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St. Louis Rams Need Pass Protection Improvements In Bye Week

By Matt LaPan

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Entering the 2015 regular season many questioned if the St. Louis Rams offensive line would be able to hold up to the rigors of a tough early-season schedule. Through five games, those detractors have been correct. The Rams offensive line’s inability to consistently pass block have downgraded the chance for the Rams to make a run in the NFC.

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The Rams are currently 30th in passing yards per game, averaging just 183 yards per game through five weeks. So far, the Rams are averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, leaving them in a tie for 18th place in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders. This number in counterintuitive to the design of the Rams offense with Nick Foles under center and a group of wide receivers that primarily are deep-ball receivers. These low numbers are a direct result of poor offensive line play.

Oct 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) gets a pass away while under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker

Mike Neal

(96) and linebacker

Julius Peppers

(56) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams have been one of the worst offensive line units according to Pro Football Focus, as they ranked 25th in the NFL entering Week 5. They did not have a single member of the starting offensive line with a positive grade and were led by rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein’s -3.6 grade. Their worst graded offensive lineman was left tackle Greg Robinson’s -8.1 grade.

Across the board, only one regular Rams offensive lineman ranks higher in the pass game than the run game – Jamon Brown. As a unit, however, the numbers are well below average in pass blocking. The Rams average a PFF ranking of 45.7 while in pass blocking situations opposed to 51.8 PFF ranking in run blocking situations. This discrepancy was on full display against the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.

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The Packers consistently pressures Nick Foles, registering three sacks, nine quarterback hits and nine quarterback hurries while intercepting Foles four times, per PFF. The biggest hit of the day came on just the second drive of the game for the Rams. On 1st-&-10, the Rams went with a play-action pass for

Kenny Britt

. On the play, the Rams offensive line gave Foles around three seconds of time for a play to develop more than 40 yards down field.

On the play, none of the Rams offensive linemen maintain their block past two seconds post snap. This includes left tackle Greg Robinson, who can be seen two yards down field face down on the turf, Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein all allowing free rushers to get to Foles. The Rams also allow Clay Matthews to rush unblocked to Foles, delivering a crushing blow to Foles’ midsection.

Later in the same drive Foles was pressured almost immediately. This time, it was on a third-and-16 where the Rams tried to find Britt on a much shorter route, but again the Green Bay pressure got to Foles. He faces B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews in his face before the route can develop, forcing him to throw the ball off his back foot and allow the Green Bay defense to knock the ball loose from Britt for the incompletion. Had Foles been afforded time on the play, he could have waited for Britt to break into the open field for a possible completion.

While the Rams do not have many teams remaining on their schedule, their NFC West foes all bring potent pass rush. From Aaron Lynch in San Francisco to Calias Campbell in Arizona and Michael Bennett in Seattle, all these pass rushers can derail the Rams’ attempt at the top of the NFC West. They also face the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – all of which are tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks.

If they do not make improvements in their pass protection through this week’s Bye Week, and beyond, they will not make a run at the top of the NFC West or the NFC playoffs.

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