LA Rams offensive line is beginning to find its playoff form

The greatest concern from LA Rams fans entering the 2022 NFL season was the status of the team’s offensive line. It made sense, as the group would be starting two new players right out of the gates. Joe Noteboom would be taking over as the LA Rams starting left tackle, filling the void of now retired Andrew Whitworth. Additionally, Coleman Shelton would be taking over at right guard, filling the void by former Rams Austin Corbett.

This was going to be a less-than-optimal time for the Rams’ offensive line. The team was compelled to put the group together, let them work through the bugs and rust, and put them into a position to excel later in the season when the team was pushing for a playoff spot.

The only thing is, this offensive line has not had the same five starters in any given week. That tosses the entire continuity thing right out the window. For now, at least.

But we’ve been patiently placing a flashlight on the performance of the LA Rams offensive line, and have used the YTD statistics provided by Pro Football Focus as our data source. To achieve our week-to-week stats, we continue to survey the YTD data, and then remove the data we had reported in previous weeks.

Week 1 – Buffalo Bills

Joe Noteboom – 67 snaps, 0 penalties, 3 sacks allowed
David Edwards – 67 snaps, 1 penalty, 2 sacks allowed
Brian Allen – 67 snaps, 0 penalties, 1 sack allowed
Coleman Shelton – 67 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
Rob Havenstein – 67 snaps, 0 penalties, 1 sack allowed

QB Matthew Stafford – 29 of 41 for 240 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 7 sacks – (49 yds loss), QBR 26.5
RB Darrell Henderson Jr. – 13 rushes for 47 yards
RB Cam Akers – 3 rushes for 0 yards
Rams averaged 2.94 YPC

Week 2 – Atlanta Falcons

Joe Noteboom – 62 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
David Edwards – 62 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
Coleman Shelton – 62 snaps, 1 penalty, 0 sacks allowed
* Tremayne Anchrum – 2 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
Alaric Jackson – 60 snaps, 1 penalty, 0 sacks allowed
Rob Havenstein – 62 snaps, 1 penalty, 0 sacks allowed

QB Matthew Stafford – 27 of 36 for 272 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 sack – (0 yds loss), QBR 79.3
RB Darrell Henderson Jr. – 10 rushes for 47 yards, 1 TD
RB Cam Akers – 15 rushes for 44 yards.
Rams averaged 3.64 YPC

Week 3 – @ Arizona Cardinals

Joe Noteboom – 48 snaps, 1 penalty, 0 sacks allowed
David Edwards – 48 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
Coleman Shelton – 48 snaps, 2 penalties, 0 sacks allowed
Alaric Jackson – 48 snaps, 1 penalty, 0 sacks allowed
*Rob Havenstein – 44 snaps, 0 penalties, 1 sack allowed
Bobby Evans – 4 snaps, 0 penalties, 0 sacks allowed.

* denotes starter
QB Matthew Stafford – 18 of 25 for 249 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack – (10 yds loss), QBR 56.4
RB Darrell Henderson Jr. – 4 rushes for 17 yards
RB Cam Akers – 12 rushes for 61 yards, 1 TD
Rams averaged 5.00 YPC

Rams left tackle Rob Havenstein left the game for several plays due to injury concerns, but he returned to finish the game. While that is a good thing, we should point out that oft-besieged backup offensive lineman Bobby Evans played solid when he slid in for the offensive line to cover for Havenstein.

The Rams will be getting starting offensive center, Brian Allen, back soon, and with the sudden amount of experience earned by Alaric Jackson, I am confident that the experience has made the LA Rams offensive line better and deeper for it.

The LA Rams continue to have a tough schedule ahead of them. But the team jumping out to a 2-1 start is a good step in the right direction, particularly in light of the number of injuries suffered so far.  But the true test will be how well the team, and the offensive line, play over the course of the season.