Rams Insider says team's OL shell game just 1 week before season is alarming

Rams Insider D'Marco Farr 'Very concerned' about Rams OL shell game

This may not be a brand spanking new topic, but it does challenge fans to the logic of making this decision this late in the offseason. So let's recap. The LA Rams starting offensive line suffered injuries to three projected starters:

• LT Alaric Jackson - Ankle injury (now complicated by two-game suspension)
• LG Jonah Jackson - Shoulder Injury (just returned to practice)
• RT Rob Havenstein - Ankle/foot injury

Facing opening the season with two backup offensive tackles, and a less than 100 percent healed left guard, the coaching staff has elected to swap the rehabbing Jonah Jackson with former starting left guard Steve Avila. That creates a starting offensive line configuration for Week 1 that looks like this:

• LT Joe Noteboom (backup)
• LG Steve Avila
• C Jonah Jackson (a bit banged up, not experienced at center for some time)
• RG Kevin Dotson
• RT Warren McClendon (backup)

So as stated in slide one, Brittany called in to ask thoughts, impressions, and concerns over the Rams last minute shell game over offensive linemen. Here's the video clip that she posted herself:

D'Marco Farr was impressed by the question, and instantly weighed in with his response over how he feels about the Rams offensive line:

"A little nervous. This is a great question, actually. So there is an issue going into Detroit (to face the Lions in the season opener), that Steve Avila was the center. That's the guy who has been training as the center. He was the starting left guard last year. He is great.

Moved him to the center. So you go through camp, three preseason games, with him as center, but a week before you play (the) Detroit (Lions), you are going to slide him over to guard? And, slide in Jonah Jackson who you just signed from Detroit as a center. So you are flipping your guard and center spots.

So that is something to be concerned about going into Detroit. That is a BIG big deal.

HUGE concern, yes. That is worse than not having your (starting) tackles.

(Like 1 to 10, what is your concern?)

10. (Wow!)

You are flopping your center and your guard a week before (the game)? What are we doing?"

- Rams Insider, D'Marco Farr

I love D'Marco Farr's insight. He is a straight shooter who speaks from the heart, and is not the least bit hesitant to point out the lack of logic in this more. But is there something else afoot?