5 brutal questions LA Rams can answer against the 49ers

Question IV: Did the LA Rams make the right OL decision?

The LA Rams are in their fourth game and are already starting their fourth different offensive line. That is a ridiculously challenging streak, particularly in light of the fact that both Joe Noteboom and C/RG Coleman Shelton are themselves starting on the offensive line for their first season for the LA Rams.

For this week’s LA Rams roster shuffle, starting left guard David Edwards complained of dizziness and was subsequently entered into the NFL’s concussion protocol. Since he was added late in the week, the Rams do not have an option to play him in Week 4, even with an extra day of competing on Monday Night Football.

So the Rams have seemingly made the decision to insert swing tackle Bobby Evans into the spot vacated by Edwards.

Bobby Evans is, by trade, an offensive tackle. He substituted for RT Rob Havenstein in Week 3, and played surprisingly well.

Why OT? Why not IOL?

Evans has played in that role before, most notably during the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs in 2020, when he started for an injured Edwards to face the Green Bay Packers. In the playoffs that year, he played 97 offensive snaps, allowing one quarterback sack and committing two penalties

Was it the right decision?

I like Bobby Evans. He is a guy who the LA Rams have put into almost impossible situations, and he always tries to perform his utmost. But after seeing how well (albeit for limited offensive snaps) he handled the right tackle cameo, I am leaning more and more to conclude that he is a far better right tackle than an interior offensive lineman.

Meanwhile, the Rams signed and have been singing the praises of veteran IOL Oday Aboushi, a player who has a reputation for being mean and physical. Why not debut him against the 49ers, and see how he holds up against a tough challenge?

Of course, the Rams coaching staff knows better than I do. But I can’t help but wonder. Was Aboushi the more suitable player to promote to left guard this week?