Rams desperately need breakout players at 4 key positions in 2025

(3) - Offensive line

On paper, the Rams plan at offensive line in 2024 was rather intriguing. The team signed free agent IOL Jonah Jackson to play left guard, cross-trained IOL Steve Avila to play center, and extended IOL Kevin Dotson to return at right guard. Only that never happened.

Avila did not adapt to center, forcing the team to rethink the entire strategy. Ultimately, Jackson was moved to center and Avila was restored to his 2023 role at left guard. But even then, the plans never took hold.

Avila and Jackson were injured in preseason and reaggravated those injuries when the 2024 NFL season arrived. As a result, the team had to promote rookie Beaux Limmer to center in Game 1 and trial IOL Logan Bruss at left guard. Bruss did not pan out either, forcing the team to release Bruss and promote undrafted rookie IOL Justin Dedich to left guard. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

The early mishaps of the Rams offensive line squandered ideal conditions for the Rams to jump out to a fast start. The Rams were 1-4 by the time that the Week 6 BYE arrived, and the offensive line was struggling to retain the same starting five players week to week. That has to improve in 2025.

Remedy:

Help is already in the making. The Rams reverted to former starting center Coleman Shelton, signing him this offseason. The plan is to install Shelton at center, yielding the Rams' starting five offensive linemen and backups as:

• LT Alaric Jackson | Backup LT Warren McClendon Jr. | Reserve LT A.J. Arcuri
• LG Steve Avila | Backup LG Justin Dedich | Reserve LG Wyatt Bowles
• C Coleman Shelton | Backup C Beaux Limmer | Reserve C Dylan McMahon
• RG Kevin Dotson | Backup RG Willie Lampkin | Reserve RG Ben Dooley
• RT Rob Havenstein | Backup RT K.T. Leveston | Reserve RT Trey Wedig

There is no cross-training planned for 2025. In fact, these are the same starters in 2025 that started in 2023.And both Coleman Shelton and Rob Havenstein started for the Rams Super Bowl winning team in 2021.

The Rams do not need to aim for All-Pro offensive linemen, not yet. They simply need a group of five starting offensive linemen to remain healthy long enough to build chemistry, communication, and continuity. This is a very talented group, but they need time to rediscover an ability to work together. If the team is to have any hope or early success this season, the offensive line has to stay healthy.