The Los Angeles Rams are 3-2 despite the play of their offensive line. While the group has been stout in run blocking, they’ve especially struggled protecting the quarterback. This makes Matthew Stafford’s fast start to the year all the more impressive; however, if we are being honest, it’s unfair to expect him to sustain the same level of play while consistently under pressure.
Week 1 starters are returning to health. The Rams have decisions to make along the offensive line.
Do they return to the original group that kicked off the season, or could we see a mid-year mixup?
Is Rob Havenstein still the right man at right tackle?
Of the 21 players to play an offensive snap for LA this season, Havenstein currently ranks 17th according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades. He’s the lowest-ranked lineman aside from Beaux Limmer who currently has a pass blocking grade of zero.
The veteran right tackle has allowed 16 pressures on Stafford so far this year with nine coming in his most recent game against the Indianapolis Colts (he missed the 49ers game due to injury and more on that coming). Havenstein was on the wrong side of a breakout game from Laiatu Latu.
With Havenstein ruled out due to an ankle injury in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, the offensive line put together their most well-rounded performance. As a result, Stafford was able to push the ball downfield at a frequency we hadn’t seen through the first four games and picked apart the San Francisco secondary.
His replacement in this contest, Warren McClendon, was not spectacular by any means but certainly cleared the ball that Havenstein has set so far this season. McClendon allowed four pressures and was flagged for a penalty. He earned a PFF run blocking grade of 72.2 and a mark in pass blocking of 60.6.
Havenstein’s ankle injury has bothered him since the start of the season. Is he playing injured or is this a sign of decline. At least on a small sample, McClendon seems to be the better player at this point.
Should the Rams make a change at right tackle?
The mysterious disappearance of Steve Avila
Left guard Steve Avila has been active the last two weeks and active on game day but sat on the bench behind Justin Dedich. Avila has been seen on field goal blocking units (the Rams could use all the help they can get in this facet), but it’s odd that Avila can be healthy enough to backup Dedich and contribute on special teams and not healthy enough to start.
Have the Rams benched Avila for Dedich and not willing to say as much aloud? It’s possible, and we’ve seen similar mysteries from this team before.
Let’s be clear. Dedich does not fit the profile of an NFL starter. He’s very undersized and gets bullied in pass protection relatively often, though he’s improved over the last two weeks. On the other hand, Avila is closer to the prototype as a second round pick.
If we don’t see Avila in the starting lineup in Week 6, it’s time to admit that Avila was benched.
