talented players fail to achieve their optimal performance because it is so difficult to attain. Dedicating a season, this season, to Andrew Whitworth adds extra motivation because it is not just about oneself, but it suddenly becomes giving to a trusted teammate, friend, and family member.

Can one season truly repay Andrew Whitworth for all he has done for the LA Rams? Not likely. But he made a pledge to return to play for the Rams in 2020 if they made the playoffs and he did. Now he is asking his team to get him a win in Super Bowl LVI. it’s just as unlikely of a scenario, which is why this team, and specifically this offensive line, must do everything possible to make this wish come true. After all, nobody wants to send Andrew Whitworth into retirement with only an “I.O.U.” to show for it.