Sean McVay quietly calls out embattled O-lineman ahead of Ravens game

The dire times of the Los Angeles Rams offensive line may not be nearly as dire as first feared. While the signal for out of the woods is still on hold, the team's blocking brigade did seem to step up in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was a makeshift ensemble, with the team promoting Justin Dedich to start at left guard and Warren McClendon Jr. to start at right tackle in place of injured veteran Rob Havenstein.

Starting left guard Steve Avila was medically cleared to play, but he didn't. Since suffering an ankle injury, he has been trying to get back to the physical, ferocious form that the team has come to expect from him.

But he is not there yet, as head coach Sean McVay was more than happy to point out with the Baltimore Ravens looming in Week 6:

Should fans feel optimistic or not? After all, if the difference maker is a former starter merely reclaiming his past proficiency, that should be doable, right?

Well, that's not just a matter for the former top-drafted player in the 2023 NFL Draft, as the same matter of regression has impacted 2024 starting center Beaux Limmer as well.

So is it the players, the coaching, or just a series of bad circumstances?

Sean McVay putting the onus of bad performances squarely on players

Accountability is not what it once was in the modern era. But the fundamentals of holding someone accountable are that if you make a mistake, you own up to it and try to rectify the matter. For Los Angeles' offensive linemen, the part of improving to a point where it won't happen again seems to be where the speed bump is occurring.

LA's O-line was nowhere near perfect last season. But it was effective. Much of that came from the fact it had a burly offensive line in place, and the players learned to compete together. Limmer joined the group in Week 1. Avila was injured in Week 1 and did not return to the fray until Week 10.

So, there is definitely a track record of things aligning for a playoff push.

This was supposed to be a different season and a different O-line. Veteran Coleman Shelton was supposed to be the veteran leader to keep everyone on track. But as the team pivots to Week 6, there have already been four different iterations of the offensive line. And it's the latest, with two backups starting, that seems to have been the most effective.

It won't happen at the snap of the fingers. An effective offensive line is built on communication, coordination, chemistry, and choreography, and the group is still working out who does what. Complicating the matter is that LA continues to send out a new group that must start the learning process all over again.

But each week builds experience and teamwork.

Can Avila earn a starting role in Week 6? Absolutely. Many preseason projections from NFL analysts were quite high on him. But this is not a time to coddle, pamper, or lower the bar to help a fierce competitor realize his optimal self. In the world of NFL lines of scrimmage, only the tough survive. That means that Avila needs his former confidence, competitiveness, and courage.

To get that, he needn't be met with a pat on the back. He needs a challenge, one that only he can master. That is what head coach Sean McVay has given him, publicly. Will starting left guard Steve Avila start in Week 6?

And there it is. Perhaps Coach McVay is a bit more astute than many give him credit for. He has set a competitive goal for a fierce competitor. What should fans expect? It's probably a safe bet to assume Avila will start in Week 6 and play well.

It's just in time, too. LA needs a dominating left guard.

As always, thanks for reading.

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