OL Max Pircher’s third NFL season could shock everyone

The LA Rams’ offensive line was a weak link in 2022. But the Rams will have a secret weapon to unleash in the trenches, and nobody is paying him much attention. The 2023 NFL season will be International Pathway Program offensive lineman Max Pircher’s third NFL season, which is often the year for new NFL players when the game slows down and the talent starts to surface.

The Rams’ offensive line was not great in 2022, but there were more than just injuries behind that disappointing performance. The team seldom had enough time to coordinate and communicate before a new group of five was forced to start the next game.

But don’t let the 2022 performance sour the taste in your mouth for the huge Italian offensive lineman. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing a powerful 300 pounds, Pircher has all of the prototypical size and strength necessary for an NFL offensive lineman. The only part of his game that is missing is refining his raw techniques. But he is getting help from his teammates.

Pircher will get by with a little help from his friends

Andrew Whitworth worked with Pircher extensively. So too did Joseph Noteboom.  Even right tackle Rob Havenstein worked with Pircher, improving his technique, and helping him to become a better player:

So where was Pircher in 2022 if he is on the cusp of a great season? Well, he is getting close. In preseason games, he was the angry Rams offensive lineman who was frequently spotted pancaking a defender or simply driving him backward off the line of scrimmage down the football field.

Fans focus on the 2023 NFL Draft and ignore the fact that the Rams have several players expected to compete for starting roles in 2023. The Rams will welcome back injured rookie Logan Bruss, interior offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum who will return from a broken lower leg, and Max Pircher, whose development and progress should place him directly into the competition for playing time next season.

We discovered too late in 2022 that the Rams’ ability to gauge the effectiveness of offensive linemen continued to be rooted in past practice, a flaw that was only rectified by the outright release of offensive lineman Bobby Evans.

Pircher is a player who needs a fresh look and an open mind. He has performed very well in limited opportunities for the LA Rams. In 2023, he should get a better look. Hopefully, this time the coaching staff gives him a shot to play.