NFL experts turn spotlight on an under-the-radar Rams star as the 2025 X-factor

2024 introduced a series of OL experiments gone wrong

The Los Angeles Rams never seem to be content in the offseason when it comes to improving the roster. That's not just about plugging holes to restore adequate depth. Nor is it only about aiming to improve in areas that fell short in the previous season. The front office, led by GM Les Snead, tries to improve the roster by upgrading every position.

In 2024, Snead attempted to improve on the offensive line.

The Rams had a deal in place with center Coleman Shelton to cover two years. But the second year of that contract was a player option. When Shelton rejected the offer to return to the Rams in the second year, that set the wheels in motion for a series of offensive line actions that would become a painful but valuable lesson to the Rams' entire football team.

The Rams pivoted from negotiating an extension with Shelton's agent to adding former Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson. But that created problems for the Rams roster, as it meant that LG Steve Avila would need to cross-train in his second season in the NFL to a new role, the center position. That configuration meant that the Rams' training camp offensive line would be:

• LT Alaric Jackson
• LG Jonah Jackson
• C Steve Avila
• RG Kevin Dotson
• RT Rob Havenstein

In theory, there were plenty of bugs to work out. Jonah Jackson had to learn the cadence, chemistry, and communication to align with his new teammates. Steve Avila had to learn a new NFL position and how to set the blocking schemes before snapping the football. That's quite a lot of work for training camp.

But a ceaseless string of injuries began to impact the team in training camp and carried over into much of the 2024 NFL season. Jonah Jackson was injured, delaying his ability to work with the other starters. Steve Avila struggled at the center position. But even the stalwart offensive tackles of Rob Havenstein and Alaric Jackson were injured. All of these factors combined to negate any opportunity to sync up a new offensive line in time for the 2024 season

To open the season, the Rams had to start two backup offensive tackles. Backup left tackle Joe Noteboom only lasted for 27 offensive snaps before he was injured. Third-string offensive tackle A.J. Arcuri had to suit up to finish out the game. Meanwhile, LG Steve Avila fell to injury after 37 offensive snaps. That necessitated the team moving Jonah Jackson to left guard and promoting rookie center Beaux Limmer to a starting role.

Avila would be out for the next seven games. He finally returned to start in Week 10 and would remain (relatively?) healthy for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season. With Avila's injury overlapping the Rams' Week 6 BYE, he found himself away from football for more than two months.

To recap. Avila entered 2024 as the starting left guard. He cross-trained to become the starting center. He was banged up in the offseason, minimizing the number of reps he would get through training camp. He was returned to left guard just before the season started because he simply did not work out at center. He was injured in Week 1. He did not return to start until Week 10.

That about sums up the season that Steve Avila had. Is it any wonder that he regressed?

I'm not about making excuses for the guy. But it's important to understand that the cards were very much stacked against Avila. Can fans truly expect a rebound from Steve Avila in 2025?

Absolutely, yes. Because? Here's why: