If I had my way with that OLine, and other LA Rams thoughts

Decisions Decisions

When the LA Rams opted out of re-signing offensive center, Austin Blythe, the team made a distinct decision about Blythe whether stated or not. Blythe signed for cheap to join the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Rams offered less to bring him back. There is no fault in that. It happens each year to many players to all 32 NFL teams.

Los Angeles Rams

Where it gets a bit dicey in terms of the team’s resolve was the creation of the Plan B options. Plan B should have been the default option, rather than multiple default options. Why did that create problems? Well, new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry was new to the LA Rams coaching staff. And as such, the hole that he inherited in the middle of the Rams offensive line was a problem that needed to be solved.

But the first option to fix that problem was to change a single question mark on the offensive line into two question marks on the offensive line. The Rams opted in OTAs to move Austin Corbett from right guard to offensive center, and then to insert Bobby Evans into the vacated right guard position. Shorts, tee shirts, and what amounted to a final decision of who would start before the pads ever went on? That was fraught with challenges.

David Edwards at the left guard is, by training, an offensive tackle. Bobby Evans at the right guard is, by training, an offensive tackle. So what? Well, there is a distinct set of differences. In terms of managing blocking priorities, offensive linemen must pick up the defensive player closest to the center. With defensive tackles, the guards handle them as blocking assignments, and the center takes on blitzing defenders. In an odd-man front, one of the guards is free to take on blitzing defenders.

In running plays, the offensive guards are more active. Rather than blocking a defender away from the play, they are often engaged in clearing the running lane as well as moving downfield to block linebackers or defensive backs as well. While the ideal offensive lineman can do both at a high level, the very nature of the two skillsets often ends up as an offensive lineman being better at one versus the other.